Sound techs are no longer confined to the sound booth when working live shows thanks to Mackie’s DL1608 iPad controlled mixer that combines the power of a full-featured digital mixer with the mobility of an iPad. Mackie’s compact mixers are used in recording studios everywhere and the 16-channel DL1608 features all the controls you’d find on regular compact mixers thanks to its Master Fader app that provides groundbreaking DAW mixing features and functionality to the live environment. Engineers can easily wander the venue and still adjust and fine-tune the mix from anywhere in the concert.

The Master Fader app comes with multiple screens that provides fader control, EQ and compression and gate setting, as well as access to reverb and delay effects. Users can save mix snapshots and recall them with a simple touch. If the mixer is part of a permanent installation, the iPad can be locked down, but it also has a wireless connection, allowing engineers to undock it and adjust mixes on the go. It can also support up to iPads at the same time, allowing multiple engineers to control the mix at once. Featuring a modern, sleek design, the Mackie iPad controlled mixer will become available in May or June and be priced at around $1,000.

It’s the end of 2011 and it’s been one hell of a year for music! Today’s Amazon Deal of the Day wants to share some of the year’s best music for one low price. Save on the 10 Top 2011 Albums from some of your favorite artists and download their entire album for $3.99 or Less. New albums by Coldplay, Rihanna, Drake, Dauaghtry, the Decemberists, Florence + the Machine, Mac Miller, Amy Winehouse, She & Him, and the Muppets are all available for MP3 download! For less than a cup of coffee, you’ll be able to enjoy the year’s best in music on your Kindle ire, PC, Mac, iPad, or Android Phone with Amazon Cloud Player. You can instantly gift these or any MP3s from Amazon.

Even though you might not be familiar with all the songs on the album, today’s Deal of the Day is a score for any music lover who wants to have a very robust music library. The Late Amy Winehouse’s last album is as amazing as her previous efforts, while Rihanna continues to steam things up with her Talk That Talk release. Coldplay never fails to disappoint, while “American Idol’s” Daughtry is pure magic. Everybody loves the Muppets while Drake is hip-hop’s latest golden child. Florence + the Machine is a musical delight, just as She & Him. Music lovers will definitely want to take advantage at the low prices for the album, while those who are looking for a new sound can easily indulge without breaking the bank!

Thinkgeek has really out done themselves this time.  

Just in time for this holiday gift giving is the Electronic Drum Machine Shirt. And guess what?  It’s already backordered, which attests to the popularity of this novelty item.  Or perhaps they just don’t have any in stock just yet.

Much like the guitar shirt we saw a few years ago, this one includes a real working drum kit on the face of the shirt.  But unlike the guitar version, which was limited to just a few notes and chords, this t-shirt turned instrument sports 9 different drum kits with 7 professional grade drum sounds that include: Rock Drums, Retro 808, Discotek, Techno Punk, Classic Jazz, Bass Invaderz, Chiptune, Zapf Dingbats and Scratchy.

We haven’t gotten a hands on yet, so we can’t speak for all the kits, but the ThinkGeek videos demonstrate a variety of Nintendo Mario inspired sounds along with scratch noises from, what else, a turntable.  But that’s not all.  Built directly into the shirt is a loop machine, allowing you to layer an endless array of drums (as in tracks) on top of one and other up to 3 minutes in length.   Did we mention that you can hit all 7 pads simultaneously?

And if you’re anything like us, you’re probably wondering what you can do with those loops once you’ve whittled away the better part of the day creating them?  In addition to a mini amp that latches on to your belt for live concerts (on the subway), there is an analog output which should allow you export them to a smartphone, albeit in an analog format.  And once you’re done sweating the beat, you can toss it in the wash; it’s laundry machine safe (minus the amp of course).

As mentioned, they’re backordered, but they’ll arrive in a few days for $29.99.

When Apple announced iTunes Match, all iPhone fans were ecstatic. All Android fans uttered a collective “been there, done that” yawn. That’s because Google Music has not only been able to play music from the cloud since March, it does it at no extra charge. iTunes Match, by contrast, charges $24.99 a year for access to up to 20,000 songs, plus any song you have purchased through iTunes. And now that GMS is out of Beta, anyone can sign up for the service without having an invite.

Here’s how:

1. Sign in

Like all other Google services, Google Music Service is anchored according to your Google account. So all you need to do is head over http://music.google.com and sign in.

2. Download Music Manager

Once signed in, you will need to download Google Music Manager and install it. This software will scan your music library and add any songs it doesn’t have to the Google Music Library.

3. Scan and add

After installing the Music Manager, you can access it by clicking the Music Manager Headphones icon in your system tray at the bottom right of your screen (Windows), menu bar in the upper right corner (Mac) or notifications area (Linux). Then, to add songs, click ‘Upload’. Google Music will support various file types including mp3, aac, m4a, wma, .ogg, and others (for a complete list, head over to this link). If you have an extremely large, and eclectic, collection, this may take awhile, so be patient.

4. Roll your own

If you don’t want to scan and add your entire music library, you can choose to add a select playlist:

• From the ‘Upload’ tab, select ‘Choose by playlist.’

• Check the box next to the playlist(s) you’d like to add music from.

• Click ’Upload.’

Because Google Music is based on your login, you can it running on multiple computers. Google Music will simply omit duplicates – if the metadata is identical.

And you can also run up to three accounts from the same Google Music Manager application. So your family can also get in the game. To change accounts, Click the Music Manager Headphones icon, select the ‘Advanced’ tab, and click ‘Sign Out.’ The sign-in screen will reappear.

5. Go mobile

Once all your music is added, you can stream it from the website itself, or you can stream from your mobile device. Download the Google Music app from the Android marketplace, and then log in. Now you can stream your entire music library over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G.  There are a few third party Google Music apps like GMusic, and GoMusic, but there is no official App from Google.  But being that they have been vetted by Apple, they should be fine, at least until Apple changes their mind and strips them from the AppStore (it wouldn’t be the first time).

6. Buy and Try

Google has also added a music store, allowing users to buy new music and discover new artists through its free program as well. Click on the Shop Android Marketplace button, and search for the artist or songs you want. Once you find a song or album you want to buy, click purchase, enter your credit card information and purchase to complete. Your song or album will then be downloaded to your hard drive and will be available immediately in the cloud.

