Want speakers that are even more compact? Why not just build them when you need them? NYC Japanese importer Compact-Impact has US$45 collapsible build-on-demand speakers that measure just 3" cube and weigh only 225g, thanks to popypropylene and, you know, cardboard. They're passive, 2 watts (that's right, two) so don't expect much sound. But maybe […]

M-Audio's Trigger Finger USB-powered triggering device, which I covered here on CDM and for Gizmodo, now has pricing: list US$249.95, though, as expected, street price is just under $200. M-Audio tells CDM the Trigger Finger is shipping by the end of the month, so you could have your hands on this soon. 16 velocity- and […]

The M3 Summit (Miami, Music, Multimedia) opens tomorrow at Winter Music Conference in Miami, FL. The event (which is co-sponsored by Apple) bills itself as "the only gathering in the United States to merge modern music, technology, fashion, and multimedia arts as an integrated lifestyle." On the bill are sunset sessions and poolside networking parties, […]

DAT tape is as over as eight track cassette. Edirol is shipping its R4 portable digital recorder. What's not to love? 40GB HD, 24-bit/96kHz (though we'll stick with 16-bit and 44.1 / 48, thank you), 4-channel recording, and even onboard effects and wave editor. Connect it via USB 2.0 to your computer and download files, […]

If you're lucky, your portable audio player has some lousy recording capabilities. Or it may have none at all. So many people resort to MiniDisc recorders, which are decent, but employ lossy compression — and do you really want to be swapping tapes and manually copying to your computer in the year 2005? Edirol's R1 […]

Manhattan apartments may not have enough room to cook anything more sophisticated than instant mac & cheese, but who says you can't roll your bed into a closet and make a hit album? Even the New York Times is noticing the home studio trend in a story Sunday. (Check that link quick; after a few […]

PodBrix, who brought us the "Lego" Steve Jobs keynote playset, now have the world's geekiest way of toting around your iPod Shuffle. The Brixwear 1000, due to go on sale at 9 PM Eastern time Monday 3/21, uses a magnetic clasp to keep your Shuffle on your chest and not on the sidewalk. US$28.99, and […]

Guitarists have had the right idea for a long time: when you run out of hands, get your feet in on the action. Now with us keyboardists busying ourselves with complex synth patches and triggering grooves from Ableton Live in live performance, the time is right for mainstreaming the stompbox-style foot controller. Strangely, finding an […]

I expect that I'll write this and someone will say, "Why, no, that's simply copied from Joe's Big EQ, an effect written 5 years ago." but for my money, Digidesign's new EQ III looks stunningly like the MasterWorks EQ in MOTU Digital Performer 4.5. (Read my review of DP in Keyboard) Let's back up for […]

Ektopia points to an obsessive Japanese database of product designs, with extensive audio gear. Plenty to satisfy your fetish for metal and knobs, but most intriguing is the Sony Flamingo portable record player. No, not a CD walkman — think the turntable equivalent. Bet that worked really well. eBay?