Digital Pitch Changing instead of mechanics?

[Robert B Murphy]

Digital pitch shifting algorithms only have to go so far as to fool our brains into thinking no information has been lost so I guess that's a low hurdle to clear.

I now get where your emphasis on string isolation comes from as the algorithm doesn't have to deal with polytonic (other than harmonic) signals.

I think a scanning laser diode, scanning at a rate faster than say 20 kHz, would have the most promise. It's annoying to me that this implies obstructing the string over the top somewhere. I love my Rick and Electar horseshoe magnets but I love having palm access to the bridge too. The only coupling would be vibrations through the body and that's a solvable mechanical problem.

The B3 comes to mind here. Hammond has abandoned the motorized tone generator now in favor of all digital. If I had to lug one around I would surely want a new one but I still love to see and hear the old battleships with the leslie.

Update: After looking at the price of laser diodes and optical detectors on Digi-Key I think using some kind of piezo to deflect the beam is too complicated and that having a couple of sources and detectors might give enough information to get an accurate signal from each string. I think it amounts to shape detection of the string arc.

[Michael Brebes]

I saw this and just had to tag it into the discussion. No pedals and no player!
https://impactsoundworks.com/product/pedal-steel/

[J D Sauser]

I saw this and just had to tag it into the discussion. No pedals and no player!
https://impactsoundworks.com/product/pedal-steel/

[Andy DePaule]

Here is an Interesting effort on youtube by a fellow named jt de haan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PO2Q-mqcyo