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"