Computational Organology: Building & Analyzing Digital String Models

To develop accurate physics-based digital models of vibrating strings and use them to analyze how instrument parameters and playing techniques shape sound—so we can better understand real string instruments and create realistic, controllable virtual string synthesis models.

• Study how string parameters (tension, length, stiffness, damping) shape vibration and timbre.
• Build and simulate digital string models for pluck/bow/strike excitation.
• Analyze outputs (harmonics, resonance, sustain, transients) using signal processing.
• Validate and tune models against real recordings/measurements for realism.
• Prepare models for practical use in research and virtual instrument synthesis.

• UG/PG students (music tech, acoustics, physics, engineering, CS, or related)
• PhD scholars & researchers (audio DSP, computational/musical acoustics)
• Academicians/faculty (instrument science, modeling, simulation-based teaching)
• Industry professionals (audio engineering, virtual instruments, game audio, sound design)
• Musicians/composers with technical interest in synthesis (basic programming preferred)

• Develop and implement physics-based digital string models for plucked, bowed, and struck excitations.
• Run stable simulations and interpret model behavior through time- and frequency-domain analysis.
• Quantify key acoustic attributes, including harmonic structure, resonance, decay characteristics, and timbre.
• Calibrate and validate model parameters using reference recordings and/or measurement data.
• Produce a reusable digital string modeling workflow suitable for research studies and virtual instrument synthesis.