Quick: which brand-new portable recorder will be your long-awaited iPod of recording? The newly-announced M-Audio MicroTrack, or the already-proven Edirol R-1? One thing’s for sure: CompactFlash is where it’s at. I just got an email from Buy.com offering a full 2 GB of CompactFlash storage for US$70 after rebate. You’re likely to run out of […]

While we’re mulling CompactFlash-based portable digital recorders, I’d be remiss to ignore the Marantz PMD660. Just as the new M-Audio MicroTrack is inspired by Apple’s iPod (check out the LCD display if you don’t believe me), the PMD660 is deeply rooted in past Marantz recorders. Those of you who have fond memories of Marantz cassette […]

Well, just a pleasant quiet Saturday afternoon he– WHAT’S THAT??!!! I CAN’T QUITE HEAR YOU!! THE R O L A N D E X C I T E M E NT SEEMS A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL!!! FEEL THE POWER OF THE NEW ROLAND ORGAN!! YEAH, BABY, YEAH!!! Ready to shatter the peace of your […]

Thank God for press releases. Without them, how would we know about some of the least-interesting product announcements being made at shows like the huge NAMM music conference? Here are just a few of the most-useless product announcements made in the last few days. And why do I have a sinking suspicion I’ll have part […]

I’m about to go on the radio to talk to the Inside Mac Radio show. If you’re in the San Jose area, tune in 1220 AM between 2:30 and 3:00 PM today (Saturday). If not, downloadable MP3 and Podcast will be available shortly. But then, if you read this blog, you probably already know what […]

Don’t touch that dial — NAMM Summer Session has begun, meaning lots of new hardware and software to drool over. (Site is down at press time, weirdly.) The National Association of Music Manufacturers meets twice a year; summer is in Indianapolis this year and is a big deal as it hits just before the major […]

CDM’s 5 words: Super simple sampler to go. You’ve heard the online rumors; now this portable sampler is official. A sequel to Roland’s hit SP-303 sampler, the new model has more voices, more pads, more memory, and now runs on batteries. Basic specs: Simple recording: Built-in mic. CD-quality sound, or switch to “Low-Fi mode”, whatever […]

Updated – Numark confirmed the story, and expects volume shipments to begin in September. See the updated story. -PK GearJunkies reports that Numark has released the rumored DJ mixer for the iPod. (Updated: Looks like the original link is on the Spanish site Abizu, linked on Engadget.) Some juicy details: Big controls for iPod scroll […]

So the iDJ is real and shipping by Christmas, eh? As regular readers know, this site was host to some seriously annoyed turntablists and hardcore DJs when we first carried word of an iPod DJ mixer. (Ironically, the original scoop was on a vinyl-centric site.) But now that the iDJ may actually be here, I […]

On the PC side of things, we at least know what Windows’ next OS will be called. In a ultra-hyped video, you can watch the unveiling. (Were those onstage explosions?) The unveiling of the OS? Well, no. But the unveiling of the OS name, yes. I’ve heard privately from Windows audio developers that the upcoming […]