[sdiy] transducers

[Richard Wentk]

At 07:02 09/11/2004 -0800, Metrophage wrote:
>Ok, I'll provide some fuel for your ignorance! >;]P
>
>On the simple side, there are:
>
>Karplus, K., and A. Strong. 1983. "Digital synthesis of plucked string
>and drum timbres." Computer Music Journal 7(2):43-55, MIT Press
>
>Jaffe, D.. and J. Smith. 1983. "Extensions of the Karplus-Strong
>plucked string algorithm." Computer Music Journal 7(2):43-55, MIT Press

Karplus Strong isn't so much a physical model as a physical analogy. It's 
hugely simplified compared to what happens in a real string, which is part 
of a real set of strings, somewhere near a real soundboard, in the real world.

It's also not a good reverb model.

And - worse still - it's a DSP technique. ;)

If you want a spring reverb, the simplest way to make one is buy a long 
piece of drain pipe, run a long spring along the middle, fit a cheap 
speaker at one end and a mike at the other. It'll sound - unusual - but 
most spring reverbs sound less than stellar, so at least you'll have 
something original.

You can also buy a reverb tank - most guitar amp makers stock them as 
spares for their own units - and build a simple driver circuit around it.

If you want a *good* reverb, that's a whole other issue. Some familiarity 
with convolution reverbs probably wouldn't hurt at that point.

Or you can go find a large space and tile it. That will work too.

Richard