Compact Rackett-like Flute (Rev 1)

thingiverse

Consider joining my YouTube channel for exciting VR/360 tours of video game maps: https://youtube.com/mintyfries. This is the first edition of a flute instrument designed to produce a rich, coiling sound chamber, resulting in a lower register despite its compact size. Measuring like an ocarina, it sounds more like a traditional recorder due to its unique acoustic properties. The instrument's closest relative would appear to be the Renaissance Rackett instrument, a double reed wind instrument featuring wooden tubing coiled into a spiral shape. I previously attempted to create one using a Dremel tool but didn't make significant progress. 3D printing greatly simplifies experimentation with design variations. This is just my initial attempt at crafting such an instrument – expect improvements like a dual-chamber duet flute in the near future. For now, I've focused on functionality rather than tuning, and the 5x2" version produces sounds similar to those found in Indonesian music. However, the fingering system proved challenging for me to master, particularly when trying to play it by laying my fingers across the holes as with the mijwiz instrument. If you encounter issues while printing this design, try using an X-Acto knife to smooth out imperfections within the wind chamber or on the labium. Even slight protrusions can disrupt sound quality or render it inaudible. I encourage you to build upon this concept and push its boundaries – compact coiled wind instruments remain largely unexplored territory. The design could work seamlessly with various sound sources, including double-reed (oboe or shawm), single-reed (clarinet or mijwiz), or free reed (hulusi) setups. Feel free to experiment with different types of openings at the instrument's end – a recorder fipple, notched groove like the shakuhachi, or an open hole like the fife could all work effectively.