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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Listening to the Future: Next-generation Sound Synthesis <br/>through Simulation

Objective

This proposal is concerned with simulation-based approaches to sound synthesis, in the interest of generating very high quality synthetic sound of a natural acoustic character—partly to emulate real instruments, but also to explore classes of sounds which cannot be produced using conventional synthesis methods, or acoustic instruments. A further goal is to introduce such physical modelling synthesis methods definitively into the world of electronic music, virtual environments, and to the greater public.

Target systems to be studied and simulated include: highly nonlinear acoustic systems (brass instruments, and percussion based on plate and shell vibration; electromechanical instruments; full 3D acoustic spaces; embedding of instruments within 3D spaces in order to achieve fully virtual and spatialized audio; and finally modular connections of systems in order to allow the eventual user, a composer, an instrument design environment. Such complex systems, including strong nonlinear effects, have never before seen a rigorous exploration from a numerical synthesis perspective. This proposed project is of an interdisciplinary nature, and rooted in music, numerical analysis, time-domain simulation, and high-performance computing.

Work will be carried out at various levels: a) theoretical work and time domain algorithm design, with special attention paid to the appropriate choice of model, efficiency and real time operation, and various issues critical in audio, including: adequate perceptual rendering of system responses at audio sample rates; aliasing; robust algorithm design, ensuring numerical stability under highly nonlinear conditions; and modular constructions. b) large-scale parallel implementations on multicore processors and general purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs), and c) experimental testing through collaborative work with established composers of electronic music, leading to performances original multichanel and fully synthetic music.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2011-StG_20101014
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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
EU contribution
€ 1 477 477,00
Address
OLD COLLEGE, SOUTH BRIDGE
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
United Kingdom

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Region
Scotland Eastern Scotland Edinburgh
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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Beneficiaries (1)

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