Learning the Basics
A simple string instrument
Producing harmonics from the string
Damping the ends of the string
Damping local regions of an instrument more highly than the rest of the instrument leads to the vibrations in that part of the instrument dying away more quickly. This is one of Tao's most important features as it is probably the single most significant factor in determining the character of an instrument after its basic shape and structure.For strings damping can be used to produce a more natural spectral decay by choosing to damp small regions near the ends of the string. By small regions I mean in the order of 1/10 to 1/20 of the length of the string.
The exact value chosen for the amount of damping depends on how quickly you want the harmonics to die away. For example:
Audio rate: 44100;
String string(100 Hz, 20 secs);
Output output(stereo);
Init:
string.lockEnds();
string.setDamping(left, 0.1, 0.1);
string.setDamping(right, 0.9, 0.1);
...
Score 20 secs:
At 0 secs for 1 msecs:
string(0.1).applyForce(1.0);
...
output.chL: string(0.1);
output.chR: string(0.9);
Every 0.1 secs: Print Time, newline; ...
...
Learning the Basics
A simple string instrument
Producing harmonics from the string