CES: Bringing Guitarists Kicking and Screaming into the Digital Revolution

CDM’s Lee Sherman has been roving through the massive CES tech show and Macworld Expo over the last two weeks. He files this report on how music (namely, guitar music) is making an impact on consumer gadgets. -Ed. Guitarists are finally catching up to their keyboard-playing brethren in embracing digital technology due to a spate […]

Unusual New Guitar Tech: Optical Pickups, Bows, MIDI, Finger-Controlled FX

Sometimes the musical instrument industry seems to evolve slowly, but not when it comes to creating wild new guitars. Here’s a quick roundup of just-released technology, the sort of things that get introduced at this week’s NAMM show; hopefully I’ll get up close and personal with these and others on the floor. (See last year’s […]

Darth Vader DJs Imperial March in Video

From Adrian Anders comes a video by a DJ Keltech — or, should I say, Sith Lord Darth Vader: Vader, Scratch Lord [Google Video] To quote Chris Rock’s character in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back: “I think George Lucas is gonna sue somebody.” Thanks, Adrian. Can’t fault the concept, though I’d like to see […]

Why the NAMM Music Show Will Kick the CES Gadget Show in the Google Pack

Last week, the largest consumer technology show in the world descended on Las Vegas, CES. And what did we get? Well, basically, a lot of boring announcements, a few fairly cool portable media devices, lots of non-shipping Skype devices, and Bill Gates telling us things we already knew about Windows Vista. Afterwards, we had lots […]

Mactel Watch: Which Audio/Music Software is Mac-Intel Ready?

A CDM Special Report, http://www.createdigitalmusic.com/intel/ In 2006, we’re compiling our own list of audio and music software, plug-ins, and drivers that have been updated as Universal — containing code that’s optimized both for PowerPC Macs and the new Macs with Intel processors. With this list, Mac musicians can keep track of which software will run […]

Exclusive: Fold-Up, Full-Size Music Keyboard Patented

Full-size keyboards have one problem: they’re big. We’ve seen roll-up pianos, but limp pieces of vinyl with membrane action aren’t much fun to play. Ever looked at your keyboard and just wished you could fold it up? Inventor David Bubar thinks he’s got the answer. He’s patented a design for a fold-up keyboard, and has […]

The Joys of Paper: Moleskine’s New Pocket Music Notebook

Technology is great, but my favorite portable music creation device is still manuscript paper. Unfortunately, that’s usually meant giant notebooks and/or ungainly stacks of loose-leaf music paper. Reader Joshua Schnable brings good news: one of the best notebook and sketchbook makers in the business, the legendary Moleskine, has released a gorgeous 8-staff music notebook: Moleskine […]

CDM @ Macworld Keynote: Live Updates (New GarageBand, New Intel Macs, Laptop)

Below: Podcasting in GarageBand. Can’t handle suspense? Here’s a hit: get ready to run Logic on your superfast Mac laptop, podcasting on GarageBand to your iLife Website by no later than March. Consider this story spoiled. CDM’s Lee Sherman is reporting to us live from inside the Macworld Expo. If Apple has anything of note […]

Macworld Analysis: Apple’s Got Great News for Mac Music, Podcasts

Macworld is always the highlight of the Mac year, and today was no exception. Apple’s keynote focused on the broad consumer market, but there was still plenty of good news for Mac musicians and audio pros. (Plus a few question marks, as usual.) Here’s CDM’s quick take: