Making of a Computer Carillon

In this paper we present an analysis, modeling, and synthesis approach to bell sounds. Recorded bell sounds are first analyzed by high-resolution frequency-zooming modal estimation technique, where each partial is described typically by 2-3 submodes in order to include the warble characteristics of envelope beating in the partials. The bells are then modeled by inharmonic digital waveguides (DWGs) in order to achieve a highly efficient yet parametrically controllable synthesis model. The third step is to make a set of bells and related parametric controls in order to build a “computer carillon”. Special means are needed to approximate the strongly inharmonic bell sounds by DWGs, paying particular attention to the accuracy of the lowest partials. The control of bell models in the computerized carillon is through triggering of wavetables that store the initial part of the residual signal obtained in the modal decomposition process. Changing or modulating the modal parameters allows for sound effects that are not possible in real physical bells.