Hyperviolin
Tristan Jehan
(software, audio analysis/synthesis)
Diana Young
(bow hardware)
Joshua Bell, Cora Venus Lunny
(music)


The new Hyperviolin is the latest of the series of Hyperinstruments designed for expert musicians (the first Hyperviolin was created more than 10 years earlier.) The instrument is now a polyphonic electric violin from Jensen that drives multi-channel audio analysis software and embedded wireless bow hardware technology. It aims to give extra power and finesse to a virtuosic violinist (i.e., Joshua Bell, Cora Venus Lunny.) It allows for quick, intuitive, and creative results. Although its interface is identical to a standard violin, the sound output is very different, and creatively controllable. This new Hyperviolin was designed to respond more closely, organically, and intuitively to the player's music, and to be fully autonomous, allowing for improvisation. It was also the ideal test platform for my Master's research on real-time timbre transformation and morphing.


Photo by Eric Jensen



Audio excerpts of the Hyperviolin, performed solo by Cora Venus Lunny, at the World Financial Center Winter Garden in New York city:

Hyperviolin excerpt 1: timbre transformations shaped by spectral analysis
Hyperviolin excerpt 2: violin enhanced with electronic sounds from bow data analysis
Hyperviolin excerpt 3: real-time audio layering
Hyperviolin excerpt 4: violin plus shakuhachi physical model, and singing voice


More details on the performances with the Hyperviolin
More details on my Master's research "Perceptual Synthesis Engine: An Audio-Driven Timbre Generator"