HI EVERYONE, I discovered a new electronic harmonica . Chris
Graham, has designed a prototype of a new electronic instrument
with a harmonica-style interface that might interest you. His site is:
http://www.photonwindresearch.com
His email is chris_e_gr@xxxxxxxxx, and a description is below.
..............here we go again!!!!!!!
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The way the harmonica works is as follows:
You grip the lower sides of the mini instrument between the "heels"
of your
hands. You can move your fingers on both sides in and out.
A right looking sensor measures the distance of the right palm/
fingers from
the side of the instrument. Moving the fingers closer and farther
from the
side of the instrument is equivalent to moving the harmonica back
and forth
across your mouth. It feels quite natural as a way of moving over the
"virtual holes".
The lip sensor measures how tightly you are squeezing your lips,
which is
equivalent to narrowing or widening your embouchure to cover more
or less
holes. Tight squeeze plays one hole. Increasingly looser gives
you more.
Sucking and blowing gives you the upper or lower row of holes.
Each hole is treated as, in effect, a little wind controller that
gets it's
amount of the virtual air based on how hard you blow, the position
of your
right hand, the tightness of your lips, and whether you are blowing or
drawing. The amplitude and pitch of each hole is routed to a
separate sound
generator, so it's polyphonic and the chords sound just like a real
harmonica.
The left hand sensor measures the distance of the left hand from the
instrument. This can be use for vibrato.
The combination of the above gives a very natural feeling basic
harmonica.
It sounds very realistic to play and is quite intuitive.
In addition, the oral cavity sensor could be used to sense the vocal
gestures that create blow and draw bends, overblows etc. (although I
haven't programmed that part yet).
Overall I think it will give a pretty amazing emulation of harmonica
playing.
(And just by changing a patch you can change the whole instrument
into a
mini trumpet, a theramin, etc.)
I haven't set pricing but the basic mini instrument will be much less
expensive than a WX5 or EWI.
Le me know your thoughts on the above playing style. I may need
harmonica
beta testers.
Watch the windlist and my website for updates. I'm thinking of
setting up a
blog and a forum to keep people informed enable feedback.
- Chris