Car door closure sounds: characterization of perceptual properties through analysis-synthesis approach

International audienceThe aim of this study is to identify perceptually pertinent parameters for the evaluation of car door closure sounds. For this purpose, perceptual properties of recorded sounds were first evaluated by sensory metrology. Then, an analysis-synthesis approach was chosen in order to identify perceptually pertinent signal parameters. The analysis part of this process first consisted in decomposing the sound in several independent impact sources using the Empirical Modal Decomposition method. Each impact is then modeled by a set of gains and damping factors in each critical band (ERB). These parameters were further used to synthesize sounds related to various aspects of the door closure sound with a real-time tool. This approach allowed for the generation of realistic, synthesized car door closure sounds that preserve perceptual properties with a reduced number of signal parameters. Listening tests finally allowed for the observation of the influence of the main signal parameters on the perceptual properties of such action-related impact sounds

Timbre control of a real-time percussive synthesizer

International audienceIn this paper, we present the design and the control of a real-time synthesis model dedicated to percussive sounds. We mainly address the simulation of the "sound colorations" (i.e. metallic, wooden or crystal-clear sounds) independently of the mechanical proper ties of the sound source and their control using a few perceptually relevant descriptors. The synthesis model takes into account both physical and perceptual considerations, leading to a combination of additive and subtractive synthesis processes. The manipulation of the synthesis parameters is not intuitive since the relationship between the parameters and the resulting sound is intricate, especially when dealing with material control. For that, we propose a timbre control space based on the results obtained from listening tests aiming at better understanding how the perception of material in terms of sound colorations can be linked to the synthesis parameters. This timbre control space is mainly based on damping and roughness and allows for an intuitive navigation across different material categories

Timbre variation as an attribute of naturalness in clarinet play

ISBN 3-540-34027-0International audienc

Cosmic ray sonification: the COSMOPHONE

International audienceThe Cosmophone is an attempt to show the close connections existing between the infinitely small and the infinitely large in sensory terms by detecting and imaging the continuous flow of elementary particles (cosmic rays) originating from our entire galaxy

A percussive sound synthesizer based on physical and perceptual attributes

International audienc