MIDI

Rock Band 2 Is Only as Great as Its Instruments (Which Look Great)

A normal game demo features a kiosk, maybe a couch, and it’s all a pretty ho hum experience save for the fact that you’re usually playing a game that won’t be released for anywhere from a several months to a few years. But when testing out Rock Band 2, it’s set up on a stage…

Tech News Mark Wilson Jul 16

Commodore 64 Midibox Mod Trades In Games for Beeps, Boops

What you see here was once a Commodore 64, but no longer. Now it’s a MIDIboxSID, which translates roughly into, this thing looks killer in the dark and can lay down a serious series of beeps and pew pew’s. Best thing is that, thanks to the C64’s mod-friendly SID chips, this is a synthesizer that…

Tech News Jack Loftus Jun 8

Midiator Kit Converts a PS2 Controller Into a MIDI Controller

Yesterday we came across a DIY hack that helps you turn your Guitar Hero instrument into a MIDI controller and today we have a kit that will help you covert your old PS2 controllers (standard, knockoff, or wireless) for a similar purpose. When hooked up, it will allow you to do things like control pitch…

Tech News Sean Fallon May 20

Turn Your Guitar Hero Guitar Into a MIDI Controller

I can’t tell you how many times I have looked down at my Guitar Hero guitar and wished that it could be used like a real instrument. The only problem was that I lacked the ability to build one. Oh, and I have no musical ability whatsoever. Fortunately, it appears that someone with skills has…

Tech News Sean Fallon May 19

Tenori-On Makers Interviewed, Neither Can Play Music

PingMag did an interview with the creators of the Tenori-on that was overlooked when published, but there are a few interesting tidbits from the interview, like the fact that neither of the creators are musicians. Yu said it took three years to develop the Tenori-on, and another three to get Yamaha on board with the…

Tech News Adrian Covert May 7

Two Videos of Rock Band Drums Working on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 (Verdict: PS3 Is Cakewalk)

Glory be to USB. Because just days after Rock Band’s release, hardware enthusiasts have gotten the Xbox 360 and PS3 drum kits working on PC. But the methodology for each is different. The Xbox 360 version appears to work by making the drum kit become recognized as the already PC-supported Xbox 360 controller. It’s not…

Gadgets Mark Wilson Nov 24

Terpstra MIDI Keyboard, for Musicians from Another Planet

This Terpstra keyboard must be the strangest one yet, but don’t be getting worried that you’ll need to type on it because it’s a MIDI keyboard for musicians. The gigsters will like it because it’s velocity sensitive, letting keyboard players put more expression into their music just like when they’re playing a piano. Only problem…

Tech News Charlie White Oct 16

The DrumPants, Turning Musicians Into Instruments One Leg at a Time

And you thought ringtones were annoying. The DrumPants, created by Tyler Freeman, are the combination of two great inventions, MIDI instruments and pants. Basically he just gutted a MIDI keyboard and hooked it up to a couple piezo transducers wired into his pants that act as “drum heads”. However, the result is actually pretty impressive.…

Gadgets Blongo3 Sep 7

Jewelry Made from Computer Parts

Tired of spending time and effort on buying the latest gadget gift for your lady (okay, for you) only to disappoint her and have yet another round of the “you never buy me jewelry” conversation? How about a gift that satisfies your urge to geek out and her biological need for jewelry? Try Zelle jewelry,…

Gadgets Dana Bushman Jan 31

iPhone Ringtone Sheetmusic: Let Angelic Tinkling Remixes Begin

Click to viewAs the world embraces the iPhone ringer sound, we continue to dissect it here at the Giz, and now NYC musician Andy Neesley helps us out by transcribing the ringtone for us. And hey, this is actually correct. Now those who are musically literate can play it on the piano, get together string…

Tech News Charlie White Jan 19

NuVJ: Numark’s DJ/VJ Controller + Software

Switching from vinyl to digital? How about leaving sound behind entirely? https://gizmodo.com/numark-d2-director-usb-dj-rig-188806 The Numark NuVJ hardware/software bundle packs a DJ-style MIDI controller and VJ software (ArKaos, for Mac and Windows) into a single $300 package. Electronic musicians may want to take note as well as visualists, because this could fill a void as a usable,…

