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Guitar Hero and Rock Band drums combine for ultimate MIDI kit (video)

by Darren Murph posted Nov 6th 2009 at 9:09PM

We've seen our fair share of Guitar Hero / Rock Band drum kit mods, but without exception, this one is our fav. Tipster (and tinkerer) Jordan has taken the time to wire up a Guitar Hero kit and a Rock Band kit in order to create the most bodacious set of MIDI skins this planet has ever seen. Using a combination of Osculator, JunXion Lite and Logic, he was able to rig up the Rock Band pedal to operate as a high-hat pedal, while reprogramming some of the heads to act as cymbals. We'd bother explaining more, but we'll just point you past the break and advise you to watch (head to 2:20 if you're short on time!).

[Thanks, Jordan]

Continue reading Guitar Hero and Rock Band drums combine for ultimate MIDI kit (video)

Ears-on with Sony Ericsson MH907 Motion Activated Headphones

by Richard Lai posted Nov 4th 2009 at 11:25AM

What we have here today isn't just another pair of ordinary headphones: Sony Ericsson's MH907s are button-free, minimalistic headphones that activate upon the magical touch of your skin. Well, your ears to be precise. You must bear in mind that the MH907s are exclusive to Fast port-equipped Sony Ericsson phones thus excluding the forthcoming XPERIA X10 -- so chances are you're already not interested. That said, we shall see if Sony Ericsson is really going to change things forever with these gleaming buds featuring SE's SensMe Control technology, or by just stopping everyone from using their 3.5mm headphone jacks. Read on to find out how these €39 ($57) headphones fared.

Gallery: Ears-on with Sony Ericsson MH907 Motion Activated Headphones

Continue reading Ears-on with Sony Ericsson MH907 Motion Activated Headphones

The Beatles catalog being released on limited edition USB stick

by Paul Miller posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 10:32PM

You know what's kind of like online digital distribution, and yet not at all like that? Selling the entire re-mastered Beatles catalog on a USB drive that slots into a fake apple. The fine folks at Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music have teamed up to build a limited edition run of 30,000 USB apples to be sold on December 7 in the UK and December 8 in freedom-loving America. Included on the 16GB drive are the 14 stereo titles in FLAC 44.1 Khz 24-bit, in addition to 320 Kbps MP3s and a whole digital stack of special materials like liner notes and mini-documentary films, all for the low, low price of $279.99. The drive is up for pre-order as of now, which means you could be a mere month away from plugging this drive into your computer, dragging the files into your iTunes library and then pretending that you bought them online in some sort of forward-looking content distribution model.

Sleek Audio's SA1 earbuds bring Kleer wireless, custom tuning for $80

by Darren Murph posted Oct 30th 2009 at 1:06PM

Sleek Audio earbuds have always had a certain allure, but for most, the sticker shock alone was enough to turn 'em away. Now, however, the boutique audio shop has punched out its very first set that's tailor made for the budget-minded, and at $79.99, the SA1 offers an awful lot of value (on paper, anyway). Much like the pricier SA6 and CT6 models, the SA1 also ships with Kleer wireless technology, enabling it to go from wired to wireless and back again. It also boasts a modified VQ Tuning system that allows the user to acoustically alter the sound signature of their music, a siam rosewood body, detachable cable and single / dual-flange ear tips. The real kicker? The $79.99 price point, which is darn near unheard of for something with these kind of specs. It's up for pre-order right now in the read link, with initial shipments expected to head out in November.

Korg Nanokey controller repurposed into MIDI foot pedal

by Darren Murph posted Oct 28th 2009 at 4:20PM

Korg's Nanokey MIDI controller is pretty awesome in its own right, but using it with your feet gets a little difficult under "normal" conditions. We can't say for certain why Marc Fischer decided to convert his perfectly good control board into a MIDI foot pedal, but frankly, that's beside the point. The point is he did it, and he did it with just a bit of ingenuity, some wooden blocks for risers and a bit of Plexiglas to cover up the missing keys. Hit the read link if you're interested in doing something similar, and feel free to ask the man himself where that gorgeous shag carpet came from. Kinky!