Google also offers free titles from named artists that you can add to your library. Look in the upper right hand corner of the Google Music interface, and you’ll see a rectangular button that says “Add to my library.” Click on that and you will go to featured songs and artists in the Exclusive Music section.  Fromt here, click on “free” next to any song and download.

7. Spread the word

Google also allows the sharing of full songs that you have purchased from Google Music. Simply click on a song, then Share Song and add a personal message. Please note that songs added from your PC or not purchased from Google Music will only share a 30 second clip.

8. Go downtown

Finally, say you bought a song at work and you want to listen to it at home. Simple enough, just open Music Manager and click Download Music Purchases. Songs will be downloaded immediately.

It may come as a shock to some, but there are still millions of people who don’t use their phones as their media players. For iPhone owners, that must be a huge shock. Android-smartphone owners are now growing a similar sentiment thanks to Google Music. With so many people using their phones as their media devices, the Portable Media Player (PMP) is dying out. However, not all phones make for good PMPs. Android’s media center gets better with each passing day, but is still light years behind the simplicity of both iTunes and Windows Phone 7 with Zune. At the same time, not everyone wants to use their phone as a PMP. Some people just want a dedicated device to listen to music to, or to view all media on. Whether it’s for a jog or a family car ride cross-country, PMPs are still a necessity, and these days they come at better prices than ever before.

iPod Nano

The iPod Nano is still the king of the run. There’s no better companion than the tiny music machine, which not only stores 8/16GB of music, pictures, and podcasts, but has a full FM radio and multi-touch touchscreen to boot. Even with just software updates and a slight price drop, the iPod Nano is the best PMP of it’s class, and a great device in general. It also makes a great gift…perfect for the stocking, or for a game of find-the-gift.

iPod Touch

Like the Nano, the iPod Touch only received a software update, to iOS 5.0, but it’s still the best PMP available to date. It’s a shame that no cosmetic or technical improvements have been made, such as a boost like the iPhone 4S received (over the iPhone 4), yet even with just a firmware upgrade the iPod Touch has access to all of the App Store’s apps, as well as the full catalog of iTunes music, movies and TV shows. There’s no better full-size PMP than the iPod Touch.

Galaxy Player 4.0/5.0

Apple may seem to be the only competitor in this field, but earlier this year Samsung showed off the Galaxy Player, similar to their Galaxy S phones. While the Korean and Asian models included functions to watch TV over the air, the US models are strictly on-device or Wi-Fi media players – no over the air. In two models, 4″ and 5″, the Galaxy Players are the first Android-based PMPs on the market.

Like the iPod Touch, both Galaxy Players run on last-year’s Galaxy S hardware, and still fully-capable of meeting all of your media needs. But unlike the iPod Touch, the Galaxy Players come with only 8GB of internal memory and include a MicroSD card slot that supports up to 32GB per card. The Galaxy Player also has an FM Tuner, though you’ll need headphones to activate it.

The more musically-inclined will enjoy the Galaxy Player 4.0, though it’s music store and media organization pales in comparison to iTunes (except for Google Music), while the Galaxy Player 5.0  is smaller than a tablet, but has a great size for watching movies or TV shows on the go. 

So what should I get?

For exercising or music always on the move, the Nano is the obvious choice. The real question comes up with the full-size media players, between not only the iPod Touch and Galaxy Player, but between the iPod, Galaxy Player 4.0 and 5.0. For strictly music and gaming, the iPod is by far the best, with the biggest App Store for games and iTunes for excellent music purchasing and synchronization. For video, the iPod Touch certainly surpasses the Galaxy Player 4.0 because of it’s Retina Display, though lack of flash playback means the 4.0 has access to a significantly larger amount of content.

But when it comes to the 5.0, hands down the Galaxy Player wins. The larger display, plus access to flash video while still being pocketable (and practically acting as a tablet) makes it more comfortable to watch videos on in any conditions, be it a cramped airplane or at home on the couch.

When Steve Jobs introduced iTunes ten years ago, it changed the world. But not without having to drag the record labels kicking and screaming to it. But a decade later, the music industry has been reborn and downloads are common place. And, as Steve Jobs predicted, people who want their music “ala carte,” are more than happy to pay for it. But they also want to be able to use the music they buy with all their devices. And that’s how iTunes Match was born.  For $24.99 a year, iTunes Match allows users to store their music in the cloud and access it from up to 10 different devices. So, finally, not only can music fans finally just buy the songs they like, they can listen to them anywhere on just about any platform. And it couldn’t be easier to set up. Here’s what you need …

1. Be up to date

First, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes (vs. 10.5.1). It should automatically ask for your approval to update it when you go into iTunes, but if not, then PC users can select About iTunes from the help menu that then Check for Updates. If you’re a Mac user, go directly to Check for Updates from the iTunes menu. Download and install.

This is also a good opportunity to make sure you have all the songs in your iTunes library you want to match initially. You can always add later, but remember that iTunes will store purchased song from the iTunes Store for free in the Cloud, but ripped songs will count against your iCloud storage allotment.

2. Lay down the plastic

Once iTunes is updated, then open and look under the “Store” category. Your second choice will be iTunes Match. Once you click on that, iTunes will give you one last spiel (including reminding you will have millions of songs with which to match, and listen to at 256kbps) and then ask you to subscribe for $24.99. Click on the button and iTunes will ask you to login into your Apple account, where upon the charge will go onto your stored credit card.

3. Scanning commences

Once you’ve finalized paying for your iTunes Match subscription, iTunes will begin to scan your library and match it with the higher 256kbsp versions in the cloud. Any songs you may have that iTunes cannot match will then be uploaded along with matching artwork. Once this three step process is finished, you can then proceed to adding up to 10 iOS devices or computers to your iTunes Match list.

4. Add your computer

To add your computer to your iTunes Match list, go back to the iTunes Match option under Store and iTunes will depict a splash screen with a blue radial button which says “Add this computer.” Select it and your computer, iTunes Match will repeat the process of scanning, matching and uploading any available songs. Only do one library at a time, since iTunes Match will not allow for simultaneous matching. Once matched, your computer is ready to listen. Songs that have been matched will have a familiar cloud and arrow head. Click on the Cloud and you can download those songs to enjoy.

