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Wiimote strapped on guitar for wild effects, whammy bar gets totally jealous
What can't be done with a Wiimote? No, seriously. You can use the thing to control your vacuum, homegrown video games and your very own robotic sentry. Oh, and now you can use it to make yourself a better guitarist. YouTube member rockin1208 has hosted up a video of him executing all sorts of nasty pitch bends and whatnot thanks to a Wiimote strapped onto his Strat. Put as simply as possible, he pipes the Wiimote data to Max / Msp, which then sends MIDI data to a Digitech Whammy pedal. We know, you have no idea what we just said, so we'll just encourage you to don your gnarliest cans and hop on past the break for an aural explanation.[Via Hack-A-Day]
Internal Combustion Guitar - gnarly guitar tone at a polite volume
By adding a signal chain to the classic electric axe, the Internal Combustion Guitar takes the tone generated by a small amp and sends it on back to the guitar, where something called a "coupling mechanism" feeds the sound back to your strings -- much the same way that standing in front of an amp will cause the guitar to feedback into its pickups. Use the throttle to control how much righteous color comes through, or use the (optional) MIDI pickup to rock out virtually. Prices start at a cool $2,450 -- including medium gauge strings and an Extreme Gig Bag. Not convinced? Catch Woody B after the break.[Via Music Radar]
Stanton DJ intros touch-sensitive DaScratch USB-MIDI controller
Not too certain what brainiac reckoned that "DaScratch" was a suitable name for Stanton DJ's new touch-sensitive controller, but if we had our way, we'd have that guy / gal promoted on the double. Nomenclature aside, the device you see above is the outfit's newest member of the SC System family. The USB-MIDI controller was designed for mobility and to allow Funkmasters and Beatslayers alike to use "traditional performance motions and gestures on a touchpad style surface." Scratching, scrubbing, and navigating through digital audio files can all be handled with just a few flicks of the fingertips, and there's even support for multiple-finger gestures to "prompt quick kills on EQ's or transform effects on volume." Not a bad spin for $299, huh? Full release after the jump.
Guitar Hero: World Tour's secret "instrument" really a MIDI import feature
Ah, how easily phrases can be misconstrued when you're not absolutely precise in what you say. While the intarwebz have been ablaze with speculation about the elusive "new peripheral" on the forthcoming Guitar Hero: World Tour title, Neversoft project director Brian Bright has delivered a copious amount of non-potable water to the scene in the form of this sobering news. There actually won't be any new "instrument," per se; rather, the PS3 version of the game will include a MIDI import feature that gives PC-using musicians the ability to import rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, keyboards and drum tracks in as a GH Tunes song. For undisclosed "hardware reasons," the Xbox 360 version can only handle the skins. Eh, 2 stars.[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy, image courtesy of GameZone]
PS3 version of Guitar Hero to get MIDI sequencer
Guitar Hero World Tour will be getting new functionality in a patch available one week after its release. Most excitingly, this feature is something that only PS3 can fully realize. According to Shacknews, World Tour will be gaining a MIDI sequencer, which encompasses rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, keyboard and drum tracks on the PS3. (It will be limited to only drum tracks on the Xbox 360 due to unspecified "hardware issues.")"We have full, basically, computer editing control, at least on the PS3, through the music studio," Neversoft's Brian Bright stated in a Shacknews interview. "If you're a musician or you do any sequencing, it really just makes the pathway to getting your songs in the game that much easier--once you get it down. We just really want to give people enough tools to be able to make good music."The feature won't be for everyone, of course. This is geared towards serious musicians that know how to work with MIDI on a computer. An extensive FAQ will be made available on the Guitar Hero site to help musicians take advantage of this exciting opportunity.
Guitar Hero World Tour's mystery instrument: a MIDI sequencer
That's right, a MIDI sequencer. While a far cry from our keytar-brandishing dreams, the addition will allow those savvy enough to wrap their heads around the process to compose music on the PC and then import their creations into Guitar Hero World Tour. The feature, however, doesn't sound like it's suited for the faint of heart, as Neversoft's Brian Bright tells Shacknews that "it's going to take an FAQ on the Guitar Hero site--it's not something that your average user is gonna do." However, MIDI aficionados planning to compose their digital masterpieces on the Xbox 360 will likely find the experience lacking. While the PS3 sequencer will reportedly support a variety of instruments, including rhythm and lead guitars, bass, keyboards and drum tracks, the Xbox 360 alternative will be limited to drums alone due to "hardware issues." Then again, for those planning on channeling their inner John Bonham, what more do you need?
