SOMA Laboratory - DVINA

SOMA Laboratory, the company behind innovative electronic instruments such as LYRA and PIPE,
is once again breaking new ground & exploring new sonic territories. Soma Laboratory has a new instrument in the pipeline (in addition to the upcoming PULSAR-23 organismic drum machine).

This new instrument is called DVINA. It's such a radical step for Soma, that the company is first seeking feedback from the public before putting it into production.

This is what it looks like:

DVINA (laboratory prototype)

“We want to show it to the world to get an idea if there is a market for an instrument like this,” said
Vlad Kreimer, the designer of DVINA. “If the reaction is positive, we can start mass production.”

DVINA is the first electro-acoustic experiment created by Soma. This unique string instrument was
inspired by classical Hindustani music, but lends itself to Western music just as well. References
include the bowed instruments - the Sarangi and the Dilruba which have more in common in spirit, than in design.

The DVINA produces a similarly full, warm and organic sound using modern technical innovations.

This DEMO video shows DVINA's construction and possibilities. 

A key feature of DVINA and its sound is that there is no pick-up inside. Instead, the electric signal
is taken directly from the strings that vibrate in the strong magnetic field of a neodymium magnet,
hidden in the neck. Sound is generated by strumming, plucking the strings (pizzicato) and by
playing with a bow (not included). DVINA has a minimalist design – no one part can be removed

without losing the functionality of the instrument. 

The length of the neck is 88cm, and the scale length is 52cm. The instrument weighs 1.2kg. The DVINA in the demo video is tuned C#, G#, but other tunings are of course possible. You can also use strings with a different gauge. Aside from the wooden body, an integral part of DVINA is the special step-up transformer that boosts the weak signal from the strings, enough for further processing.

After the transformer, the signal is ready to be put into stompboxes, mixer or a guitar cube.
The final part of DVINA is a custom built high quality pre-amp with one-tap delay and a soft distortion in the delay’s feedback. This is the pre-amp used in the demo.

You can of course use your own processing chain instead, but the Soma pre-amp does play a role in shaping the unique sound of DVINA.

Like with Soma's other instruments, there are some underlying concepts to DVINA.
There is the minimalism in design, and the link to the Hindustani tradition's meditative roots that can help the contemporary person focus on his/her inner state. 

 

“Two sticks, two strings, no frets, it's as simple as possible, everything unnecessary has been removed,” said Vlad. “It's only you and your spirit, mastery and imagination. This is a very simple but powerful instrument, with a strong connection to your body.”

DVINA is lightweight, small and very portable. It's actually the only bowed instrument that can be assembled from pieces that can be folded into a compact container.

“This instrument is perfect for the 21st century cultural ninja-spy, who travels alone with little luggage, is hopeful, flexible and completely independent, trying hard to still be a human in a complex time of impetuous changes.”

PRICE: The main part (wooden DVINA + step-up transformer) will cost in the range of 200-500 euros, while the pre-amp/delay/distortion unit will be around 200-300 euros. The exact price will be known once SOMA has a better idea of the market interest and the volume of production.

If you're interested in this kind of instrument, please let SOMA Laboratory know at omhohom@gmail.com

PS:
DVINA is also the name of a major river in Russia.
" (The) Northern Dvina River is the major river of the North zone of  European Russia and the White Sea basin. The river irrigates the Vologda and Arkhangelsk region and drains into Dvina Bay in the White Sea. Along with the Pechora River to the east, it drains most of Northwest Russia into the Arctic Ocean.

PSS:
Spotted at a Prodigy concert on their instagram account

The Lyra-8