Modal synthesis for arbitrarily shaped objects

A four-stage system for modeling virtual instrument is introduced. The first stage is the design of a three-dimensional shape. For this stage, the user can employ procedural, computer-aided design (CAD), or scanning software. Second, a finite-element representation of the object is used to describe the motion of the object under forces. In the third stage, the system is decomposed into its resonant frequencies. The final stage places the object into a sound-rendering environment. The use of the system in accurately representing sounds generated from physical two-dimensional objects is validated by recording the striking of steel and aluminum plates and analyzing their frequency spectra. Results show agreement between the recorded spectra and those synthesized from a similar plate model using the proposed system.