The Daily Grind: The best MMO music
Here's a story for you: a certain blogger is playing The Lord of the Rings Online. He's in the Trollshaws, and he notices the music -- oft-ignored in MMOs -- is actually really good. It's classy and it's beautiful. Then he starts to think about the music in other games -- the gorgeous and mournful guild hall ballad of Meridian 59, the beautiful and muted arpeggios of EverQuest's Kelethin theme, and the dark and foreboding ancient instrumentation of Age of Conan's various Stygian pieces.Music is not usually the focus of a lot of discussion or attention in MMOs. A lot of people probably just turn it off and listen to terrible terrible pop rock in the background. But for those of you who actually pay attention: do any particular musical compositions in MMOs stand out to you? What's the best track yet featured in an MMO?
Create Digital Music rounds up iTouch / iPhone music apps
The lovely and talented Peter Kirn over at Create Digital Music has posted a round up of music apps for the iPod / iTouch platform. The list includes tools for using your iPhone as a MIDI/OSC controller, making random weird digital art, visualizing your music and, er, listening to Snow Patrol's next album, amongst other apps. Peter's a thoughtful critic and his evaluations are pretty detailed and thorough.If you're an aspiring iPhone musician / DJ/ sound designer, this is definitely a good place to start finding useful apps.
Harmonix already teasing next project, and it'll involve "Music Creation"
Like any good developer should be doing these days, Harmonix is already looking over the horizon beyond Rock Band 2, and working on their next big title. Surprise! It'll have something to do with music. However, in a "now we'll be playing catchup to Guitar Hero" reversal, it sounds like they're working on a robust music creation title.Guitar Hero: World Tour features a fairly involved music creation studio, where you can both create a song, and edit it in pseudo-MIDI software. In fact, it's so robust and technical that we think most casual players will hardly touch the thing. Is Harmonix going to take the concept and make it a little more, oh I don't know, fun?Hamonix's PR rep John Drake told MTV's Multiplayer: "We've done the whole MIDI creation thing. We think we can do something really ambitious and really great that's going to speak across all the users of the game, not just hardcore users - and that will result in some awesome stuff and not just Final Fantasy covers." Not that there's anything wrong with that. However, we'd love to see a cool music creation game that doesn't require a thick manual and that isn't Wii Music. [Photo from the amazing Glennz Tees. Check out his awesome artworkz]
Image scanning sequencer excites our ears, leaves blank looks on our faces
Be warned: what you're about to see, hear and experience should you venture down beyond the break is exceptionally odd. Like, bordering on creepy. It's not so much the machine that's eerie -- after all, it's just a home built image scanning sequencer that uses LDRs to measure grey-scales and trigger MIDI notes from a selected threshold -- it's the audio we're concerned about. We're talking funeral tunes at their finest, which is honestly a bit heavy at this point in the morning. Those who can take it know where to head.[Via MAKE]
MIDIfy your DS with a new chip
If you can solder and have a basic understanding of electronics, you can add MIDI output to your DS, DS Lite, Game Boy Advance, or GBA SP. The Midify chip also interfaces with other electronics -- apparently anything that has some kind of user input. For just $35, this chip adds a MIDI port to the DS.It doesn't turn the DS into a MIDI sequencer or allow you to output MIDI, rather, it adds a MIDI in port to the DS, allowing you to control the DS via keyboard. Confused? Imagine the DS is the microwave seen here -- it has been fitted with the Midify chip.[Via hackaday]
Midify board adds MIDI port to Nintendo gaming handhelds
Not like you really need another excuse to use your DS as a MIDI controller, but the hacking fiends over at Division 6 have just made available the aptly-titled Midify board. The tiny creation enables users to add a MIDI port to just about anything, but it specializes in Midifying Nintendo handhelds. It can be installed directly into a GBA, GBA-SP, DS or DS Lite, though it'll play nice with other electronics should you procure a few extra parts. We won't even bother mentioning what all you can do with this, but those already salivating at the thought shouldn't have too much trouble parting with $34.99.[Via Hack A Day]
MidiBox SID turns Commodore 64 into 4-voice, 8-bit analog synth
The Commodore 64 did a lot of things right: the right price, the right graphics, the right games, and the right 8-bit audio chipset that allowed 12 year-old programmers to POKE and PEEK their way into analog music bliss. Modder and musician "TK" saw an opportunity in all of this for an analog synthesizer, and he went for it. Fitting it with potentiometers, LEDs, and an additional 8 SID sound chips (for a total of 8), he is able to get 4 stereo pairs of sound and 4 voices out of what he calls the Midibox SID. If you hadn't figured from the name, he did add MIDI control to the little beast. And, no, you cannot play Doom on it. Video after the break.
