Using a Smart Mouthpiece, You Can Play Music on Your Smartphone

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By connecting to your smartphone’s USB-C connector, the Zefiro, a clever little MIDI controller, effectively transforms it into a playable musical instrument.

One of the most inventive devices we’ve seen in a long time is the Zefiro, created by the Italian startup ARTinoise. Although the tiny, vibrant mouthpiece appears to be a vaporizer, it is much more than that. It’s a MIDI controller that connects to the charging connection of your smartphone and uses an app to transform the handheld into a range of playable instruments, including violins, the common flute, and even fantasy sounds. The Zefiro’s lip sensors and air pressure sensor allow it to provide breath power data straight to the app, which can then be used to change the sound’s length, volume, and harmonics. You can efficiently play the instrument with your fingers as you lower into the mouthpiece thanks to keys or air holes that are displayed on the smartphone’s screen.

The Zefiro, which was marketed as a digital instrument and MIDI breath controller combined, made its Kickstarter crowdfunding debut and quickly exceeded its modest goal of slightly more than $5,000. By the time of writing, 1,552 backers have pledged over $83,000, making it a huge success.

Kickstarter donors should anticipate paying €22 for the Zefiro smart mouthpiece when it launches early next year, while the general public can anticipate paying approximately €42. Both prices can be seen as fairly reasonable given that other digital instruments and MIDI controllers can cost up to $900.