A revolutionary smart shoulder rest for violinists and violists.

Arrives Q4 2025.

Premium design & materials

A New Way to Play

The ASR is a premium boutique shoulder rest that connects to your smart phone using Bluetooth to control its sonic and haptic features, revolutionizing how violinists practice, learn, and perform.

Loaded With Advanced Features

ASR Studio App

The ASR Studio App offers a powerful suite of tools to integrate the ASR into your practice routine. It features a highly customizable metronome, allowing you to precisely adjust the sound and feel of the beat for a tailored rhythmic experience.

Award-Winning & Patented

Backed by Research

An early prototype of the ASR was a finalist at the prestigious Guthman Competition at Georgia Tech. Matter Squared received $30,000 in non-dillutive funding through the Lab to Launch Pitch Competition at Arizona State University, a program supported by donors who champion innovation within the university's engineering schools.

refined ergonomic comfort

Sleek and Streamlined

The ASR is surprisingly lightweight and compact, despite the on-board electronics and advanced technological features. It fits a range of instruments inclucing 3/4 and full sizes violins, as well as violas up to 15".

Years in the Making.

Patented Innovation

Our core technology is protected by issued and pending patents, so what's unique about the ASR stays unique.

International Recognition

The ASR has been featured in major outlets including Electronic Sound Magazine, showcased at the prestigious Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, and highlighted in ASU Thrive Magazine for its originality and impact.

Designed at ASU

The ASR was developed at Arizona State University, one of the nation's leading innovation hubs. Years of research, engineering, and cross-disciplinary approaches shaped the foundation of the ASR's design.

Early-stage Funding via Competitive Grants

The project received $30,000 in seed funding through ASU’s Lab to Launch Pitch Day, a program supported by donors who champion innovation within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU.

Field-Tested Performance

This isn’t just theory—the ASR has gone through multiple prototype cycles, each one tested, refined, and improved for real-world use and durability.

What is the ASR?

  • What is the ASR, and how does it enhance my playing experience?

    The ASR is a Bluetooth-enabled shoulder rest with built-in haptic feedback, designed to revolutionize how violinists practice, learn, and perform. It allows you to feel rhythm and resonance through haptic vibrations, stream music and backing tracks directly via Bluetooth, and enhance muscle memory and coordination through tactile rhythmic reinforcement. Whether you’re practicing solo, refining your technique, or exploring new musical styles, the ASR adds an entirely new sensory dimension to your playing.

  • Is the ASR a Bluetooth speaker?

    Yes, but it’s also much more than that. The ASR contains both a speaker and an actuator, which serve different functions. The speaker works like a traditional Bluetooth speaker, playing sound that you and others can hear, while the actuator generates silent vibrations that you can feel. These vibrations enhance rhythm training and allow you to experience sound physically. The ASR Studio App features a precise balancing system, which lets you adjust how much of the sound is sent to the speaker versus the actuator.

  • Who is the ASR for?

    The ASR is for everyone—kids and adults, beginners and professionals alike. Whether you’re just starting out or an advanced musician, the ASR enhances learning, rhythm training, and creative exploration for all skill levels. Beginners will benefit from its ability to reinforce timing and technique, while experienced players can use it to experiment with backing tracks, different music styles, and advanced rhythmic precision.

Learning and Practice Tool

  • Can the ASR replace my metronome?

    Yes. The ASR is a more effective metronome for violinists because it uses haptic vibrations instead of sound, eliminating auditory clutter while reinforcing timing through physical sensation. Since the vibrations travel through the instrument and into the fingertips, it enhances rhythmic awareness in a way that traditional metronomes cannot. Research shows that haptic reinforcement improves muscle memory and timing, making the ASR a powerful tool for both beginners and advanced musicians.

  • Does the ASR work with all metronome apps?

    Yes. The ASR connects via Bluetooth, allowing you to use it with any metronome app that supports audio streaming. Additionally, the ASR's panning system lets you fine-tune how much of the metronome click is sent to the speaker versus the actuator. This means you can choose to hear the click, feel it as vibrations, or blend both for a customized experience.

  • Can I use the ASR for silent practice?

    Yes. The ASR is perfect for silent practice with a muted violin. The haptic feedback helps keep rhythm, even without sound, making it an excellent tool for maintaining timing and engagement during quiet practice sessions.

Musical Styles and Accessibility

  • I've been trying to get into popular music. Can the ASR help with that?

    Absolutely. The ASR is a fantastic tool for violinists looking to explore pop, electronica, and beat-based music. It features built-in loops that can be used alongside a curriculum (currently in development), or you can simply stream music directly to it via Bluetooth. This allows you to experiment with new sounds while maintaining your classical technique.

  • Is the ASR helpful for people with special needs?

    Yes. The ASR supports individuals with a variety of special needs, including autism, ADHD, and those who are hard of hearing. Haptic feedback has been shown to improve focus, coordination, and engagement by providing a tactile learning experience. The ability to feel rhythm instead of just hearing it makes the ASR particularly useful for those with auditory processing challenges or who benefit from multi-sensory learning methods.

  • Can I control the ASR with my phone and/or tablet?

    Yes and yes! The ASR has a companion iOS App that lets you adjust haptic feedback intensity, stream music, beats, and metronomes, and customize learning modes and practice tools. This makes it easy to tailor the ASR’s features to your personal practice needs.

Technology and Features

  • What's an actuator?

    The ASR uses an efficient voice-coil actuator to transfer vibrations to both the player and the instrument. This feedback can range from subtle to strong, helping violinists internalize rhythm, articulation, and resonance in a deeply immersive way.

    Your violin won’t be damaged by the vibrations. In fact, this type of vibration helps “open up” the instrument, much like consistent playing does for a brand-new violin, enhancing its tonal depth over time. The ASR Studio App includes tailored programs for conditioning the wood of violins and violas.

  • Can I use the ASR with an electric violin?

    Yes. While the ASR is optimized for acoustic violins, it can also be used with electric violins that accommodate standard shoulder rests.

  • What makes the ASR different from other shoulder rests?

    The ASR is the first shoulder rest that integrates Bluetooth audio and haptic feedback, making it a multi-sensory tool for violinists. Unlike traditional shoulder rests, it helps with rhythmic training through vibrations, music streaming and loop integration, instrument resonance enhancement, and engaging neurodivergent learners with tactile feedback.

Design and Comfort

  • Is the ASR comfortable?

    Yes. The ASR features a broad ergonomic curve and a high-density foam pad, ensuring maximum comfort for extended playing sessions. Whether you’re practicing for a few minutes or a few hours, it is designed to provide stable yet comfortable support.

  • How heavy is the ASR?

    The ASR is exceptionally lightweight. It is 3D-printed from premium nylon, a material chosen for its durability, aesthetics, and low weight. Even with its built-in electronics, the ASR weighs no more than many standard shoulder rests, ensuring it doesn’t strain your playing or posture.

  • What kind of feet does the ASR use?

    The ASR comes with a pair of traditional black grippers. The thread size is M4, meaning you can swap them with other compatible shoulder rest feet if you have a type of gripper you prefer.

Instrument Compatibility

  • What instrument sizes does the ASR fit?

    The ASR is designed to fit 3/4 and 4/4 violins, as well as violas up to 15".

  • Will the ASR fit in my violin/viola case?

    Yes. The ASR fits in most standard cases.

  • Can I use the ASR with other accessories, like chin rests or shoulder rest extensions?

    Yes. The ASR is compatible with most standard chin rests and shoulder rest accessories. If you use a shoulder rest extension, check for compatibility with M4-threaded feet or available adaptors.