TriqTraq for iPhone
Triqtraq is a new music creation app for iOS. It allows you to create and modify loops and sequences in the palm of your hand – much like the Korg Kaossilator or Propellerhead’s Figure for iOS. Although triqtraq seems to have many more features than Figure. There’s a bunch of tutorial videos to get you started too. Check out triqtraq now on the App Store for $1.99, and be sure to check out a demo video after the jump.
Marshall Hanwell Hi-Fi Speaker
Marshall is a company synonymous with guitar amps, but for the last couple of years, they’ve spun off into Marshall Headphones, focused on consumer audio. For Marshall’s 50th anniversary, they’re unveiling the Marshall Hanwell Hi-Fi Speaker. This small tabletop speaker has all the classic styling of the famous Marshall amps, but its for your iPod instead of your guitar. Available in November, and limited to only 10,000 units.
Instruments of Robot Repair
Robot Repair is a New York/Los Angeles company that creates music for commercials, TV, film and visual artists. Naturally, they have a lot of instruments at their disposal. They created a video that goes through them at a quick pace:
From analog drum machines to vintage guitars, orchestral percussion to circuit-bent children’s toys, 1980s Russian synthesizers to Indian harmoniums…these are the instruments of Robot Repair.
Lots of normal to very weird stuff here – and I want them all. Check out the video on Vimeo.
The Vibe iPhone Case
More and more musicians and songwriters are using the popular song-sharing service Soundcloud these days. Shapeways has introduced a service that works with Soundcloud to print custom 3-D iPhone cases. Just browse to your music (or any music) through their website, and select part of the waveform to use for your case. Only $25 and available now. Check out the demo video after the jump. Continue reading →
Mixtape Alpha
Cassettes hold a special place in many of our hearts – especially the lost art of the mixtape. Open Music Labs has released a small synthesizer honoring the beloved mixtape – The Mixtape Alpha is a cassette shaped 8-bit synth with multiple voices, effects, polyphony and recording features. And being from Open Music Labs it’s completely hackable – based on the ATmega328p it allows you to tinker with it to make your own sounds. Available now for $35. Check out the demo video after the jump.
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The Loog Guitar
Children are often very musical creatures and should be encouraged in that. Until now, there hasn’t been many instruments that sat in the space between musical toys and the real thing. Enter The Loog Guitar – a small scale, three stringed guitar developed to give kids a fun and easy way to dive into playing music. It ships unassembled, allowing kids to take ownership by helping in putting it together. And as your child grows, you can replace the neck with a longer scaled one. After a very successful Kickstarter campaign, The Loog Guitar is now on sale in three models for $215 each, with many modular pieces also available. Check out the demo video after the jump.
Propellerhead’s Figure
Propellerheads has introduced a new music making app for iOS called Figure. The simple and intuitive design allows anyone to create short tracks on the go. Powered by Reason’s Thor synthesizer and Korg drum machine, the included sounds are top notch. The concept is very similar to the Korg Kaossilator – set some parameters such as the key, beats, sound etc. and drag your finger across a touch area to play. Figure automatically stays on key and on beat. Record short clips, and tweak them on the fly. Available now on the app store for 99 cents. Check out the demo video after the jump.
A Strat is Born
Fender has released a short film on the birth of a Stratocaster, from slabs of wood to the final product. This is a quick and interesting film, that shows the entire process of an American Made Strat built in Fender’s manufacturing facility in Corona, CA . It’s interesting to see how much is hand-made and the care that goes into each piece – from cutting and sanding the neck and body to winding the pickups and pressing the inlays . It’s a surprisingly human process that shows the detail that goes into each of these instruments.
Apple Ukulele
Celentano Woodworks is a company from Ashville, NC that specializes in making unique ukuleles, mandolins and guitars. This beautiful Apple Ukulele features 13 frets, a maple neck and a maple/poplar body. Be sure to check out Celentano’s Etsy store for many more unique instruments. They also offer custom orders so you can purchase an instrument of your own design!
Stochastik Drum Machine
Sure, there’s a lot of drum machine apps for iOS already – but the Stochastik Drum Machine app does it a bit differently. The big difference that sets it apart from other apps in it’s category is the “probability meter”. By dragging the bars in each sample up or down, you can set the probability that the note will trigger, from 100% of the time on down. This adds a degree of chance into your loops and makes them more “real” sounding. Included are over a thousand high-quality drum samples, and the option to import your own.
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