DogBox - Canine Vocal Synthesizer

A web-based synthesizer that generates realistic dog vocalizations using the Web Audio API. This project implements a formant-based synthesis approach with additional features like jitter, shimmer, and breathiness controls to create a wide range of dog sounds.

Demo

Features

• Formant-based synthesis for realistic dog vocalizations
• Multiple sound presets (bark, whine, growl)
• Real-time parameter control for fine-tuning sounds
• Modular architecture using MVC pattern
• Event-based communication between components
• Responsive UI that works on desktop and mobile

Project Structure

src/
├── css/              # Stylesheets
├── html/             # HTML templates
└── js/               # JavaScript source files
    ├── controllers/  # Application controllers
    ├── models/      # Audio processing models
    └── events.js    # Event bus and event definitions

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or later)
• npm (v6 or later)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/danja/dogbox.git
   cd dogbox

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

Development

Start the development server:

npm run dev

This will start a local development server at http://localhost:9000 with hot module replacement enabled.

Building for Production

Create a production build:

npm run build

The production files will be generated in the dist/ directory.

Architecture

The application follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern with the following components:

• Models: Handle audio processing and state

  • DogSynthesizer: Main synthesizer class
  • LFGlottalSource: Generates the glottal waveform
  • NoiseGenerator: Adds breath and aspiration
  • FormantFilterBank: Shapes the sound with formant filters
  • EnvelopeGenerator: Controls amplitude and filter envelopes

• Controllers: Handle user input and application logic

  • SynthController: Manages the synthesizer and UI interactions

• Events: Centralized event bus for component communication

Usage

1. Click the "Initialize Audio" button to start the audio context (required by modern browsers)
2. Use the sliders to adjust parameters:
   • Pitch: Controls the fundamental frequency
   • Jitter: Adds pitch variation
   • Shimmer: Adds amplitude variation
   • Breathiness: Controls the amount of noise in the sound
   • Formants (F1-F3): Adjust the formant frequencies
3. Click "Test" to play the current sound
4. Use the preset buttons to load different dog vocalizations

Building Blocks

Formant Synthesis

The synthesizer uses formant synthesis to create realistic dog vocalizations. Each sound is shaped by multiple formant filters that simulate the vocal tract resonances.

LF Glottal Source

The LF (Liljencrants-Fant) model is used to generate the glottal waveform, which is then processed through the formant filters.

Parameter Automation

All parameters can be automated in real-time, allowing for dynamic sound design and expressive performances.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues or pull requests.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• The LF glottal pulse model
• Web Audio API
• The evb library for event bus functionality

Future Work

• Add more presets and sound variations
• Implement MIDI input support
• Add recording and export functionality
• Port to C++ for standalone application

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