In this thematic, we propose using a mix of experimental and numerical approach in order to study and design musical instruments. Makers have designed wind musical instruments (as flutes, trumpets, clarinets, bassoons…) in the past through “trial and error” procedures by performing a geometrical calibration of musical instruments in order to improve their accuracy, tone, homogeneity and even their sound volume, ergonomics, and robustness. During the past few decades, musical acoustics has been in a process of rationalizing the empiric understanding of instrument makers in order to formulate a scientific approach to future evolution.
Our research proposal is along this axis of research by proposing new mathematical models based on our solid experience in terms of wave propagation in media with interfaces that can significantly change the sound. As was done in geophysical exploration, we propose to assist the modelling process with laboratory experiments. Direct comparison between simulations and experiments will allow to assess the model error.
For wind instruments, we develop the python toolbox Openwind (free and open under GPL-v3).
For our work on the piano, we use the software Montjoie.
Juliette Chabassier is defending her habilitation (HDR) Wednesday, June 26th at the University of Pay and Pays de l’Adour. French Title: Modélisation physique et simulation numérique d’instruments de musique French abstract: Modéliser et simuler le fonctionnement acoustique et vibratoire des instruments de musique vise des applications aussi variées que la…
The internal geometry of a wind instrument can be estimated from acoustic measurements. For woodwind instruments, this involves characterizing the inner shape (bore) but also the side holes (dimensions and location). In this study, the geometric parameters are recovered by a gradient-based optimization process, which minimizes the deviation between simulated…
Contributors: Alexis Thibault (Ph. D. student), Henri Boutin (STMS UMR 9912), Juliette Chabassier, Thomas Hélie (STMS UMR 9912) Thermoviscous acoustic propagation in a tube with corrugated isothermal rigid walls is considered. At long wavelengths, it amounts to a 1D transmission line equation, in which the coefficients depend on the solution…
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument with side holes, and it is played with a double cane reed. Today, the French and German models coexist in the orchestra, with a predominance of the German model. They differ mainly by the number and the location of the holes and by the…
