Kickstarter Electronic Recorder

Our friends over at Cantux Research launched their Kickstarter project for the electronic recorder synthesizer.

Ever since  The Outliers where Malcolm Gladwell popularized the notion that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert, we’ve been looking at electronic instruments that repurpose existing paths to virtuosity. To reach that 10,000 hours – an instrument requires a progression from which to travel from novice to master. Learning curves with existing teachers and learning materials come with a track record of success. The recorder fits the bill. It already has tons of books, videos and teachers. But, the eCorder takes it to a whole new level

On top of the recorder interface, Michael Shonle and his team has built a synthesizer based on Physical Modeling (PM) principles combined with subtractive synthesis. All the nuance of tone and voice control is used to drive a PM synth, which is then combined with some wicked resonant filters and DSP goodness.  Or take advantage of  its has MIDI and CV output, and use it to rock out on existing synthesizers.

We’ve written about the best kickstart musical instruments in the past, and the eCorder is one of our favorites. Michael designed his own case which is 3D printed, as well as the circuit board that is the underlying controller and the software synthesis software that is included. This is the future of musical instrument manufacturing indeed.

Go support this kickstarter project!

Sound Expression with Just A Pick

So much expression is available from your finger tips. Came across this great summary:

Pick Shape
Rounder Striking Area
More overtone damping
Warmer, deeper sound

More Pointed Shape
Less dampening of high frequency overtones
More precise note definition with faster response

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Keyed Monochord – Acoustic Modular Stringed Instrument

A look at some photos and video from the keyed monochord as part of the Acoustic Modular Stringed Instrument, wanted to finish this up before 2014 came to a close.

The module works as a stand-alone keyed monochord. It has a bottom plate & end plates where you can attach strings. Also, the octaves are independent and can be dropped into the acoustic modular stringed instrument.  The design started off with a cardboard prototype. After some minor corrections, a  wooden version was produced.

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Kyub Interview: Manufacturing Musical Instruments

Keith over at kyubmusic  recently took some time out of his day to answer my questions. He has been cooking up some interesting musical inventions, and recently had success with the Kyub kit.  I am grateful for his insight, and had to share it with you.


First off, who are you? And how did you get started making these delightful boxes?

I guess I am a musical instrument designer! I’m not trying to dodge the question, but it just made me realize that maybe I passed a threshold in some sense of having sold musical instruments I designed. So if you stick with something you like may be it does work out. I studied electronics in college but was always interested in music and constructing things. I am mostly self-taught in these latter categories, something possible, I think, because these are things that interest me. I live in Milwaukee with my wife and my dog who sings to the violin if it is played just right :).

My first working design was for a servoelectric guitar in which the strings are tuned by changing their tension at high speed over about an octave – so it’s different than an auto tuning guitar. There are a handful of videos on the web of the various iterations of this and I have a website www.servoelectric guitar.com which has build instructions. It’s something that got a lot of views but didn’t go much beyond that.
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Finishing the Saga Mandolin Kit

When the Luthier told me-

This will become your main instrument, and you will like it more than the bowback mandolin.

I didn’t believe him. After a week of playing, its true. I love this Mandolin.

These came out well:
+ All the time spent on the project was enjoyable.
+ Tone & playability
+ Color and texture on the finish
+ Using Google Helpouts and having Hustler Guitar give advice on the build. In particular, his advice on the finish.
+ Having a Stubblebine Lutherie adjust the action on the frets&strings

These things came out less well:
+ Original action on the strings & frets were too high and hard to play.
+  The neck joint was a pain to put together, and the angle was a bit off.
+ Scratches around the neck joint. Too forceful with sandpaper.

Here is a video of the kit before I got started. You can order the kit on Amazon (affiliate link).