5.  Add Your Mobile Devices

Now it’s time to add your mobile iOS devices (i.e. iPhone, iPad or iPod). But before you take the plunge, make sure you’ve backed up your device to iTunes (before you match would be ideal). The reason is that when you match your iOS device, it will replace your music library with the matched library. This is a good thing as iTunes will be replacing them with higher quality 256kbps versions.

Next, access Settings in your iOS device and then Music. There will be a new menu item at the very top for iTunes Match. You’ll want to turn that on. Then, Match will request your Apple ID password. Once entered, select Enable. The your iOS device will proceed to match your music found on your device.

Once matched, there will now be another item in your Settings menu … Music screen: Show All Music. When you enable, all the songs that iTunes has matched will be shown in your iOS library. They will be the songs with the little cloud icon to the right. When you choose the song to play, iTunes will download it to your device to play and the cloud will disappear. If you leave the Show All Music option off, you won’t see any of the songs from the cloud in your library. Each song in the cloud will be listed with a cloud/arrow head and you can select as many songs as you would like to queue up and download. And here’s a neat thing, the song will play as it downloads.

6. Wrap Up

And that’s it. Now you have access to all your songs in the Cloud. But understand that while iTunes has access to millions of songs in it’s master library, not everything is up there. So if you have an eclectic ear, or love to listen to obscure and older artists, you may have to wait a short interim until iTunes acquires those songs. But that’s the price for being eclectic, isn’t it?

A nice addition to any MIDI setup or to serve as a starting point for anybody with an interest in sound design, the Korg nanoKEY2 takes a considerable step forward from its previous iteration in terms of style. Whereas the first nanoKEY was modeled after the thin, trapezoidal sort of keys frequently found on laptop keyboards, the nanoKEY2 adds some spacing and autonomy for each button by taking a page from the MacBook, with rectangular keys that are each spaced uniformly and separated by the plastic casing. The nanoKEY2 lives up to its name by being incredibly thin and lightweight, only taking up as much space as it absolutely needs to.

With 25 keys, as well as on-board octave changing, pitch modulation, and note sustaining, the Korg nanoKEY2 is extremely flexible in what it can accomplish as long as you exercise a little bit of creativity and planning beforehand. The true amount of its capabilities are highlighted through the software licenses provided with each purchase. From Korg’s own M1 Le synthesizer program to ToonTrack’s EZDrummer Lite, Lounge Lizard Session, and a $50 coupon for any of the critically-acclaimed Ableton programs redeemable through their website, the Korg nanoKEY2 is a smart investment for anyone getting started just in terms of the software included.

As someone with a small amount of practice on larger, more classically designed keyboards and pianos, the uniform size and spacing of the white and black keys has a tendency to throw me off, leading to me placing my fingers between keys and pressing them simultaneously, or getting finger spacing all wrong while playing chords. Obviously, the nanoKEY2 isn’t designed with 1:1 piano replication in mind, but it does need to be considered for anybody who thinks they can just jump right onto this device without any acclimation.

That being said, the inclusion of velocity-sensitive keys on a keyboard of this size and price range was more than enough to make up for any issues I might have with key spacing. Though I have had a little bit of trouble comfortably replicating the right amount of pressure while playing around on a consistent basis, that can all be adjusted via the software with four different settings for the velocity and pressure. It may seem like a frivolous feature, but anybody who’s played a piano knows the massive difference between a soft, whispering melody and pounding the keys like Ben Folds. That the Korg nanoKEY2 lets you decide which you’d prefer by simply playing is a big, big deal.

More of an additional tool to be used in conjunction with other devices, the nanoKEY2′s slim, portable design fits in well with other similar devices that hook up easily to laptops or tablets. Available in black or white, you can even select the design that better matches the rest of your gear. Due to the smaller design and lack of included features and full playability, the Korg nanoKEY2 isn’t going to be good enough as a stand-alone keyboard for any serious players, but then that’s not really it’s intended purpose. The nanoKEY2 is really ideal for sitting alongside other equipment, adding extra functionality to already existing digital musical tools, and it does that pretty well.

Editor’s Rating

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom Line: The Korg nanoKEY2 is a pretty bare-bones synthesizer that let’s you get right down to handling some simple play that can be fleshed out more in the presence of a full suite of software and hardware. Designed more as an additional keyboard to use with others, the amount of full-featured musical programs whose licenses come with the nanoKEY2 make it an ideal starter set for anybody looking to start dabbling in music. For the price, there’s just so much you can do with this keyboard while getting your feet wet to pass it up.

Pros:

• Onboard pitch, octave, and sustain buttons give the user a good deal more ability than a regular 25-key mini-keyboard
• Velocity-sensitive keys allow for a more natural feel while playing
• Included suite of software is enough to get absolutely anybody started with powerful, flexible tools

Cons:

• Key spacing can seem a little unfamiliar to anybody with any training on a more traditionally shaped piano or keyboard
• Hard to play anything of any considerable depth or range without the assistance of a looping device or software
• Sustain can only be held, not toggled, so sustaining a note in one octave and then playing a part in a different one only sustains every note played

The Korg nanoKEY2 is available from Amazon for $49.99.

Last year’s iPod Nano was Excellent. It was a big step forward for Apple, as they returned the device back to it’s roots of music player first, everything else second. Half the weight and size was dropped along with the VGA video camera, scroll wheel and video playback, replaced by a beautiful 240×240 pixel touchscreen, a simplified version of iOS, and a handheld that was smaller than a belt-buckle but larger than a watch face.

This year, Apple returned with more of the same, though perhaps too much more. This year’s upgrades to Apple’s mobile devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPod Nano) have been perceived by many as a lack of innovation, partly because of Steve Jobs’ at the time failing health. The iPhone 4S saw few improvements, the iPod Touch none at all, and the Nano remained questionable. iFixIt’s teardown of the Nano revealed that it too is the same as last year’s model, though with parts from different manufacturers.

Sorry, no return of the camera. It wouldn’t be Apple to sell new products without some changes, and just like the new iPhone 4S and iPod Touch has iOS 5, the new Nano has upgraded software, known only as Version 1.2. For this review I tested the hardware and found no differences in performance, so we’ll only touch upon the hardware briefly. For a more in-depth look at the hardware, take a look at last year’s review of the iPod Nano 6^th Generation.

