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DOC 2025-06
PocketSession: A hypothetical pocket-sized music production assistant
Prototype link
Part 1
The Starting Point
I’m a musician
I wanted a tool I’d actually use, and one that would be coveted by other musicians
So I started by talking to another producer—someone who works the way I do: fast, mobile, laptop-first. Here are some pics of his studio:
I wanted a tool I’d actually use, and one that would be coveted by other musicians
So I started by talking to another producer—someone who works the way I do: fast, mobile, laptop-first. Here are some pics of his studio:
tap to view
Key insights from the interview:
- produces music anywhere; studio, dinner table, car. Doesn't need a dedicated space.
- laptop is the only tool he needs; records TikToks on his phone, but production happens in the DAW.
- main frustration: interruptions kill flow: "intrusive thoughts, spark dying due to interruption"
- creative blocks come from repetition; "gets bored listening to the same things, needs to explore different things"
The Problem
When inspiration hits, opening an app or stopping to notate chords breaks momentum. Ideas die in the time it takes to context-switch.
Part 2
The Concept
capture musical ideas without breaking flow.
Core features:
- Voice-activated recall - "What was that chord progression from the other day?" retrieves saved ideas
- Automatic chord detection - Press button → play music → device identifies chords in real-time
- Instant MIDI export - Plug into laptop → export to DAW → keep producing
Rather than adding another app to an already cluttered workflow, PocketSession is a dedicated physical tool that lives in your pocket and stays out of your way until you need it.
Part 3
Design Exploration
to explore how a device like this could feel playful while remaining functional.
tap to view
The industrial design draws from retro tech aesthetics