StringStation advances the new science of Digital Sound Modeling to allow the expressive dynamics of human touch on strings to be the catalyst for any sound imaginable. It also introduces an intricate 3D resonance factor that reveals itself in surround to make an atmospheric soundfield completely unique. These, among many other custom innovations reveal the StringStation as an exciting new prospect for future musicians, producers and surround listeners...

Plucked strings are an actual three dimensional event happening in real space-time that is captured in the recording process, focusing and amplifying its natural hyper-stereo image. The StringStations custom array of magnetic pickups are placed at harmonic 'hot spots' on its groups of strings. It allows cascading ripple effects of one note harmonically 'exciting' the resonance of many others each having its own independent sound, output and position in the surround panorama. It reveals an immense natural 3D sound stage that has never been heard or harnessed before... The StringStations design gives intricate computer control that results is a rich, distinctive, animated surround sound that offers a fresh new place to discover music and sound from.

The StringStation is a life spanning passion artistically. Although it is fundamentally a recording effort, it's live presentation is also very interesting. I have worked up performance skills with it and am performing demonstrations on stage. The completed StringStation will articulate a deeper resolution of music and composition. It's all about human endeavor, evolution and artistic communication, there are so many new elements awaiting within it that will be brought out with its construction. I look forward to finding support to build and for surround recording to begin. Once the instrument is built and implemented, I know that an unprecedented and beautiful music will occur.

I'm inspired by creative freedoms and convictions I've seen in the lives and works of such diverse people as Da Vinci, Galileo, Hendrix and The Beatles. This is a rare sonic expedition that utilizes talents and fascinations as a recording artist, engineer ...and a musician.

I hope these ideas attract like-minded artists and friends to join in and push through boundaries of known music, both in surround recording sessions and imaginative live multimedia performances- designed to engage and inspire.

WHAT : The Stringstation is a custom 40-string music instrument designed to allow tactile strings to advance future music in Surround Sound.

WHO : Developed by Passport / Audion recording artist Jim Bartz. Bartz was signed as a guitarist pre-StringStation by Larry Fast of Peter Gabriels band while he was an engineer/producer at one of the midwests premier recording facilities.

WHY : Discoveries in the late night recording studio led to invention of this stringed instrument that could be split into a matrix of separate outputs, allowing the 3D resonance and layering of many different sound colors from one source with the ability to play bass, rhythm, melody and orchestrations simultaneously with two hands.

WHERE : In Seattle.

HOW : The StringStation utilizes every playing technique known to stringed instruments and many new ones evolved from the combination of 3 customized 8-string steel guitars, one 6-string, a 10-string Chapman Stick.