Why Soundventure uses Zemic strain gauges for their digital handpan

Soundventure Ltd. opens up new horizons in the world of percussion, they have developed a digital handpan; NEOTONE. This is an electronic version of a traditional handpan, which is a type of percussion instrument known for its soothing, melodic tones.

NEOTONE digital handpan sensors detect hit strength, static pressure and position simultaneously. This makes it possible to play not just one, but several tones within each tone field depending on the position, that adds to the real magic of the acoustic handpan!

Load cells are placed under each striking surface in the digital handpan, to detect the pressure changes. To build these unique load cells, Soundventure Ltd. needed highly reliable strain gauges and therefore they contacted us.

At Zemic Europe we were excited to participate in this challenge. A new application for our strain gauges, in the world of music!

We are happy that Soundventure Ltd. has succeeded in developing a digital handpan of great quality with our strain gauges.

Zemic Europe & Soundventure Ltd.

• Digital handpan; premium quality high-end instrument for an amazing sound
• Provides you with unlimited freedom to unleash your creative energy
• High quality strain gauges with the appropriate resistance tolerance
• Experienced engineers who design custom made strain gauges
• NEOTONE is a great success in the world of drum pads

How Zemic Europe advised Soundventure Ltd.

Using our strain gauges, Soundventure Ltd. developed a unique load cell specifically for this instrument, which is attached to the striking surfaces using a vibration dampener.

The acoustic sound of a digital handpan varies greatly depending on where it is struck, which is why three load cells are used under each striking surface. This allows to precisely determine the position of the strike and press, which is necessary for selecting the appropriate tone. Since the NEOTONE is a premium quality high-end instrument, the use of highly reliable sensors is especially important. A large number of load cells are built into the instrument to detect both static and dynamic pressure changes and each one must have a long lifespan and withstand millions of strikes.  

Soundventure Ltd. specifically mentioned the following reasons for choosing Zemic strain gauges; 

• affordable price
• high reliability
• resistance tolerance within the required limits
• relatively low gauge resistance to minimize the electronic noise.

Which Zemic strain gauge is being used?

Strain gauges are usually installed on a surface to measure applied force. Given the specific requirements, Zemic has developed a custom linear strain gauge that is suitable for this application.

Zemic has a specially equipped sensor department, for the design, sampling and production of custom made strain gauges and force sensors. Daily, 325 engineers are working on special custom made force sensor and strain gauge solutions. We consider it a challenge to develop the best weighing solution for each project.

All of our strain gauges are produced according to the OIML R62 regulations and the RoHS environmental directives. You can find more information about our strain gauges; like the different types and characteristics, here:

More about the NEOTONE

NEOTONE is manufactured by Soundventure Ltd, located in Budapest, Hungary. The instrument came to life from a dream of two friends who wanted to create a digital handpan. It started as a love project and after a few years of development, the company was founded in 2021 with the support of international handpan makers.

Benefits: 

• The instrument comes with 6 full unique handpan scales and offers the possibility of creating custom scales. This feature provides you with unlimited freedom to build any scale you've dreamed of.
• NEOTONE can be seamlessly integrated into any musical environment, making it easy to blend the unique sound of the handpan into various styles. 
• The instruments are fully customizable, whether it's the sensor characteristics, or the unlimited possibilities of MIDI mapping.
• You can compose music or practice without disturbing anyone around you. Even children can play music with NEOTONE, unlike acoustic handpans, which can be difficult for them.

So we can say that the digital handpan offers a high-tech alternative to the traditional handpan, expanding its capabilities while preserving its unique sound.

Soundventure Ltd. first developed a beta version of the instrument which is shipped into more than twenty countries worldwide. Both professional collaborators and amateur musicians were amazed by the beta model and based on this positive feedback the first official NEOTONE digital handpan models are created.

Soundventure Ltd. is the first in the world to use strain gauge-based sensor technology in a percussive digital instrument, which, based on feedback, has been a great success in the world of drum pads. 

Would you like to know more about the NEOTONE or hear the sound?

Your weighing expert is ready to help you

For all your questions about the integration of (custom-made) strain gauges, load cells and force sensors or miniature sensors, please feel free to contact our weighing expert:

• https://www.zemiceurope.com/en/contacts