Synth Violin + Cardboard Octet

An Introduction to the Music of Ben Mason

The Performance

Start with one part live improvisation; combine with one part experimental digital composition. Add a twist of playful imagination and shake for a refreshingly approachable and original experience. While at times true to the classical sound of the instrument, some performances leave the confines of soft harmonies to traverse into newly charted territory; distorted surreal choruses of cascading digital glitches and fractured harmonics. With no two performances being just alike, Ben’s Digital Octet offers something new for listeners of many tastes.

The performances consist of two parts: the stream of sound coming from the instrument, and the responsive chorus of eight distinct voices generated by the computer. Entirely live, the performance happens much like a duet between two musicians. As the stream of sound enters the computer, it is molded instantly in real-time according to a pre-composed program. The computer harmonizes and extends the sound into a virtual environment, producing echoes, rhythmic textures, sonic landscapes, wild gyrations and creative morphings of the live instrumental. The computer’s complex expressions are entirely spontaneous and reactive, occurring always in tune to the performer with original sounds so that no two performances are exactly alike.

The Violin

Ben performs using a custom made Jensen six string electric violin. This differs from both classical and traditional electric instruments in several ways. Most noticeably the instrument follows a striking minimalist design. It is a solid instrument crafted without a body, allowing for greater freedom of movement for position work and sweeping harmonic notes. The instrument possesses the range of both a traditional violin and it’s cousin the viola, and goes beyond both with a low "F" string for deep sounding bass.

Essentially silent, the violin uses twelve piezo pickups to drive its electric voice. Two crystals per string capture a stereo image of the sounds as the instrument is bowed or plucked, producing warm tones of surprising depth and clarity. Diverting from traditional electric instruments which are generally monophonic, the violin produces a polyphonic output. Capable of powering six separate signal channels, it has a single output for each string. Apart from its progressive design and concept, the instrument’s ebony and flame maple still project an identifiably classical style both in sound and visual appeal.

The Cardboard Octet

The Octet consists of eight lightweight, easily transportable cardboard speakers. At only nineteen inches tall these speakers pack a warm acoustic sound into a comparatively little space. In contrast to traditional speakers that only project forward, they radiate sound in all directions realistically producing the rich expression and presence of an acoustic ensemble. The speakers themselves are based on a piezo actuated flat panel design; meaning that a piece of electrically reactive plastic drives vibrations into the sound body, much like an acoustic guitar is driven by its strings to make sound.

To command these speakers Ben uses a portable soundcard, similar to those found in personal computers. Housed along with the amplifiers in a small suitcase, it does a double duty; both translating the violin signal from it’s analog format to the computer’s digital one, and reversing the operation to create the eight individual signals as composed by the laptop during performance. The system offers a massive amount of flexibility, allowing for the fluid adaptation of the final mix. It outputs studio-quality line-level signals, and can be adapted to nearly any venue or playing condition. Bypassing the cardboard octet system the performance can be patched directly into a live mixing console, or even used to drive a theatre-based THX surround sound system.

© 2006 Ben Mason. Questions, contact webmaster@tekkind.com