RobOrchestra Vibratron - Circus Galop

The Vibratron tries to play one of the most intense pieces of piano music ever composed. Unfortunately, despite recirculation (at a rate of about 5 balls per second) all 6,000 balls were exhausted before the song was finished. ...

Music From a Tree

This is "found music" at it's finest:

Solid Body UBASS

Kala announces their new Solid Body UBASS Guitar

KNOCK BOX

The Knock Box was designed to serve as a percussion tool for all musicians. Lightweight and compact, the Knock Box is a must for the traveling musician. Run it through an equalizer and all sounds are possible.

The Knock Box is a small, wooden box equipped with Big Twin transducers by K&K Sound.

Features include:

• ergonomic heel rest which folds over the Knock Box to protect it while in transit
• adjustable spiked feet which afford incline of playing surface
• round and v –groove guiros @ either edge
• designed to accept universal mounting bracket currently under development – bracket will allow percussionists to mount the Knock Box anywhere on their kit

Singer / songwriters can tap the Knock Box with their foot, or hand to add a percussive foundation to their arrangement. Percussionists can play it by hand, sticks, brushes, bass pedal – mount it to the kit or leave it on the floor.

Link: http://www.swanpercussion.com/products/percussion/knock_box

The Slaperoo by Andy Graham

I attended MakerFaire 2011 in San Mateo, CA this year. It's becoming an annual event for me and my son to check out all of the cool things that folks are 'hacking' in their garages. This year I ran into Andy Graham demo'ing his latest creation The Slaperoo.

Andy describes the The Slaperoo on his website as:

"Inspired by a long shipping crate with a highly tensioned steel strap, the SLAPEROO™ uses the same type of steel strapping (aka, the Slapper) to produce it's unique percussive tones.

"The rigid tubular body of the SLAPEROO™ is made of anodized 6061 alloy aluminum, which provides the strength necessary to handle the hundreds of pounds of tension required for the the Slapper to get its unique sound.

"The Slapper floats just above the length of the body, allowing it to be 'fretted' like a stand-up bass. However, rather than strumming, the Slapper is struck against the body with one or two hands. It can even be bowed like a violin.

"At the heart of the SLAPEROO™ lies a custom-designed transducer (pickup) that converts the vibrations of the Slapper into an audio signal. The 1/4-inch instrument plug in the back allows it to be used with any instrument amplifier.

Cost: $599 (list)

I have confirm that first of all, Andy Graham is a first rate musician. I saw him perform at MakerFaire 2010, and what caught my attention last year was his unique "multi-didj" stand which enabled him to play the didj while simultaneously banging out the beats on a full drum kit. That's Talent! Little did I know until this year, that Andy is also a talented inventor and entrepreneur. The Slaperoo is just one of several musical inventions that Andy has created over the years (including the DijBass and DijBow). But The Slaperoo has a unique sound. Admittedly, I was also fascinated by the sound of banging on the metal bands around a shipping container many years ago, (used to drive my lab mates crazy when a new crate arrived), but I didn't have Andy's inventor spirit then.

Here's a couple videos to intrigue you:

Video I took of Andy Graham playing the Slaperoo at MakerFaire 2011:

Additional Links:

• For more on Andy Graham Productions
• The Slaperoo Youtube Channel

Check out the new Alesis iO Dock for iPad2

Alesis has announced a new product designed to fill the gap in getting all of your music instruments connected to your iPad and providing the necessary outputs from your iPad so that you can get all that great sound out to your audience in a pro-audio format.

They are not shipping yet, but I sure would like to get my hands on one to test the sound quality in and out.

Suggested Price: $399 USD (but Sweetwater is listing it for $199)

Here are some links to additional information:

• Alesis iO Dock ProAudio Dock for iPad and iPad2
• Gearjunkies Alesis iO Dock Review
• Gear Patrol Alesis iO Dock Review
• iTech News Tech Alesis iO Dock Review
• UberGizmo Alesis iO Dock Review
• SonicScoop Alesis iO Dock Review

Here's a note for iPad2 owners, noting that it doesn't (currently) fit the iPad2 perfectly, and requires a (yet to be shipped) adapter for the iPad2: http://touchproducer.com/?p=1571

Update (6/28): iSoundDesign reports that the situation is now resolved.

