Model-Based Synthesis of the Clavichord

A synthesis model for the clavichord is developed applying the principles of digital waveguide modeling. A commuted waveguide synthesis model is used, where each tone is generated with two coupled string models that are excited with a common excitation signal that is obtained from analysis of recorded clavichord tones. The characteristic knock terminating tones played by the clavichord is reproduced by triggering a sample that is separated from a recorded tone. A simple technique enables the realistic variation of the fundamental frequency by using a control function that can be a constant value plus the impulse response of a low-order digital filter.

Keywords: audio signal processing, physical modeling of musical instruments, sound synthesis, musical acoustics, waveguide modeling

This paper was published in the Proceedings of the 2000 International Computer Music Conference (ICMC'2000), pp. 50-53, Berlin, Germany, Aug. 27-Sept. 1, 2000.

• Conference paper in PostScript format (430 kB)
• Conference paper in PDF format (112 kB)
• Slides presented at the ICMC'2000 conference (PDF format) (365 kB)

Sound examples

• A short excerpt from a prelude by J. S. Bach played on the clavichord that was used in the measurements. (WAV file, 9 s, 1551 kB)
• A single clavichord tone (A3) where the peculiar attack and the knock at the end of the note can be heard. The waveform of this signal is displayed in Figure 1 of the conference paper. (WAV file, 3 s, 519 kB)
• Response of the clavichord soundbox. The bridge is hit in the vertical direction with a light impulse hammer. (WAV file, 4 s, 813 kB)
• A scale played on the clavichord synthesizer without string models. Essentially, the hammer impact noise plus the soundbox response are heard. (WAV file, 30 s, 5199 kB)
• The same scale played on the clavichord synthesizer with string models turned on. The full sound of the clavichord synthesizer with all its components is now heard. (WAV file, 31 s, 5262 kB)
• The attack sharpness parameter g_dir is varied in steps: 1, 2, 4, 8. The ratio of the excitation signal level to the tone is increased. (WAV file, 6 s, 1153 kB)
• A short piece of renaissance music played on our clavichord synthesizer: Par le regard de vos beaux yeux by Guillaume Dufay (1400-1473). (WAV file, 44 s, 7660 kB)

Links

• What is a clavichord?
• History of the clavichord

This URL: http://www.acoustics.hut.fi/~vpv/publications/icmc00.htm
Last modified: December 19, 2000
Author: Vesa Välimäki