Mobius
A guitar, a synthesizer and more.
8 weeks personal project, summer 2020
Discovery
Guitar synthesizers are inconvenient
Most guitar synthesizers are a bunch of modules connected together. In order to tweak the settings, you have to squat down or step on the controller modules while performing. It’s very inconvenient.
Guitarist producers don’t have the right tool
Most MIDI synthesizers are in the form of a piano. However, producers who are also a guitarist want to get access to music production without learning the piano.
Guitar Techniques
Guitar is a very versatile musical instrument. It’s more than the 6 strings. With all the different techniques ( fingerpick, strum, hit, bend, slide, harmonics, tremolo, palm mute, etc.), it could even become a percussion.
For this project, I’m going to design a guitar with a built-in synthesizer, and with the way a guitar is meant to be played.
User Scenarios
Practicing
Finger friendly, no more fear to touch thin strings made of steel or nylon
Music Producing
A guitar-looking MIDI controller with the way a guitar is meant to be played
Live Performing
Plug-in and ready to rock, no more synthesizer modules on the floor
Inspiration
Cyberpunk/Solid/Easy touching
Initial ideations
Embed synthesizer to a guitar.
I need a guitar that feels it’s from the future, with midi controls on the front panel.
Refinement
Simplified interface, better form to hold.
Interface design
I divided the front panel into different sections, and added minimal colors. The graphics provide emotional visual effects for live performance, also help musicians memorize the positioning of the controls.
Since this guitar doesn’t follow the traditional sounding mechanism, I replaced the strings with force-sensitive buttons.
Mobius
The next gen guitar synthesizer