Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Artur Artinian’s Sonata of the Stones is a stylized 3D environment inspired by the Symphony of Stones, a natural basalt formation in Armenia’s Garni Gorge. Rather than reproduce the geology exactly, Artinian built a fantastical scene grounded in the place’s striking columns, using a small set of reusable assets, sculpted stone and carefully directed composition.
What is the Symphony of Stones?
The real formation—also known as the Basalt Organ—is in the Azat River gorge, on the river’s right bank, about 1 km northeast of Garni village. Armenia’s Ministry of Economy site-management plan describes it as a protected natural geological monument, with polygonal basalt columns and a core area of 0.9499 hectares. The plan gives the site’s elevation as 1,270–1,375 m above sea level. The site-management plan places it within a wider visitor landscape that includes the river gorge, nearby geological features and Garni’s cultural sites.
The geology has two useful, separately attributed descriptions. A 2017 geological-sciences proceedings volume identifies the exposed flow near Garni as columnar trachybasaltic andesite lava and dates it to 127 ka; it relates the polygonal prisms to slow cooling and cracking. The Ministry’s plan describes the columns as Quaternary basalt and says they reach up to 50 m. That is a maximum reported by the plan, not a height shared by every column. The 2017 proceedings and the site-management plan should not be collapsed into a single, more precise geological claim.
How did Artur Artinian build the 3D scene?
Artinian says the project grew from a visit to the monument and a childhood memory of seeing it. He collected images from the Garni region and of basalt formations more broadly, then started with simple blockout shapes to judge the silhouette and how the pillars would relate to one another. In his interview with 80 Level, he describes making pillar variations from a shared mesh: a single column, a group of three and a group of four, each at different scales. He hand-placed these assets to control the scene’s larger masses.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
One pillar, varied through sculpting and reuse
Rather than model every column as a unique object, Artinian sculpted one six-sided pillar and gave each face a different surface treatment. Rotating that asset could then reveal new combinations of faces. He says the columns used a high-to-low detail workflow: sculpted detail was baked onto lower-poly meshes. For smaller pieces such as candles, he specifically describes sculpting in ZBrush and decimating the result for a low-poly version.
Materials and surface variation
The stone material was tileable and made in Substance 3D Designer. Artinian also made an RGB mask in Substance 3D Painter to direct edge wear, dirt and other surface variation. Together, those choices let repeated geometry read less uniformly without requiring a new sculpt for every pillar. The interview tags Unreal Engine, Marmoset Toolbag, Maya and other tools in connection with the project, but does not assign every tagged application a specific production role.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Composition creates the fantasy
Artinian describes using a low camera position and a low focal length to make the structures feel imposing. He also split the main structure asymmetrically to balance the frame and guide attention toward a golden sun emblem and a flame gate. Those are elements of Sonata of the Stones, not features of the natural monument.
Why the artwork is an interpretation, not a geological replica
Artinian states his goal plainly: “I wasn’t trying to build a perfectly realistic geological formation; I was much more interested in creating a striking image that felt grounded in reality yet fantastical.” That distinction matters when looking at the finished scene: the basalt columns supply a recognizable foundation, while camera, layout, emblem and gate shape a designed fantasy environment. The project is best understood as an artistic response to Garni, not a scientific digital twin.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What the project shows about making a 3D environment
Artinian says limiting the number of unique assets was deliberate; in a later passage he describes roughly five unique meshes. Reuse alone does not make a scene varied. Here, the artist combines changes in scale, rotation, placement, surface treatment, lighting and set dressing to make a compact asset library support a larger composition. It is a practical example of how environment artists can create visual breadth through silhouette and staging rather than relying on a large inventory of one-off models.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Protection, heritage status and visiting the real site
Armenia’s Ministry of Economy plan says ministerial decree N 274-N approved the passports for the Symphony of Stones and Anonymous Cave on 18 August 2017. It describes the formation as a natural monument under Armenian law and identifies Garni community and the Khosrov Forest State Reserve’s non-commercial organization as participants in its protection; the community conducts site operations. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre lists the combined “Archaeological Complex of Garni and the ‘Basalt Organ’ Columnar Joint” on Armenia’s Tentative List, submitted 10 March 2025. Tentative-list status is not inscription on the World Heritage List. UNESCO’s entry places the joint in the Azat canyon, approximately 900 m southeast of the Garni archaeological complex.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
The Ministry’s plan says visitor movement is mainly organized along a renovated road. A travel guide updated 3 August 2026 describes a steep route and an uphill return, and estimates a 35-minute downhill walk from Garni village; conditions and access details can change, so check current local information before setting out. The Armenia Guides’ visitor guide provides its dated account of the walk.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
