In music, everything seems to have another digital, electric life. Pianists can play with different voicings on an electric keyboard. Guitarists can filter their instrument’s signal through a pedal or amp to create various effects. Why shouldn’t violinists be able to digitally harness the sound of a Stradivarius? For starters, it takes an incredible feat of engineering to capture the authentic sound of a violin. David Schulman takes us to visit a top violinmaker who has been working with a physicist and two engineers to create a prototype digital violin.