The EV: A New Digital/Acoustic Hybrid Stringed-Instrument Synthesizer (Guthman)
The EV is a 3D-printed digital/acoustic hybrid stringed-instrument synthesizer that combines the acoustic string and a digital synthesizer through FFT convolution algorithms. This innovative instrument was recognized as a semifinalist in the 2022 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition at Georgia Tech, competing among 26 semifinalists from 16 different countries.
About the EV
The EV represents a unique approach to augmented string instruments, utilizing:
- FFT Convolution Algorithms: Creating a gritty and textured realism by combining synthesized and acoustic signals
- Novel Pitch-Tracking Technology: Achieving both high accuracy and low latency, overcoming historical challenges of MIDI stringed instruments
- Fretless Design: Enabling creation of synthesized music in any tuning system, moving beyond Western twelve-tone constraints
- Parametric Customizability: Offering extensive control over synthesizers, transfer functions, and FFT engines for a far-reaching sonic palette
This submission to the Guthman competition demonstrated the EV’s capability to bridge the gap between digital synthesis and acoustic performance, offering musicians a new avenue for exploring the shared boundary of electronic and acoustic sound.