The most significant hurdle of this project appears to be replicating the sound of traditional bellows digitally. The maker addressed this by substituting the physical accordion bellows with a dedicated handle. This design choice allows the device to be a compact, chest-strapped electronic accordion console, which is presented as prototype number eight.
This instrument sits in an olive-green rectangular enclosure, marked 'OCORDEON' and featuring a central display with cyan digital graphics. The maker designed the faceplate with a multi-column array of round push buttons on the right side for right-hand operation. The opposite side contains directional buttons, while the lower section holds toggle switches, rotary knobs, and a wireless audio transmitter dongle.
The maker explained that for certain musical styles, such as Mexican regional, Tex-Mex, and norteña, the bass buttons are omitted. This simplification is intended to aid easier air control and reduced weight. Although the device produces electronic accordion music corresponding to button presses, the accordionist who tested the instrument noted that the handle requires some getting used to. The maker stated that a more traditional aesthetic is not currently a priority, as the focus remains on perfecting this current iteration of the console.