At Syos, our goal is to make playing easier so that all musicians can focus on their creativity and forget the technical constraints of their gear. That’s the mission of our Research & Development team, which is in charge of turning musicians’ needs into innovative products. In this article, we introduce the role that combines technology and music: the Product Engineer.
What it’s all about:
The product engineer is a specialist who designs, develops, and improves products based on several criteria: functionality, aesthetics, ergonomics… Their role goes beyond just creation: they also have to consider user needs and propose appropriate solutions. In the case of musical instruments, the challenge is to create a product that meets the technical demands of each instrument while adapting to musicians' expectations in terms of tone, ease of play, etc.
Here are the main stages of the product development process at Syos:
- Discussions with musicians: an essential step to guide the design process, the goal here is to gather musicians' expectations and analyze their needs.
- Design: Based on those discussions, a set of specifications is written and the design process can begin. It relies on computer-aided design (CAD) software and must take into account the previously identified constraints to offer creative and suitable solutions for each situation.
- Prototyping: Prototyping allows the imagined products to be manufactured and tested in real-life situations. This step is made easier by 3D printing, which enables fast testing of different configurations and adapting the product based on feedback from musicians.
- Testing and adjustments: Prototypes are tested by musicians, who share their impressions of the product. These tests lead to adjustments in terms of shape, materials, aesthetics…
The product engineer: a driver of innovation
Thus, the engineer contributes to various types of innovation:
- Improvements to existing products: There's always more to learn about mouthpiece internal geometry. A new idea for a baffle shape? It’s the perfect opportunity to test it with musicians and get their feedback on new tones. Innovations can also involve the mouthpiece’s aesthetics or its fit with the rest of the instrument…
- New accessories for saxophone and clarinet: saxophone plugs, reed holders, mouthpiece protectors… All these accessories were designed in collaboration with musicians to simplify their daily routines.
- Designing new products for new instruments: A 3D-printed didgeridoo, customizable trumpet mouthpieces, a colorful violin with a unique tone… The future of Syos products might be in that list!
Musicians at the heart of the design process
Each of these innovations is made possible thanks to close collaboration with musicians: at every stage of the design process, they help ensure that their expectations are properly addressed and help the product evolve according to identified needs. A wide range of methods are used:
- online surveys
- phone or in-person interviews
- analysis of musician feedback on our existing products
- direct testing of our products in our Paris studio following a well-defined protocol
By working hand in hand with musicians, the product engineer contributes to the evolution of musical instruments.
Read also: how one of our tests on clarinet sound was conducted and the results
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