News, reviews and articles about musical gear and accessories.
Kickstarter has a new project called the Oval Digital HandPan. It is a percussive instrument that can connect via USB on Android and iOS or Bluetooth MIDI on iOS to the MIDI-compliant music app of your choice to give you an unlimited palette of sound to choose from. With five sensors per pad, it gives […]
Oval MIDI digital handpan on Kickstarter Read More
I will be the first to admit that I am not a great musician, but that does not mean I don’t like to dabble a bit. Now to be honest, I am mainly a guitar and bass guy, although since I have purchased my iPad I find myself doing more and more in Garage Band,
Is that a band in your pocket or a Pocket Operator synthesizer Read More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnpsXvSKlCY If you’ve always wanted to play an instrument but don’t have the money to buy a piano, guitar or other instrument or don’t have any spare time to invest in learning the ins and outs of playing it, Tin Pan Rhythm is a new iOS app that makes playing music fun and easy. If you’re like me,
Tin Pan Rhythm app brings your song ideas to life Read More
My husband, Butch, has helped me review a few methods of directly recording guitar music into music-recording software. Some methods required an interface between the guitar and the computer with the software, and he also reviewed the Squier by Fender Strat guitar with the USB interface built in. Both methods worked well, but having the
I long for the perfect smartphone. You know, the one that has awesome battery life, a high resolution camera that takes clear pictures in low light, and fantastic audio quality to blow you away. I recently upgraded my phone to a Nexus 6, but found one of the things lacking was the sound quality when
Instant audio quality upgrade for your devices with this tiny amplifier Read More
Many guitar tuners have graced the pages of The Gadgeteer over the years, but the Roadie is possibly the new benchmark and the only one you’ll want in your gig bag. It is a Kickstarter-funded creation that pairs a handheld auto tuner–the Roadie device itself– with a corresponding mobile app. With the app you can
The last guitar tuner you’ll ever need Read More
The Illuminating Piano from McCarthy Music is an integrated system that includes a piano with software and a cloud-friendly piano learning system. The Illuminating Piano has been designed to make learning to play the piano easy and fun for people of all ages. The system includes a MIDI keyboard with 61 full-size keys that are velocity
This piano shows you exactly how to play it Read More
Synthesizers have been around for a long, long time and many efforts have been made to turn them into expressive, virtuoso performing machines. Ribbons, X/Y pads and pitch/mod wheels have long been a staple for keyboardists but they all have one glitch…the expressiveness of the note is separated by two hands and two motions that
The Linnstrument from Roger Linn Design…the holy grail of expressive controllers? Read More
So you want to record your next podcast, voiceover demo, or narrate a video? Ready to step up from your laptop or tablet’s built in mic but don’t want to destroy your bank account? Let’s see what the Samson CO1U Pro USB Microphone has to offer.
Samson C01U Pro USB Microphone review Read More
I don’t consider myself a musician even though I can play a few instruments (barely). However I do consider myself a musical hobbyist because I enjoy doodling around with the ukulele and music apps on my iOS and Android tablets. When the people at IK Multimedia contacted me to ask if I might like to
IK Multimedia iRing motion music controller review Read More
A couple of months ago, we told you about the Stretcha, a tool that would stretch out new strings and prevent tuning problems. I ordered a couple of those for my husband and daughter, and they do help you stretch out new strings. Stretchas are pretty big, though, and they don’t always fit in
This Planet Waves string winder incorporates a string stretcher Read More
My husband, Butch, helped me review the Squire by Fender USB guitar a few years ago, and he found that it made recording music in GarageBand much simpler because he didn’t have to have some sort of interface to get the music from his guitar to the computer. I’ve seen a few other guitars that
Recording music is easier with the UkeSB from Lanikai Read More
When the Camera Connection Kit first came out for the iPad, it immediately was exploited by musicians worldwide to use the iPad as a MIDI-connected device. The iPad suddenly became a must-have device for making music. Apps that mimicked classic synths like the Korg Electribe and MS-20 came out as well as production studio apps
PUC Wireless MIDI for iOS and Mac review Read More
I posted this earlier today on my Ukulele Review site: Some people may march to the beat of a different drummer, but as a fan of 4 stringed instruments you might strum to the rhythm of a different ukulele. We’ve reviewed ukuleles made of plastic like the Flea and the BugsGear, and we’ve even shown
Ukulele’s made of plant fiber the next big thing? Read More
I’ve tried to learn to play guitar a couple of times in my life, and I’ve learned a few things. 1) When you’re only five feet tall, holding an acoustic guitar feels like clasping a baby grand piano to your chest. 2) Electric guitars are heavy, and you must have a strap to help you hold
Comfortable, neoprene straps for almost any musical instrument you can think of Read More
I’ve seen special hooks for hanging your guitar, ukulele, banjo, or other stringed instruments on the wall or even in your closet, but they can be pretty expensive. What if you could hang your instruments for less than $5.00 per hanger? I found these Leather Ukulele Hangers for $2.00 each while checking out the website
Hang your guitar or other stringed instrument from any hook Read More
Recently, Amazon announced that it would be raising the rates for their Prime membership. It was the first increase in years, and I didn’t think it was too much to bear, because I use Amazon – and free Prime shipping – frequently. Amazon isn’t just increasing the rates to compensate for rising shipping costs; they’re
Amazon Prime Music – Amazon’s newest perk for Prime members Read More
I’ve seen plectrums – or picks, as they are more commonly known – made of plastic, metal, even felt – but the Obsidian Arrowhead Guitar Pick is made of volcanic rock. These picks were created by Seth Maranuk. A piece of obsidian, a glass-like material formed in rapidly cooled lava, is hand-shaped into the arrowhead shape
This gives new meaning to “rock music” Read More
If you play guitar or another stringed instrument, you probably have a guitar tuner of some sort. There are a few different tuners around my house, but most of them are pretty large. They’re certainly too big to keep in your pocket, for example. The Seiko Chromatic Tuner Keychain is small enough to use as a
Be ready to tune an instrument, no matter where you are Read More
I’ve wanted to play guitar for years, but I just cannot seem to get the hang of it. I finally decided to take a page from Julie’s ukulele book and thought I’d try one in the hopes that I could manage with four strings. And just like with any gadget or gizmo I have, I’ve made
Put your ukulele in a sling Read More