Digital Sound Synthesis by Physical Modeling Using the Functional Transformation Method

This book considers signal processing and physical modeling meth­ ods for sound synthesis. Such methods are useful for example in mu­ sic synthesizers, computer sound cards, and computer games. Physical modeling synthesis has been commercialized for the first time about 10 years ago. Recently, it has been one of the most active research topics in musical acoustics and computer music. The authors of this book, Dr. Lutz Trautmann and Dr. Rudolf Rabenstein, are active researchers and inventors in the field of sound synthesis. Together they have developed a new synthesis technique, called the functional transformation method, which can be used for pro­ ducing musical sound in real time. Before this book, they have published over 20 papers on the topic in journals and conference proceedings. In this excellent textbook, the results are combined in a single volume. I believe that this will be considered an important step forward for the whole community.

From the reviews:

"This is a book devoted to digital sound synthesis (DSS). The exposition makes full use of modern mathematical tools. ... The book represents an interesting contribution to music synthesis and the reviewer thinks it will soon become a reference volume in the electric and mechanical domains." (D. Stanomir, Mathematical Reviews, 2005 b)

"This book ... gives not only a thorough introduction to the Functional Transformation Method itself, but provides an excellent overview of existing alternatives. ... The book is exemplary in clarity as well as for references and lists of symbols, variables, abbreviations, etc. More than fifty figures are included. ... an innovative and far-reaching text that should find its way to all institutes where sound synthesis is taught or researched." (K. Guettler, Acta Acustica united with Acustica, Vol. 91 (4), 2005)