DIY MIDI-Controlled Robotic String Instrument

Instrument maker Frank Piesik created this unique MIDI-controlled robotic string instrument, Greg’s Harp.

The instrument takes incoming MIDI, analyzes it and translates the notes into signals to control actuators on three strings. The instrument uses multiple types of exciters, allowing for flexible performance technique. Pitches are controlled by ‘robo-fret’ tuning mechanism.

“Greg’s Harp is a new string robot I made for my friend Gregor,” notes Piesik. “This is my first attempt to combine three string units to make a polyphonic instrument.”

You can find details about this hardcore DIY project at Piesik’s site.

8 thoughts on “DIY MIDI-Controlled Robotic String Instrument

    1. Admin: The ‘related articles’ links should be for posts related to this page. It’s not as sexy as AI, it’s showing links to pages with closely-related topics.

      So showing a preview for the Hurdy Gurdy MIDI System makes complete sense.

      1. Couldn’t agree more : )

        Well, I watched the video and thought Oh this is a Hurdy Gurdy, a MIDI Hurdy Gurdy of sorts… Then read the text, and finally noticed the link below it. Upon that, I read the text again, and yes there were no Hurdy Gurdy keywords in it.

        Thus, for a split second, I thought, if this site is using an algorithm for the selection of relevant links, like many other sites do, it should be a mighty one, doing image analysis etc., something above text similarity.
        Then I awakened and thought, Oh come on, Occam’s razor, it’s most probably a nice human admin who took their valuable time to find and post relevant links.

        That was the basis of my question…. It (I mean my question) was half a half joke anyway.
        Thanks for the reply though : )

    2. Couldn’t agree more : )

      Well, I watched the video and thought Oh this is a Hurdy Gurdy, a MIDI Hurdy Gurdy of sorts… Then read the text, and finally noticed the link below it. Upon that, I read the text again, and yes there were no Hurdy Gurdy keywords in it.

      Thus, for a split second, I thought, if this site is using an algorithm for the selection of relevant links, like many other sites do, it should be a mighty one, doing image analysis etc., something above text similarity.
      Then I awakened and thought, Oh come on, Occam’s razor, it’s most probably a nice human admin who took their valuable time to find and post relevant links.

      Hence my question…. It (I mean my question) was half a half joke anyway.
      Thanks for the reply though : )

      1. Trying to sen again

        “Couldn’t agree more : )
        Well, I watched the video and thought Oh this is a Hurdy Gurdy, a MIDI Hurdy Gurdy of sorts… Then read the text, and finally noticed the link below it. Upon that, I read the text again, and yes there were no Hurdy Gurdy keywords in it.
        Thus, for a split second, I thought, if this site is using an algorithm for the selection of relevant links, like many other sites do, it should be a mighty one, doing image analysis etc., something above text similarity.
        Then I awakened and thought, Oh come on, Occam’s razor, it’s most probably a nice human admin who took their valuable time to find and post relevant links.
        Hence my question…. It (I mean my question) was half a half joke anyway.
        Thanks for the reply though : )”

  1. I love the dynamic way the friction rollers can engage the string. The resulting sound has a nice acoustic “grunge” effect.

    If the “frets” could also move freely, one could imagine three-note chords that glide from one to the next.

    I love it!

    And not to take away from the splendid craftsmanship this puts on show, but I could imagine an emulation of this in software. Sculpture or one of the modeled instruments from AAS could probably do something in the same ball park with some careful programming.

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