Bowed string synthesis

[trance_lucent]

Inspired by Esgalachoir's beautiful sounds at http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 55#4980355 and http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 42#4987342 I have tryed to synthesize some bowed strings instruments (haven't tryed before). There are current results.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57065234/Strings/strings.mp3

I used: spectrablend for initial waveform, some noise for bow, one comb for string model (sometimes sounds good, sometimes better without), Wedge shaper for adding texture, another comb for body (also EQs for body), and tryed also AP filter, but it applience requires more research.
Sounds too synthetic though (especially higher strings), and there are also problems with envelopes and articulation.
Sometimes sounds more like brass or reeds. Also it is interesting how it is easy sometimes to turn strings to brass occasionally with one knob, i. e. Shape Edge.

Also used a little Zebra reverb and limiter on master bus.

[3ee]

Some of the articulations sound pretty cool actually, good work!
The melodies are interesting as well.

Watch those body resonances as they can easily be pushed too far sometimes without one realizing. They can be perceived as masking some other stuff but the root of the problem is elsewhere.

Zebra's EGs are great when it comes to expressive instruments!

[Bronto Scorpio]

Sounds great
I tried to make some bowed sounds with Zebra some time ago too. A comb filter + wedge shaper is definitely a great combination for that kind of stuff

Here is one of the sounds I came up with: Bowed Thing

Realism wasn't really my goal with that sound but I wanted it to sound bowed somehow

Cheers
Dennis

[trance_lucent]

3ee,
Yes, I need to tame resonances and to tweak frequencies. Of course, good body response is vital for realistic acoustic instruments. It is need to google for the information about bowed instruments body responses. There was a link to the paper with violin responses in the Guitar synthesis thread, and also some info in the SOS article, but if I remember correctly, these information was different from each other. So I just quickly created crude bodies using ears. If someone has some more information about Violin/Cello/Contrabass (and so on) bodies please share.

As for MSEGs, to say the truth, I never used them. Definitely worth to study it.

Bronto Scorpio,
Interesting sound, but I can hear the same problems as in my sound. A kind of brass or reed sound. Sometimes tweaking Edge knob higher makes it more stringy. And of course good body response is at least 50% of realism. Thank you for sharing.

[trance_lucent]

Oh my bad english! "Reed" in all my posts should be read as "accordion or harmonica".

[mcnoone]

If someone has some more information about Violin/Cello/Contrabass (and so on) bodies please share.

I did a lot of string sounds.
Here's an example of one I did.
Just start it at 1:18 in the track to hear it.
http://soundcloud.com/monomo/soliton-single-demo1
I could explain it, but it would just be easier to send you a link to dl it, so you can just examine it, to see what was done.
The pitchwheel setting in up position, does a good vibrato, using a unique modulation setting, and worked out good on this one.
I have other strings around the free patch lib as well.
I like the semi-real instrument emulation thing, as it sometimes leads to something much better, as in unique, or expressive, than a sample can do.

[trance_lucent]

I did a lot of string sounds. Here's an example of one I did.

Sounds awesome! At least through the cheap computer speakers I am sitting with right now. Very realistic except bright attack at high velocity (it sounds synthetic). Realistic modulation. I definetely should look at your free libraries.
Are your strings sounds with similar goodness at high pitch notes?

I like the semi-real instrument emulation thing, as it sometimes leads to something much better, as in unique, or expressive, than a sample can do.

My experiments with guitar synthesis exposed also this advantage of synthesis in comparison to sample-playing: true steady body. If samples recorded not using every note, body response is moved according pitch of the note due to interpolation. Especially it is noticeable when portamento or pitch modulation used.

[Esgalachoir]

Inspired by Esgalachoir's beautiful sounds at http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 55#4980355 and http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 42#4987342 I have tryed to synthesize some bowed strings instruments (haven't tryed before). There are current results.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57065234/Strings/strings.mp3

I used: spectrablend for initial waveform, some noise for bow, one comb for string model (sometimes sounds good, sometimes better without), Wedge shaper for adding texture, another comb for body (also EQs for body), and tryed also AP filter, but it applience requires more research.
Sounds too synthetic though (especially higher strings), and there are also problems with envelopes and articulation.
Sometimes sounds more like brass or reeds. Also it is interesting how it is easy sometimes to turn strings to brass occasionally with one knob, i. e. Shape Edge.

Also used a little Zebra reverb and limiter on master bus.

Wow, sounds excellent! Especially the first line. Sounds real. If you keep that up, you definitely won't be needing my bank I make!

[Esgalachoir]

If someone has some more information about Violin/Cello/Contrabass (and so on) bodies please share.

I did a lot of string sounds.
Here's an example of one I did.
Just start it at 1:18 in the track to hear it.
http://soundcloud.com/monomo/soliton-single-demo1
I could explain it, but it would just be easier to send you a link to dl it, so you can just examine it, to see what was done.
The pitchwheel setting in up position, does a good vibrato, using a unique modulation setting, and worked out good on this one.
I have other strings around the free patch lib as well.
I like the semi-real instrument emulation thing, as it sometimes leads to something much better, as in unique, or expressive, than a sample can do.

Those are some impressive articulations. I feel like that's my weak point.

[hollo]

I wish you could come up with a good cooperation guys!
Go on, all of you are really talented.
The strings maybe the most difficult stuff for synths.

Most of the time i prefer to use just analog because of the warmness, but
nothing to comper with the real thing.

Mc's cello sound,articulation and modulation is almost there. Brilliant!
How about a cello session with more comb?
It would be nice to combine with a good analog str session, -i tried
with Howie's other comb cello-
without luck, it's very hard to blend them well together. They behave so different. The comb is too dry, the analog is too "washed".



Cheers

[trance_lucent]

Wow, sounds excellent!

Thank you. There is plenty of work needed though.

Those are some impressive articulations. I feel like that's my weak point.

Yes, mcnoone did nice articulation, and that is my weak point too. Just tweaking amplitude envelope can greatly enchance realism, and auto and controlled modulation makes wonders. It's a pity I haven't any bowing (and blowing/strumming etc) skills (just some keyboard), so there are always problems for me making modulations and articulations for strings, guitars, brass and other acoustic instruments.

[WOK]

The melodies are interesting as well.

----

[hakey]

The melodies are interesting as well.

Yes, very seasonal - or not, as the case may be...

[Howard]

The comb is too dry, the analog is too "washed".

So use both, in separate lanes

[hollo]

Thanks Howie, always glad to learn from you!

I look forward eagerly to your new soundbank, hope you
messed a bit with strings too!

Cheers