Review – When I was very young, I discovered the music book my mother used when she was a child in piano lessons. I use these books to teach myself to play a few songs on the Baldwin piano in our living room with little help. Later I became interested in the guitar and taught myself how to play it. Then came the banjo, and then the ukulele. I’m not saying that I play very well, but I like to wander around and even compose my own tunes. When I stumbled upon Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 and immediately thought it would be fun to try. let’s see.
What is it?
Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 is a digital instrument/MIDI controller for iOS, Mac and PC. Sorry Android.
What’s in the box?
- Artiphon instrument 1
- Lightning to mini USB data cable
- USB-A to mini USB data cable
- Power Adapter
Design and features
Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 looks like a futuristic Ukulele. But on closer inspection, you will notice that although it does have frets, it does not have any strings.
INSTRUMENT 1 comes in black (like the one they sent me) and white. It is made of plastic and is 23.5 inches long.
At the back end, there are two stereo speakers and a control button that can adjust the volume when you turn it, and switch between 4 user instrument presets (guitar, violin, piano, drums) when you press it. Next to the knob is the flip panel. Since INSTRUMENT 1 does not have any strings, you cannot play it like a traditional stringed instrument. What you have are 6 rubber-covered fins, which are lifted so that you can play or press them.
Then you have the fretboard. It may be cordless, but it is sensitive to pressure. 6 “strings” are embossed on the 12-fret fingerboard. Although it is not easy to see, the product number is marked on the edge of the fingerboard.
You will also notice 2 arrow buttons at the end of the fingerboard. These arrow buttons are capo buttons. If you are familiar with stringed instruments such as guitar, ukulele and banjo. You can place the capo on the character to increase the pitch. You can do the same thing with these buttons. Each press of the capo button will place a virtual capo on one of the 12 frets.
On the side of Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1, you will find a power button, power LED, power/charging port, headphone/microphone jack and a mini USB connector for connecting to a personal computer with iPhone, iPad, Mac or Windows. Sorry, Android peeping.
On the “stock” and headstock of the instrument, you will find the attachment points of the shoulder straps. I wish Artiphon actually included a band in the instrument because it was a bit slippery. In other words, you can hold and play INSTRUMENT 1 like a traditional stringed instrument, or you can place it on a flat surface and play like a piano.
application
To start making music with Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1, you need to connect it to an iOS device, Mac or PC using the included cable. You also need a software interface, such as Ableton Live, Pro Tools, GarageBand, Logic, MainStage, FL Studio, Bitwig, Cubase, etc.
I tested INSTRUMENT 1 with the iPhone 13 Pro Max and used the easy-to-use INSTRUMENT 1 app, but on the other hand, there are an amazing number of music settings that allow you to customize each instrument. If you want to learn more about the settings, there will definitely be some learning curve, but you can also plug it into your phone, launch the app and start playing. The Auto-Strum instrument options are great. See the video below for an example.
The only thing missing from the INSTRUMENT 1 app is a way to record music. But, of course, you can use apps like Garageband.
See and hear it in action
what do I like
- Fun and easy to play
- The whole band in one instrument
What will i change
- Add support for Android
- Add recording function to INSTRUMENT 1 app
- Including a strap
Final thoughts
If you are a musician or not a musician at all, I think Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 is an interesting instrument that anyone can use to make music, even if they have never played an instrument before. If you are a musician, you can do some very fashionable things with this instrument. I like it to be portable, easy to use, and timeless!
Price: $299.00
Where to buy: Atiffin with Amazon
source: The sample of this review is made by Atiffin.
