Henry Hun Tao

Abstract

Today, making and composing music has become much easier, with dozens of DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) programs on the market that are very easy to learn and to use. These types of programs use the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) system, which can easily simulate every sound in a home computer, and it offers everything a musician would need in the professional studio on a home computer screen. Currently, the piano keyboard-style MIDI input surface is the leading product on the market, but there has yet to be a violin-style MIDI device produced. This is because in order to simulate the violin's sounds, many different signals are required for the computer, and it is simply impossible to achieve with a keyboard-style MIDI input surface. Through my research, I found out that DAW programs and MIDI products are still unable to achieve two things:

1. Allow the user to play with delicate vibrato.

2. Reflect the violin bow techniques into the DAW programs, which is also the most important part of violin playing.

My thesis focuses on solving these two major problems to allow users to play with delicate vibrato and reflect the violin bow techniques into the DAW programs. I also want my design to reduce the difficulty of playing real string instruments, which is why I worked to design a MIDI input surface for the violin family of instruments.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Digital audio editors--Design; Violin music--Computer programs; Violin--Bowing--Data processing; MIDI (Standard)

Publication Date

12-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Industrial Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

School of Design (CIAS)

Advisor

Stan Rickel

Advisor/Committee Member

Alex Lobos

Advisor/Committee Member

Dan Harel

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at ML74.4.M43 T36 2014

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

VISCOM-MFA

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