Last year’s iPod Nano (left) beside this year’s. They’re virtually identical

The move from versions 1.0 to 1.2 isn’t a big step, but it improves on several key areas. Firstly, the apps now take up the whole screen, one at a time. Originally four apps were visible on any one page (and in fact users can still set apps to appear that way), but the new default is to show larger icons, and only one at a time. For farsighted users who had trouble using the small screen before, small icons made the Nano too small to use. No longer.

The other major change came to fruition because people fancied the Nano a watch. While I’ve never actually seen someone wear an iPod Nano wristwatch, major electronic retailers all sell them. Apple graciously included a few watchbands for this review, and it’s very strange to wear the Nano as a watch. Apple includes 18 different watch faces, spanning from analog and digital watches to Kermit the Frog and Mickey Mouse. 18 isn’t a whole lot, and I’d like to see the ability for users to download new watch faces from iTunes, and possibly even make (and sell?) their own.

Using the Nano as a watch does solve one of the Nano’s problems, albeit partially – as a watch, it’s harder to lose. The Nano is frighteningly small. Like last year, I lost my Nano at least three times during the review process. When I used the Nano as a watch, I never lost it once. The bright green or heavyset blue bands are much easier to spot than even the glossy, reflective screen of the Nano.

Because the Nano is so easy to lose without wearing it, there is one improvement I’d like to see in future iterations: a keychain hole in the clip. It may sound counterintuitive, to place electronics on a keychain, but the Nano is small enough to fit and light and thin enough to not be in the way. The glass would have to be scratch resistant; after all, it would be in the same pocket as keys.

Back to the watch, what’s missing from the Nano is an option to set screen duration, or how long the screen remains active before automatically turning off to conserve power. There is no option to do so. Apple simply made the screen shut off after a minute. Some users may be inclined to have the Nano shut the screen off sooner or later than that, especially if wearing the Nano as a watch.This is one aspect that should be left to users to decide.

There are a few other features that Apple passed over on this second outing for the 6^th gen Nano. AM radio, an internal radio antenna (instead of using headphones), iPod earbuds with a microphone, and an improved battery. Each of these would have improved the Nano significantly, but with no hardware updates none are available this time around. And each of these areas is a fault of the Nano since last year. AM radio, or even HD Radio, is an incredibly attractive feature for people who have used it. A proper radio antenna would provide for a stronger, better signal that simple earbuds or even larger headphones. Earbuds with a microphone would allow everyone to use voice commands immediately, without spending another $30 for a set of iPhone headphones. And Apple has pushed every year for more advanced batteries, but neglected a higher-capacity battery for its smalled screened device.

The Nano’s stacked beside an iPod Touch. The Nano is thinner except for the clip.

Even updating one of these things would have drastically improved the Nano. I’m still shocked that Apple doesn’t include earbuds with a microphone on all of their products at this point. Additional radio functions could be a heavier strain on the battery, and the device’s small size requires a small but powerful battery. I know Apple could have improved in this area, but compared to their other goals it’s not surprising to see no upgrade here.

On the one hand, the iPod Nano is an excellent example of how important software is, and how with strong hardware it can improve devices better than simply pushing out newer parts. However, looking back at last year’s Nano, there was very little that needed improvement. The Nano now makes a novelty watch, and is easier for older users to see, but it isn’t a significant step forward. It isn’t even truly the next generation Nano, which is why the software version didn’t jump to 2.0. No, it’s a software upgrade only, one that last year’s buyers can enjoy just the same as new purchasers.

Even considering all that, the iPod Nano is still the best handheld music player of it’s kind on the market. I would have liked to see some serious upgrades, to see the famous Apple yearly revisions, but this year that wasn’t the case. Then again, it’s still the best.

Pros:

• Larger icons are easier to see
• Watch feature is an interesting turn for many users
• Everything good about it last year is still there

Since their inception, the iPad and iPhone have been transformed, thanks to an array of apps, into a variety of instruments.  But despite the touchscreen of these device’s boasting an unparalleled sensitivity not found in other handsets and tablets, they still lack the visceral experience many a musician have come to desire.  That is until now.  Say hello to the iTar.

The iTar transforms the iPad into a guitar using Starr Labs patented button-based guitar fretboard.  The iPad’s touchscreen can serve not just as a point of contact to strum the guitar’s string, but can be converted to a keytar (piano guitar) or a drum set thanks to their durable, time test fret board – the possibilities are almost limitless.  But to Starr Lab’s point, the are other applications to their iTar.  They’re thinking guitar education, music-mixing software, jamming over the Internet, interactive gaming and even a soundboard/lighting controller.   Assuming the project is funded they’ll also create an iTar music app for strumming and using the whammy bar, as well as customizing the finger board to your liking.

So here’s the deal.  Starr Labs is a small shop and their goal is to mass produce the iTar so they can place it in musicians hands at a reasonable price.While you can pledge any amount, you’ll need to toss $200 into the pot to get your very own iTar.

Starr Labs?  These guys have been in the game for sometime now, building custom instruments for Vernon Reid (of the endlessly awesome Living Color), the Chemical Brothers, Pendulum, Linkin Park, Lou Reed, and many TV/film studios.  In other words, they’re the real deal.

A few days ago Pandora, the ultra popular Internet radio station that tailors music playback according to your tastes, rolled out a site redesign. And from where we sit it looks even better than before.

They’ve implemented a number of updates, but the most notable one is targeted at you cheapskates. Unlike other companies that offer less and less, Pandora is giving more by removing their 40 hour listening cap for nonpaying customers. You’ll still be hit with ads here and there, but a caveat that surely justifies the freemium experience.

And now, thank to a social feed update, listeners can now more easily discover what their friends are listening to and leave comments regarding their music choices. Facebook has long been integrated into the music site, but was lacking in presence and connectivity, so this update looks to fix that. Plus Spotify was probably eating their lunch in this department so it was paramount that they updated this aspect of the service.

