Gizmag: Music

Learn to play harmonica in a Flash

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:29 -0600

A music teacher from Riverside Illinois has come up with a Flash drive design that's more novel than novelty. Possibly one of the most portable instrument around - the harmonica - and the most portable digital storage solution have been merged into one to produce the FlashHarp...

Tags: Flash drive, Harmonica, Music, Pocket, Portable, Storage, USB

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The Wall of Sound: the world's most powerful iPod dock unleashed

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:51:09 -0600

In a world where miniaturization rules the roost, it's refreshing to see some things getting bigger and bigger. Just last week we featured Regen's enormous ReVerb iPod dock which stands tall and slim at 35 inches (90cm). Now from Sweden comes the colossal 37.5 x 49 x 12 inch (95cm x 125cm x 30cm) "Wall of Sound", which can boom out 125 Watts of ground-shaking, tube-driven audio from its 28 speakers...

Tags: Amplifier, Audio, iPod, Monster, Power, Sound, Speakers, Stereo, Vacuum, Volume

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Google rolls out new music search

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:12:16 -0600

Google latest innovation has taken the power of its search engine and our insatiable lust for music and combined the two. Those lucky enough to live Stateside can now enter an artist, song title or lyric into Google's normal search window and the first results offered will link to audio previews, information and details of how to buy...

Tags: Audio, Google, Links, Music, Search engine

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ReVerb's 3-foot tall, solar powered iPod dock

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:09:10 -0500

Of the myriad of iPod docking stations available, the ReVerb iPod dock from Regen looks set to tower above the rest - literally. At just over 35 inches (90cm) in height, this dock is not going to fit on your bedside cabinet. It will kick out an equivalent of a room-filling 60 watts, includes a backlit LCD display and features an integrated photovoltaic panel to draw energy from the sun...

Tags: Audio, Dock, iPod, Panels, Photovoltaic, Solar, Speakers

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Sonos introduces the all-in-one Zoneplayer S5 music system

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:15:18 -0500

Sonos is shortly to add a powerful new member to its digital music streaming family in the shape of the ZonePlayer S5. This new all-in-one device can be controlled by iPhone or a Sonos controller, supports numerous audio formats, offers free access to thousands of online music services and benefits from each audio driver being powered by its own amplifier. ..

Tags: All-in-one, Connectivity, Controller, Digital music, Ethernet, iPhone, iTunes, MP3, Sonos, Streaming, Wireless, Zoneplayer

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Green Power's sliding speaker solution for iPod

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:41:23 -0500

Though most multimedia phones tend to have external speakers for, albeit meagerly, pumping out tunes for other people’s benefit, they tend to be less common on MP3 players as companies prioritize slim and pocket-friendly designs. The most notable "hybrid" to take a chance in this market is Samsung’s K5, which offers a clever slide-out design to keep things relatively compact while allowing for the widest possible stereo image. This approach has now been aped by Korean company Green Power as a solution for the iPod. ..

Tags: Apple, iPod, iPod touch, Portable, Speakers

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Austrian composer simulates speech using... A piano?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:54:39 -0500

Remember back in the 80s when Steve Vai used to make his guitar "talk" to David Lee Roth? That video clip is here, but be warned, Roth's bare butt peeking through the holes in his leather chaps is one of the LEAST offensive things in the clip. It seems things have become more refined in the last 20-odd years. This fascinating clip shows how Austrian composer Peter Ablinger has programmed a mechanically-actuated piano to reproduce recorded human speech. And yes, you can somehow understand it...

Tags: Piano, Simulator, Speech, Video

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Take your iPod nano videos to a wider audience with the VideoBuddy AV out adapter

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:27:43 -0500

Owners of the new iPod nano 5G will no doubt be racking up hours of video footage by now and looking to inflict - I mean, share - their videos with all and sundry. While the nano’s 2.2-inch display might be ok “on the set”, nothing beats a TV to demand everyone’s attention. If you don’t have Apple TV, or don’t want to waste time turning on your computer to go through iTunes lest your audience disappear, GEAR4 have the perfect solution in the form of the VideoBuddy – a compact Audio Video (AV) kit that connects to the iPod nano dock connector and links to a TV via an RCA cable...

Tags: adapter, Audio, iPod, Nano, Streaming, Video

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iNudge - try out this free, online music sequencing widget

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:22:47 -0500

More than a little reminiscent of Yamaha's bizarre Tenori-On, iNudge is a free online composition and sequencing tool that takes all the pesky music training out of making music. Playing with its neat grid interface, anyone can come up with funky little beats and make quirky electro tunes. It's a product of an age where musical talent can be completely divorced from the ability to manipulate strings, wind or membranes to get a desired sound - and it's a lot of fun. Have a try right here in your browser window, just click through...

