Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!auvm!eharnden
From: EHARNDEN@AUVM.BITNET (Eric Harnden)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: References on Sound Effect Waveforms/Spectrums?
Message-ID: <90033.152344EHARNDEN@AUVM.BITNET>
Date: 2 Feb 90 20:23:44 GMT
References: <632@xdos.UUCP>
Organization: The American University - University Computing Center
Lines: 16

i don't know of any source books as requested, but one thing does occur to
me to note... while there may be a source of 'snapshot' analyses of the kinds
of sounds you mention (although i kind of doubt it), the most critical thing
about sounds of that sort are their dynamics, which are not very well (if at
all) characterized in the literature. the other thing is that different
categories of sounds are going to be approachable by vastly different analysis/
synthesis techniques. for example, to do slams and explosions i would probably
combine functional modules for noise and damped sine generation in varying
degrees, and pass their output through a digital filter with broadly tuned
resonant formant regions. in such a case, spectral analysis per se would be
of limited use, since the target timbres are 1)so dynamics-dependent
2)essentially completely inharmonically structured. on the other hand, bird
whistles would be another thing entirely. see what i mean? so in your
position (which, actually, i am... i'm pursuing a related project myself), i
would start by providing myself   with a generalized set of synthesis tools,
developing an ear for sound deconstruction, and playing mix and match.