Otto Musica Artino Practice mute For violin/viola

I've used those rubber practice mutes in the past. I'm sure most of us have done so because of the low cost; after all, you get what you pay for, right? Because I share a room with a roommate who enjoys watching TV in her room, I knew the rubber one wouldn't suffice. When I bought it, I was pleasantly surprised to find it in a small plastic box with foam cutouts all around it. It comes with a small storage case. I was eager to put it to the test, so I placed it on my bridge gently. I played a note while wearing my tuner (which detects vibrations). Surprisingly, my tuner insisted that I was on the right track - It was not skewed in any way! I started playing a song and was pleasantly surprised at how well this mute actually mutes the tone. The tone remained unchanged in quality. I tried a small test by having someone stand in the living room while I played in my room. You could hear me playing with the bedroom door open, but it was very quiet. With my bedroom door shut, you could barely hear me play, and you'd only know I was practicing my violin if you knew what I was playing! br>br>With this mute, I am extremely impressed and pleased. I also like how it barely touches the bridge, which means I don't have to worry about it damaging it. While it is heavy and can sometimes obscure the view of the bow on the strings, I believe it is excellent and crucial to my progress as a student. I don't have to worry about my roommate hating me if I practice more often. I'm able to practice while still hearing the right notes. br>br>Thank you so much for this fantastic mute. I'm overjoyed that I bought it.

Elian Powell

| Sep 04, 2021

It does a good job of reducing the sound to a level that is suitable for practice. My house has thin walls, and I was once overheard while using the less expensive rubber mute. br>br>I bought it because I don't have air conditioning and am frequently awake at night with the windows open, so I needed something that only I could hear. THIS IS THE END OF THE MUSIC. This silence? br>br> I could mess around with the bedroom doors (they're right next to each other). You wouldn't be able to hear me if the door was less than 3 feet (1 meter) open. It's THAT good at muffled sound. On the outside, it appears to be plastic/rubber, but on the inside, there's a metal plate that gently rests on the bridge and muffles the sound to the point where you can only hear it if you're right next to it. The rubber mute was sufficient for the most part, but was still quite audible as a beginner who is embarrassed to have others hear the horrible sounds I make. This mute, on the other hand, eliminates the possibility that anyone outside of your immediate vicinity will hear it. If you live in an apartment, what are your options for entertainment? This mute is a must-have for you! You'll never hear a complaint from a roommate, much less a neighbor, if you play hard enough. That's how good it is! br>br>Also, for those wondering why it doesn't go all the way across the bridge? It isn't necessary. Please believe me when I say this. When I first put it on, I was skeptical, and I could see right through it. Between mute and bridge, there is a lot of empty space. It is a total, 100% non-profit organization. issue. br>br>Give it a shot. What if you have a different opinion? I'm not sure you'll get your money back. It's more expensive than the cheaper mute I originally purchased, but the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can practice as much as you want without disturbing anyone (you could probably play in the same room as someone sleeping and not wake them) is well worth it. If you're looking for a suggestion, br>br> Get a cheap rubber mute for when the time you play or anyone POSSIBLY hearing you doesn't matter, but get this if you even think someone could hear you and it could be a problem. This is not going to be a problem!.

Ermias FINCH

| Jun 28, 2021

This is effective! I live in an apartment and am learning to play the violin for the first time. I chose this mute because it's metal (better for lowering volume, according to what I've read), but it shouldn't harm the violin or bridge because it's rubber coated. I had to make a few changes. That was accomplished quickly by loosening the two screws and widening the spaces with a flathead screwdriver. The "prongs" in the middle had to be widened the most, as seen in the photos. Although you can see that I over-widened the outer prongs, it still works perfectly. Also, the prying caused minor damage to the rubber, but it's minor. The bridge does not allow it to go all the way down. If that bothered me, I suppose I could work on it until it stopped bothering me. Although the sound has been greatly reduced, I am still able to hear and correct my errors. I'm guessing my neighbors can't hear my terrible first finger notes because the sound isn't even as loud as some phone ringtones. My fingers are easy to see, but the bow is more difficult to see due to the mute. Fortunately, I've spent enough time practicing proper bowing that I'm no longer required to look at the bow as much. For someone who has trouble with the bow, it would most likely be a problem.

Nyla Morris

| Sep 27, 2021

I ordered the Artino mute after purchasing a lightweight rubber mute that did not appear to be very effective. It's made of metal that's been covered in rubber. That, I assume, is to prevent the mute from falling off and damaging the instrument. It is a perfect fit and does not appear to be at risk of falling off during normal use. It is much more effective than a plain rubber mute in my experience, and it cost less than $15 US. It performs as expected, is well-fitting, and will suffice for the time being. Because I am just learning to play the violin, I could benefit from even more muting (electric violin, perhaps), but this mute is of excellent quality and performs as expected.

Amaya Merrill

| Jun 17, 2021