Sound Production; F/Va Sound Synthesis; Physical Characteristics Of Struck-String Instruments - Yamaha VP-1 Owner's Manual

Sound Production

F/VA Sound Synthesis

Physical Characteristics of Struck-String Instruments

As you know, the VP1 uses VA (virtual acoustic) synthesis to produce sound. To be
more precise, Yamaha has developed two different VA methods, each designed to
model a particular range of instruments. The VP1 employs the F/VA (free-oscillating
VA) method, which provides truer modeling of instruments that are played by striking
or plucking of strings. In contrast, Yamaha's VL1 synthesizer adopts an S/VA (self-
oscillating VA) approach more suited to modeling of wind and bowed-string
instruments.
FYI
• F/VA and S/VA systems are fundamentally different and incompatible. Data and parameters
cannot be moved from one system to another.
The following drawing illustrates the sound system on a struck- string instrument such
as a guitar.
Fixed end
The next illustration shows how the impact to the string propagates over time.
6. Propagates
5. Hits end point, attenuates,
reverses.
The F/VA approach generates models based on the vibrational system described
above.
Now let's look more closely at the "driver" and "string" components mentioned
above.
Driver (Vibration applied here)
Vibrating area (String)
1. Performer's strike
2. Propagates
4. Propagates
Sound Production
Fixed end
3. Hits end point, attenuates,
reverses
BASICS
Chapter 3 Learning the Basics
3 - 2