This USB-C mouthpiece turns your phone into a musical instrument | TechCrunch

Artinoise, the Italian startup behind re.corder — a smart device reimagining the traditional plastic recorder we all played in school — has introduced its latest product: Zefiro.

The portable device, shaped like the mouthpiece of a recorder, can be plugged into any smartphone, tablet, or PC with a USB-C port, effectively transforming it into a musical instrument.

The Zefiro’s companion app offers around 32 different sound options, allowing them to emulate almost any instrument, from soft-pitched flutes and violins to brassy trumpets, saxophones, and even bagpipes. When the smart mouthpiece is connected, it’s recognized by the MIDI input, and the app displays an interface showing virtual buttons, keys, or wind holes. With lip sensors and a sensitive, miniaturized air pressure sensor, the Zefiro sends breath power data straight to the app, controlling the volume and pitch.

The company announced its Kickstarter campaign on Tuesday to support the launch, with an expected price of €22 ($23 USD) for backers. The expected retail price is €42 ($44).

The Zefiro instrument is being marketed as a MIDI breath controller and a digital instrument rolled into one. This type of product caters to a very specialized, expensive market, where wind MIDI controllers can be quite pricey, sometimes costing up to $900. While there are numerous digital instruments available, they are often also costly.

Zefiro’s companion app distinguishes itself by offering a variety of features, including built-in breathing exercises, sound layering, a looper function, background noises, and the ability to record and share audio clips. The app will be free to download on the App Store and Google Play Store. However, users must buy the Zefiro device in order to access the its capabilities. 

The company plans to introduce new features every two months, including the option for users to upload an image to customize the interface, enabling them to choose where to press buttons and which notes to play.

“Maybe they can put the face of someone they know, the button on the eye, on the cheeks, mouth, or whatever, or invent some kind of different instrument, and putting down the notes that they want to play,” Artinoise founder and CTO Davide Mancini told TechCrunch.

What makes the Zefiro particularly appealing is its design, which allows individuals with physical impairments, like those with respiratory issues, to play music. Mancini explained that the sensor is easy to use and doesn’t require much effort to breathe. Users with limited lung capacity can set the threshold low, so they only need to give a gentle blow.

Additionally, Artinoise plans to sell a separate headpiece so the Zefiro can operate hands-free. This can also work as a complementary instrument for performers who play the guitar or piano. 

By making Zefiro’s technology open source, the company also hopes developers will build other accessibility-focused applications. For instance, disabled users could blow into the device to turn off smart lights. 

The first round of products is anticipated to ship worldwide in late-January and early-February. There are two pending patents in the U.S. and Italy.