Novel percussive instrument design - Converting mathematical formulae into engaging musical instruments

Abstract

The paper gives insights into the development of new types of electronic percussion instruments, both in terms of the design of underlying hardware and identification of hardware implementation parameters, but also the development of novel interfaces; this allows the performer to control these parameters in the context of extended expressive performance. Improvements in silicon technology provide an opportunity to realise highly realistic electronic models of instruments, such as gongs, timpani and drums operating in real-time; this provides a new and exciting platform as it opens up a number of new parameters for the performer to access. However, interaction with this new technology then becomes a major area of research in itself, as it is possible to drive these models in ways, unachievable for their acoustic equivalents, and to produce sounds previously unheard of. The paper describes the types of parameters available in this percussive instrument, and discusses some of the challenges in developing new types of interfaces.</p