The Zefiro is an Ocarina of Time-inspired, USB-C powered thumb drive-sized instrument. But I have a few practical questions

You're probably a gamer like me and have always thought, "It would be cool to learn to play the ocarina...if only I had the motivation and time." This is probably more about my own unique blend of Legend of Zelda damage, but for me a USB-C powered peripheral has recently made this thought louder.

Artinoise, an Italian company, has just unveiled the Zefiro device. It is a MIDI controller that supports apps and features a wind instrument twist. (Via Hot Hardware). Plug the Zefiro dongle in the USB-C port on your phone and then plug your mouthpiece into the other end. This will allow you to control musical tones using your breath.

The accompanying app is free and offers a variety of synthesised instrument to play, as well as audio effects and the ability to play along with background music. The Zefiro is capable of creating musical tones that would sound right at home in Zelda’s Lullaby.

The crowd-funding campaign for Zefiro, a playful, novel piece of kit, has already surpassed its original funding goal on Kickstarter. There are still a few weeks left to pledge EUR29 and get your Zefiro. Artinoise is known for its quirky digital instruments, like this one. They've also tried to give the recorder a digital makeover, which has been a scourge among schoolchildren everywhere.

If you've wondered why you had to learn the recorder in high school, this video by Answer in Progress provides a great overview and musical food for thoughts.

According to their Kickstarter campaign, Artinoise aims to "merge timeless joy of music [with] the convenience of modern [technology] [in order] to offer] accessible [music]-making to everyone."

The Zefiro thumb drive's dimensions and price are in line with this noble goal. You know, I may just end up buying a wind instrument.

But I have a pressing question: how do you clean the Zefiro? Some brass instruments have a valve that helps to reduce the build-up of 'condensation.' The shape of wind instruments allows for this 'condensation.'

Where does all the Zefiro's stuff go? Artinoise directly addresses this concern in their Kickstarter FAQ. They write, "Zefiro is a closed-cavity for the breath pressure sensors, which means a very small pressure is required to play it." This will result in a smaller amount of saliva and condensation.

The FAQ suggests that musicians use "absorbent perfume testers" for cleaning the Zefiro's mouthpiece if they are still worried about condensation. Speaking of securing moisture, I'll need to practice my stirring rendition of Song of Storms.