The same controls that you’ve come to know and love are still present, but Pandora says they’ve enhanced them and added a new shuffle feature that allows you to randomly move between a set number of stations and improve the variety of music you listen to. Odd, because this option was available in the last iteration of the site, but perhaps it’s now been streamlined.

The new Pandora site, which is coded in HTML5, is already live. Check it out, because we think you’ll find that it’s faster and all together a better user experience. We do.

One look at the Light Pick and you’d think it’s a one trick pony. But not true.  This handy guitar tool not only adds a cool effect that will surely wow any audience, but boasts some tech that makes it a worthy $25 investment.

While we can’t comment on the viability of the “string shock technology (SST),” that’s exactly what the company, SCLW, says is inside the Light Pick.  It supposedly absorbs vibration, thus increasing the player’s stroke.  Though, we couldn’t help but notice that they used “arm” in reference to this, and last we checked guitar playing was in the wrist.

$25 if a fair bit of cash for a guitar pick, so they’ve made sure that the tip, which receives the brunt of the abuse, is replaceable.  We can only assume that the Light Pick uses LEDs, and while the batteries are user replaceable, these are not.  Sort of a moot point, since you’ll probably lose it before they burn out.

Tapping the Light Pick turns it on.  Lay it down, untouched for 16 seconds, and it will automatically power down.

This version of the Light Pick has only one setting, which is 600 beats/minute.  In addition to blue, there is also a yellow and a green version.

Since the Light Pick is contoured to match the player’s thumb and index finger, which adds comfort for extended playing, you’ll need to select a version to match your playing hand; left or right.

“Glee” is hitting the big screen with the release of Glee the 3D Concert Movie, and for all the “Gleeks” out there, we’ve prepared some cool stuff to inspire your musical talents and get you moving and grooving like some of your favorite “Glee” characters.

Sing-A-Long Tongs

Bust out a note and pretend you’re on “Glee” while you cook with these cool Sing-A-Long Tongs that feature a locking handle that this faux mic in place as you get ready for dinner and a show!

iDuck Wireless Waterproof Speaker

We’re sure many of you Gleeks like to sing in the shower, which is where the iDuck Wireless Water Proof Speaker comes in handy! Not only is it the perfect bath companion, but the duck is fully waterproof with a built-in speaker so that you can listen to your favorite tunes and sing along (also great for drowning out the sound of your bathroom performance if you prefer no one to hear).

iPod Toilet Paper Holder

Here’s another great way to practice your Glee-inspired singing in the bathroom, this time while you’re “handling business” with the iPod Toilet Paper Holder. It’s both a speaker set for you iPod and a fully functional bath tissue holder!

iKaraoke Microphone for iPod

Practice your favorite “Glee” moments as you bust some karaoke using the iKaraoke Microphone that’s designed to interface between iPods (with dock connectors) and your home stereo system. It’s great for parties or right after you watch “Glee” when you’re most inspired! The iKaraoke mic also features cool built-in reverb effects, so that you can transform your voice like a pro!

Shazam Encore LyricPlay

Not sure of some lyrics? Don’t fret because Shazam Encore LyricPlay lets you sing along to every song! It’s a new update for Shazam’s Encore app ((Encore is the premium version of Shazam where you have to pay $3.99/year or a one-time fee of $5.99), that will definitely come in handy when you need to rehearsal that song you just heard on “Glee” and don’t know the words to. It’s available for Android, iPhone, iPad, iPo, Nokia and BlackBerry devices.

Just Dance 3

Learn to move and groove to all the latest songs that are often performed on “Glee” on your favorite gaming station with the game Just Dance 3! Made for all platforms, including Wii, Kinect for Xbox 360 and Playstation Move, the game will have busting new moves in no time.

ThinkGeek is no stranger to musical t-shirts.  And we’re not talking about a piece of clothing that has a bands name printed on it.  No, we’re referring to the t-shirts that actually incorporate a musical instrument, such as a guitar or drums.  We got one a while back, and while the experience was rather novel, it was still a blast to show off to friends and chicks that we wouldn’t otherwise have a chance in hell with.  However, if your school, or place of business has instituted a rather stringent dress code your gonna be SOL when it comes to the aforementioned clothing.  But alas, their is a bastion of relief, the Electronic Rock Guitar Bag.

A mini amp blasts out the tunes and a set of buttons are programmed to play all the major chords.  As a result, ThinkGeek says that you’ll be able to crank out dozens of classic rock songs with very little skill.  Much like the guitar t-shirt you just strum your thumb across the fingerboard.  There is also room for a 17-inch laptop and a handful of smaller pockets for all your particulars.

Expect the Electronic Rock Guitar Bag to go on sale this August for $49.99.  However, quantities will be limited, so you may wanna sign up for their email notification as to when it’s available for purchase.

The EDC Experience gives viewers a chance to go behind the scenes of what it’s like to attend the festival, which just might inspire you to become a DJ after you finish watching the movie. We’ve got you covered and have some cool gadgets to help you on your musical journey!

Phone Apps: Beatronik’s DJStudio for Android and DeeJay for iPhone

Start practicing your DJ skills on your phone with Beatronik’s DJ-oriented apps. For those that have Android devices, DJStudio features a variety of cool functions, such as: crossfading, cueing, looping, twin decks on the same screen and an automatic crossfade called Automix. For iPhone users, DeeJay Remix is a unique virtual turntabl,e which combines a classic disc deck and a built-in sound sequencer (soundMatrix). In a party, your sofa or your bed, have a turntable at your fingertips and let express your creativity with both apps!

Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card

Every DJ needs a business card, so why not one that puts vinyl in your pocket! The Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card is a plastic business card with a turntable on the back that allows you to make scratching noises when you rub your fingernail on it. Cool and musical, the Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card will help you spread the word about your newfound DJ skills!

Numark iDJ Live

Once you’ve gotten perfected your DJ skills on your phone, it’s time to move on to something a bit more realistic, like Numark’s iDJ Live. The DJ software controller for your iPad (or even iPhone or iPod) enables you to DJ parties, events and even clubs, using the music that is already on your iPod via Algoriddim’s djay or other Core MIDI-enabled apps. Even if you’ve never tired the real thing, iDJ Live makes the entire process simple.