The Alesis iO Dock features:

• The world’s first pro audio dock for iPad and iPad 2
  
• Connect microphones and instruments including guitar, studio monitors, PA speakers, headphones, and MIDI controllers
  
• Universal device works with virtually every audio and MIDI app in the App Store; Core MIDI compliant
  
• Perform, craft, create and play back music in virtually any conceivable manner or location
  
• Video output for connection to TVs and projectors
  
• Inputs: two combo XLR-1/4" for use with audio gear, instruments, and computer audio
  
• Input channel gain controls and switchable phantom power for use with condenser microphones
  
• Guitar-direct switch for use with amplifier- and effects-modeling app
  
• Outputs: pair 1/4" and 1/4" headphone with separate volume controls
  
• Control: MIDI In, MIDI Out, USB MIDI, and assignable 1/4-inch footswitch input
  

INCLUDES:

• iO Dock docking station for iPad
  
• Power supply
• Quick start guide

SPEC's INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING I/O PORTS:

AUDIO INPUTS

• 2x XLR-1/4"
• Individual gain controls
• Phantom power, switchable
• Guitar (high-impedance) switch on Input 2

AUDIO OUTPUTS

• 2x 1/4" Main
• 1/4" TRS Headphone
• Individual level controls

VIDEO OUTPUT

• RCA Composite (requires compatible apps)

CONTROL I/O

• MIDI In (DIN)
• MIDI Out (DIN)
• USB MIDI
  
• 1/4" Footswitch (function assigned by apps)

Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival

The "Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival" is scheduled for Sept 22-25, 2011. This is the 14th year for the festival, and it is a celebration of unusual music made from unique (and found) instruments, by unique musicians.

Past participants include Carla Kihlstedt, Walter Kitundu, Peter Whitehead, Brenda Hutchinson, William Winant, Laetitia Sonami, and many others.

Call for Proposals for Festival 2011:

Thingamajigs offers a call for proposals from artists/composers for the 14th
Annual Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival, which will be held on
September 22nd through 25th, 2011 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Thingamajigs is an organization working to:
1) promote the creation of genre-crossing works which incorporate made/found
instruments and alternate tuning systems
2) showcase artists working in this medium, and give such artists a forum for
showing their work
3) expose the general public, and especially children, to new ways of
experiencing sound
Previous Music for People and Thingamajigs festivals have included work of (or
participation by) Pauline Oliveros, Lou Harrison, Laetitia Sonami, Walter
Kitundu, Mark Applebaum, Bart Hopkin, Carla Kihlstedt, Peter Whitehead, Willie
Winant, Lisa Moskow and many others.
See our website for more info on previous participants at
http://www.thingamajigs.org.
Proposals will be accepted until Jun 15, 2009, although accepted proposals that
are received by May 15, 2009 will be included in our grant proposals and will
have a greater chance of receiving outside funding. Proposals should include a
bio of the artist/performer/composer(s), a specific description of the work or
performance submitted, and documentation of the submitted work (CD or link to
a website). We prefer electronically submitted proposals, but will accept hard
copies at the address below. Composers must provide the performers for
proposed performances.
Please contact: people@thingamajigs.org with proposals or questions, or
send proposals to Thingamajigs.org, 5000 MarcArthur Blvd PMB 9826 Oakland,
CA, 94613,USA.

Sung Kim Experimental Musical Instrument Maker

MakerFaire is next week in San Mateo (I am going!). Here's a great video highlighting one of the experimental musical instrument makers who will be in attendance: Sung Kim

True Value (paint fukette) Sound Sculpture

This is a very cool sound sculpture installed at the Joshua Liner Gallery

True Value (paint fukette) from joshualinergallery on Vimeo.

BlackSwan

Very cool innovation from Swan Percussion being shown at NAMM 2011 show this week. I'd love to try out this drum, looks like fun.

Link: Swan Percussion

Bali Steel Pan

Doing a little internet and youtube research tonight. While I still have my place on the waiting list for a Halo, I also stumbled onto another new Hand Pan maker called "Bali Steel Pan". Not much to go on other than a website and a youtube channel. It looks like they're being made in Bali by a trio of builders. The youtube videos offer some insight.
Current price looks to be $1050 (USD), plus shipping.

Bali Steel Pan Website

Bali Steel Pan Youtube Channel

A Halo Improvization video

Just a little, awesome teaser from Pantheon Steel and the Halo

Meinl 2011 Catalog

Meinl has their new 2011 Percussion Catalog online now. Not only is it an innovative way to present their 2011 product line, but it's also a gorgeous presentation.They are using Flash for the catalog, and I like the concept. Embedded in the catalog are videos of the new products, which demonstrate the sounds of the instrument. The only downside to the online catalog is that you need a high speed connection (either that or their web servers are overwhelmed at the moment) because it took a long time to load.

Here's some of the cool new instruments in the lineup (and just in time for NAMM):

• Bongo Cajon
• Cajon Castanets
• Foot Tamborine

Isle of Tune

Here's another new online sequencer, soon to be an app for Iphone. It's called "isle of Tune", and it uses an automotive motif to set your sequence in motion. You create roads, with cars. As the cars drive past various objects (houses, trees, lamp posts), different sounds are triggered. You set the sounds and tones of the various objects.

