News, reviews and articles about musical gear and accessories.
Just in time for the kick off of the ninth season of American Idol, there is the lengthily named The Only Scoring Karaoke Game to tell you just how pitchy your rendition of “Hey Jude” really is. Featuring a wireless microphone with an adapter that plugs directly into your television, this karaoke game measures your pitch […]
It’s a Little Pitchy, Dawg–Karaoke Game Read More
Here’s a cute add-on speaker for your iPod from Vat19. This little “building block” speaker is the size of a standard Lego block (2.3 X .5 X .5 inches), and it works with any iPod with the dock connector that doesn’t already have a speaker built-in. No battery is required; it draws power from your
iPod Building Block Speaker Read More
The Eigenlabs Eigenharp Alpha is a radical looking USB electronic instrument that requires a Mac to play. The Alpha is a professional level instrument which allows the musician to play and improvise, change scale and key, transpose, alter tempo, program beats, create arrangements, switch and layer multiple sounds all while performing live on stage. Check
The Eigenharp Alpha will guarantee you a spot in the Star Wars Cantina Band Read More
If electronic devices can’t be small enough for you, check out the Micro Sport Japanese MP3 player from ThinkGeek. The mp3 player is about the size of two sugar cubes, and it looks like a Bluetooth earbud. It connects to your computer (running any operating system – requires no drivers) via a USB cable, and you just
Micro Sport Japanese MP3 Player Read More
Have an iPhone or iPod touch? Want to become a DJ? If so then Touch DJ is the app for you! This app is the first and only DJ app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Now you can DJ anywhere with real time independent manipulation of 2 MP3/M4A files. It also supports the common
Touch DJ for the iPhone and iPod touch Read More
If your previous attempts at learning to play an instrument ended in failure, the Novation Launchpad might be your ticket to musical bliss. This device is an audio controller that you can use with your computer. It consists of an 8-by-8 panel of buttons. Each button is used to launch an audio event – a
An instrument for the terminally tuneless – LaunchPad Read More
Like many people, I own quite a few headphones. These days all handheld devices we purchase come with a free corded headphone which most of the time are of crappy sound quality. But what if I want great quality sound but without the mess of a snaking cable dangling down to my Bluetooth enabled media
Sony Ericsson Stereo Bluetooth HBH-IS800 Headset Review Read More
When I got the invite to test drive Pick Smith’s Jam Kat. I agreed, not knowing what exactly a Jam Kat did or who Pick Smith was. Twenty minutes of poking around their website got me only marginally closer to answering those questions, but I did eventually determine that the Jam Kat is a rather
Pick Smith Jam Kat Wearable Pick Review Read More
Even rock gods need to practice once in awhile. Now you can do that anywhere, with the Shedneck. Available in different headstock colors and styles that include electric, acoustic, classical and bass, the Shredneck is modeled after the first seven frets of a guitar. You can string it like you do a normal guitar, but
Practice your power chords anywhere with the Shredneck Read More
I’m a fan of guitar (and ukulele) tuners that use vibration help you to zero in on the right note for each string. Here’s a new one from Planet Waves that looks like it might be pretty nice. It has a narrow LCD display that shows the currently tuned note for the string that you’re
Tune your guitar with vibrations – Planet Waves Headstock Tuner Read More
Here’s another gadget to hold your guitar pick while you play guitar. The Jam Kat is a bit different though because it features a flip mechanism that will allow you to quickly switch from playing fingerstyle with your fingers to strumming with a pick. Interesting design, but it seems to me that all of these
Quickly flip from fingerstyle to strumming – Jam Kat Pick Holster Read More
Just a few weeks ago, I reviewed Cakewalk’s UA-1G USB Audio Interface and I was much impressed. Today, Cakewalk kicks it up a notch with the smaller of the two of their new V-Studio packages. This combo package of a portable digital multi-track recorder, a Digital Audio Workstation control surface, a PC and Mac compatible USB
Cakewalk V-Studio 100 Review Read More
Check out these made to order resin and steel reinforced wall mounted guitar hangers from Grip Studios. They are available in different colors and shapes, including human hands, skeleton hands and monster hands. They are priced from $39.99 up to $119.99. I need some of these for my ukuleles 🙂
Hand shaped custom guitar hangers – Grip Studios Read More
Available in October, the Tascam PT-7 shoves three devices into one small package. The PT-7 starts with a high-speed chromatic tuner, adjustable to 7 alternate scales, adds a metronome that plays from the speaker or headphone at rates form 30 to 300bpm in six time signatures. And throws in a mono recorder that employs the
Tune, record and stay in time with one device – Tascam PT-7 Read More
During my normal Saturday morning routine of hot tea, steel-cut oats and magazine browsing, I happened upon the ZeroGravity Orbit Guitar Pick in the latest copy of a Musician’s Friend catalog. Guitar Picks really haven’t changed much over the years, so this one easily caught my eye. Attached to the actual pick is a soft
A guitar pick with training wheels? – ZeroGravity Orbit Guitar Pick Read More
Have you ever really listened to your favorite music? Most of you either answered yes or know where I’m going and are rolling your eyes. To those of you in the latter group, I know you’ve been here before so I’ll make my intro nice and short. If you do not have a good
HeadRoom Total BitHead Review Read More
This little beauty, otherwise known as the “Mint Tin Pocket Amp” is great for that guitar player on the go. We all knew that Altoids tins were good for storing certain things… However, who would have thought they could be used for this? This mini amp is for the guitar player that just has to
Fresh Riffs?…Try the Altoids amp Read More
The VAX77 MIDI Keyboard Controller from Infinite Response has to be the coolest looking musical instrument that I’ve seen in awhile. It includes MIDI in and MIDI out, as well as full USB support and is available in three different key weights. Of course, the most notable feature is the fact that it folds in
VAX77 – Full size MIDI keyboard that folds in half Read More
I started exploring PC based digital multi-track recording well over a decade ago, when it was expensive and impractical. After investing over $5,000 in the endeavor, I eventually wound up with a system that exceeded my much maligned cassette based 4 track portable studio. Fast forward and Cakewalk just sent me their most recent solution,
Cakewalk UA-1G USB Audio Interface Review Read More
The Rhythmring is a small polycarbonate tube filled with beads that you wear on your hand to add some extra rhythm to your guitar and ukulele playing while you strum, without hindering your playing.
Rhythmring adds some cha cha to your guitar playing Read More