FTM String

Within the scope of a student project under the supervision of Stefan Petrausch, Daniel Maaß programmed FTM String, with which it is now possible to test the algorithms for digital sound syntheses via physical modeling, developed at the laboratory, in practice. In doing so, a model of an oscillating string in terms of a partial differential equation was solved with the Functional Transformation Method (FTM).

FTM String provides a simulation of an oscillating string which is excited at a certain point by plucking or striking. However, due to the generality of the string model, it is possible to simulate any kind of one-dimensional oscillating object with this plugin. This includes a number of string instruments, like guitars, basses, and the Cembalo, but also several percussion instruments, like the xylophone, the vibraphone, and chimes. The type of simulated instrument is determined alone by the physical parameters of the model, which can be adjusted both continuously variable and on the fly. Hence, the advantage of the plugin, and in consequence the advantage of the Functional Transformation Method (FTM), is more the variability and the flexibility of the synthesizer, rather than the exact reproduction of real instruments.