Wavelets as a Multiresolution Analysis and Synthesis Technique for Sound Timbres Edition

Regis Rossi Alves Faria
João Antônio Zuffo

Computer Music Group
LSI - Laboratório de Sistemas Integráveis
Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo
Av. Professor Luciano Gualberto, 158, Tv. 3
05508-900 São Paulo - SP - Brasil

Abstract:

Real acoustic instruments' sound pureness still stands an appreciable distance ahead of the artificial instmments' one, as synthesizers, in timbre quality as much as in the virtually infinite variability and modulation possibilities.

Analysis and synthesis techniques have been employed for years as a tool to analyse timbres' temporal-spectral characteristics, and re-synthesize them from these extracted parameters.

In this paper we show the utilization of Wavelets - a mathematical tool employed in signal processing with additional advantages over the classic Fourier transforms - as a technique for sound analysis, edition and synthesis under a multiresolution scheme. The Central idea is to explore the capacities of this technique in altering fine timbre components in the time-frequency (scale) spaces, in order to produce improved timbres.