RESEARCH
IN THE PHYSICS OF MUSIC
Project
description:
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Physics
of Music investigates the production, propagation and perception
of
musical sound. Many aspects of this research are well suited for the
participation
of undergraduate students. Some current projects include:
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modern
methods in signal processing (e.g. the sinusoidal
analysis/synthesis)
room
acoustics studies using advanced "minimally intrusive" techniques
based on Maximum-Length Sequence technology
experiments
on absolute pitch perception
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measurement and evaluation of the
pipe organ sound
physics of consonance/dissonance
experimental[sic] investigation of "How Well-Tempered was Bach's
Clavier?"
design of
PC-based
(MIDI)
instruments,
with emphasis on the role of the
imperfections
necessary to achieve the perception of perfection.
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The
laboratory is equipped with a sound-proof room and a number of
workstations
(PC, MAC G4, NeXT, ...) driving a variety of hardware and
software
systems (MIDI
keyboard and
several soundcards, CLIO and SMAART
room
acoustics systems, LabVIEW data acquisition/analysis system etc.).
More
details can be found at http://www.phys.washington.edu/~vladi
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Prospective
students are expected to spend at least 9 hours per week
(corresponding
to 3 Physics 400 or Music 499 credits), and they should
have
some experience in at least one of the following: computer
maintenance
and administration, computer programming
(C#/C++/Java/Lisp/....
on PC/MAC/UNIX/...), MIDI
(hardware, software,
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formats
and protocols, ...), synthetizer hardware, synthetizer software
(e.g.
sampling and patch creation), knowledge of Csound, pd, MAX or
similar
packages, physics of waves and oscillations, and/or in electronic
circuits.
Contact:
Professor Vladi Chaloupka
Campus
Box: 351560
Phone:
206-543-8965
E-mail:vladi@u.washington.edu__________________________________________________________