Skip to content
Space Captain

First flight

Installation & drum modification

Aura attaches magnetically inside the bottom opening of your Rav Vast drum. Here's the path from the box to the first glow — the full control reference lives in the manual.

⚠ Modification notice. The drum's wooden bottom plug must be removed for installation. Proceed at your own risk — removal may cause damage or affect your drum's warranty coverage.
  1. 01

    Charge it

    Plug in with any 5V USB-C charger (5V 1.5A). A full charge takes about 3 hours and runs 4–16 hours depending on brightness and mode. Don't leave it charging unattended.

  2. 02

    Remove the wooden plug

    Warm the plug with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive, then work it free by hand. The full walkthrough is below. Jump to the guide ↓

  3. 03

    Mount Aura

    Set Aura into the bottom opening — it attaches magnetically and centers itself under the tongues. PLACEHOLDER — confirm orientation guidance and add photos.

  4. 04

    Power on and play

    Hold either button to power on, then strike the drum — every mode reacts to your playing. Press Mode for the next mode, hold it for the next playlist. For the full effect, play in a dark room: the light projects through the slits in the drum's tongues.

Drum modification

Removing the wooden plug

The plug is held on with adhesive that lets go under gentle heat. No tools touch the drum — your hands and a hair dryer do all the work.

  1. 01

    Warm the plug

    Aim a hair dryer at the plug for a minute or two on low-to-medium heat, keeping it moving in slow circles so no one spot overheats. You're softening the adhesive behind the wood — the plug should feel warm to the touch, not hot.

  2. 02

    Work it free by hand

    Grip the plug and gently rock and twist it. If it resists, don't force it — give it another 30–60 seconds of heat and try again. Skip screwdrivers and pry bars entirely; metal tools will scratch the steel or chip the finish.

  3. 03

    Clean off the leftover adhesive

    While the residue is still warm, rub it away with your thumb — it rolls up and peels off. Stubborn spots yield to another pass of heat. Avoid solvents; they can mar the drum's finish.

  4. 04

    Keep the plug

    Store it somewhere safe. If you ever sell the drum or want it back to stock, the plug reattaches cleanly (see below).

🎵 Will removing the plug affect the sound?

RAV says the plug shapes how sound resonates inside the drum, so removing it may slightly alter the acoustic response. In our own testing we haven't perceived a noticeable difference — but players with highly sensitive ears, or anyone recording professionally in a studio, may want to weigh this before proceeding.

🔁 Can the plug be reinstalled?

Yes — it reattaches with silicone or rubber glue. RAV Vast shows the process in their own video: How to replace the wooden plug — RAV Vast Blog #21 ↗.

Stuck? Send a transmission to support@spacecaptain.co and we'll get you glowing.