Aeroacoustics of musical instruments

We are interested in the quality of sound produced by musical instruments and their playability. In wind instruments a hydrodynamic source of sound is coupled to an acoustic resonator. Linear acoustics can predict the pitch of an instrument. This can significantly reduce the trial and error process in the design of a new instrument. We consider deviations from the linear acoustic behaviour and the fluid mechanics of the sound production. Real time numerical solution of the non-linear physical models is used for sound synthesis in so called virtual instruments. While reasonable analytical models are available for reeds, lips and vocal folds, the complex behaviour of flue instruments escapes a simple universal description. Furthermore, to predict the playability of real instruments and help phoneticians or surgeons to analyze voice quality, we need more complex models