In this thesis, the computational models for the Chinese Chime-bells based on inharmonic digital waveguides have been presented. The sound synthesis models are capable of producing Chime-bell like sounds efficiently while retaining the physical interpretation of the digital waveguides. Two models have been constructed to simulate different bells in the first rack, demonstrating their ability to cover the entire range of the bells. By adjusting the parameters, the models will enable users to generate the Chime-bell sounds close to the real sounds or even create surreal sounds based on this implementation.
However, there are still many defects in the synthetic sounds as discussed before. To solve the problems, more recorded samples under different initial conditions are needed as the reference sounds. Also, samples from the original set could be a great help in understanding the acoustical properties of the Chinese Chime-bell.
The models presented here could be considered as the first step toward the high quality Chime-bell models. There are still plenty of works to be done in order to improve this model.
Firstly, to simulate the sound-producing mechanism more accurately, a model with more physical descriptions is desirable. Other approaches such as finite difference method (FDM) or finite element method (FEM) could be better on this account. Also, an intricate model should be able to simulate the subtle changes according to different play styles. To achieve this goal, more play techniques of the Chime-bells should be investigated.
In the future, more efforts will be put on the real time implementation of this virtual instrument. Hopefully, this research may serve as an alternative way to preserve our cultural legacies, and contribute to the diversity in this field of study.
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