Product analysis of guitar amplifier “VOX Mini5 Rhythm”.
Introduction to UX (User Experience)
- Define and understand what User Experience is.
- Develop a frame of reference on the qualities of good User Experience based on the UX Framework.
- Present arguments for what one considers ‘good UX design’
- Identify relevant information from desktop research and use it to support a position
- Consider design and its effects: start to adopt a designer’s perspective on products and experiences.
Product that I am going to write about is an electric guitar amplifier “VOX Mini5 Rhythm”. This amplifier works as following: you connect your electric guitar to an amplifier with a cable and play music. An electric guitar is equipped with a magnetic pickup. It detects the vibrations of the metallic string and converts it into a low power electric current. The current is then sent via a cable to the amplifier and a transistor circuit amplifies this current, so it is powerful enough to drive a speaker. The target group for this product is musicians that are willing to learn how to play electric guitar. The users are mostly amateur musicians who value simplicity of the interface, affordability and ease of use. VOX Mini5 Rhythm amplifier is meant for home practice or playing occasional gigs in small venues. The most relevant characteristics of this device are the quality of sound and the looks, of course, because beginner rock stars always want to be stylish. In this report I will describe why this
product is useful, three usability factors, three engaging factors, why this product is meaningful, draw conclusions about this amplifier and express my own opinion about UX.
I would like to start with a definition of usefulness. Usefulness is “the extent to which a system functions allow users to complete a set of tasks and achieve specific goals in a particular context of use” (MacDonald and Atwood). To say that the product is useful, it has to fit tasks, goals of user and use context. VOX Mini5 Rhythm guitar amplifier is a perfect choice for beginner guitarists. It packs a diverse and qualitative sound in a stylish box with chicken head controls and a brushed metal speaker cover. The box itself is very compact and navigating through its functions is a breeze, so it is very useful for its context of use.
Figure 1 VOX Mini5 Rhythm
First usability factor that I chose is effectiveness. VOX Mini5 Rhythm is compact. Its dimensions are 269mm x 179mm x 267mm / 10.59" x 7.05" x 10.51" and it weighs only 3.5 kg. This amplifier is easy to use, because it has good mapping and also signifiers (See Figure 2). In addition, it has a straight-forward interface.
Second usability factor is learnability. The amplifier is plug and play! However, while you are gaining experience, new functions of this device are discovered. It has a built in drum machine (See Figure 2, Rhythm section), so musicians have a chance to learn how to play together with drums. If you would like to have a different guitar sounds, for example from 80’s or 90’s, it is also possible, because it has a function that allows you to choose a guitar sound that you prefer(See Figure 2, Amp section). In addition, it has some nice effects as reverb, delay, overdrive and chorus (See Figure 2, Effects section).
Third usability factor is satisfaction. As it was already mentioned, it is very compact and for its size it is powerful. Moreover, satisfaction can be achieved through the process itself. Amplifier has a lot of functions, that can allow everyone to discover them, experiment with them and create something new and unusual.
Figure 2 Control Panel
Now I would like to explain why this amplifier is engaging by describing three engaging factors.
First engaging factor is adaptivity. The device comes in 3 different colours – black, milk and vintage brown for the future users to choose from. Moreover, different players have different preferences in sound, music genre, volume. Therefore, if you are into jazz or metal, you can adjust this amplifier based on your preferences. The tempo of the drum machine can be adjusted to fit the skill level of the player, so both beginners and professionals will make use of it. In addition, the adjustable tempo gives
feedback about the experience of the guitarist. If the user cannot make it through the song without missing a beat, he can adjust the tempo and try again.
Second engaging factor is flow. Since the interface is simple, the user does not get distracted by the difficulties of setting the right sound, so he is easily immersed in the music that he produces and in the learning process. The device itself, however, stays in the shadow, invisibly guiding the guitarists to the top of rock’n’roll.
Third engaging factor is stimulation. The satisfaction gained from the experience of using VOX Mini5 Rhythm amplifier stimulates the user to get back to practicing guitar using this device. In addition, the learning process itself serves as a great source of stimulation – when you master a song, you will definitely want to learn another one, a more complex one.
Figure 3 Colour Schemes
The process of learning a musical instrument is very intimate. When a person masters guitar using this product, he becomes psychologically attached to it, so as the time goes, the device will have a special meaning for the user. The amplifier is not just an ordinary household thing like an alarm clock or a chair. It serves a very sacred purpose – it helps to master playing electric guitar and learn music in general. Moreover, the user can compose his own music, express himself through this creative process and since it is all accomplished using VOX MINI5 Rhythm, there is a great sense of purpose associated with this device.
VOX is a famous brand and they first made a compact amplifier with a built in drum machine, which can be powered both with batteries and socket. Music stores retail it as a best choice for learners because it is a standalone product – it outraces the rival products by great extent in most characteristics and also in build quality. Therefore, it is discoverable for musicians, who want to have a powerful and qualitative amplifier for affordable price. However, this device has some constraints. If you decide to take it with you outside, batteries may run low, so you need to be aware of it. In addition, it is not that powerful to play with it on stage in large venues, since it is mostly intended for home practice.
According to the analysis provided above, I claim that the user experience of VOX Mini5 Rhythm amplifier is great. The characteristics of this device provide a pleasant experience. The details are very thought about and the engineering work that was put in this device is admirable. The amplifier is compact, qualitative and easy to use. Moreover, it packs an array of interactive functions such as effects and a drum machine. I would definitely recommend this product to my friends that have always dreamt of picking electric guitar as their new passion.
In the end of this report, I would like to say, that good UX design is achieved by good performance of the product at all the factors and usability categories. Good user experience design is not just great usability, not just good usefulness of effectiveness. For the product to have a good UX design, it has to fulfil all the factors. That’s why this research is conducted in the first place. In addition, a great UX designer has to keep in mind all the above mentioned criteria while developing a product. I believe that for the designer to become a real professional, he must not only learn how to operate with these factors. He must feel the soul of the persona, for whom he is creating a certain product, think like the target auditory and become a user himself.
