‘stepping out of the slate’ by yamaha design laboratory 

 

In recent years, thanks to advances in information technology, new music experiences and accessories are now offered by various smartphone applications. While these services are highly convenient for replacing traditional devices, Yamaha Design Laboratory believes there is still a longing for more substantive and tactile interactions that cannot be achieved with touch panel operation. Therefore, the creative team proposes four prototypes for new music devices that work symbiotically with smartphone apps: TurnT, Winder, MusicLight, and RhythmBot.

 

‘When you listen to your favorite music, when you want a little sweet background music before going to bed, when you wish to play relaxing background music, or when you are playing the guitar and want an accompaniment to set the tempo – how would you like to start the music playing?’ writes Yamaha. Read on to learn more about each gadget.

yamaha stepping out of the slate proposal for new music devices that work in symbiosis with smartphone apps 1

TurnT – placing the stylus on the displayed vinyl to play

 

 

turnt and winder 

 

The first product by Yamaha Design Laboratory, TurnT, is a record player for smartphones. Users place the stylus on their mobile screen, which acts as a record, for music to start playing. They can swipe up to change songs or albums and even reposition the stylus. ‘The step of carefully placing the stylus over the record will bring back the nostalgia as well as the solemn respect to the music you are about to play,’ shares the company.

 

Winder, meanwhile, is a key designed to function like a music box. When the key is wound up, the song picked on the smartphone begins to play. Sound movements are generated according to the flutter of the spring, allowing users to enjoy the unique sound texture; interacting with the key may also lead to a more intimate musical experience. 

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the smartphone screen becomes a record

 

 

MusicLight and RhythmBot

 

Moving on to its third product, MusicLight, Yamaha writes: ‘Listen to music as you gaze into a candle flame. Light up a candle to start music playing from your smartphone. The sound wavers subtly with the flickering of the flame, and when the flame goes out, the music fades away with an afterglow. Like listening to a song around a bonfire, the flame flickers in unison with the sound, creating a rich atmosphere.’  

 

Finally, the RhythmBot is an evolutionary form of a metronome that supports performers while playing their instruments. The product features four small robots, each playing a unique acoustic sound. The bots can sync with a smartphone and attune to the tempo being played, or even accompany the player in real-time.

 

 

yamaha stepping out of the slate proposal for new music devices that work in symbiosis with smartphone apps 4
the Winder has a main spring inside and synchronizes with a smartphone

yamaha stepping out of the slate proposal for new music devices that work in symbiosis with smartphone apps 5
like a music box, the Winder plays while it rotates

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MusicLight

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lighting up the candle will get music to start playing from a smartphone

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RhythmBot set attuning to the player

 

 

 

 

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project info:

 

name: Stepping out of the slate
design: Yamaha Design Laboratory

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom