Operation Manual

2.4 Tutorial 4 Playing with Acoustic Objects 42
2.4 Tutorial 4 Playing with Acoustic Objects
We will now build an instrument with modules simulating acoustic objects such as plates, strings
and mallets. The acoustic objects included in the Tassman library react just like their real physical
counterparts. The Tassman, however, allows you to do things that would be impossible to achieve
in real life and that, for sure, will stimulate your creativity! For example, modules can have a time-
varying behavior, a mallet can get stiffer or softer, a plate can change material or geometry as you
play it.
Although the acoustic modules represent objects that are completely different from those sim-
ulated by the more traditional electronic modules, the Tassman makes no distinction between the
different type of objects. You connect together the acoustic modules exactly as we have done so far
with the electronic modules. Furthermore, you can combine electronic and acoustic objects without
any restrictions. Of course, you might need to experiment a little while inventing new instruments,
but that is part of the fun!
In this tutorial you will learn to:
• Use acoustic modules
• Play acoustic modules
• Create sympathetic instruments
Step 1: A mallet and an Audio Out
Description
Acoustic objects such as plates, strings, beams, and membranes produce sound as a result of an
excitation. This driving signal can be very short, such as the impact of a hammer on a plate, or
continuous, such as when a string is bowed. In this example we will consider the excitation of a
plate by a mallet.
Construction
• In the Generators section of the browser, select a Noise Mallet module and place it in the
construction area.
• In the Output folder from the In/Out section, select an Audio Out module and connect the
output of the mallet to the Audio Out input.
• Launch the Tassman Player.