Tags: Interface, Music, Quirky, Sound

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My Phones volume-reducing headphones for kids

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:54:01 -0500

There’s something about seeing ear buds in young ears that makes me nervous - not just because of concerns about damage to the ear canal, but also because there’s no way of telling how high the volume is turned. MyPhones headphones from Griffin Technology are set to a maximum of 85 decibels - so even though you can’t always control what your kids are listening to, at least you know there won’t be long-term damage to their hearing...

Tags: Griffin, Headphones, Hearing, Kids, Myphones, Volume

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Video: Laser/smoke microphone promises the world's most accurate sound capture

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:41:59 -0500

The quest for ever more realistic sound reproduction seems set to move to a whole new level. Traditional microphones convert sound to electrical signals by measuring the deflections that sound vibrations cause in a diaphragm. But each diaphragm has its own weight, inertia and resistance, which colors the sound that gets recorded. So American digital audio pioneer David Schwartz, who invented the MP3 sound format, has come up with a novel new type of microphone that virtually eliminates the microphone's mechanical interference with the sound. The laser/smoke microphone uses a laser to measure the deflections that sound makes in a steady stream of smoke - which is virtually weightless. Prepare for a new wave of high-fidelity microphone technology...

Tags: Audio, Laser, Microphone, Music, Schwartz, Smoke, Video

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Sony's MH907 earphones automatically pause music to answer the phone

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:14:00 -0500

Most mobile phones these days also feature MP3 players, allowing you to listen to your favorite music in-between calls. With Sony Ericsson's new MH907 earbuds attached to your compatible phone, all you need do to pause the music and take a call is remove them from your ears. Put one of the buds back in your ear and start your conversation. Remove again to end the conversation, then replace both buds to start the music again. No more buttons to press, simple...

Tags: Capacative sensing technology, Earphones, Mobile Phone, Sony Ericsson

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Tested: Sennheiser HD 800 vs beyerdynamic T1 audiophile headphones

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:46:19 -0500

At IFA earlier in the month I had the opportunity to test a pair of Sennheiser's HD 800s and beyerdynamic's newly-announced T1 headphones, neither of which are your average set of headphones. Both are their respective companies' flagship products, and represent extensive research and development, the goal of which is to reproduce the source material as accurately and naturally as possible. And they don't come cheap - starting at around $1,300 US dollars...

Tags: Audio, beyerdynamic, beyerdynamic T1, Headphones, Music, Review, Sennheiser, Sennheiser HD 800

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Native Instruments announces Komplete 6 bundle for music creation

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:06:27 -0500

Native Instruments has just announced a recession-busting update to its impressive arsenal of digital musical instruments and effects - Komplete 6. The bundle not only comes with improved versions of amp and effects simulator Guitar Rig, the powerful sound manipulator Absynth and over 44Gb of sampling joy in the form of Kontakt, but it's also being offered at a significantly reduced price too...

Tags: Control, Design, Digital, Filters, Guitar, Komplete, Music, Native Instruments, Processing, Production, Software, Studio, Tools

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iTunes 9 gets some worthy additions

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:09:31 -0500

Hardware wasn’t the only thing getting attention at Apple’s Rock and Roll event. Apple has also shown its all-conquering iTunes software some love with a slight makeover and a few new features. The iTunes 9 interface now includes a persistent navigation menu for improved store navigation, a full window iTunes store for people who think the sidebar takes up too much room, and the ability to access previews from anywhere in the store instead of having to drill down through many pages. ..

Tags: Apple, iTunes, Music, Software

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SanDisk slot in the release of the Sansa Clip+ MP3 player

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:48:06 -0500

Hot on the heels of the recently released slotRadio player is the latest addition to SanDisk's ever-expanding family of personal music players, the Sansa Clip+. An update of the popular Sansa Clip, the unit boasts the inclusion of a microSD card slot, offering not only memory-expanding capabilities but compatibility with SanDisk's pre-loaded offerings. ..

Tags: MicroSD, MP3, Music, music player, Sandisk, Sansa Clip, SlotMusic, Slotradio, Songs, Video, Wearable

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ION Audio's entry-level digital DJ controller: the Discover DJ

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:19:49 -0500

The democratization of music is something Gizmag has been watching for some time. Just this year, we've seen software that teaches you to play guitar, drums and the piano (and you can check our music category for much more). Today at IFA 2009, we came across ION Audio's Discover DJ controller, a USD$99 product which turns any PC or Mac into a digital DJ setup...