[Via MAKE]

Polk Audio's HitMaster: your own personal Rock Band stage monitor

by Darren Murph posted Oct 24th 2009 at 3:37PM

Sheesh. Just days after Altec Lansing shocked the gaming world with a dedicated stage monitor for Guitar Hero, Rock Band or any other gaming title you'd care to pump through a mini-wedge, Polk Audio has stepped in to do the same. As we witness the beginning of a curious, um, beginning, the HitMaster has stepped things up for anyone else thinking of joining the fray by packing 60 watts of RMS power, a pair of 2.2- x 5.5-inch horns, twin 1-inch tweeters and a booming 6.5-inch subwoofer. The whole cabinet weighs some 13 pounds, and aside from line level inputs and outputs, you'll also find a 1/8-inch jack for connecting iPods and the like. Oh, and did we mention that you can daisy chain these things? Because you can. Look for this one to rock your face off (or something to that effect) in early 2010 for $99.99.

[Via Hot Hardware]

Slacker phases out hardware business, focuses on other devices

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 10:57AM

It's not exactly a huge surprise considering we haven't even heard so much as a whisper about a new Slacker device as of late, but it looks like company president Jim Cady has now finally confirmed that Slacker will indeed be phasing out its hardware business altogether. At the moment, that business consists entirely of the Slacker G2 personal radio, which will still be available "though at least the first half of next year," and offers a number advantages over the Slacker app for other devices. Those apps (and Slacker's online music service) will be the company's sole focus from here on out, however, so we'll no doubt see some expanded functionality sooner or later -- especially considering that Slacker has apparently raised a "few more million" dollars in funding on the basis of its new mobile strategy.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Ask Engadget: a device to stream audio from one device to multiple sources?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 9:52PM

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Chris, who just needs a few more streams to make his life complete.

"I am looking for a device that will stream sound from one source to several recipients. For example, I want to stream sound from my TV or stereo to my phone or MP3 player that has radio and Bluetooth capabilities. I have been told that a Bluetooth device can only stream music to one device. I have looked into radio transmitters and they seem like a decent choice, but I can't find one that uses external power (USB or from the plug) and I would want one with a transmit range of around 50 meters. Thanks!"

We can't say for certain, but we're guessing Chris isn't along here. Any hardcore streamers out there figured out an optimal solution to get one source to multiple devices? Do tell in comments below.

Bose Wave SoundLink wireless music system goes on sale today

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 6:21PM

Bose Wave SoundLink, the too-expensive, yet pretty OK looking wireless music system by the "too expensive, yet pretty OK looking" consumer electronics people over at Bose, has gone from rumor to reality as of today. Expect to pay $599.90 for the whole McGillicuddy or -- if you've already bought into the Bose Wave thing -- pick up that SoundLink upgrade kit featuring a USB Bluetooth dongle for a mere $149.95. A steal at a fraction of the price! PR after the break.

Continue reading Bose Wave SoundLink wireless music system goes on sale today

MPIO V7 PMP hits October 26th, 2009, we struggle to contain ourselves

by Laura June posted Oct 21st 2009 at 6:11PM

It's been a pretty long while since we heard anything from MPIO -- so this is certainly good news. The V7 -- a 3-inch PMP which will apparently boast a (possibly capacitive) touchscreen LCD, an accelerometer, and an FM radio, at a thickness in the neighborhood of 10.5mm. We also know that it'll come in both 4GB and 8GB varieties -- but specs beyond this are sadly absent. We'll see what else we can dig up for you, but look for it to run ₩129,000 for the 4GB model and ₩159,000 ($109 and $134, respectively) for the 8 when it launches on Korea on October 26th.

[Via PMP Today]

Google Audio music service launching soon? (update: seems it!)

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 21st 2009 at 12:05PM

So TechCrunch has it from multiple sources that a US (at least) music service launch from Google is imminent. Possibly named Google Audio, it's unclear whether the service will stream music from the major labels and/or offer it as downloadable tracks. Scuttlebutt says that the service will differ from Google's free, search and download music offering available in China since 2008. Now go ahead, kick back and imagine a Google music service tightly integrated with Android while we dig for more details.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Update: Looks like Google's planning to dive on in with iLike and LaLa, and the whole shindig may end up being called One Box.

