Methods and apparatus for simulating the sound of a specific percussion instrument. A first stored waveform representative of the impulse response of the specific percussion instrument is convolved with a second waveform representing of the vibrations produced when a playing surface is struck, scraped or rubbed by a hand-held implement manipulated by a human player. A control interface produces a control signal indicative of a desired audio effect, and a signal processor modifies the spectral components of the output waveform produced by the convolution in response to the control signal to produce a modified output waveform that manifests the desired audio effect.