Tags: Digital DJ, IFA 2009, ION AUDIO, Music

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Sonos Controller CR200 gets touchy-feely

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:46:32 -0500

The Sonos Controller has just undergone a makeover. Like the CR100 before it, the new controller will allow you to effortlessly manage music throughout your home but instead of controlling the action using a scroll wheel and buttons, the new Sonos CR200 now has a 3.5in capacitive touchscreen, full-color VGA 640 x 480 LCD display with LED backlighting. ..

Tags: Control, Controller, LCD, Music, Screen, Sonos, Touchscreen, Wireless

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Altec Lansing MIX - digital boombox with multi music input

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:48:39 -0500

Get one of these and become the life of the party, that seems to be the message from Altec Lansing with the launch of its new MIX (iMT800) digital boombox for party-goers and ‘unofficial DJ’s’. The MIX lets users connect three music players at once through its inputs – a 30-pin dock connector for the iPhone and iPod and also two front-facing 3.5mm jacks. No more plugging and unplugging devices during songs or arguments over whose music is on next. The unit has a built-in subwoofer, a seven-band graphic equalizer, FM radio and heavy-duty carry handles to enable you to take the MIX from party to party. There’s also a remote control with clip-on carabiner...

Tags: Altec, Boombox, IFA 2009, iPhone, iPod, Lansing, music player, Subwoofer

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Incentivizing the masses - free music drives phone usage

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:44:16 -0500

Ever since services like the original Napster brought free (albeit illegal) music downloads to the world, the music industry has been quick to point the finger at pirates but slow to realize that digital content is clearly the way forwards. Since then, download services such as iTunes and streaming services like Spotify have introduced new business models to the masses and Orange is the latest to come up with an innovative new way to listen to tunes on the move...

Tags: Mobile, Monkey, Music, Orange, Phone

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Let Concert Hands teach you to play piano

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:56:55 -0500

Have you ever dreamed of playing piano but the thought of committing yourself to years of grueling lessons fills you with dread? Then you just might be interested in the Concert Hands system, where your hands are gently guided back and forth along a track positioned just in front of the keys, and pulses prompt your fingers as each note is displayed on a screen in front of you. According to the developers, the technology will have you playing fluently in a few short days...

Tags: Concert Hands, Easy, Learning, Music, Piano, Play, Rubito, Songs, Technology

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Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:08:48 -0500

After more than 30 years of continual research into noise reduction technology, Bose has released the QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Canceling headphones. Further engineering advancements in active and passive noise reduction technologies have ensured the QC 15 headphones offer more attenuation of unwanted noise in louder environments, across a wider range of frequencies...

Tags: Bose, Headphones, Noise canceling, Quietcomfort

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SanDisk slotRadio – a thousand songs for 10� each, player included

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:22:33 -0500

As flash memory card capacity increases exponentially and prices fall equally fast, manufacturers are looking for new ways to innovate. SanDisk, one of the world’s biggest makers of memory products, has partnered with the Billboard charts in order to compete with music players like the iPod. The SanDisk slotRadio is a small, stylish player that comes bundled with a micro SD flash card pre-loaded with 1000 chart-topping songs for just USD$99.99. It’s certainly great value, but the big drawback is the music won’t play on anything else...

Tags: Memory card, music player, Pre-loaded, Sandisk, SD, Slotradio, Songs

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Pioneer gives DJs more mixing control with five-in-one DJM-5000

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:18:26 -0500

Pioneer Electronics is a name synonymous with innovation in the DJ industry. The company's latest offering is no exception, the DJM-5000 – an audio mixer designed specifically for the growing number of mobile DJ’s and entertainers. It incorporates five products into one neat package; an audio interface, MIDI controller, microphone effecter, audio processor and second zone mixer, which gives users much greater control over their performances and cuts back on the amount of gear they need to carry around as their requirements grow and change...

Tags: Music, Pioneer, Racks, Turntables

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In a twirl with the Chukka Kinetic Music Player

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:09:53 -0500

Listening to music became a truly personal experience when Sony first introduced the Walkman all those years ago. Technological advances since then have seen music players store more songs, become more compact and include color screens - and now they're even beginning to liberate themselves from the shackles of the battery. To achieve its battery free charge, the Chukka Kinetic Music Player combines electromagnetic induction with a unique design that positively encourages the user to twirl it around the fingers, throw it about and otherwise toy with it. The result - an eco-friendly personal media player that also gives you the recognized stress relieving benefits of tactile interaction and repetitive physical motion...

Tags: Audio, Design, Digital, Kinetic energy, Music, music player, Stress, Worry beads

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