GEAR + TECH
This Wearable Device Lets You Play Music Out of Thin Air—Without an Instrument
Learning a real instrument these days is outdated. Mictic‘s newest wearable device allows users to turn their movements and creativity into a playable “air instrument,” which can also be connected to digital audio workstations like Ableton and played like any other MIDI controller. To use the device, the user simply attaches it to their wrist like a watch. The wearable connects to a phone via Mictic’s application and its sensors measure movements to play user-selected instruments. For example, select a piano and use your hands to simulate playing the keys, and voilà—you’re Beethoven or Mozart or Stevie Wonder. Mictic will offer 15 sounds and soundscapes in a variety of musical styles and genres. Recommended Articles “We hope that people will ...
Giveaway: Win a Rare JBL Bluetooth Speaker Autographed By Martin Garrix
In early 2021, Martin Garrix became the freshest face to join JBL‘s global ambassador program. Now, Garrix and the Harman-owned company are giving away one ultra-rare bluetooth speaker autographed by Garrix himself to one lucky EDM.com reader. Enter the giveaway below. The robust JBL Charge 5 portable speaker delivers powerful bluetooth audio, spans a respectable frequency range from 65-20,000 HZ, and has a fully waterproof design. And it ordinarily retails for $180. The Charge 5 is known for its compact design, all while delivering a powerfully punchy sound that seemingly exceeds its size. The 40W unit can stream from anywhere on demand with industry-leading efficiency. Keep the tunes pumping all night long for 20 hours on a single charge alone. Recommended Articles “JBL...
Alesso Suggests Artists Spend the Time to Learn About NFTs—Or Risk Missing Out
Dance music superstar Alesso recently cautioned artists unwilling to invest the time to learn about NFTs at the moment. “I think they will regret it in the future,” the hit-making producer stated on The Scoop podcast. Alesso recently dropped his debut digital collectible series “Cosmic Genesis” via OneOf, an eco-conscious NFT platform specializing in onboarding musicians into the red-hot NFT movement. Alesso and Lin Dai, CEO of OneOf, recently appeared on the podcast to speak in depth about what the medium means for the future of the creator economy. As with any technological movement, there are early adopters and there are laggards who will write off the trend as an ephemeral fad before eventually making a late entry. When asked about how his collea...
Swedish House Mafia Concert-Goers Will Be the First to Experience Live Nation’s NFT Ticket Stubs
Live Nation‘s latest innovation will bring the timeless past time of collecting concert ticket stubs to the world of blockchain technology. The company’s Live Stubs initiative will see the minting of concert stubs into digital NFT collectibles consistent with the sections, rows, and seats purchased by concert-goers. The effort is turning the nostalgic hobby into a new industry which will undoubtedly be to the benefit of Live Nation’s partnering artists. The venture offers artists a low barrier to entry to participate in the red-hot NFT revolution. With Live Nation handling the digital assets, artists are left with the fun part: identifying unique rewards and experiences to offer token-holders. Swedish House Mafia are first to test the waters. The iconic dance ...
Steve Aoki Joins Sensorium Galaxy for Exclusive VR Performances
With four installments of his sci-fi themed Neon Future albums already out in the world, it’s clear Steve Aoki has more than an inkling of interest in the future of technology. Now, the prolific dance music artist is taking an even deeper dive into that domain with his official induction into Sensorium Galaxy. The digital metaverse is home to a host of immersive experiences, including VR DJ sets in its utopian PRISM World. Aoki participated in 3D-scanning and motion capture processes to develop a photorealistic avatar, which will perform exclusive shows through the platform. Once Sensorium officially launches, viewers will be able to tune in with VR headsets, PCs, Macs or mobile devices. You can also sign up for free access to the project’s beta version here.&nb...
Amazon’s Rival Clubhouse App Will Let You DJ Your Own Radio Show
After a major Axios report from earlier this summer detailing Amazon’s interest in live audio, more information has been revealed about their rumored app, Project Mic. According to The Verge, the new app will function similarly to Clubhouse. Users will be able to establish their profile and broadcast information about a subject of their choice or simply host a live DJ radio show. Other users will be able to find individual shows through a search bar divided into sections like pop culture, music, sports, and more. The user-generated radio shows will then be accessible through various other Amazon-owned applications, such as Twitch, Audible, Amazon Music, and Alexa-compatible devices. Ryoji Hayasaka Recommended Articles The important note here is that Amazon i...
