Jump to content
  • 0

Interview for the Designers of S series

Rate this question


bigbrother

Question

Here is a interview transcript for the designers of the Sony NC S series player, they did not talk deep about technologies, as they just want the consumers to know the general making of the MP3. During the translation i even needed to borrow some lines from Sony site, uncertain whether they did this in Japan or not, but i only found the Chinese version. They have also designed the NW-A series too.

1 Clear Stero and Clear Bass are our new technologies

Project manager: For a full stero experience, music is meant to be enjoyed independently by two ears. But many players fall ashort, losing balance and leaking sounds from channel to channel, ear to ear. With the combination of Clear Stero and Clear Bass technologies, S700F series is the most perfect portable audio device, it carries our ultimate message and goal: enjoy music to its purest and original sound.

2 A portable audio device that has a in built NC function, this is a such specialized product, agree?

Project manager: A long time ago Sony has already invented the NC technology, we actually sold the NC techology as NC earphones. To supply the NC earphones for any walkman is something very easy for Sony to do. However NC earphones normally carry batteries and NC controls on the unit, this is very incompatiable with the fashionable look of the player, therefore we decided to build the NC function into the player itself.

3 Wish you guys the best!

Engineer: It is very hard to build the NC function into the player. The problem is the shape of the earphones plug. The usual NC earphones, which have two small microphones built into the outside of each earpiece to monitor external noise, the noise are analysed, reversed and reduce up to 75% of the noise. But the standard earphone plug is not suited to have two mic on either of the earphones

Project manager: I can not accept any idea which will increase the size of the earphones and the player, i need a suitable NC earphones design that can go well with the player.

Engineer: Therefore we have modified the NC earphones plug to suit a small walkman, if you like the stock earphones, then you can enjoy the music with NC result. Of course you can use your own favourite earphones, so that the player can carry the NC function along with the compatiability of other earphones. The player handles all the signal processing, so that you can adjust the mic using the menu selection.

Project manager: After you use the NC function, you will realize that for so long we have listened music in such noisy environment. To me NC is not optional but a must have property of a player. We certainly hope more people enjoy this way of listening to music.

4 Project design: all of the members feel crazy towards such impressive look, this is the most perfect walkman

Designer: We wanted to use the "music image" concept of the NW-A series for the design of NW-S700F. We don't think everchanging is such a good idea, design was not done on a piece of paper or just a plain computer image. It is a very special player that no word can describe, we had a 3D model first, so everybody had a idea how the product may look.

Project manager: When we saw the beautiful model of the player, we gave our approval without a second thought. The design and look of the player gave us the motivation to develop further and tackle on any obstacles.Thus overcoming the earphones plug problem and not only the player has a in built active NC function, but you can even use other earphones.

Engineer: To put the look and the function all together in the player, the layout of different parts in the player was the hardest compare to other walkman.

Function is more important than the look

Designer: Good design should allow all of the functions to appear on the outside of the player. We focused on the position of jog/shuttle button, how vol, hold for examples should be allocated. The reason to use jog/shuttle is so that operation can be done using one hand, also it fits the 3D look of the surface, as well as increase the precison of control.

Project manager: all of the designers they use walkman too during everyday listening, it is always easy for us to find spots to be improved.

Engineer: We use the same techniques for sun glasses making to do the surface of the player. So that it can look smooth and clean, it fits the screen and buttons.

Project manager: we continue to use OELD on the player, this is the Sony signature design, the player looks transparent and we even put some colors for the screen to show album arts.

5 From A series to S series

Designers: We seriously reflected and reviewed upon the experience of making NW-A player. Sometimes we would receive harsh comment, for example:"why it takes Sony so long to design players"......to be honest we need time to accumulate our knowledges and techniques. Therefore this time S series is the result of our extensive reflection and we have put the best of Sony walkman features all together to make it. We cannot evolve walkman that easily and quickly.

6 We want you to enjoy everyday music on the S series player, there is a great difference

Project manager: If you still haven't purchased the player, let me tell you another little detail. This particular player is a summary of the best Sony walkman features so far. It can also play ATRAC、MP3、WMA、AAC and the new ATRAC Advanced Lossless, which will let you enjoy CD quality music.

Project manager: please try the NC function, you will hear a completely different sound, just to bring you guys such function, we went through so much trouble.....

Engineer: Hey trouble? This is not a lucky word for us hehe

Project manager: Our Sony creative team's ultimate goal is to make the impossibles into possible easily, no sweat hehe

We gather here today because we want to give our effort and time for something worthy. We have finally overcome all of those problems which slowed us and made us hesitating. We truly believe that even if you are bored with music, this player will refresh your interest

I still remeber when i was in primary school, the first time when i was using a walkman, i felt so excited and emotional. Nowdays many people can use DAP easily, we hope that through our player, people can once again find that new and surprised feeling

visit_01.jpgvisit_02.jpgvisit_03.jpgvisit_04.jpgvisit_05.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

They worked hard for the product, great effort from Japan as always, Japan has the best electronic products all these time, they look so proud and confident, once again a perfect product from Japan, keep it up and walkman is still the best no matter what. Btw i feel it's easier to read Japanese than English, would it be possible for u to provide the link?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thanks for the little insight. I am sure the guys can be very proud of themselves. They put out the ultimate blend of design and technology with the s7 late last year. cramming that much tech and powerful soundstage in such a tiny, high tech package is a great achievement. While form factor dictates some compromise on ui it´s still one hell of an accomplishment only true engineering skill can put out.

I have used ipods and was very happy with them until s7, a8 changed my mind despite of problems with sonic stage. I only wish that Sony had been more daring with a8 design and feature set. Certainly inclusion of fm radio as on the s7 and nc feature would have been feasible. I also would have wished for design elements of s7 to make their way onto a8. Anyway, I am sure this will happen for xmas season.

What I want to see is: 2in qvga oled screen, fm radio with recording, nc, "sun glass" design in spqr purple and it´s a 10/10.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

There is no japanese version of S series interview as far as i am aware of, i can't say whether there is a english one, but i haven't read one yet in any fan sites or offical site, if there is one, then i would like to have a detailed read since this is only translated

S Series Link

There was another interview I read when NW-S700 series was just released on jp.sonystyle.com but I can't find it anymore.

Edited by Zizone
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Answer this question...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...