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From cnet.com:
It may look a little (or a lot) like a Klingon weapon, but this sleek 3D-printed object is actually a musical instrument -- in fact, it's a species of violin.
The differences aren't just cosmetic. The traditional four strings have been reduced to just two, and the sweeping shape of the piezoelectric instrument's body is a far cry from the curves of a traditional violin. The structures therein serve to amplify its acoustics in new ways.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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Well, a quick look around the 'net to see if maybe there was a sound sample of this instrument didn't find me any. But I did find a recording of the "single-stringed, baritone electric guitar -- which sound artist Hall is calling a "Monobarisitar."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?.....KG9LT4Piro
If the weird violin sounds about as much like a violin as that Monobarisitar sounds like a guitar.. I'd probably pass on wanting to buy one.. LOL
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Aloha everyone,
I've seen that instrument before, but there's another one on Kickstarter called Instrument 1. It doesn't replace instruments as much as offer an alternative to trying them out. If you pledge $400, you get the instrument, a soft case, a strap, and the necessary cables. Of course, it won't be shipped until next January, and shipping costs vary. Still, it looks be to an outstanding idea, but we have to act fast. There are only 17 days to go. I watched the video of the cellist and the sound produced seemed to be very good although she seemed to a bit confused when asked to use an iPhone as the bow.
I think it's amazing, even considering the trade-offs, that one instrument can be programmed to replicate so many others. I'm almost considering ways to convince my wife that Instrument 1 would be a good investment
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Just tell her it's like violins, iBud.. in 300 years it will be worth millions.
That is a neat little instrument, though. For travel it would be great. For stage, well, it doesn't have as much "look" going for it as the one from the original post. LOL
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Aloha @DanielB,
I was really surprised by the video from the CEO where he literally played the drums, looped it, then played the bass, looped it, then played the guitar, looped it, then played some horns, then looped it so that all were playing at the same time. It didn't take very long to complete and it sounded pretty good. Just the fact that it can replicate so many instruments is very enticing to me - I could play viola, cello, banjo, etc... with only the cost of the Instrument 1.
On to your second point, the violin you shared is a work of art, indeed sir! I wonder how heavy/light it is, and just hows they got away with using only two strings. It doesn't look as if the left hand has much travel, but I guess it's easier to hold. It looks simply amazing, but I also wonder just how much the company would charge for it, were it even be made commercially available. I would also like to hear how it sounds. It is stunning in appearance, however. That really is thinking out of the box!
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@iBud: It was KindaScratchy who first shared it, just keeping credits where they should go.
New instruments get invented all the time, some of them wild and nifty. Most of them fizzle and never become a big thing because musicians tend to lean heavily towards the traditional.
The problem that one will have will be the other musicians, where no matter how beautiful you get it to sound will say crap like "Yeah, but can you play a *real* <keyboard/violin/guitar/whatever, fill in the blank>?." That attitude, that the music itself doesn't matter more than the bit of wood, metal or electronics it is made of, or that it *must* be played in only the fashion that some book says, are more of a holdback on development of new instruments, sounds and music. The creativity on making and using musical instruments is doing just fine. It is the acceptance by musicians that sucks. LOL
Here's another instrument, that has been around a while, to illustrate that point.
Far simpler technically than Instrument 1. Most people have never heard of it, because most musicians don't even consider it as an option. I know exactly one musician who owns and plays one. And bands he has been in have almost always wanted him to play his "real" bass guitar instead. It is not the instruments that are the problem. It is musicians
And really, you know you already have an instrument that can play tons of voices, build up tracks with one sound and then add tracks with other sounds.. Your computer can do that. Not as small as Instrument 1, maybe, and you might want to get some midi controller to have a playing interface like a keyboard or whatever that is better for how you personally want to play. But it *can* do that.
Not saying you shouldn't get Instrument 1, though.. If it is what would inspire you to play, to enjoy, to create.. Then it is worth it's weight in gold and an insane bargain at the price they're letting it go at.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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What. A perfect sound for that music.
What is the instrument called?
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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No comment other than "thinking outside the box works"... WOW... thanks for the posts folks.... And here I am still working on making my pick-ax-handle-electric violin - a bit passe I guess.... LOL
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Aloha @DanielB,
Thanks for the correction. My apologies to @KindaScratchy for not giving credit where it was due.
I'm not going to get an Instrument 1, but thought the idea of it is fantastic. I already have a Korg Kronos plus my fiddle, and the Korg can produce may different types of sounds, albeit by playing on a keyboard. Simply wanting something is not enough justification for my wife. Plus, I can't even play my fiddle without sometimes sounding somewhat like a goose being strangled
I would like to echo the question of the type of instrument you last posted. I looks to have at least 14 strings which are played in parallel octaves. The sound is pretty nice, but the range - wow, that is some range! I like the way the right and left hand strings are on the side farthest away from the hand, as it would seem to be easier to play that way. I wonder how long that instrument would take to master.
EDIT: I just saw, at the beginning of the video, that the instrument is called the Chapman Stick. It has anywhere from 8 to 12 strings, but they're not cheap. The 8-string bass with no options starts at $2,400.
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Another weird and wonderful instrument I only heard about a couple weeks ago is the Harpejji..the first vid is a classical piece, and the second is pop but shows using a looper to lay down a simple percussion line. It has a better view of how it is actually played and how small it is for that range of sound. Notes are marked with black and white to indicate what colors they'd be on a piano keyboard.
They have about a 5 octave range and you can play 10 notes at once, with reasonably ergonomic hand/wrist position.
@Oliver: Sorry I forget to mention the name. That is a Chapman Stick.
A guy also designed a somewhat similar instrument for homebrew that he called the Planck.
@Bill: Passe? Hardly. I'd bet that "Instrument 1" doesn't even have a pickaxe-handle-electric violin setting. I look forward to hearing it, since it should definitely sound distinctive.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Aloha @DanielB,
How are they playing their instruments - simply by pressing on the strings? I didn't see them plucking the strings. These are really interesting designs. Thanks for posting them.
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Yeah, they're just basically lightly tapping the strings.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Aloha everyone,
Here is a video of Daniel Waples, playing a PANArt Hang. One of the comments got me laughing - "I didn't know you could play a UFO". He's really very talented and is playing a style I really enjoy hearing.
list=PL9B59BA385E9659A9&index=21&spfreload=10
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@DanielB - thanks for your confidence in me LOL ! It WILL all be good. I now have all the parts I need, but I need to lash-up a wood-turning lathe to drop the handle diameter down a bit ( speed controlled Bosch power-drill on one end, and a wheel-bearing on the far end on my workbench - that should suffice ) - I'll take pictures all the way through and post as I progress... but that's for warmer weather in my shed... LOL - the instrument will, like myself, have its own unique presence !!!!!
But what you said somewhere earlier - "It is the acceptance by musicians that sucks. LOL" - and, know what - I kinda know what you're saying.....
Great thread, thanks @KindaScratchy for the inspiration ! Cool...
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
King
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More You Tube Chapman Stick. Great sound for Baroque (?) Must check CDs.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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@iBud: Yeah, hang drums are awesome too! LOL on the UFO comment.
Hmm. Maybe one of the hang drum players on youtube would do a request for Klaatu's "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"?
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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