Game Boxes as Instruments: Original Game Boy Reigns Supreme

Looking for a gaming portable that doubles as an instrument? The Micro is tiny, but it’ll set you back US$99: Game Boy Micro launches September 19 in US, November 4 in EuropeNintendo’s Game Boy Micros is just about a month away in the US, but the launch price is higher than anticipated. Will it dampen […]

Patch Bay: Link Love from the Musical Web

Here’s the latest of the must-read links online: Earbuds = ear damage? Portable player use could cause rise in hearing loss [Times Online via Coolfer] Digidesign seal of approval. Digidesign qualifies new Windows XP setups with Mbox and 002 — `bout time. [Sweetwater inSync] Budget Mac audio editor. Sound Studio 3.0 beta now available: “Felt […]

Update on Bob Moog’s Health

(Via Music thing) All my thoughts are with the family and friends of Bob Moog in what sounds like a profoundly difficult time; an update on the CaringBridge page today reports Hospice has been called in and Dr. Moog is facing serious challenges with treatment. Note that the visits counter on that page, which was […]

PHP/Mambo/Web Advisors + Experts Wanted; Mambo Melodrama

Okay, Web gurus, weekend bloggers alike — it’s time to band together. Thanks to your support and contributions, I’ve got lots of ideas for where to take this site in the future. Only problem: we could use at least some light Mambo, PHP, and Web expertise to give the sight a new look, easier navigation, […]

Grand Theft MIDI: Novation/Focusrite Stock Stolen from Headquarters [Updated]

[Updated: Something odd happening with links. My links were posted incorrectly (my fault) but the address from Focusrite isn’t working, either. I’ll post once I get a corrected link from Focusrite. Thanks for your patience. -PK] Important news — please forward as widely as you can, particularly to anyone in a position to watch for […]

Shipping Watch: Miroslav Philharmonik, Sibelius 4, Peak Pro 5, More

Here’s a quick look at new products that are now on their way to you: Orchestral Sound Libraries: IK Multimedia’s massive Miroslav Philharmonik is now shipping, as of today. (Why does that give me images of cellists being packed in crates and loaded on container ships?) Added reason to buy it now: introductory price of […]

Pyro (PC), Toast 7 (Mac) Add Video, Cell Phone, Audio Extras to CD Burning

How do you update something as seemingly simple as CD burning in the year 2005? Pyro and Toast are adding lots of extras, like a quick cell phone ring creator (Pyro) and video features (Toast). First, a look at Windows: Pyro 5 is a feature-packed tool from our friends at Cakewalk, with new ringtone creation […]

Zero-G Nostalgia: Four Decades of Vintage Sounds Under $200

Finally, vintage sounds we can afford (as opposed to the many, many we can’t). Zero-G has released a massive sound library called Nostalgia. 1.3 GB, with 1,300 patches running on Native Instruments’ Kompakt engine for Windows/Mac. Synth enthusiast Steve Howell is behind the design. Sure, part of the appeal behind vintage synths is their interface. […]

Digitalmusician.net Goes Public: Online Music Collaboration

Real-time audio and MIDI collaboration, Mac and PC, video chat, exchanging big files, Web space — we all know what the wish list of features would look like for online musical collaboration. Back in April, Digitalmusician.net promised these features, with a public launch planned for August. Unfortunately, that beta was massively crowded, so many of […]

Optical Theremin Toilet, Operatic Daisies, and More of the Weirdest Instruments Ever

The beauty of musical instruments lies partly in their strangeness: odd objects that have mysterious sound-making powers. So really, why not a toilet? Toilet, Pooh, Pikachu: Cementimental’s “Optical Theremin Loo” packs an optical theremin (with a photoresistor, in other words) into a plastic toy toilet. (Tom at Music Thing should like this as it’s white, […]