Sound processing method by timbral mimicry via bio-inspired computer techniques

• Grant number: 05/03428-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2006
• End date: December 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Music
• Principal Investigator: Fernando José von Zuben
• Grantee: César Rennó Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project comprehends the development of a sound processing system by timbral mimicry via bio-inspired computer techniques. There will be enrolled studies upon: (i) timbral characterization, including the comprehension of related variables; (ii) mathematical modeling of the representation forms. (iii) digital sound processing; and (iv) bio-inspired computation.The project is based on the binomial Arts & Science, with deep interdisciplinary character evolving the partnership between Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bio-inspired Computing (LBiC) and Interdisciplinary Nucleus for Sound Studies (NICS), both located at State University of Campinas (UNICAMP).A process of timbral mimicry consists in adapting an initial sound sample consonantly to timbral characteristics of another sound. The idea is to apply bio-inspired computation to solve resultant combinatory and multi-objective optimization problems.Bio-inspired computation is a group of problems solvers based on computational simulation of natural processes, including, among others, evolutionary computing (EC), artificial immune systems and artificial neural networks. Self-organization, diversity maintenance, non-linear processing, learning and adaptation mechanisms are the main attributes of the bio-inspired computation tools. When rightly explored in the context of sound processing, these tools offer differential performance compared to alternative proposals found in literature. The scope and possible enrollments of this Masters project, even being wide and ambitious, are supported by a series of preliminary studies realized as part of the Scientific Initiation project named “Studies and Development of a Granular Sound Synthesis System with Bio-Inspired Computational Techniques”, financed by FAPESP as the project 04/11742-9. The focus in granular synthesis have allowed the student to explore the most relevant bio-inspired lines and to get involved with several multidisciplinary aspects that also support this research project, leading to a scientific publication in Computer Music.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COSTA, César Rennó. Control of sound synthesis by acoustic and semantic analogy using bio-inspired computing. 2007. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação Campinas, SP.