The Hyperbow Controller: Real-Time Dynamics Measurement of Violin Performance

Diana Young

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract:

In this paper, the design and construction of a new violin interface, the Hyperbow, is discussed. The motivation driving the research of this instrument was the desire to create a violin bow capable of measuring the most intricate aspects of violin techniquethe subtle elements of physical gesture that immediately and directly impact the sound of the instrument while playing. In order to provide this insight into the subtleties of bow articulation, a sensing system has been integrated into a commercial carbon fiber bow to measure changes in position, acceleration, and the downward and lateral strains of the bow stick. The sensors were fashioned using an electromagnetic field sensing technique, commercial MEMS accelerometers, and foil strain gauges. The measurement techniques used in this work were found to be quite sensitive and yielded sensors that were easily controllable by a player using traditional right hand bowing technique.

Citation:

Diana Young. 2002. The Hyperbow Controller: Real-Time Dynamics Measurement of Violin Performance. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1176480

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{Young2002,
 abstract = {In this paper, the design and construction of a new violin interface, the Hyperbow, is discussed. The motivation driving the research of this instrument was the desire to create a violin bow capable of measuring the most intricate aspects of violin techniquethe subtle elements of physical gesture that immediately and directly impact the sound of the instrument while playing. In order to provide this insight into the subtleties of bow articulation, a sensing system has been integrated into a commercial carbon fiber bow to measure changes in position, acceleration, and the downward and lateral strains of the bow stick. The sensors were fashioned using an electromagnetic field sensing technique, commercial MEMS accelerometers, and foil strain gauges. The measurement techniques used in this work were found to be quite sensitive and yielded sensors that were easily controllable by a player using traditional right hand bowing technique.},
 address = {Dublin, Ireland},
 author = {Young, Diana},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 date = {24-26 May, 2002},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1176480},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 keywords = {Hyperbow, Hyperviolin, Hyperinstrument, violin, bow, position sensor, accelerometer, strain sensor},
 pages = {201--206},
 title = {The Hyperbow Controller: Real-Time Dynamics Measurement of Violin Performance},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2002/nime2002_201.pdf},
 year = {2002}
}