String Sound Synthesis

String synthesis has been the subject of a lot of research. In its simplest form, one can model the displacement of a taut string by means of the 1D wave equation. Direct numerical simulation can be employed to simulate phenomena not included in the wave equation alone, such as nonlinear contact and collision forces, as well as large geometrical stretching.

Below is a video where a colliding mass (e.g., a finger or pick) sets a string into motion, with a rigid curved barrier underneath. The blue and red squares represent movable pickups, allowing for incredibly organic simulations. Listen to the example below:

Bouncing Sphere

Nonlinear Strings

A nonlinear string model yields realistic and organic sound synthesis. Here are examples of two stiff strings connected nonlinearly, as well as a string-plate system that showcases similar phenomena.

String-String 1
String-String 2
String-String 3
String-Plate 1
String-Plate 2

Bach Sonata Using Nonlinear Strings

In this video, a Bach sonata is played using a network of nonlinearly interconnected strings. While the simulation does not focus on replicating a specific instrument, it demonstrates sympathetic resonances and double-decay envelopes, essential for realistic sound synthesis.