Physical modelling

Shrouded in unapproachable maths and DSP processing, the art of physical modelling is surprisingly more accessible than you might initially think. Mark Cousins gets stuck in...

With most plug-in synthesizers seeking to emulate rusty old synths of times past, it’s easy to forget that there are synthesis techniques other than subtractive. One of the most recent developments, that of physical modelling, has had a chequered career so far: from the excitement generated by the first breed of modelling synthesis in the early 90s, to the lacklustre response generated by many musicians who first used them. But, in many ways, physical modelling demands a lot more respect and interest than it seems to get. Fundamentally, it is one of the few synthesis techniques where expression is key – physically modelled sounds are rarely static
nor unresponsive.

This feature first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 25
Filed under Ten Minute Masters

/mtm/features/physical-modelling

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