Bronze Musical Instruments Design · 2021
Aurora Synthesizer
- A' Design Award 2021 Bronze Winner in Musical Instruments Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Arena Design Academy
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 40,875
- Verification code BBC623CE86 · Verify this award
About Aurora Synthesizer
Aurora is a synthesizer that uses a green laser beam to control sound effects and filters. The laser replaces the touchpads and sliders used on many similar instruments. The player interrupts the beam by hand, and the changing beam length adjusts the frequency of the selected sound. A multi-touch screen shows settings and status and displays a virtual keyboard for playing. Knobs, sliders and buttons control the oscillator, filter, amplifier and modulation sections. The body is made of ABS plastic by injection molding.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- In this synthesizer, a laser is used to control the effects and filters. In fact, this creative method has replaced touchpads and sliders to control sound effects. In addition to increasing the ease of use and speeding up the composer's action, this laser is attractive and has a visual beauty for audience and composer during a performance. An enjoyable and different experience while performing or composing. Aurora also has a touch screen for easier settings and status display for the composer.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions: 380 x 340 x 48 mm
Weight: 2.7 kg
TECHNICAL PROPERTIES:
EFFECTS: Bit Crash, Fuzz, DIST, Pitch Shifter, PHASER, FLANGER, Tempo sync, Panning Delay, DELAY, LOW BOOST, Reverb, Knobs: Control 1, Control 2
OSC SECTION:
Oscillator Waveform: SAW, SQUARE, PULSE/PWM, TRIANGLE, SINE, NOISE, SUPER SAW
Knobs: PITCH, DETUNE, Envelope
Sliders: Pulse Width, Pulse Width Modulation,
Envelope: Slider: Attack, Decay
AMP:
Knob: Level
Envelope: Slider: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
FILTER SECTION:
Filter Type: LPF, HPF, BPF, PKG (-12 dB/-24 dB)
Knobs: CUTOFF, KEY FOLLOW, RESONANCE, ENVELOPE
Envelope: Slider: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
LFO SECTION:
LFO Shapes: TRIANGLE, SINE, SAW, SQUARE, Sample
Knobs: PITCH, FILTER, AMP, FADE TIME, RATE
OTHER:
OUTPUT SECTION: Knob: Volume
EXIT IN SECTION: Knob: Level, Buttons: ON, TYPE
LASER SECTION: Buttons: Laser 1, Laser 2, Shift
TONS SECTIONS: Buttons: Tone (1-6), Switch, Tone Copy
Phrase Recorder: User: 8, Number of Track: 1
Sound Generator Section
Display: Touchscreen LCD
PORTS:
Micro SD Reader
USB: USB A-Type, USB B-Type, USB C-Type,
MIDI: Thru, Out, In
OUTPUTS: R port, L/Mono port
INPUTS: R port, L/Mono port
MIX IN, Sync - Tags
- Aurora, Synthesizer, Synth, Musical Instrument, Electronic music, Electronic Instrument, musical user interface, electronic musical instrument,
- Production Technology
- The body of the product is made of ABS plastic by injection molding method. The laser is produced by a generator. The laser is directed to the beam for the composer to access. The length of the laser beam is set with the frequency of each sound by a processor, and as the length is reduced by the composer's hand, the frequency of the sound set with it also changes. The screen is multi-touch and allows you to play the digital keyboard.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge is to upgrade the product to increase the quality of composing more easily and quickly. Using laser technology and instantaneous processing of its length for use in the product. Setting laser beam with sound indicators to control effects and sound filters for sound generation and electronic composition.
- Project Duration
- Project duration was about 24 months: 2019/2021
- Operation Flow
- Aurora is an electronic musical instrument that, like all synthesizers, generates audio signals. But the way it works is more attractive. At the head of the Aurora, there is a laser beam that is automatically set with the sound of the section. You can change the type of sound by placing your hand in the path of the laser light and interrupting the path and increasing or decreasing the length of this laser beam. By pressing the laser buttons 1 or 2, you can copy the type of effect or filter you want to control by the laser. The shift button also allows this to be done instantly. On the other part of the Aurora, there are knobs, sliders and buttons of oscillators, effects, filters, AMP, LFO and other adjustment buttons for tuning and composing. Some settings are also available digitally by touching the touchscreen. The screen is multi-touch so you can easily and professionally use the virtual keyboard displayed on it.
- Research
- Most of the research part of this project is about matching a set of quantitative data with another set of continuous quantitative data. The process that helps to use the laser and match the quantitative characteristics of the sound with the length of the laser beam.
- Inspiration
- Aurora is a synthesizer. This synthesizer uses a green laser to control effects and sound filters. This green light is reminiscent of the bright rays of the aurora borealis in the dark of the night. The name of this product is derived from this natural phenomenon. Aurora is an innovation in the world of electronic music that can create a different experience for a composer while performing.
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Creator Mohamad Montazeri, Aurora, 2021.
Image #2 : Creator Mohamad Montazeri, Aurora, 2021.
Image #3 : Creator Mohamad Montazeri, Aurora, 2021.
Image #4 : Creator Mohamad Montazeri, Aurora, 2021.
Image #5 : Creator Mohamad Montazeri, Aurora, 2021.