Manufacturer of unusual digital musical instruments, Artiphon (USA) first introduced itself in 2012 with the presentation of the digital musical instrument – Instrument 1, which used the computing power of the connected iPhone to create music. Its latest innovation is the Orba portable synthesizer.

Orba combines compactness and power of sound. According to the company’s press release, the minimalistic design of Orba is “something between the game controller and half an orange, and its sensitivity to touch turns simple finger movements into music. Orba is a new and exciting way to create music anywhere, even if you’ve never played an instrument.

Orba comes with a set of samples and has Drum, Bass, Chord and Lead modes. Eight capacitive touch panels can register gestures such as pushing, sliding and vibrating, and motion sensors inside trigger various effects when the player tilts or shakes the device.

The instrument is battery powered and has a built-in speaker, so players can create rhythms anywhere, as well as connect to mobile devices and computers via Bluetooth MIDI or USB-C. Orba is compatible with iOS, Mac, Windows and Android operating systems and will work with all major recording programs, including GarageBand, Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools and FL Studio.

There’s also an accompanying application that lets you customize your instrument/sound, upload your recordings to other music applications, or share your own music on social networks. Orba is available on Kickstarter for $79. If the campaign proves successful, deliveries will start in April 2020.

Share it