Seaquence

Check out this cool online musical sequencer. It's called "Seaquence" and it's an experimental, interactive sequencer. You can create and save or share your creations.

Here's a few that I created:

• http://seaquence.org/r9q
• http://seaquence.org/6lvx
• http://seaquence.org/95h

Unusual Instruments Trio in the Bay Area

The Unusual Instruments Trio is performing next week in the SF Bay Area. The group focuses on the artistry of Bart Hopkin and Jaron Lanier. Alan Tower joins them in this trio.

Bart Hopkin has been a influence of mine for many years, since he is known as one of the key instrument builders of the last 15-20 years. Bart was a key resource behind the Experimental Musical Instruments site.

Jaron is a multi-instrumentalist and a specialist in many unusual musical instruments, especially the wind and string instruments of Asia. He maintains one of the largest and most varied collections of actively played rare instruments in the world. Jaron’s musical talents and sonic explorations are vast, including pioneering the use of Virtual Reality in musical stage performance. His recent book, You are Not a Gadget (you gotta check out this book), makes an overall argument about digital experience that is spiritual, or metaphysical, in nature.

Alan composes for the Huaca, Hang and Sound Egg. His work is about reviving resonance as a way of life.

Two shows:

WHEN: Friday November 12th, 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM
WHERE: The Dance Palace Community Center in Point Richmond
PRICE: $12, $10 for seniors

More Info: http://www.dancepalace.org/calendar.html
Directions: http://www.dancepalace.org/directions.html

WHEN: Saturday November 13th, 7:30- 9:30 pm
WHERE: Kosin Loft Space, Besler Building, Oakland, CA
PRICE: $15 Presale, $20 at the door

Tickets: http://unusualtrio.eventbrite.com/


Additional Links:

• Green Music Network
• Bart Hopkin and Experimental Musical Instruments
• Jaron Lanier

Pantheon Halo Hang

I got the chance to play a Pantheon Halo yesterday at a flute circle event at Mary Youngblood's house. It was the first time that I've seen and handled a Pantheon Steel Halo with my own hands. I was definitely impressed with the quality of construction, the sound and the playability of the Halo. Now I can't wait to get my hands on my very own Pantheon Halo. I am still on the waiting list, and I just sent another email to Pantheon to check on my status in the queue. I'll keep you guys updated on my trek to obtain my Halo, and you'll be the first to see and hear it, once I have the opportunity to become an owner. In the meantime, here's a youtube video to entertain you:

Amplitude iRig

I just (pre) ordered my very own iRig from Amplitude. I am really enthralled by the design that Amplitube has pulled together here. As an occasional bassist and guitar player this looks like a great solution to providing portable amp modeling. I travel a lot and this should be a great device to practice playing. Note that the device won't let you play along with songs on your iPhone since they learned that it created too much latency, although that was the original intention of the design. They are also offering 3 different versions of the iPhone application, one free and two higher levels with additional functionality, including more amp models.

UPDATE (6/8/10): I just saw a twitter post from IK Multimedia that the iRig is scheduled to be released on 6/7/10. (9 days from now).

I've used Amplitude on my studio computer and it's amazing. I'll post a review once I receive the actual unit. Until then, enjoy a couple of youtube videos highlighting the product:

Links:
Amplitude iRiq Features
IKMultiMedia YouTube Channel

Maker Faire, San Mateo, 2010

Anyone out there going to the MakerFaire this weekend in San Mateo? I am planning to attend this weekend with my kids and check out all of the great exhibits.

What: Maker Faire
Where: San Mateo Faire Grounds
When: Sat, May 22, Sunday May 23, 2010

For more information:

• Maker Faire
• Maker Faire Schedule
• Maker Faire Map (PDF)

The Pocket Picker

Now here's a unique practice device for all you stringed instrument players out there. It's called the "Pocket Picker", and it's designed to exercise your right hand in all of those situations where it's inconvenient to practice your instrument. I am not sure if it's practical, but's definitely innovative. Out of all of the devices, I think that the bass guitar is likely the most useful, since practicing the finger technique for your right hand on the bass is crucial to your sound. The device is a small board with a course of strings aligned like an actual instrument. In the case of the bass guitar, there's actually a small part of the fretboard included so that you can practice your slap technique.

There are several different models, including one for steel string guitar, classical guitar, bass guitar, banjo, mandalin. I think that they need to add one for shamisen and go after the Japanese market...

Video: http://www.thepocketpicker.com/english/videos/files/page9-1004-pop.html

Website: http://www.thepocketpicker.com/english/bass/bass.html