Gadgets Peter Kirn Jul 26

Monome MIDI Controller

This may not look like a musical instrument, but it is—and a whole lot more. It’s a grid of 8×8 buttons that light up when pressed. A USB interface connects this thing to almost any sequencer or MIDI system and allows you to simply press the buttons to get a sound, change a setting, or…

Gadgets Johnb Apr 14

Tiny DJ, Music Controllers Go Worldwide

QWERTY keyboards are for email, not music. Laptop musicians and DJs should look instead to the Faderfox Micromodul line of boutique German MIDI controllers, designed specially for DJ apps and live music software Ableton Live. They’ll even fit right over top of your laptop keyboard— unless you planned on hitting AIM during your all-night set.…

Tech News Johnb Jan 31

MIDI Wind Controller: All Music, No Hot Air

When you think MIDI, you think musical keyboards, but what about wind instrument players? Saxophonists rejoice, there’s a new MIDI wind controller from Akai that s shaped like some kind of futuristic spacecraft. The Akai EWI400S lets wind instrument players add that special expression that comes with lung power, and then the musical results can…

Gadgets Charlie White Jan 25

3DID Wireless MIDI Glove Kicks Total Ass

I now have a new found appreciation for lunchmeat. Twenty-four-year-old computer engineering graduate and musician Shaduz from Bologna developed a MIDI glove which can be used to manipulate music and sounds. The 3DID MIDI glove just isn’t any glove, though—it’s wireless and was built for about 150 euros, or $180. The glove features three gyroscopes,…

Gadgets Gizmodo.com Dec 19

Shred Like Van Halen, Flipper With The Sonar Axe

The Sonar Axe is the latest achievement in guitar technology, allowing you to play the instrument like a guitar through the use of sonar. It reads your finger movements on the neck like playing a regular guitar with frets, but instead of strings and frets, uses MIDI to act as a controller. Maker ElectroKraft says:…

Gadgets Gizmodo.com Nov 14

MIDI Gun

Bang, bang, you shot me down—with MIDI. The MIDI gun, based on a Doepfer DJ MIDI controller, is ugly as sin but the various knobs, dials, and, most importantly, a laser sight, will make you the banging-est DJ around. Get it? Banging? Ha, Willie! Sweet Jesus! It’s the midiGun [MusicThing]

Gadgets Johnb Aug 26

The 386 DX Singing Computer

Paying $500 for a computer is decent. Unfortunately this computer uses hardware and software so old that most tech companies have to pay people to take it away. What makes this PC worth so much is the nostalgia. This machine is actually a replica of the machine 386 DX used. 386 DX was a computer…

Tech News Travis Hudson Aug 19

Rock Band 2 Is Only as Great as Its Instruments (Which Look Great)

Commodore 64 Midibox Mod Trades In Games for Beeps, Boops

Midiator Kit Converts a PS2 Controller Into a MIDI Controller

Turn Your Guitar Hero Guitar Into a MIDI Controller

Tenori-On Makers Interviewed, Neither Can Play Music

Two Videos of Rock Band Drums Working on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 (Verdict: PS3 Is Cakewalk)

Terpstra MIDI Keyboard, for Musicians from Another Planet

The DrumPants, Turning Musicians Into Instruments One Leg at a Time

Jewelry Made from Computer Parts

iPhone Ringtone Sheetmusic: Let Angelic Tinkling Remixes Begin

NuVJ: Numark’s DJ/VJ Controller + Software

Monome MIDI Controller

Tiny DJ, Music Controllers Go Worldwide

MIDI Wind Controller: All Music, No Hot Air

3DID Wireless MIDI Glove Kicks Total Ass

Shred Like Van Halen, Flipper With The Sonar Axe

MIDI Gun

The 386 DX Singing Computer

Where the Hell Do You Even Put the Popcorn in Disney’s Sail Barge Bucket?

This Is Supposedly the Final, Final, FINAL Look of the Foldable iPhone

Scientists Watch Brain’s Self-Cleaning Process During Sleep in Real Time

LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant Sees 30% Off on Amazon While LEGO and Nintendo’s Official Stores Keep It at Full Price

‘No Data Centers’ Sign Found After Shooting at Indianapolis Politician’s Home

‘Dark Matter’ Season 2 Sees Joel Edgerton Forced Back Into the Multiverse

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