Moog offers up Paul Vo Collector Edition guitar
With a name like Moog, it has to be good, no? The creator of all types of unusual and wondrous music makers has stepped up with the Paul Vo Collector Edition guitar, a fanciful six-string that does quite a bit more than just light up whatever amp is lucky enough to receive its vibes. Constructed from premium grade mahogany, the instrument affords players full sustain, controlled sustain and mute modes to crank out all sorts of atypical tones, and just in case those few don't get your juices flowin', you'll be happy to know that there's loads more where that came from. Granted, this gem will cost you a stiff $6,495, but considering the amazing amount of utility found here, true musicians are apt to deem it a bargain.
Midiator lets you use a PS2 controller as a MIDI controller
We've seen plenty of attempts to use game console hardware as MIDI controllers, but they've usually involved complicated hacks and strange software kludges, so we're pretty curious to see if Curious Inventor's Midiator actually works as promised. The nondescript black box is supposed to map virtually any PS2 controller -- including wireless models and partial support for Guitar Hero axes -- to various standard MIDI controls, including use of the analog sticks as pitch bends and modulators. Not only that, but if you don't feel like buying the assembled kit for $79, you can get the schematics for free, and if you're handy with a soldering iron, you can even earn some cash by adding requested features like pressure-sensitivity and direct USB support to the unit. Check it all out at the read link, and make sure to cruise past the break for the sweet demo video.[Via MAKE]
Wii Guitar Hero axe transformed into MIDI controller
Whatever the DS can do, Wii can do better, right? Apparently Dave agrees with said mantra, as he has converted a Wii Guitar Hero axe into a full-fledged MIDI controller. As in, there's a 5-pin jack down there and everything. In its current state, you can play two octaves of an eight note scale at time, alter the keys / octaves, change tonal modes, use the whammy bar to bend the pitch and blow the minds of electrical engineering buds you still see on a regular basis. Granted, this mod isn't exactly for the faint of heart, but feel free to hit the read link if you're hacker enough to handle it.[Via MAKE]
Nintendo's DS Lite doubles as MIDI sequencer (again)
Nintendo's DS Lite tends to find itself intertwined in obscure MIDI projects fairly often, so it's no shock to see yet another enterprise linking the handheld to some fairly swank beats. By utilizing a homegrown DS MIDI apparatus along with dStep software, the DS Lite is able to transform into quite the potent little step sequencer. Of course, anything musically-related digests easier with video, so jump on past the break for a lengthy demonstration (and peep the read link if you're eager to replicate).[Via MAKE]
The Daily Grind: Is combat necessary?
For most of us the term 'MMO' conjures up images of combat, whether within a medieval fantasy setting, or a science fiction milieu. Other images are mixed in there, too, of course, but I'd wager that fighting is the one that pops up most often. It's so common, in fact, that when a game deviates from this norm, attention is called to it. Take Mabinogi, for instance -- many of its features are non-combat-based, like the aging system, or the ability to create MIDI-based music, or the creation and management of a household with a spouse.I didn't realize how refreshing the thought of not having to constantly battle creatures to progress in a game was until Mabinogi offered me these alternatives. This makes me ask the question: is combat really an integral element of an MMO? Would you play a game that lacked it completely?
Guitar Wizard: Guitar Hero with a real guitar
Nothing ruins a Guitar Hero or Rock Band party faster than that one guy who's constantly asking why everyone doesn't just learn to play a real instrument, but a company called Music Wizard Group is getting ready to change that with a new teaching tool called Guitar Wizard. The package comes with a real Washburn guitar, MIDI pickup and the Guitar Wizard software -- which is the same app used in Mattel's popular I Can Play Guitar toy -- and the company claims players will be rocking out and reading music in just minutes. Of course, since we've been shredding since we were just small change, we'll let the haters get their fret buzz on while we keep jamming with our modded Strat Guitar Hero controllers.Update: Sorry about that https link -- it's fixed now.
MIDI + art + game songs = <3
Some awesome soul has taken it about himself to make visually enhanced game tunes, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Using a program called Music Animation Machine MIDI Player, which converts the musical notes of MIDI songs into art, the creator of these videos has managed to blow our minds. Sure, we always enjoy it when musical sounds are synthesized with visual imagery, but when some of our favorite songs are involved, it just makes it that much better.We decided to put the Mega Man 2 "Dr. Wily Stage 1" song up top to celebrate Rock Man's 20th anniversary, and well, because it's our favorite. If you don't look after the break to check out the equally awesome Final Fantasy IV, Kirby, Mario, and other tunes, though, you officially fail at the internet.
