Projects:2018s1-192 Karplus-Strong Synthesis of Sound

Project Team

David McQueen

Samuel Churches

Sam Haberman

Supervisors

Dr Andrew Allison

Dr Brian Ng

Introduction

The Karplus-Strong plucked-string algorithm was a computational model developed in the early 1980s as an efficient model for vibrating strings based on physical resonance. It was praised for the rich and realistic timbres it generated despite its simplicity. Briefly explained, the algorithm works by placing a delay element into a feedback configuration together with a simple filter. Noise sources inserted into the feedback loop will resonate in the system at a set frequency and decay away due to the action of the filter.

Since its conception, many advances have been made in developing the algorithm in efforts to generate more realistic models of instruments and to widen the range of instruments available for simulation through advances in the theory of digital waveguides for the modeling of multi-dimensional systems. Efforts have been made to produce musical synthesizers as products, with patents being applied for in 1986 and 1987 and both Mattel and Yamaha licensing the technology however no products have been brought to market using the algorithm from these efforts.