The first image, from left to right, is of the violin maker and researcher George Stoppani. He is explaining how the bridge modal analysis process works to one of the Oberlin attendees. I do not yet have the results of that experiment, but I will post them I soon as I get them from George.

The second image is of Amit Zoran, a PhD student from the MIT Media Lab, presenting to the group on his Chameleon Guitar. Amit and I had some wonderful conversations about our projects, designs, and processes. I highly encourage everyone to check out his excellent work.

The last two images are of Joseph Curtin and Aaron Boyd trying out our Digital Violin Prototype. Joseph, as you know, works on the project, while Aaron Boyd is a profession violin player and the Concertmaster for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. We still have a ways to go with the digital violin project, but the initial reaction was great, as evidenced by the video below of Aaron playing the instrument for the first time.

The modal analysis will be performed later this week at the Violin Society of America’s Violin Acoustics Workshop at Oberlin College. On Friday at the conference, I will also be giving a talk about electric violin history and design. If everything goes well, we will be demoing our electric violin and 3D speaker on Friday as well. I’ll be sure post more as soon as there is more to post.

Keystone Underground Martini Bar – Date: Friday, June 11, 2010 – Time: 10:00pm – 2:00am – Location: Keystone Underground Martini Bar, 200 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI – Facebook Event

In YouTube

And Vimeo Formats

Which player do you you prefer?

This is the latest, but soon to be outdated, version of the Digital Violin. This prototype moved me from the completely experimental design phase into the functional design phase. This weekend I will be working on the design for the next version, which I will fabricate in the coming weeks.

Look for the rest of the set in June.

Artist Statement:

Mass production has changed the ways that humans design, make, and consume products. In the past all goods were made individually by the hands of skilled craftsmen. Then in the late 19th century, the assembly line dramatically changed the way stuff is made; cheap, uniform products became readily available, creating a novel distance between consumer and product. The post-World War II manufacturing boom exponentially increased the speed and reach of that change. Now in the internet age, we are moving to a place somewhere in between the completely hand-made items of the distant past and the mass-manufactured products of the past century. The internet has broadened the market available to craftsmen, and allowed them to sell their wares globally. At the same time, rapid prototyping has facilitated a seemingly contradictory change that allows mass manufacturers to produce custom pieces for each of their customers. The Cyber Fiber project envisions a future in which consumers have the resources to download and fabricate their own customized products and upload their own designs for others to use. If people wanted this dress, they could go online, upload a digital model of their bodies to a clothing a website, have the pattern of their choice custom tailored to their 3D model, then download the pattern to cut and fabricate the garment themselves. Though not quite this automated, the fabrication process for the piece on display was very similar to the process above. In this case, once the pattern was generated, it was used to quickly laser-cut a 1/4″ thick sheet of 100% wool felt. Once cut, the felt pieces were equipped with snap buttons and clipped together to complete the garment.

This a video of Katun Playing a medley of Pajkata and a standard Padjusko for the Ann Arbor Folkdancers on April, 24, 2010. The translation of the amusing Macedonian lyrics goes something like this:

“Uncle said he would marry me off
yesterday he said so, now he doesn’t want to.
Yesterday he said so, now he doesn’t want to;
and Aunt Sava won’t agree to it at all!

They wouldn’t agree and wouldn’t agree,
and finally they did agree.
They betrothed fair Neda
she’s as fair as an Arab,
as thin as a bear.

They put her in the carriage;
the carriage started to creak.
The carriage started to creak;
the buffalo staggered along (pulling it).

When they got going with Neda in it,
it broke in two.
It broke in two,
and the buffalo were frightened.”

Don’t forget to make room in your calendars for our upcoming gigs!
Upcoming Gigs:

Katun Sells out for Coffee – Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010 – Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm – Location: Espresso Royale @ 214 S. Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 – Facebook Event

Katun Plays Keystone Underground Martini Bar – Date: Friday, June 11, 2010 – Time: 10:00pm – 1:30am – Location: 200 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 – Facebook Event

Katun on WCBN (25.8MB)

I’d also like to extend a special thanks to Yalcin for having us on his program for the second time, and taking the band out for a spectacular Indian/Chinese buffet lunch! We look forward to visiting your program again.

P.S. Don’t forget to come to one of our gigs in april.

Show details are below:

WCBN Radio / Yalcin Yanikoglu’s DROMEDARY EXPRESS – Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010 – Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm – Location: 88.3FM in Ann Arbor or online @ wcbn.org – Facebook Event

Concoures Hall Grand Opening – Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010 – Time: 9:00pm – 11:00pm – Location: 4531 Concourse Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 – Facebook Event

The Next Big Thing @ The Shout – Date: Friday, April 23, 2010 – Time: 8:00pm – 1:00am – Location: The Shout  located across from the Aut Bar in Kerrytown

An evening of Balkan Music and Dance with the Ann Arbor Folkdancers – Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010 – Time: 9:00pm – 11:00pm – Location: The Barn at Gretchen’s House, 2625 Traver Blvd.,Ann Arbor, MI 48105 – Facebook Event

Fifth Friday Fusion Dance – Date: Friday, April 30, 2010 – Time: 8:00pm – 11:00pm – Location: Pittsfield Grange Hall, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48103