9
Virtual Acoustic Synthesis
Unlike previous tone generation systems which use oscillators, function generators, preset wave-
forms or samples to produce sound, Yamaha Virtual Acoustic (“VA”) Synthesis applies sophisticated
computer-based “physical modeling” technology to musical sound synthesis. In the same way that
computer “models” are used to simulate weather systems or the flight characteristics of aircraft in
the design stage, the PLG150-VL simulates the very complex vibrations, resonances, reflections
and other acoustic phenomena that occur in a real wind or string instrument.
VA Advantages
The PLG150-VL offers many advantages in terms of musical performance. Not just in terms of
sound, but also in terms of the “behavior” that makes acoustic instruments so … well, musical!
Yamaha Virtual Acoustic Synthesis is simply the most musical tone generation system ever created.
• The PLG150-VL sounds better, has more depth, and is more realistic in the musical sense than any
other tone generation system.
• Simply playing a note in the same way does not always produce precisely the same sound. The
instrument is responsive and “alive”.
• Note-to-note transitions have the same continuity exhibited by acoustic instruments. What goes on
in between the notes is just as important musically as the notes themselves.
• It has extraordinary expressive capability. Rather than simply controlling parameters like volume
or pitch, you can control characteristics such as breath and reed pressure with appropriate complex
effects on the timbre of the sound.
VL Tone Generator Model
The overall VL tone generation model or “algorithm” consists of three main blocks: the instrument,
controllers, and modifiers. In schematic form these blocks are arranged as follows:
Controllers (also envelopes)
Instrument Modifiers Sound out