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NEWS: Innovations in Violin Recording

The Digitaize String Module, an innovative product for string instrument recording and performance that launched today at the NAMM industry show.

Queen’s legendary recording of “Bohemian Rhapsody” was famously multi-tracked, with more than a hundred separately layered audio channels layered in some sections. This meticulous studio work – often involving individually and separately recording the strings of an electric guitar in different passes – presented an immensely rich recorded sound…and a formidable obstacle to recreating that studio sound in live performance. New innovations in violin recording technology promise to break down these barriers in classical music.

Today, at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) industry trade show in Anaheim, CA, Digitaize launched two products: the Digitaize String Module and Smart Violin. The String Module is an electronic add-on product transforms any traditional acoustic violin or viola into a hybrid acoustic-digital instrument, enabling seamless integration into both studio and performance settings. Among other features, it allows built-in recording, sonic adjustments, encoding MIDI, and applying audio effects.

The compact and lightweight module mounts beneath the fingerboard with minimal interference to the acoustic body, preserving the instrument’s natural sound. It opens up new possibilities for creativity, allowing musicians to use their violin as a MIDI controller to trigger virtual instruments such as a drum kit in a DAW. With motion tracking, players can tilt the instrument to control parameters like a synthesizer’s cutoff filter or a reverb’s dry/wet mix, introducing an entirely new level of creativity and expression.

A screenshot of the control software for the Digitaize String Module and Smart Violin, showing settings that can be preset by the player, or tweaked by an engineer during performance or recording.

In addition to its MIDI capabilities, the module features two built-in microphones — a digital MEMS microphone and a pick-up — that deliver high-quality, uncompressed audio. Using the proprietary WAM mode and the included Digitaize USB-Receiver, users can wirelessly connect to their computer for ultra-low latency audio and MIDI transmission. This allows musicians to capture sound directly into their DAW, eliminating the need for cables and additional sound equipment.

The Digitaize Smart Violin, roughly analogous to hybrid acoustic-electric guitars but with additional electronic features, integrates all the capabilities of the String Module into a finely crafted acoustic instrument, offering an all-in-one solution for musicians. Acoustically based on Stentor violins, the Smart Violin combines the warm tone and playability of traditional acoustic instruments with the state-of-the-art digital functionality of Digitaize. This all-in-one instrument merges tradition with innovation, providing musicians with a ready-to-play solution for both performance and recording. Each Smart Violin comes complete with premium accessories, including bow and case.

Key features of both the String Module and Smart Violin

  • Patented Sensor Fingerboard: Tracks finger positions with high resolution and strings independence for ultra-precise, polyphonic pitch-to-MIDI conversion.
  • Built-in Wireless Microphone System: Delivers high-quality, uncompressed audio directly to your DAW with ultra-low latency.
  • Motion Tracking: Use the instrument’s movements to control parameters like synth filters or reverb levels in real-time.
  • Seamless Connectivity: Offers reliable wireless audio and MIDI streaming, ideal for both live performance and studio recording.
  • Direct DAW Integration: Connect using the proprietary WAM mode (Wireless Audio + MIDI) via the included USB Receiver or directly via Bluetooth MIDI. Dedicated software included.
  • Rechargeable Battery: Provides over 7 hours of uninterrupted use on a single charge.

Both products ship with Digitaize Connect, a software application that bridges the Digitaize String Module and Smart Violin to digital setups, serves as a central hub for receiving MIDI and audio from the instruments and routing it to any target software. MIDI data from the instrument (including all built-in sensors) can be easily controlled and sent either via Bluetooth MIDI or WAM Mode (including Wireless Audio Streaming). An additional  VST3 plugin routes the signal from the on-board microphones directly in any DAW, enabling seamless integration for live performance and studio recording. The sender-receiver architecture and the proprietary WAM mode ensures ultra low-latency performance and high-quality wireless audio.

In addition to managing audio and MIDI data, Digitaize Connect includes tools for instrument calibration, preset management, and system updates. The intuitive interface allows musicians to tailor settings to their creative needs, supporting greater precision and flexibility in both performance and production.

Both products are available initially from European distributors.

  • Digitaize String Module: €799.00 (incl. VAT)
  • Smart Violin: €1,990.00 (incl. VAT)

Digitaize is a branch of C. Bechstein Digital, a leading German entity in electronic sound production.

Amy Donahue
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