The Jam

Music Vertical Research

Client: GoPro
Skills: Prototyping, CAD, Industrial design , Testing

Project Scope: To create a music appropriate mount capable of clamping onto a variety of instruments including mic stands, drums, and guitars, without causing damage.

Project Requirements

Safely attach a mount to an instrument without causing damage (pads).
Strong enough to securely hold a camera at proper location through typical and non typical music activities.
Discrete (small)
Quick to install
Easily adjustable
Lightweight
Appropriate to music category

Technical Goals

Pads with Gription! (oh yah...it's a word) More sticky requires less clamping force. Less chance of rotating.
Create and test the largest extension arm we have ever made
Reduce slippage on finger joints
Play well with existing GP products
Doesn't break on stage in front of a crowd

Prototype Prototype

Based on features defined through our music research I translated those ideas into physical models testing several forms, materials, and mechanical designs.

Solution

The final design was reminiscent of a guitar capo with added features born out of our research findings. A non slipping/ non marring material called Bump-On by 3M was found to use on the clamp jaws and in internal clamp surfaces to prevent movement.

The mount required several axis of articulation but yet easily adjustable by the user.

The finger joints needed to be redesigned to accommodate the increased forces caused by the longer extension arm. The results of this study would go on to improve our understanding and the performance of all future mounts.

Why the range?

•Angled guitar heads
•Instrument angle relative to horizontal plane
•Microphone shot
•Drum rim angle
•Supports don’t easily move
•Quicker set up (no unbolting)

Use Cases

Beta testing

As in most cases prototypes were sent home with core users and tested. That information was collected and and used to validate our final design.