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Synth Britannia: As If Ken Burns Were To Explain Autotune
BBC4's Synth Britannia was a sufficiently comprehensive look into the electronic music of postpunk Britain, from the pioneering soundtrack to "A Clockwork Orange" by Wendy Carlos, to experimental groups like OMD, Throbbing Gristle, and early Human League... More »Three-iPhone Ocarina Much More Expensive Than No-iPhone Ocarina
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Having actually held a Stradivarius once in my life, I can appreciate a musician's desire to possess and play these 300-year-old works of playable art. That said, the future looks pretty damn cool too. Question is, how will it sound? More »Polk HitMaster "Monitor" Means Inexplicable Faux Instrument Arms Race Actually Exists
The disdain I harbored for that ridiculous Altec Lansing Guitar Hero "stage monitor" was fading this morning, but news from Polk that they, too, would be entering the world of fake music accessories revived those feelings anew. More »Video: $25 Stylophone Beatbox Makes Even Nerds Look Cool
Want to live-out your nerdiest Kraftwerk or hip hop fantasies? As this video shows, too much time on your hands and the Stylophone Beatbox is all it takes. Its 13 metal pads trigger samples from UK beatbox champ, MC Zani. More »Novation Launchpad Lights Up Ableton Live DJ Sets
Seriously, some of the coolest-looking gadgets coming out these days are for electronic musicians. The latest example: this USB MIDI controller that has a 64-button grid specifically designed to trigger audio clips in Ableton's Live music creation/performance software. More »Korg microSAMPLER Ready to Rock Your iPhone Noodlings
The iPhone has so many great music-creation apps that they deserve their own category, but shiny dedicated instruments like Korg's new 37-key sampler are always nice. It has a line-input, goose-neck microphone, and editing software for the Mac or PC. More »Audi-Designed Grand Piano Is Unsurprisingly Carlike
Or maybe it's just that cars and pianos are inherently similar: They both have pedals, hood-ish mechanisms, make noise, and sit users at some manner of control panel. If that didn't blow your mind, then, well, you probably understand art. More »Apogee ONE Mac Audio Interface Has Built-In Mic, So You Sing Right Into It
Here's a nice one for Mac-using amateur musicians: Apogee's ONE is a multifunctional handheld device that features a built-in mic, preamp, and dedicated input/output. It works over USB and is designed for Garage Band, Final Cut and the like. More »Circuit Bent Goggles Let You Make Terrible Music with Your Face
These insane goggles aren't just weird looking; they also make weird music. Housing the tweaked guts of a Pikachu doll, these bad boys are able to make your grandparents wonder just what the hell is wrong with your generation in record time. More »Manson MB-1 Guitar Has an Integrated, Touch-Controlled, X-Y MIDI Pad for Effects
Guitars are fun. X-Y MIDI controlers, like the Korg KAOSS Pad, are also fun. So in theory, combining the two, like this Manson MB-1 Guitar does, makes this thing twice as fun. More »The Guitar Hanger For a Closet Full Of Axes
With all the money he saves on clothes, the Naked Cowboy can fill his closet full of guitars thanks to this hanger. And guitars never go out of style my friend. [Guitar Hanger via BBG]10 "Instruments" That Have No Business Playing Music
Do You Play a Musical Instrument?
Today I am hoping to find out whether the nerdly love of gadgets extends into the realm of musical instruments. So, my question is simple: do you play? More »The Arduinocaster Makes Keytars Even Geekier, If That's Possible
Mike Cook made this awesome homemade MIDI instrument using an Arduino microprocessor mated to a host of motion- and touch-sensitive control structures, all residing in this fantastic Keytar-esque shell. Does it rock? More »Use Your Fingers to Tap Out The Jams
For some reason, rhythms I produce by nervously tapping my fingers do not translate well to musical instruments. However, this "Jam" concept could help fidgety individuals like myself become musical virtuosos. More »Harmonic Generator Should Be Renamed Seuss-a-Phone
Zoybar Modular Instrument is a Guitar, Bass or Medieval Lute, Depending on Your Mood
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So, Guitar Hero: World Tour is set to drop on the 26th. That is all well and good if you are a fan, but the last time I checked, record labels were not handing out millions of dollars to Guitar Hero virtuosos so they could tour the world and score with groupies. The only way that is going to happen is if you learn how to play a real instrument and get yourself on stage. That is where the following gadgets can help.