'Stringless' Guitar, Kurv, Launches on Kickstarter

'Stringless' Guitar, Kurv, Launches on Kickstarter

LONDON, November 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

    The future of digital instruments aims for $50k crowdfunding success

    Kurv Guitar [http://kurvguitar.com ] launches today on Kickstarter, with early bird
packages starting from $185. The patent-pending Kurv was developed by a pioneering team
with experience in electronic music research, artificial intelligence and product design.
 

    The Kurv consists of two parts - a button board where you press chords and notes, and
a pick. The pick contains a sensor that recognises strumming movements, just like playing
on a normal guitar.

    The Kickstarter page can be found here
[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kurv/780297766?token=a2cbccd3 ].

    The Kurv Guitar has been designed as a 'stringless' digital guitar that allows anyone
to learn and play songs using touch, motion and gestures. Applying cutting-edge research
from Goldsmiths, University of London and the University of Sussex, the device combines
advanced music synthesis software, sensor technologies and machine learning to enable an
unprecedented level of 'new musical expression'.

    Dr. Mick Grierson, co-founder of Kurv and Reader at Goldsmiths Department of Computing
commented, "For the first time, we can run advanced music synthesis engines on your mobile
phone. When you combine this power with wearable technologies and machine learning, you
can develop new musical instruments that were considered science fiction only a few years
ago."  

    "The guitar is one of the most popular and best selling musical instruments in the
world. But, learning the guitar takes time, commitment and is tough on the hands. The
design of the Kurv started by looking at the ergonomics of hands. The co-designer of the
Kurv, Tania Fauvel, who comes from a background in body-scanning, said, "We started by
looking at large surveys of people's' hands. Your fingers can comfortably touch eight
distinct places on your palm. In western music, there are eight notes in an octave, eight
notes in a scale and eight chords in a key."

    John Kennedy, Co-Founder of Kurv and former President of Universal Music International,
added "Many people who listen to music aspire not just to be passive listeners, but would
like to be playing as well. Many people buy a guitar and work on it for four weeks and
then it sits in the corner as a piece of furniture. We hope the Kurv can change that."

    For those who would like to create new musical instruments using the Kurv - whether it
is a snare drum, viola or an Indonesian angklung - a software development kit is also
being released.

    Kurv specifications 

       
        1) Compatibility: The Kurv is compatible with devices running iOS 8 or later (must
          have Bluetooth 4.0, BLE)
        2) Weight: Kurv: 35g Pick: 21g
        3) Sensors: gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, touch pressure sensors
        4) Dimensions: Kurv (Medium): 45mm x 86mm x 45mm; Pick: 50mm x 55mm x 15mm
        5) Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, BLE via iOS/Android app
        6) Battery Life: 5hrs+ of continuous use
        7) Supported protocols: MIDI, OSC

    Editor's notes 

    High-resolution screenshots, logos and team bios can be found here
[https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ygl3yh73zk5uir3/AADA5cN41GzpCs2iRPyQDMY9a?dl=0 ].

    For more information on Kurv please visit their Facebook
[https://www.facebook.com/kurvguitar?_rdr=p ], Twitter [https://twitter.com/kurvguitar ],
YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbEVE-sXYnNCZCFE-FltdA ] or website
[http://kurvguitar.com ].

    About Kurv 

    Kurv is a London based music-tech startup founded in 2014 that develops instruments
for "new musical expression."

http://kurvguitar.com/

CONTACT: Contact Details: Will Campbell Mobile: +447455938681 Email: will@kurv.io