Yamaha's PDX-60 wireless iPod / iPhone dock adds yAired to the lexicon

by Darren Murph posted Oct 21st 2009 at 9:13AM

Sony's got its S-AIR, Yamaha has its yAired -- so, what of it? The outfit famous for making just about everything from ATVs to wicked soundbars has today introduced a classy addition to the oversaturated iPod / iPhone sound system market: the PDX-60. Apple loyalists simply dock their media player in the wireless base and watch as the tunes are streamed effortlessly into the magical box on the other side. There's also remote control capability for keeping tabs on that playlist whilst planted on the sofa, and the dock can even power on and off automatically with "yAired-enabled iPhones / iPods." The music maker itself boasts a pair of 3.25-inch speakers and a digital amplifier of undisclosed wattage, and it's available in black, gray, blue or pink for $299.95. So, any takers, or are you stickin' with Bose?

Continue reading Yamaha's PDX-60 wireless iPod / iPhone dock adds yAired to the lexicon

iriver N20 Mariah Carey edition reveals an unfortunate case of man-hands

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 19th 2009 at 6:34AM

While iriver might not be the mega brand in Europe and North America, it does dominate on its home turf in South Korea. Enough so to attract music celebs like Mariah Carey who's pitching a butterfly approved, Special Edition N20 preloaded with her latest contractual obligation. The $120ish player with integrated clip is limited to 5,000 units so act now... or not. See the songstress in an awkward mid-shill moment after the break.

[Via Anythingbutipod]

Continue reading iriver N20 Mariah Carey edition reveals an unfortunate case of man-hands

Eigenharp Alpha, Pico demo and mind-blowing concert (hands-on)

by Richard Lai posted Oct 16th 2009 at 11:18AM

Remember the Eigenharp Alpha and Pico that we broke news of last week? Sure you do, but we bet you still haven't a clue how those long, elegant sticks work. The forty employees at Eigenlabs probably heard us simultaneously scratching our heads so they kindly invited us to their London studio for a quick demo, and boy, those musical wands look great up close, not to mention their remarkable flexibility for user configuration as well. John Lambert, Founder and Chairman of Eigenlabs, managed to sneak out of his busy schedule to give us the lowdown on the Eigenharps. It all started in his Devon barn about eight years ago and over time the Alpha was groomed into a 132-key beast, followed by the recently-developed, self-explanatory Pico. The defining character of both Eigenharps lies in their "completely new sensor technology" consisting of pressure sensitive keys, that can do dual-axis vibrato (not dissimilar to string instruments), accompanied by strip controllers for applying filters or pitch bend, or anything at all depending on how you configure them on their Mac software suite (Windows-support due in January). Likewise with the breath pipe: once you've loaded your library and presets you can switch from a Kenny G to a Daft Punk at the simple click of a key. Heck, you can even configure the air pressure sensitivity as well if you're tickling for a soft mood, or just feeling lazy. And those funky LED lights, you ask? Well, they're actually indicators for the different modes you're in rather than just being pretty. Watch the walkthrough videos after the break and you'll get a better idea.

Gallery: Eigenharp Alpha, Pico demo and mind-blowing concert (hands-on)

Continue reading Eigenharp Alpha, Pico demo and mind-blowing concert (hands-on)

Pocket steel drums aren't made of steel, aren't really drums (video)

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 15th 2009 at 4:52PM

You'd be surprised how many requests we get for more gadgets that help our readers celebrate their love of the Caribbean culture and music. Luckily for us, the kids at Vat19 are now hawking a mini steel drum set that seems like it just might do the trick (that is, if the 'trick' can be 'done' by putting more red, yellow, and green-colored crap on your desk). By all accounts, this thing is pretty unexceptional -- it'll let you bang out an 8 note major scale, let you record your performance, and that's about it. Hell, it doesn't even really sound like steel drums! But the distributor did manage to get it to play Just A Friend by the incomparable Biz Markie -- and in our eyes, that's definitely worth a mention. All the same, we're rather have the Stylophone Beatbox. Yours for $18.95. Video after the break.

[Via Engadget German]

Continue reading Pocket steel drums aren't made of steel, aren't really drums (video)