Music
Ms Pinky gives digital DJ's the tactile feel of vinyl
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October 19, 2006 There's a steadily growing number of digital DJ's out there, and after scouring the resultant mass of dedicated MIDI controllers and digital turntables targeted at the market, we think we've found the sexiest solution yet - especially so for people who already own turntables. The oddly named Ms Pinky's even oddlier named "Interdimensional Wrecked System" claims to be the most realistic virtual vinyl system out there. Read More
Gibson's Digital Les Paul Guitar
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October 17, 2006 Gibson showcased its new Les Paul HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar at the Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention last week to much acclaim. In semi-public development for several years, the Gibson Digital Guitar is a genuine Gibson Les Paul, plus it uses digital technology. The best part of the Gibson Digital Guitar system is its delivery of signal processing on a string-by-string basis, providing unprecedented control with the ability to adjust volume, pan, equalization and the routing of each string individually. This means you can use a guitar amplifier for each string ... or record all six strings individually into a computer ... or send the six-string digital signal to a compatible guitar processor ... giving guitarists the ultimate flexibility for crafting their custom sound. Through Gibson's advanced technology, each string's signal is isolated, converted from analog to digital and routed individually, giving the player a myriad of live performance and recording options. Read More
Ableton Live 6 - the ultimate live performance software
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After its debut in October 2001, Ableton Live quickly established itself as the ultimate tool for live music performance, winning numerous awards and becoming part of the arsenal of many significant musicians. The recently released Live 6 adds a truckload more to the bargain with functionality to rival all high end music production applications. Read More
Whistler will unleash your inner musician
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October 16, 2006 It's not often an idea as important as this comes along in computer music. Whistler, the brainchild of software developer Richard Whitelock, promises to turn the pen-tapper or shower-maestro in all of us into polished drum beats and melodies, which can then be used in any modern music production software. If you've got the music in you, but never had the discipline to learn an instrument, this could be exactly what you're looking for - and just about any Mac with a microphone will be enough to get started. This is a breakthrough that could catalyse yet another phase in the democratisation of music - very significant! Read More
Akai's battery-powered, ultra-portable MPC 500
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September 21, 2006 Whether it's the pads, the swing, the workflow, or just the countless hours clocked up with one in a dark room, Akai's 'Music Production Center' (MPC) family holds a special place in the heart of beat makers and samplists the world over. The newest addition to the line up is the battery powered, ultra portable MPC-500. Combined with a microphone and a set of headphones it's a field recording and portable studio setup that fits in a backpack with room to spare - a dream come true for musicians on the go. Read More
World's largest capacity flash MP3 player - 8 GB Sansa e280
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August 22, 2006 Competition improves the breed, and in the hot-hot-hot world of MP3 players, the 8 GB SanDisk Sansa e280 is the best of breed this week. Unveiled yesterday as the world's largest capacity flash-based MP3 player, the e280 has a suggested price of US$250, audio, photo viewing and video clip playback capabilities and a microSD expansion slot allowing expansion to 10GB of music with a 2GB microSD card. The player features an open digital rights management system that allows users to purchase songs or access subscription download services from numerous sources. In keeping with the ever-improving bang-per-buck trend, SanDisk has lowered its prices on the entire Sansa e200 line of products, including the existing 2 GB (US$140), 4 GB (US$180) and 6 GB (US$220) models. Read More
Ainol's 1GB US$70 Mp3 player
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August 14, 2006 We just can’t get over how hot MP3 players are at present. From being non-existent just a handful of years ago, portable audio player sales last year hit US$5 billion in the United States, which comes into perspective when you find out that the combined home and automotive market for fixed audio systems was US$5.11 billion. Whatsmore, the MP3 market is expected to more than double again by 2009. Then consider that the market leader (Apple’s iPod) has 75% of the market, despite offering no functional advantage beyond the user interface and charges a significant premium for its products. It seems logical then that the contenders are lining up with killer pricing strategies. We’ve already reported on the world’s cheapest MP3 player, but expect that with the price of flash memory continuing to fall, we’re going to see some outrageous bargains over the next few years and here’s another to start you thinking. The Chinese 1GB Ainol V3 is half an inch thick, supports all major formats, has a 1.3-inch 160 x 129 screen, FM radio, USB 2.0, miniSD slot and retails for US$69 in China (US$50 for the 512MB version). Read More
