On Sun, 01 Sep 1996 18:19:58 -0700, Michael Will wrote:
>But will it sound like a harmonica? No, it is not my intention to build a MIDI harmonica AND use a sampler to get a harmonica sound out of it. I will primarily use it for the study of tuning systems and all the rehearsing situations in which a perfect harmonica sound is not desirable. Like studying chords, scales, licks and my own solos.
>I have doubts. I suppose one could sample lots of harmonica sounds at many >different volumes and customize an algorithm to simulate it. A great deal of work >has been done to synthesize piano sound, with remarkably good results I'd say, but >the initial research and development effort had to have been very substantial. I agree. In fact, the harmonica sound is so much more personal then the piano sound , it will be very difficult to simulate it with a sampler or an algorithm (or a combination).
>I think that harmonica is like piano in terms of difficulties >synthesizing realistic sound. At different volumes, not only the >loudness of the note changes, but also its character. These different >harmonics and complexities at different volumes require a lot of work to >capture and model. And the interaction between reeds in the same >chamber would add complexity, I believe.
Yes, you are right. Did you ever hear a good sounding digital saxophone? Or a good sounding clarinet? I did not. These instruments are even more difficult to simulate electronicaly than the sound of the piano. I am not interested in a digital harmonica sound. I like the sound of the normal chromatic harmonica. The MIDI harmonica will be great as a studying tool and as a MIDI controller to use non harmonica related sounds. This can be interesting specialy when we use sounds created by ourselfs.
>Synthesized harmonica sounds that I have heard I have not considered to >be acceptable. Yet. I hope this will change soon.
Yep, I hope it will change AND I hope that we will still be able to play with the same 'nuance' as is possible with the instruments we use now. I am very interested in electronic music. Sometimes I ask my self, will people still use instruments when I am 50 years older? I don't think so. In Munich, I saw an abstract laser show with very fine three dimensional modern electronic music. Fantastic, what a medium to express ourselfs!