Gemini DJ FirstMix

Employing the popular tried-and-true setup of two decks and a mixer, the Gemini DJ FirstMix is a very comprehensive DJ too that allows you to take your DJ’ing skills to new heights. Whether you’re an aspiring DJ or just a music lover, FirstMix allows you to discover your talents in a fun and easy way! Boasting many of the best features from Gemini’s professional DJ products, FirstMix interfaces with your PC or Mac via a standard USB connection, so you can easily use the included MixVibes Cross LE software to choose songs and sound files from your existing collections, even your iTunes libraries.

Numark DJ In A Box

Once you’ve mastered your talent on all the other, it’s time to up the ante with Numark’s DJ In A Box which has everything you need to perform and record with vinyl and an iPod! You can also perform with tracks from your iPod, connect optional gear like CD players, mics, and preview your mix in HF125 DJ headphones. Once you’re able to flawlessly mix on these babies, you just might be ready to take your skills and showcase your talents to the rest of the world…who knows, if you’re really good, you might be in the next EDC movie!

3.5 out of 5 stars

I have a very old first generation iHome by my bedside – it’s not pretty, and it doesn’t charge my iPhone, but it hasn’t failed me as a bedside radio. I knew though that the time would come that it would finally quit, and I would need to get something newer, something better; enter Stem’s TimeCommand.

I was instantly intrigued by the TimeCommand; not only was it an iPhone/iPad/iPod dock (which means I’d finally have another way to charge my iPhone), but through an app you could download for free, it could “talk” to your iPhone or iPad (or iPod; let’s just use the term iDevice to mean all three from here on out, ok?).  Set an alarm on one, and it would also set the other.  If you don’t feel like messing around with setting the time, no worries – just plug in your iDevice and it automatically sets it off of that.

The app turns the screen of your iDevice into a giant clock (well, giant if it’s an iPad – not quite so giant for an iPhone) that looks nice – albeit mildly useless considering that you also have a clock a few inches lower on the face of the TimeCommand as well.  Unfortunately, that seems to be the theme of the TimeCommand; nifty features, that end up being useless bullet points on the back of the box.

One such is the claim that with the TimeCommand you can listen to “internet radio”.  Now, this claim is true because the TimeCommand does have the option to connect to “basic” internet radio streams (nothing like Pandora), however (and here’s the kicker) you can’t fall asleep or wake to them. Yes, this is a clock radio that features a “sleep timer” feature, but you can’t listen to music to fall asleep to.  Oh it has a good number of white noise sounds that will play, and you can use them on the sleep times (things like rainfall and the like), but I want to fall asleep to music.  “Well,” you might say, “you can play music that’s on your iDevice and fall asleep to that.” – and you’d be right.  the problem with that is that I only keep podcasts on my iPhone because when I want to listen to music on it, I use internet radio – like Pandora.

Maybe I’m making way too much out of a little thing – a mountain out of a mole hill if you will, but it’s irritating as hell.  Using the TimeCommand means that I have to also leave my iHome plugged in to use as a standard radio with a sleep function, which is just ridiculously redundant.  I’m just not sure why when you have a feature included, that you wouldn’t do what you could to make that feature work in every situation that it could.

One of the features that the TimeCommand has that does work really nicely, is the bedside lamp dimmer.  When you plug your bedside lamp into it, you can control the brightness from either the app, or the clock itself.  I’m a person that like to read a few chapters before settling in, and it’s nice to be able to keep my lamp dim so my girlfriend can sleep and I can still read.  The TimeCommand also features a mini weather report; while it’s not as in depth as running WeatherBug or the like, it’s nice to be able to wake up and look at the screen to see what the day’s weather will being.

One thing that worked for my girlfriend (but not for me) was the TimeCommand’s docking mechanism.  I say it didn’t work for me, because it’s mounted on a swivel, and designed so that you don’t have to remove your iDevice’s case to plug it in.  My case is unnaturally bulky at the bottom though, so I still had to remove it.  Bear in mind that’s not the fault of the TimeCommand – but rather my fault for having outdated hardware.  My girlfriend never had to remove the case from her iPhone 4 to make it work.

Another really nice thing about the TimeCommand (and this is what makes me really irritated at the aforementioned internet radio issues) is the sound that comes from it.  The app gives you access to a very nice graphic equalizer, but in order to have superb sound you really don’t even need to mess with it much (unless you’re a big time audiophile).  The speakers deliver a better experience than I’ve found with clock radios before, so it would have been really nice if the music features would have worked a bit better.

I have to give the TimeCommand from Stem a rating of three and a half stars out of five.  I would think the main issue I had could be fixed through a software update on the app (rather than a whole hardware revision) – and if it happens I’ll be sure to revisit this review and update it accordingly, however for now the good parts about it are being overshadowed by the negatives.  Since stem is headed by the former CEO of XtremeMac though, I expect good things from them, and that this may just be a bump in the road.

Pros:

• The speakers produce amazing sound
• Bedside lamp dimmer is very useful (at least to me)
• Having your iDevice and the TimCommand synch up is effortless

Cons:

• Can’t fall asleep to the internet radio streams it plays
• Can’t wake up to the internet radio streams it plays
• Why change your iDevice screen into a clock when there’s a clock below??

You can grab the Stem TimeCommand from an Apple retail store (and only from Apple retail stores) for $99.95

Apparently Ion Audio’s first iPad compatible piano wasn’t the hit they expected to be, that or it just wasn’t damn portable enough to go along with the diminutive size of the iPad.  And hence why the company has announced the Piano Apprentice.  It’s effectively a shrunken down version of the aforementioned product, however it includes a set of keys that light up to show you which ivories to tickle during your lesson.  This 25 key beast also includes a free app, which has Scott Houston showing you the ropes as it coordinates with the illuminated keyboard.  Stereo speakers, AA battery power (plugin power as well) and core MIDI compliant round out the feature set.

Expect the Ion Audio Piano Apprentice to arrive this September for about $100.

4.5 out of 5 stars

This is my third, and for now final review on a set of Ultimate Ears ear buds (at least until they send me more lol).  Today I’ll be talking about the Ultimate Ears 700 model, which is the most expensive model I’ve reviewed yet for them.  So does the extra cost mean stay away (as I’ve been notoriously picky when it comes to high cost ear buds), or do these actually make enough of a difference to justify the price hike?

