Compositions inspired by audio signal analysis and processing

Abstract

Creating interesting sounds in music composition has been a desire for many composers throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Since the second half of the twentieth century, some composers have started to use electronic equipment and computer-aided tools in their music composition to create fascinating sounds. Being very keen on developing novel interesting sounds, and as a classically trained composer, my research focuses on using audio analysis and processing to explore and create captivating and intriguing sounds to enrich the sonority of my instrumental compositions.

This study has three objectives. Firstly, it aims to produce interesting sounds and effects with the aid of computing tools. Secondly, it seeks to enrich the sonority of instrumental compositions. Thirdly, it aims to actualize the conceptual musical thoughts that one cannot implement without computer-aided tools. This thesis documents my compositional ideas inspired by audio signal analysis and processing. The ideas include observing the movement of overtones, manipulating the playback speed of sound objects, applying time stretching to sound objects, applying audio signal processing effects, and using live signal processing in real time.

The thesis begins with a discussion on how my compositional thoughts were shaped by renowned composers in Paris and Cologne and by spectralism. Afterwards, the development of digital audio signal processing and the application of hardware effects and plug-in emulations in audio signal processing are described. The thesis then discusses how speed manipulation of recorded-sound objects produces interesting sound effects along with some experiments. Next, seven original compositions are presented in the format of a compositional portfolio that forms the main body of this thesis. Each chapter begins with explanatory notes to introduce the inspiration and highlight relevant compositional techniques. The explanatory notes are then followed by the original score. The recordings of all the compositions are included in the attached data-DVD.