Abstract
This paper introduces an automated genetic algorithm method that determines discrete summation synthesis parameters for matching an arbitrary harmonic instrument tone. Previous work in discrete summation synthesis has mainly been limited to theoretical discussion on use of discrete summation formulae, with the parameters left to the user to pick by hand. We give results using our technique to match the dynamic spectra of the trombone, English horn and Chinese pipa. Finally, we compare the matching results of discrete summation synthesis with those found by wavetable matching, and give guidelines for when to use discrete summation synthesis instead of other synthesis techniques.