When most people think about ear buds, they think that all that will fit in them before they start to look like some crazy Frankenstein creation is a single speaker.  Anything else would make them too bulky in your ears – but this isn’t the case at all.  Many companies out there offer ear buds with two mini speakers in them (Ultimate Ears also offers a model with three speakers in each), but I’ve yet to come across a pair that’s smaller than the Ultimate Ears 700.  These things literally rely on the tip you put on them to stay in place – there’s not enough there to give it any assistance (so make sure you use the right size).

One of the two speakers in each ear bud produces nothing but bass – and the bass has quite a punch.  The other speaker in each ear bud works on the highs and the mids, and the sound is really dynamic and exciting.  I tried a huge range of music on these, and all of them sounded equally as good (where as before on the 350s, hip hop or techno was the best, and on the 500vi’s classic rock was king).  It didn’t matter if I was listening to the latest episode of “My Brother, My Brother, and Me”, some Dethklok, an old Dead concert, or Dre (I did test country too – I just don’t like country much) it didn’t matter, they all sounded amazing.

The Ultimate Ears 700 model comes with the same silicone tips that the other models do, but they also come with two pairs of the Comply foam tips that I love so much.  Just like I said before, the Comply tips are the only tips I use anymore – having something that fits in your ear canal perfectly is great for walking, jogging, or any other kind of exercise that you’re doing.  Besides the comfort, the extra noise canceling that they offer is really nice as well.

Like the Ultimate ears 350 and 500vi models, the included case is a big negative here – while it’s bigger than the cases of the other two models, it is still quite bulky, ugly, and cheap looking.  The worst part is that even though it’s bulky, there’s still no place to easily store the extra tips.  I still think this could be remedied with a simple cloth bag – maybe made even fancier with the inclusion of the Ultimate Ears logo either stitched to it, or as a plastic piece attached to it.  They’ve taken so many pains to make sure the ear buds themselves are sleek and fashionable, I don’t understand why the came care wasn’t taken with the case.

Another complaint I have is the same I had for the 500vi’s as well – the right angle end on the plug is a good idea, but the implementation is just wrong.  When looking at the sleek form factor of the ear buds themselves, it’s silly to have the plug protrude a half an inch before the right angle; why not make it flush so it sits in your pocket easier?

At any rate, the Ultimate Ears 700 model is really nice for someone wanting a truly immersive sound experience without breaking the bank.  You might not get the full sound stage effect unless you use them with an amplified device, but the still sound quite nice on an iPhone or iPod.  I give the Ultimate Ears 700 a final score of four and a half stars out of five – if they want the max though, something NEEDS to be done about that case.

Pros:

• Dual speaker ear buds for under $200
• Sound is very good, better than some more expensive headsets.  Ultimate Ears does it again
• The Comply foam tips are some of the best tips for ear buds

Cons:

• Case is extremely cheap, doesn’t fit with the rest of the product
• The right angle plug sits up too high and gets caught in pockets
• For a full sound board experience, they need to be on an amplified device

You can pick up your own pair of the Ultimate Ears 700s from Amazon for $149.99

The people at V-MODA always put out headset designs that are sure to blow you away (or at least turn some heads), and just like their last True Blood offering, these new REVAMP ear buds are to die for. From the sweet pendant-style mic, to the Japanese symbols found on the Tru Blood drink, these things look very authentic.  I can’t wait to (ehem) drink the sound in from these.  Full press release after the jump.

Silver Bullet Styling, Supernatural Sound and Immortal Durability Showcases the Music and Style of the Emmy^® Award-Winning HBO^® Series

REVAMP debuting at Comic-Con in San Diego July 21-24 at HBO Store Booth #2643

Los Angeles – July 21, 2011 – V-MODA, the true music lifestyle brand and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, announces the availability of the REVAMP metal in-ear headphones, part of the V-MODA for True Blood line developed in partnership with HBO. The pulse-pounding synthesis of sound, style and comfort is designed for mobile beings whose lives begin at night.

“Our heritage is founded upon true rockers, DJs and producers,” said Val Kolton. “Whether itʼs starting a gig at midnight, hitting the dance floor until break of dawn, or producing all night in a dark studio, when you put on a V-MODA headphone you instantly escape to the pulsating sensations of the night life.”

Elegant nuances added to these headphones make them worthy of the V-MODA for True Blood line. From the aircraft-grade aluminum silver bullet microphone that doubles as a necklace pendant, to the subtle Japanese symbols of the Tru Blood beverage seen on the show that are emblazoned on the headphones, this museum-quality art reflects the iconic imagery of the Emmy award-winning show.

Designed for seductive styling and supernatural sound, REVAMP is a testament to V-MODA’s dedication to quality and innovative designs.  A masterfully tuned 9mm V-MASQUE driver, verified to strict consistency standards delivers vibrant bass, vivid mids, and vivacious highs.  Additionally, the BEATPORT delivers a 3D soundstage, invoking the sense of a live music experience.

After years of research, V-MODA discovered that The Fit is the Sound as everybody’s ear is shaped differently. REVAMP’s re-mastered BLISS 2.0 (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone) noise-isolating fittings are precisely shaped to create greater sound, stability and comfort for the greatest amount of people.

Immortal durability was achieved through relentless engineering of every component in REVAMP to pass strict MIL-810-STD test guidelines.  The foundation of this quality is it’s lightweight all-metal construction and Kevlar® reinforced fabric cables. The durable, fabric cable also reduce tangles while the gold-plated steel plug feature a 45-degree extended strain relief to withstand stress. The detachable sport earhooks feature patent-pending ACTIVE FLEX technology, allowing the headphones to adjust independently to each ear and minimize cable noise.

REVAMP features:

• ACTIVE FLEX detachable sport earhooks for a secure fit and consistent sound for gym, running and sport use

• Re-mastered BLISS 2.0 (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone) fittings reduce outside noise and enhance stability, sound and comfort.  Includes four pairs of black silicone fittings (XS, S, M, L)

• One-button microphone universally compatible with all iPhone®, iPad®, iPod®, Android^TM, Blackberry^TM, tablets, notebooks, audio devices and smartphones with a 3.5mm port

• Two-year V-MODA premier warranty

• Immortal Life Replacement Program – 50 percent off lifetime discount to replace consumer-damaged headphones

• Carrying pouch

The REVAMP and the entire “V-MODA for True Blood” line is now available at select retailers, V-MODA.com/REVAMP, store.hbo.com, Amazon.com, Newegg.com/trueblood and the HBO Shop^® located at 42nd St. & 6th Ave. in New York.

