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8
Virtual Acoustic Synthesis
The Controllers
The input to an acoustic wind instrument comes from the player’s lungs, trachea, oral cav-
ity, and lips. In a string instrument it comes from the player’s arm movement, transmitted to
the string via a bow. These elements actually form an important part of the sound generating
system and, in the PLG100-VL, are included in the controllers block. The player also influ-
ences the sound of the instrument by playing the keys, tone holes, or frets, and this aspect of
control constitutes another part of the controllers block. These and other control parameters
provided by the PLG100-VL are listed in the illustration below.
In essence, the controller parameters determine how the instrument “plays”. All of these
parameters can be assigned to any external controller that can be used with the PLG100-
VL: breath controller, foot controller, modulation wheel, etc. The pressure parameter, for
example, will normally be assigned to a breath controller so the player can control the
dynamics of the instrument by varying the breath pressure applied to the controller — a
natural, instinctive way to play wind-instrument voices. At the same time the growl and
throat parameters might also be assigned to the breath controller in order to achieve life-like
response and effects.
Embouchure
The tightness of the lips against the reed
or against each other, or the force of the
bow against the string.
Tonguing
Simulates the half-tonguing technique
used by saxophone players by chang-
ing the “slit” of the reed.
Pitch
Changes the length of the air column or
string, and thereby the pitch of the sound.
Damping & Absorption
Simulate the effects of air friction in the
pipe or on the string, and of high-fre-
quency losses at the end of the pipe or
string.
Throat
Controls the characteristics of the
“player’s” throat or bowing arm.
Pressure
The amount of breath pressure applied
to the reed or mouthpiece, or bow ve-
locity applied to the string.
Growl
A periodic pressure (bow velocity) modu-
lation which produces the “growl” effect
often heard in wind instruments.
Scream
Drives the entire system into chaotic
oscillation, creating effects that can only
be achieved with physical modelling
technology.