Assignment 2

Introduction and Purpose

In this assignment, we are asked to use the technique for sound synthesis to generate a tone, and simulate the sound in different locations in a virtual space.

For this assignment, my goal is to make the sound moving in different space or directions. Users are able to control the sound to move toward either their right or left side. Furthermore, users can also control the sound to move in or away (fade in and fade out). This allows users to play a sound or music file, and control the surround sound effect, for example, users can make the sound to move toward their right side, and also make the sound move away from their right side.

I also add the function of sound repetition, which professor demonstrated in the class that each repetition of the sound was moving away, left or right. This allows users to decide that they want to hear a continuous sound or repetition of a sound moving into different directions.

Approach

The basic model and ideas that I use are from Professor's constant power panning. First, I set the sound that is coming from center. However, instead the sound is moving toward certain direction, I make the function that allows users to control the direction that they want to move toward. In order to make the sound to move left or right, I need to make a function or a route that gives an inverse relation of left channel and right channel, so when users want to move the sound to the right, then right channel's amplitude is increased, and left channel's amplitude is decreased. If users want to move the sound to the left, I just time the function to -1, so left channel's amplitude is increased and right channel's amplitude is decreased. On the other hand, to make the sound move in or away, I need to add another route or function that controls both left and right channel; I simply add another route that controls both left and right channel with the same function that both left and right channel will decrease and increase at the same time. If users want to make the sound to move away from one side, they can just first use the function that makes the sound to move toward one channel, and use the function that moves the sound away.

The first link below is Max/Msp text file that does the previous functions by opening a sound file from disk.

The second file below has the same functions as the first one, but instead of opening a sound file, I use frequency modulation synthesis to generate a tone

Conclusion

My design might not be the best way to make the sound to move toward right or left, and move away or move in, but I have tried many ways to combine these two functions, and this is the best way that I can find out. I feel this assignment is interesting because I could play a music file and feel that the singer is moving around.

Assignment2_1 ( plays the sound file or music file from disk, and generate the panning effect)

Assignment2_2 ( plays a simple FM tone, and generate the panning effect)

Assignment2_1.jpg ( picture of Assignment2_1 Max/Msp patch )

Assignment2_2.jpg ( picture of Assignment2_2 Max/Msp patch )