• Pod :: Light Panel :: Software •

The SplashPod™ is a portable unit that can be attached to different instruments and provide full control over the learning process. The song being played is controlled by play, pause, AB repeat, fast-forward and rewind buttons and a tempo dial to control the speed of playback. A Bluetooth foot pedal copies these functions giving a fully hands-on learning experience.

The product will be geared towards current 3G phone technology allowing you to download a Java application onto your phone and to search for music files from our database. These files are sent to the pod by a BlueTooth connection from your phone. This unique feature means you can learn your favourite songs in a tent whilst at a music festival, for example.

For USB connectivity, a cable allows you to use your PC to both recharge the battery and to sync and send songs you’ve chosen to learn. Once downloaded to the pod, you can choose which song you want to learn by selecting the file from the SplashPod™ directly . The pod then powers the light panel that’s wrapped around the guitar fretboard and the sequence of notes are lit according to the song information playing, giving you a ‘Simple-Simon™’ method of learning.

The SplashPod™ offers even more functionality other than it’s innovative portability and thin, flexible light panels; the product will also allow you to tune stringed instruments and to use the pod as a metronome.

To tune your guitar, the pod and panel are attached as normal; by placing your mobile phone or PC mic next to the guitar and starting the SplashPlay application, you’re ready to start the tuning process.

Simply pluck a string on the guitar and the software sends a music file to the pod which lights the row of dots on the panel below the string you are tuning. When only one segment is lit and doesn’t flash anymore, the string is tensioned correctly and you can tune the next string. The software automatically detects which string you are trying to tune and simplifies the tuning process without the need to trust your ear. The SplashPlay application also allows you to down tune so you can play blues guitar with an open D, for example.

To use the pod as a metronome, hold down the AB repeat button and the pod sounds a beep. The tempo of these beeps can be adjusted using the tempo dial on the pod.

The SplashPlay concept is truly innovative and unique, even more so by allowing you to jam with your friends. Future releases will allow the pods to be ‘daisy chained’ together on different instruments and for the light panels to be able to sense which dots are being fingered.

A simple example would be to have the pod and panel on your guitar and a friend to have their own pod and panel on a keyboard or piano. If your friend now plays a C chord on the keyboard, their pod sends this to your guitar pod and the panel shows the equivalent guitar C chord. This process may be configured either way around allowing the guitarist to show the pianist chords or riffs, creating a new, fun and exciting way of sharing music with your friends.

Enjoy the power to play and the freedom to learn by interacting with music instead of just being a passive listener. Release the musician within and find out just how enjoyable an instrument can be once you get past the initial frustration of learning the basics. SplashPlay aims to make learning a fun and enjoyable prospect and is aimed at complete beginners to accomplished musicians.