Once a week, composer/laptop performer Peter Kirn of createdigitalmusic spotlights gear for musicians and DJs, from the essential to oddball. For his inaugural shining, he’s showing a little of both, starting with this week’s Essential Pick—the Alesis Photon X25.
ESSENTIAL: ALESIS PHOTON X25—Live music performance software has evolved at breakneck speed, but keyboards look basically the same as they did twenty years ago. Alesis’ Photon X25, though, has an extra twist: an infrared-powered Axys dome gives you three-dimensional control over any software parameter. Wave your hand in the air above the dome, theremin-style, for touch-free sound-shaping control of your favorite computer instrument. With 25 keys, 360-degree knobs and buttons pre-configured for music apps Reason or Live, plus a built-in 24-bit audio interface packed—all in 4 lbs.—with a street price of about US$200, the Photon makes a great gift for your favorite music geek.
ODDBALL: DISC-O-SLAM—Why use a keyboard at all when you can DJ your next party via a punching bag and interactive dance floor? The Disc-o-Slam is a Mac-powered musical instrument activated by your punches (a virtual coach gives you feedback), and the footsteps of your dancing friends. It even plays Eye of the Tiger. You can’t buy tech like this—yet—but for DIY resources for building your own music controllers out of whatever you want, check out the Physical Computing page at NYU.