Blue Man Group Musical Instruments for sale
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August 1, 2006 See a performance by the Blue Man Group and you’ll be inspired by the innovation and originality of the group, its music, its comedy and, of course, its non-traditional instruments. In a short period of time since the group came to prominence, their star has risen strongly and the innovation continues as it has just released its new album "Live at the Venetian - Las Vegas" on iTunes. Now LA-based toy company ToyQuest is partnering with the new entertainment phenomenon to create a line of state-of-the-art musical instruments. The line includes four innovative instruments that fuse cutting edge technologies with traditional musical play patterns. The first musical instruments, being the Keyboard (video demo here) and Percussion Tubes (video demo here), are already in stores and the Drum Suit and Air Pole will follow. All of the instruments feature multiple technologies that enable kids to mix and layer music with a simple wave of their hands resulting in an all new music making experience. The instruments also come with original Blue Man Group music and a pre-installed library of instruments and sounds. The Keyboard retails for US$80 and the Percussion Tubes for US$70 and target children ages eight and older. Check out the boys playing with their new toys on video here. Read More
Exploring the future of the violin
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July 24, 2006 One glance at a Ted Brewer violin leaves one in no doubt whether he is a maker of traditional musical instruments. He freely acknowledges that with a world of changing possibilities, it is his duty to explore applying new materials, technology, design and his passion for crafting beautiful instruments to explore the future of the violin. Currently Brewer produces three models at his Rotherham, U.K. workshop – the customised individually produced Crossbow (as used by Vanessa Mae (video here)) and Hades and the new Vivo2. Ted handcrafted just 25 instruments a year until massive market demand forced a need to look to greater throughput and he began to explore new production methods for his new vivo2 line, which is now sold by selected stockists. Instead of hand-carving his instruments from acrylic block, he took full advantage of the capabilities of GE Plastics' Lexan Visualfx special effects resin to add some stunning visual impact at the same time as moving to injection molding. The use of mainly transparent (mixed with blue and violet) special effects resin also allowed Brewer Violins to incorporate a special illumination feature: the Vivo2 violin has a built-in sound-to-light capability using two vertical banks of super-bright white LEDs. Light pulses along the length of the instrument to complement the music. The Crossbow can be heard here, the Hades can be heard here, and the Vivo2 can be heard here and here. Read More
The Boom Bag Portable Speaker
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July 12, 2006 The Boom Bag came about as part of a design study loud speakers. Designed as an iPod/MP3 player accessory, it’s made from weatherproof speaker fabric and houses a full range speaker and a rechargeable battery, plus the iPod, so it’s easy to both carry and protect your MP3 player from the elements. Renowned design house Grodesign is currently looking for a production partner to realize the product. Read More
iPod functionality for the hard disk jockey
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May 20, 2006 The march of technology appears to have evolved into a sustained run-like-there’s-no-tomorrow sprint, particularly in the field of music. A few months ago, when we saw the first Numark iDJ, we figured it was pretty cool. The problem was that it didn’t have pitch control, which consigned it to the realms of a jukebox rather than a genuine DJ tool. In the space of six months, Numark has addressed all the shortcomings, at least on paper, and completely redesigned the unit with pitch control and two jog/scratch wheels - and now a lone iPod (or any USB storage device) can provide the music instead of the last version’s two iPod requirement. Read More
The Electric Violin
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March 26, 2006 The violin is one of the oldest of instruments with roots going back 7000 years, arriving in its current form 500 years ago. So classically trained musician Tricia Ho felt that it was time to redesign the classical instrument with 21st century ergonomics and an interchangeable frame system that allow the player to customise the violin to suit their style and reduce musculoskeletal disorders in player’s necks and shoulders. “Coming from a background of classical violin training I have many friends who experienced problems gripping a traditional violin”, said Ho, a student at the University of New South Wales. Read More
Novation ReMOTE SL - the dawn of intelligent MIDI control
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March 2, 2006 Music producers in 2006 truly are spoilt. Apart from gamers, they're the only mob that has a healthy variety of computer input devices available to them. In a sea of competition, Novation's recent release of the ReMOTE SL looks like it has solved the problem of almost an entire market of increasingly inappropriate controllers for complex audio projects. They're calling it the first intelligent MIDI controller - and it's set to improve the workflow of anyone using current digital audio software, and liberate laptop musicians from their mice.
‘While My Guitar Gently Beeps’
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January 31, 2006 Fed up posing in front of the mirror strumming a tennis racket? Still searching in vain for the lost chord? Help is on hand for all aspiring rock gods thanks to Fender and Intel, who’ve teamed up to create a concept guitar that explores the possibilities and redefines the term ‘music on the move’ – an internet-enabled super guitar. Beginning with the iconic FENDER Telecaster - made famous by legends from Bruce Springsteen to Franz Ferdinand – the ‘surf guitar’ is the world’s first to allow you to download and playback your favourite riffs from the internet without touching the strings, so you can sound like Bo Diddley while doing diddly-squat. Yes folks, if this concept ever makes production, you’ll be able to play, record, email and surf the web from the comfort of your six-string Read More
The Gypsy MIDI controller turns the human body into a musical instrument
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January 26, 2006 Dance and music go together. Intuitively, we know they have common elements, and while we cannot even begin to understand what they are or how they so perfectly complement one another, it is clear that both are an expression of something deep and fundamental within all human beings. Both express things that words cannot – beyond intellect, they are perhaps two of the fundamental building blocks of human expression, common to the souls of all people. Which is why when we saw this machine which links the two, we knew there was something special brewing. The GypsyMIDI is a unique instrument for motion-capture midi control – a machine that enables a human being to become a musical instrument - well, a musical instrument controller to be exact, or a bunch of other things depending on your imagination. Most importantly, the entire package is commercially available with extensive customisation features so that you can decide what each movement triggers – a colour, a sound, or perhaps something else again – anything that can be controlled by a digital interface. The set-up and operation is simple, intuitive and quick and the possibilities for performance art and musical applications are … landmark. One arm costs UKP480 (US$855), the whole MIDI suit costs UKP940 (US$1675), and the whole shebang (MIDI Suit, Wireless Interface, Tripod Stand, interface software, Manuals & Videos CD) goes for UKP1240 (US$2210) … that’s the total price for beginning work in a new dimension. Like we said … landmark Read More
KORE Universal Sound Platform offers new ways to work with software instruments
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January 24, 2006 The primary interface for the operation of software instruments both in the studio and on stage is evolving rapidly, and this week’s announcement from computer-based audio production pioneer Native Instruments might well prove to be a significant landmark. KORE, is heralded by Native Instruments as “the world’s first Universal Sound Platform” and was created to unify all the elements of sound production – “one solution that finally makes everything come together.” Native Instruments’s founder Stephan Schmitt believes KORE will be “a significant step forward for musicians and producers in many ways, and that it will make their individual process of creating and performing music much more efficient, convenient and fun.” KORE won’t be available for another three or four months, and there’s not enough information available yet to substantiate those claims, though its release will be watched closely by all performers and producers who work with software instruments and effects. KORE includes a next-generation hardware controller offering hands-on control with what is claimed to be an unprecedented analog feel, finally turning today’s software synthesizers and samplers from applications into true instruments. Read More
The Transperformance self-tuning guitar
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December 24, 2005 For most people, tuning a guitar takes three to five minutes and when they have finished, the final result is not very good. These people will love the Transperformance self-tuning guitar which takes less than a second to lock into perfect tune. While most guitars will only ever see standard tuning (EADGBE), a goodly proportion of popular music is played with alternate tunings. Just as each guitar sounds different, musicians will change the tune of a guitar to create the sound they require and that’s one of the reasons you often see a dozen or more guitars on stage at a rock concert. This single guitar can now replace all of those guitars as it can transform into any one of them at the touch of a button. The Transperformance guitar has the additional advantage of being able to change from one custom tuning to another (it holds 240 custom tunings) which can be selected from the face of the guitar or toggled with a foot pedal. As Jimmy Page (the man who wrote and played “Stairway to Heaven”) says of the Performer, “you've just got to witness what it is ... it's accurate, it's fast and it makes people's eyes pop out."
Karaoke online service wins POPKOMM IMEA Award
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September 18, 2005 There’s an old Zimbabwean saying which goes along the lines of “if you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing” – noble sentiments indeed, and completely untrue if you have friends who like karaoke. Well now you’ll be pleased to know that there are no longer enough places to hide – on-line technology has caught up and you cannot escape as karaoke has gone on-line. Indeed, so impressive is the new KSolo internet karaoke service that it picked up first prize on Wednesday evening when the Popkomm IMEA 2005 Awards (Innovation in Music & Entertainment Awards) were announced in Berlin. Though a global field of innovative music industry innovators entered, American-based companies took out all the rostrum positions with online talent market Sonic Bids and musical fingerprinting company Gracenote second and third. Read More
The Morrison Digital Trumpet
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August 9, 2005 The Morrison Digital Trumpet (MDT) is a new brass-style MIDI wind controller invented and designed by international virtuoso musician James Morrison and musician/inventor, Steve Marshall. Using entirely digital technology, there are many new and important capabilities of the Morrison Digital Trumpet beyond the normal wind instrument. One of the most compelling new capabilities is that the MDT can offer the sound of an entire horn or string section from one person – because it interfaces with MIDI it can effectively “play” any instrument. The MDT is also easier to play as there is no embouchure to be maintained in order to produce a professional quality tone - some people find they simply do not have the time to maintain their "chops" on an acoustic instrument and an MDT is more in tune with their lifestyle. Finally, apart from an infinite array of adjustments and capabilities not found on your standard trumpet, the US$1995 (or 1300 Euro) MDT glows and comes with genuine “Show Business Appeal!” Read More
Old Geekster Retro: a cassette deck for your PC
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July 25, 2005 Just the thing for old blokes with a difficult-to-extract-legacy-cassette-player or it’ll-come-in-handy-if-we-never-use-it mentality, the PlusDeck 2 is a full-logic cassette deck for your PC. You can use it to archive your old cassette tape collection into digital media files for playback on your PC, or alternatively, transfer your favorite audio files or streams onto cassette so you can play them in your pristine and original sixties, seventies or eighties muscle car that would be inappropriate with an in-dash CD player or hard drive. You could be the first on your block to have taped podcasts! Just US$149
Belkin TuneStage wirelessly connects your iPod to your entertainment system
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June 4, 2005 Belkin's new TuneStage for iPod is a device that allows you to play the songs from your iPod through your home theatre wirelessly via Bluetooth technology. With a transmitter connected to your iPod and a receiver hooked up via RCA or 3.5mm to your system, TuneStage offers reliable, high-quality sound without cables. The TuneStage fits all-size iPod devices with a dock connector and will be available in Q3 2005 at a price around US$180. Wirelessly connected through TuneStage, your iPod becomes the ultimate remote, giving you absolute control of your music. Since the unit draws power directly from the iPod, it needs no batteries or extra cables. Read More
Pushing the bleeding edge of music production and performance
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May 22, 2005 As DJs become the rock stars of the 21st century and digital technology takes music far beyond the realms of individual and assembled instruments, it kinda makes sense that there should be some new musical instruments for the new technology music artists who wish to take live performance beyond sitting behind a mixing desk. Such a prototype emerged at the mega Musikmesse Show in Frankfurt, Germany last month from Vestax, a high-end designer/manufacturer of musical instruments and DJ mixers, turntables, CD players and installed club sound errr … things. The STC-V1 stands for “stage controller” and combines a Vestax CDX-05 turntable and a Tascam TT-M1 controller in a guitar form factor so the front man can strut around with “style, grace and attitude” according to the Vestax. The guitar-look stage controller wasn’t the only mind-bender on display at the Vestex stand at Musikmesse – the company also had an audio recorder which takes an sound source and burns it onto vinyl. That’s right folks, the VRX-2000 enables you to create your own classic wax and the sound quality and durability of the final product is apparently superb and similar to commercially pressed vinyl. Read More
Have your guitar teach you how to play
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May 6, 2005 If you’ve always hankered to learn to play the guitar, there’s a new product from Yamaha that looks ideal for removing all the obstacles – it’s a digital teaching guitar with guide lights so you can learn how to play just by following the lights. The good news is it’s from Yamaha, the very same company that developed the piano teaching methodology that revived the world piano industry, so it ain’t just a toy. Further incentive is that because the whole thing is digital, it comes with a bunch of built-in songs and riffs and from the moment you begin playing you can play along with the whole band which is also built-in and thanks to guitar-modelling technologies, the EZ-EG ("easy electric guitar") will also reproduce nine realistic guitar sounds, eight bass guitar sounds and the timbres of a banjo, piano and the traditional Japanese shamisen through its built-in speaker. Read More
Music downloads becomes a way of life - the end of the CD is nigh
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February 15, 2005 The 47th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles marks an interesting period in the history of recorded music as an abundance of news and research indicates we are moving beyond the media stage to the delivery stage and the process is maturing. The most telling news was that legal digital music downloads are gaining in popularity. According to an Ipsos-Insight study about 47 percent of Americans age 12 or older who downloaded music during December 2004 paid a fee - more than double the percentage (22%) of just twelve months ago.
The Piano Accordion goes digital
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February 7, 2005 The steady march of digital technology continues to sweep all before it and the smallest member of the free-reed musical instrument family, the accordion, looks set to be next with the release this week of the Roland FR-5 and FR-7 V-Accordions. Based on Roland's proprietary Physical Behavior Modeling (PBM) technology, these lightweight, reedless digital accordions put dozens of ultra-realistic instruments at the player's fingertips and take one of the original musical instruments into the digital age.
New Surround Sound System by the
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A new spatial, immersive sound system called IOSONO, which creates an unparalleled listening experience, has been previewed by Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg, the often called "father of MP3". Developed by a team at the Fraunhofer IDMT (part of Europe's largest applied research group) under the lead of Brandenburg, IOSONO is the first system to project sounds as if they are coming from a specific spot inside or outside the listening area. It provides a perfectly balanced "sweet spot" for every spectator, no matter where they are positioned in the audience. Read More
The Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD Turntable turns DJs into VJs
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A significant new release in the audio-video market from Pioneer looks set to bring audio and video even closer together, paving the way for a new breed of performer: the DVJ. The mega-powerful Pioneer DVJ-X1 allows synchronised digital audio and video to be manipulated and played back like never before, and equally as significantly, EXACTLY like the old DJ did 'scratching' a vinyl disk. Read More
V-Pick Virtual Guitar offers hope to air guitarists
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If you've got the moves but not the musical ability this unique invention might have been ideal for you - bringing a new-dimension to the phrase 'air-guitar', the V-Pick Virtual Guitar allowed anyone to take to the stage in their own home. Unfortunately, the company and product appear to both be defunct, after a spectacular launch in 2002, though we still see the concept as a great idea.
The V-Pick, which is slightly larger than a normal guitar plectrum, connected to your computer's USB port and when strummed against any object - the favourite being an old tennis racquet - the Player software took over to produce anything from blues riffs to blazing lead solos. Read More
