An Italian startup called Artinoise has created an different USB-C accessory for mobile devices that turns them into playable philharmonic instruments. The Zefiro looks for illustration a flash thrust aliases a mini vape, but by mildly blowing into 1 end, it tin beryllium utilized to play simulated instruments pinch moreover little accomplishment than what was needed to play those integrative recorders successful people school.
The Zefiro is being made disposable done a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign looking to raise conscionable complete $5,300 to money production. According to the company, “We person been processing and manufacturing philharmonic instruments for years; now we conscionable request to cod pre-orders for our latest creation and footwear disconnected manufacturing!”
Those backing the run early tin preorder a Zefiro for €22 (about $24), while afloat unit pricing is expected to beryllium €42 (around $45), pinch shipping estimated to commencement successful February 2025. There’s besides a €39 (around $42) Pro type of the Zefiro pinch an added accelerometer for much expressive performances.
Image: Kickstarter
The Zefiro isn’t Artinoise’s first product. The institution already sells a digital soprano recorder pinch features for illustration touch-sensitive buttons and wireless connectivity. The Zefiro is simply a overmuch smaller and simplified type of Artinoise’s Re.corder instrument. It strips distant features for illustration buttons truthful it’s mini capable to transportation connected a keychain, but keeps the articulator and aerial unit sensors basal to play.
A performer’s “breath power” is translated to an accompanying Zefiro mobile app that tin simulate the sounds of various instruments, not conscionable upwind instruments for illustration flutes aliases clarinets. The mobile app is disposable for iOS and Android devices and allows you to customize the position and responsiveness of on-screen buttons utilized to play notes. It besides features optional inheritance tracks to play on with, arsenic good arsenic signaling and sharing capabilities for erstwhile you want to show disconnected a peculiarly awesome performance.
The Zefiro besides functions arsenic a standard MIDI upwind controller and is being offered for little than products for illustration the $899 Hornberg MIDI Breath Station aliases Tecontrol’s USB solution that sells for complete $150. You tin link it to desktops and laptops, and it should activity pinch immoderate euphony package compatible pinch the MIDI standard.
The institution moreover sells an add-on “headset holder” for the Zefiro that looks akin to the contraptions utilized to clasp harmonicas. When connected to a instrumentality pinch a USB-C hold cable, it allows hands-free Zefiro usage truthful a performer tin play different instrument, for illustration a guitar aliases piano, astatine the aforesaid time.