Physis Piano H1 Reference Manual page 6

Reference Manual – Sound Edit Parameters
HAMMER
How to access: press [SOUND EDIT], then select the SOUND ENGINE,
block; select the Hammer field.
Description: these parameters adjust the hammer features.
Macroparameter:
−
Piano Hammer
Hammer: The
determines the sound loudness and brightness.
When a key is pressed on the piano keyboard, the corresponding felt-
covered hammer strikes a steel string and then rebounds, allowing the
string to vibrate at its resonant frequency. The greater the key velocity,
the greater is the energy transferred from the hammer to the string, and the louder is the tone produced. In fortissimo
(ff) the hammer velocity is more than one hundred time that of pianissimo (pp). The hammer contact time with the
string is very short (from about 4 ms at pp to 2 ms at ff), but during this time the
Hit Point greatly influence the sound timbre and loudness.
HINTS AND TIPS: By moving the slider you recall different combinations of
parameters, but it is also possible to change these parameters one by one just focusing on their edit window using
arrow keys.
Microparameter:
−
Hammer Hardness
Hardness: The
In the acoustic piano hammers consist of a wooden profile covered with several layers of compressed wool felt, whose
hardness is carefully controlled. In order to produce a good tone, the hardness has a gradient so the outer surface is
softer than the inner layers. This gradient may be adjusted using various techniques in a process called 'voicing'. It is
common to voice a piano by needling the hammer felt, since this makes the hammers softer and thus the tone softer.
Hard hammers are better at exciting high frequency modes of a piano string's vibration so that the resulting tone
quality may be characterized as being bright, tinny, or harsh. Soft hammers, on the other hand, do not excite high
frequencies very well, and the resulting tone is somewhat dull or dark.
HINTS AND TIPS: The influence of the
velocity levels on the fourth octave and below.
−
Mass: The Hammer Mass
The hammer mass is proportionally related to the energy transmitted to the string during the impact consequent to the
key action influencing the sound loudness and timbre. Heavier hammers are in contact with the string for a longer time
generating multiple reflections on the string vibration that makes a fuller sound. By decreasing the hammer mass the
sound becomes more "thin" and less intense. The effect produced by the hammer mass interacts with the hit point,
moreover the final result can vary along the keyboard according to the ratio between the mass of each hammer and
the mass of the corresponding string.
HINTS AND TIPS: The influence of the
levels between the second and the fourth octave. This parameter can affect the overall volume of the sound that can
be compensated by enabling the AMP block.
−
Hammer Knock
Knock: The
When a piano key is pressed two impacts happens: the hammer hits the string and the key hits the piano base board.
Both these impacts mechanically transmit energy to the soundboard and the complete piano body by generating an
impulsive sound named knock sound. By damping the coupling between the piano parts, especially between the key
and base board, it is possible to change the amount of the knock sound.
HINTS AND TIPS: the knock sound can be better heard by playing notes in the higher octaves.
−
Hammer Hit Point
Hit Point: The
In the acoustic piano it is quite impossible to change the hit point since this is fixed by the piano manufacturer, while
this is possible in the physis piano modelling, allowing new unexplored sound possibilities. Changing this parameter
corresponds to virtually moving the string position in respect to the hammer position as shown in the animation. A 0
value corresponds to the standard distribution of the hit points along the 88 piano strings; positive values correspond
to moving the hit point towards the bridge, while negative values correspond to moving the hit point in the opposite
direction, i.e. towards the agraffe. The hit point affects the spectrum shaping of the produced sound by cancelling or
reducing some specific partials mathematically related to the ratio between the hit point and the string length.
HINTS AND TIPS: the influence of the Hammer Hit Point can be better appreciated by playing a few notes in the fourth
octave and below. It is possible to compare the effect of this parameter to the effect obtained by playing a guitar with
the plectrum more or less close to the string end.
during the impact with the string it
parameter allows you to change the brightness of the tone.
Hammer Hardness
affects the sound loudness and timbre.
Hammer Mass
parameter allows you to adjust the impulsive knock sound.
allows you to alter the character of the piano sound.
Hardness
can be better recognized by playing a few notes at different
can be better heard by playing a few notes at different velocity
4
Hammer Hardness, Mass, Knock
, , and
Mass Knock
and
Hit Point