Bridge force waveforms obtained by systematically bowing various cello G-string models

This dataset provides the waveforms of the bridge forces used in the research article titled “An experimental approach for comparing the influence of cello string type on bowed attack response” (see JASA Express Letter https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0034330 ). The data consists of audio recordings containing the force signals that the string exerts at the bridge (bridge force) during a systematic bowing action. The recordings capture bridge force signals at different bow forces and bow accelerations. Various cello G2-strings (98 Hz)  models were used, as the main goal of this study was to investigate the influence of string properties on attack playability (how quickly the string responds to a bowing action). Details on the experimental procedure and methodology can be found in the related work.

In general, this dataset offers resources for researchers interested in:

Investigating bow-string interaction phenomena

Analysing characteristics of bowed-string transients

Developing or validating models of bowed-string instruments

Data Organization:

The folders of this repository are organised as follows:

waveforms This folder contains all the waveforms

Model_X_Y The folder refers to a tested string. The cello string model is named X, from A to D, and the sample is numbered with Y: 1 or 2. For example, Model_A_1 is the folder containing the recording of the string model A and sample number 1. In the related work, only the samples numbered 2 were taken into account for the playability analysis. 

yyyy-mm-dd(_r) Each subfolder refers to a measurement session in which the string was bowed at different bow forces and bow acceleration to populate a Guettler diagram. The day of the measurement session is indicated in the folder name: yyyy is the year, mm the month, and dd the day. Additionally, some measurements were performed reverting the order of measurements, and they are indicated with _r at the end of the name. The numbering used for indicating the Guettler diagrams in the related work, referred to it as “repetition n. 1, 2, …”, follows the chronological order reported in the name of these subfolders.

Fb_nnn_a_mmm.wav The recording are single channel wav files sampled at 50kHz at a 64 bit rate. The bow force Fb and the bow acceleration a at which the bowing action was performed, is indicated in the file name. For example, a file named Fb_3.76_a_1.96.wav contains the waveform of the bridge force of the string bowed with an average bow force of 3.76 Newton and a constant acceleration of 2.96 m/s^2. 

Notes:

To obtain the bridge force in Newton, it is sufficient to multiply the signals by 10.

Signals' length vary depending on the bow acceleration. Since the recordings capture the bridge force at a constant length bow stroke, higher accelerations lead to shorter recordings.  Short recordings are around 0.22 seconds long, while longs last for about 0.9 seconds.