Development of a „virtual prototype“ of a violin and its application in investigations on the audio-tactile human-instrument-interface with respect to the influence of different vibration characteristics on perception

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Ercan Altinsoy
• Subject Area: Acoustics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 493698227

Many studies have been presented regarding the assessment of different perceptual attributes when playing violins, highlighting the large influence of the tactile component of the overall multi-modal event on instrument ratings. To date, however, little is known about how different properties of the perceived vibration signal affect the assessment of different perceptual attributes. This relationship will be systematically investigated in this research project. To this end, a new method will be developed first which makes it possible to modify tactile and auditory feedback of a violin independently and arbitrarily. Thus, specific properties of the multi-modal event can be modified while others are kept constant. This is not possible when directly comparing violins as it has often been described in the literature. For this purpose, a "virtual prototype" (v.p.) of a violin will be developed and implemented. This instrument is based on an electric violin, which has the conventional ergonomics of an acoustic violin. It will be equipped with a sound pickup system, a signal processing unit, headphones and vibrators. This allows to realistically reproduce both the sound and the vibrations at the contact points to the instrument. Thus, actual acoustic violins can be emulated or synthetic violins can be created. In addition to being played, this instrument can also be used as an audio-tactile playback device. Furthermore, a measurement system is to be developed which makes it possible to measure transfer functions on acoustic violins that are required for emulation on the v.p.. In addition, this system can be used to make audio-tactile recordings with violins in order to play them back via the v.p..Interactive and non-interactive perceptual experiments will be conducted with the v.p.. First, in the non-interactive mode, it will be investigated how different properties of the vibration signal affect the assessment of perceptual attributes. Therefore, the influence of primitive vibration signals of different frequencies and amplitudes is investigated at the beginning. Then, more complex signals based on vibration recordings of acoustic violins will be used. Based on the results of these experiments, a model for the relationship between vibration characteristics and the evaluation of violins will be developed. Finally, the non-interactive experiments will be compared to interactive experiments. For this purpose, test subjects are to play the v.p. themselves and evaluate the same vibration characteristics as before. Thus, on the one hand the influence of the active interaction can be highlighted and on the other hand the additional tactile stimulus via the violin bow can be evaluated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants