MIDI

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

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

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

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.  Read More