Showcasing the String Armonica: Live Demo of Our New Electro-Acoustic Synthesizer

We are thrilled to showcase our new prototype: The String Armonica. This new electro-acoustic synthesizer employs electromagnets to resonate twelve distinct strings. Using the power of harmonic resonance, we’ve managed to design it to play up to 48 notes of full polyphony using a MIDI controller. All the sounds that this instrument produces originate solely from the vibrations of the strings themselves. Nested within the body of the instrument lies a a polyphonic synthesizer, which outputs notes that resonate the strings and they’re octave harmonics. The String Armonica works differently than how a guitar sustainer works. In a sustainer (Sound Stone, Ebow, etc), it will resonate a string regardless of its tuning. In order for the String Armonica to correctly work, the strings must be tuned so that they match the resonant frequency of the internal synthesizer. By adjusting the tuning pegs, you’re able to “voice“ the loudness of each octave and can make certain octaves louder than others or of equal volume. When you listen through headphones, the stereophonic output becomes evident as one set of strings is panned to the left and another to the right, creating a rich, immersive experience. However, a monophonic option is available as well. The name of the instrument, “The String Armonica,“ pays homage to the rare Glass Armonica, an exquisite crystal glass instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin. The resemblance in the sound produced by our instrument to that of a Glass Armonica is very similar which is why we thought of this name. In our improvisation demonstration, we explore the instrument’s potential by adjusting the volume with an expression pedal and using the mod wheel of the MIDI controller to generate a staccato tremolo effect. It’s important to note that this is a prototype. In its current state, it may appear a bit rough around the edges due to several adjustments and changes we’ve made along the way. The final manufactured version will be significantly more refined and less crude. For those interested in owning one of these innovative instruments, we encourage you to add your name and email to our pre-order list. Once we are ready to commence manufacturing, we will send you additional information and a purchase link. Here’s the pre-order link: We appreciate your interest in our creation. Best, Will from Merkaba Electronics