The MSRP for REVAMP is $120 but will be offered for a discounted price of $99.99 throughout Season 4 of True Blood.

For more information, visit V-MODA.com, twitter.com/VMODA, and facebook.com/VMODA.

ABOUT V-MODA

V-MODA is the true music lifestyle brand that is distinguished by its fashion-forward design, unparalleled quality and unequivocal passion for music and materials. Led by professional DJ and Chief Visionary Officer, Val Kolton, V-MODA products blend the spirit of Italian design, the essence of music, and the charisma of Hollywood. Together with design extraordinaire Joseph Bucknall, the worldʼs most influential producers, musicians and DJs, V-MODA is constantly challenging the norm and forging the remix revolution. For more information, please visit V-MODAʼs website, V-MODA.com.

ABOUT HBO LICENSING & RETAIL

HBO Licensing & Retail officially licenses the HBO^® brand for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines inspired by the network’s award-winning programming.  With products created around classic series like the The Sopranos^® and Sex and the City^® to current hits like True Blood^® and Entourage^®, items include fashion apparel, jewelry, digital and CD soundtracks, games, books as well as exclusive, premium collections in partnership with upscale, designer brands.  Merchandise can be purchased in retail stores nationwide, at http://store.hbo.com, and at the groundbreaking HBO retail hub, the HBO Shop^®, located at 42nd and 6th Avenue in New York City.  HBO Licensing & Retail products are also sold internationally across Europe, Asia and Australia.

Today, SONOS announced an all new, smaller, friendly home music player/speaker called the PLAY:3.

Much like their S5, it’s a single box that contains a set of speakers, an amplifier and can be controlled using a computer or smartphone running their compatible app.  Hidden behind the mesh grill are 3 integrated speakers (one tweeter and two 3” mid-range) and 3 dedicated Class-D digital amplifiers.  A special sensor detects if the speaker is positioned vertically or horizontally and modifies the speaker’s output accordingly to “ensure clean, balanced, room-filing sound in any position”.

Since there is no actually storage or drive on the PLAY:3, it connects to the Internet and can suck down music from a variety of locations include Pandora, Napster, Spotify, a NAS, your laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod and 100,000+ Internet radio stations.  And it just wouldn’t be a SONOS if it wasn’t multiroom capable, which means that it can sync wirelessly with other players allowing you to enjoy perfectly syncronized music throughout every room in your home.  

But herein lies the rub.  You’ll still need to purchase SONOS’ wireless Bridge – it connects wired to your home’s router – which is necessary if you want to connect the PLAY:3, or any of their other players to the Net to stream music.  This is despite the fact that their players have built-in WiFi.  Fortunately, SONOS has seen fit to drop the price of the Bridge to $49 and you’ll need just one in your home, provided of course all of your players are within its wireless proximity.

So if you’re down with SONOS, you can pick up the PLAY:3 today for $299, which is the cheapest of their offerings.

Read

4 out of 5 stars

The Ultimate Ears line by Logitech is known far and wide by professional audiophiles and average consumers alike.  They have a number of products ranging in price from $20, all the way to over $1000 – so there’s something for just about anyone.  This is going to be the first of three reviews on the ear buds they sent me – to be followed by a “Good, Better, Best” comparison.  Today’s review is on the 350 model which are “Noise-Isolating Earphones” – so just how well did they work?

The box of the Ultimate Ears 350 ear buds say that they are “tuned for extra bass”, which I assumed would just be like someone pushing a “bass boost” button on a stereo.  I also assumed that because these ear buds only cost $50, that they would sound cheap and flat.  Well you know what they say about assuming…

I enjoy various musical tastes, so I gave the 350′s a good run to see what sounded the best on them, and while an old live Dead show from ’74 sounded really nice, it was when I was listening to some hip hop and techno that I was able to truly appreciate them.  The bass came through quite crisp, however it didn’t distort or drown out the rest of the spectrum of sounds.

The fact that the design is sweat resistant is quite nice as well, because generally when I’m working out or running I sweat profusely.  I’ve had an extreme time with my A-Stars (the ear buds I used to use) falling out of my ears after about thirty minutes of use, and then about every five minutes after that because I sweat.  With the 350′s, I can honestly say that I haven’t had a single issue with them leaving my ear when I didn’t want them to.

As I said at first, the 350′s are branded as noise isolating ear buds which they do quite well, however there’s a small problem with this.  Now I don’t know about you, but when I’m listening to something on ear buds I generally keep the audio source (iPhone, mp3, player, etc) in my pocket.  When I want to hear what someone is saying, it’s a real pain to have to dig it out and manually mute the volume – for some reason there’s no in-line mute or volume control on these things.  I know they’re not an expensive model, but I would have really appreciated that feature.

Another thing I would have asked for in this model, would be the black memory foam tips that are provided with the other two models they sent me.  It’s just an aesthetic choice, but I don’t like the look of the clear tips – they feel too medical to me – besides that, black would have looked better on the rest of the design.  Something else I noticed while reviewing these (and maybe it’s just from getting a good seal on my ears, maybe it’s because the 6.8mm drivers are so highly tuned), is that for the first time I’ve had to turn down my iPhone while listening to music.  Normally I listen at 100% volume, but anything over 50% was way louder than I’m used to.

Overall, I think the 350′s are a bass-head’s wet dream.  They’re cheap in cost, and extremely effective.  Maybe not so great for classical rock listeners or if you’re listening to pod-casts all day long, but if you want to feel like there’s a sub-woofer strapped to your head then these are for you.  I give the Ultimate Ears 350 by Logitech 4 out of 5 stars.

Pros:

• Bass is loud and clear
• Comfortable ear fit
• Sweat resistant

Cons:

• No in-line volume control, or pause/play button
• Not as sophisticated as the rest of the Ultimate Ears line
• White on black color scheme is tired

You can pick up the Ultimate Ears 350 from Amazon for $44.99.