Iron Musical Instruments Design · 2020
Shatron Mute for Trumpet
by Altempo Design Research Group
- A' Design Award 2020 Iron Winner in Musical Instruments Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: CIAUD - Research Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Design
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 39,433
- Verification code 2C89B1B4D7 · Verify this award
About Shatron Mute for Trumpet
Shatron is a modular mute for the trumpet. The mute softens and warms the tone, producing sounds that are less strident in the high register than those of metal mutes. The support structure is made by three dimensional printing with a polymeric filament reinforced with carbon fiber, which gives rigidity and durability. Ten wooden panels of different densities form the walls, so the sound can be adjusted to the player. The wood comes from small offcuts of furniture production that are usually discarded. The form follows the pyramidal roofs of early Russian churches.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Shatron is a modular trumpet mute system based on simple geometry. Shatron is a product of high musical performance joined to ecological responsibility, as it benefits from fine wood scraps used furniture production. Many wood industries lose material that, being too small, is neither recycled nor reused. As many of the best woods are dense, hard and widely used in the construction of musical instruments, these scraps can be an excellent opportunity to system designing in music field.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The trumpet mute system is 150 mm high x 84 mm width and 80 grams. Although the chord has frequencies similar to those of straight metal mufflers, in high register, the sound is less strident. Shatron is a trumpet muted instrument able to produce softer and sweeter sounds than normal metal mutes, highlighting the prompt response and allowing the musician to produce easy passages without smudging. The possibility of configuring muting using different types of wood makes the product flexible even for the most demanding audience.
- Tags
- Musical Instruments, Design Networking, Trumpet Mutes, Brass instrument, Innovative Process
- Production Technology
- This trumpet mute system has a support structure produced by three dimensional printing technology using polymeric filaments reinforced with carbon fiber, which guarantees great rigidity. The walls of the structure are made of wooden sheets of different densities, guaranteeing the possible customisation of the sound and according to the needs of the trumpeter.
- Design Challenge
- Each Shatron trumpet mute system can be composed of different types of wood, depending on the type of sound the trumpeter wishes to achieve. The structure, created using the three dimensional printing technique, and the use of a polymeric filament, reinforced with carbon fiber allow to achieve an articulated and resistant structure. This research project aims to demonstrate that this type of mute system can be extended to other musical instruments of metal family.
- Project Duration
- The project was produced entirely in the north of Portugal. The structure was printed in the creative space, Double Concept Bar in Viana do Castelo. The small wooden panels were produced from remnants of furniture production produced by Paredes' Moveis Aja companies. Rui Pedro Silva of Atelier Rps Aveiro performed the acoustic configuration. For two years, several trumpeters, especially teachers and students of the Arteam Professional Music School of Alto Minho tested the prototypes. Finally, also Renderixphotos and Ponto de Vista Audiovisuais were involved.
- Operation Flow
- The trumpet mute system is a straight, the type of trumpet most used by trumpeters. The choice of wood offers a warm tone that is completely different from metal mute systems. The polymeric structure reinforced with carbon fiber offers more resistance and, therefore, greater durability.
- Research
- This trumpet mute is the result of a research project based on the reuse of productive wastes from the furniture industry.
This project also aims to demonstrate that territorial networks create information tracks and guarantee the flow of materials, technologies and processes of design driven innovation. - Inspiration
- Shatron is an iconographic element from the early 14th century, widely used in religious architecture in the North of Russia. It is a geometric hipped roof with sharply pitched incline rising to the top to cover churches. Shatron's pyramidal geometry develops sound quality, reflecting and improving its uniformity. The structure is filled by ten wooden panels. As Pitagoras states having reached ten revert again to the unity. In addition, number ten refers to the Commandments of God.
- Image Credits
- Main Image: Photographer José Pedro Melo
Option image#1: Photographer José Pedro Melo
Option image#2: Photographer José Pedro Melo
Option image#3: Photographer José Pedro Melo
Option image#4: Photographer/Videomaker Flávio Cruz (Ponto de Vista Audiovisuais)
Video_Shatron: Photographer/Videomaker Flávio Cruz (Ponto de Vista Audiovisuais)
Colors of Shatron Mute for Trumpet
Design Interview about Shatron Mute for Trumpet
Shatron is an iconographic element from the early 14th century, widely used in religious architecture in Northern Russia. It is a geometric hipped roof with sharply pitched incline rising to the top to cover churches. Shatron's pyramidal geometry develops sound quality, reflecting and improving its uniformity. The structure is filled with 10 wooden panels. As Pitagoras states having reached 10 revert again to the unity. In addition, 10 refers to the Commandments of God representing harmony.
Our goal was the sound quality, for a muted sound it's very important!
this whole project lasted almost two yearsT
This is a research project and begins with the need to use the remains of the mibili industries to create products with quality.
We have a company interested in marketing the product, we will see in the future ....
The choice to create something different but with objective qualities
We are four and each of us carries his influences ...
In the case of Shatron it is the musicians, in particular those who seek a different and personal sound but always of quality
The concept of Shatron is unique because it allows each muting to be personalized, which is why I don't think it has direct competitors.
Shatron is this tent-shaped roof system which characterizes the religious buildings of Russia and which gives rise to the concept of our product.
Computers, 3d printers, laser cutting machines, carbon fiber but also cutters, scissors, glue and many pieces of wood
During the experimentation phase Shatron was tried by about 20 trumpeters and everyone helped us a lot. At the end of the process everyone said it was an incredible product.
During this project we collaborated with 2 furniture industries, a luthier, a graphics industry, two 3dprinting companies, a video production company and clear our Polytechnic of Viana do Castelo!
Technology is important in building bridges, therefore linking creative thinking to production.
Research has developed into experimentation with musicians and the search for quality sound.
Designing with music and for music is a great challenge, always!
When we realized that Shatron was and is a great project!
Each of us learned a lot from this project, it was a fantastic process and ends with an incredible prize!
Wait for the next Altempo Design Research group project!