This Dr. Seuss-Style Children’s Book Teaches Kids About Vintage Synthesizers
Because who needs Crayola, a new children’s book about synth-collecting is now available. My Daddy Has 100 Synths is the perfect book for dads looking to introduce their kids to the vintage synthesizer world. Penned by Billy Cardigan, one-half of Shy Boyz, the Dr. Seuss-style rhyming book is told from the perspective of a child whose father flaunts his encyclopedic synth collection. “This one is polyphonic and has a vocoder! This one was used by Giorgio Moroder,” reads one passage. “This is the classic mini-moog, used by Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode.” A page from Billy Cardigan’s synthesizer book for children, “My Daddy Has 100 Synths.” Billy Cardigan/Bandcamp Recommended Articles A page from Billy Cardigan’s synthesizer book fo...
Monstercat Unveils IDOLS NFT Digital Collectibles, Designed to Create 3D Experiences In the Metaverse
Monstercat is planting their stake in the sand and wholly embracing the Web 3.0 revolution. On October 26th, Canada’s largest independent label is going live with the GENESIS IDOLS collection on Nifty Gateway, a project that CEO Mike Darlington says is eight months in the making. The collection of 3D models represents just the first phase of Monstercat’s novel approach to immortalize the future of their diverse artist roster in the metaverse. “This IDOL was born for your world; it is your key to the intersection of music, art and the metaverse,” Darlington stated cryptically. “The legend of RELICS is about to unfold, and you are the Explorers.” There’s still much to be uncovered as to what the IDOLS initiative has the potential to offer collectors....
Feast Your Eyes on the Mesmerizing EDC Las Vegas 2021 Drone Show
EDC Las Vegas 2021 has come and gone, and it’ll go down as the most memorable music festival of the year. As attendees decompress the surreal weekend and the memories begin to crystallize, one will go down as a timeless “you had to be there” moment: the drone show. In a music festival that featured the world’s best DJs and more fireworks than a Fourth of July bash at the White House, the unquestioned pièce de résistance was the coordinated drone performance. 600 iridescent drones took to the skies of Sin City, transforming into multiple polychromatic patterns. Gobsmacked ravers watched in awe as the machines changed from the iconic EDC owl to silhouettes of two people embracing under a glittering heart, among other configurations. The dazzling drone displa...
Watch Ducks Feast to Make Beats In Experimental Project By Benn Jordan
Oftentimes the opportunity and inspiration to make music exists where you’d least expect it, from the shockwaves of a Tesla coil to a vacuous black hole billions of miles away. Meanwhile, Benn Jordan set out to determine whether ducks could make music. On the surface, it seems like a fowl proposal, but with an Arduino tethered up to three aluminum containers filled to the brim with duck feed, Jordan was willing to test his hypothesis. Despite the odd feeding arrangement this flock didn’t try to duck the opportunity to get their bread. Around a dozen ducks gathered around the food, digging in feverishly and triggering various drum and percussion loops as they gorged. Initially the output of the ducks’ feeding process was cacophonous, off-beat, and sure to ruffle some ...
Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Check Out These One-of-a-Kind Poké Ball Headphones
If you’re looking to expand your portfolio of Pokémon gear, look no further than this unique headphone collab from Grado Labs and Pokémon Center. The team at Grado Labs, an audio manufacturer known for their hand-crafted, top-of-the-line headphones, has created two new versions of their signature Prestige Series SR80x. One pair boasts an aluminum frame, available with either a Poké Ball or Pikachu silhouette on the side, while a sleek wooden pair is also available with the same specs. Grado Labs Grado Labs has also implemented new technology into this unique collaboration. The earpads feature a redesigned housing, allowing for better ventilation. The unit also uses the company’s fourth-generation X drivers, which are meticulously tuned to the housing they re...
EDC Makes History and Becomes First Music Festival Held on Roblox
Roblox and Insomniac have bonded together to bring EDC Las Vegas, one of the world’s largest music festivals, to the metaverse. The experience, dubbed “World Party,” marks the first-ever music festival held on the popular online game platform. Within Roblox, fans will be able to attend 50 performances throughout the weekend and fully immerse in EDC’s beloved stages, like cosmicMEADOW and circuitGROUNDS. “To partner and create with a metaverse leader like Roblox is an exciting opportunity for Insomniac,” said Pasquale Rotella, Insomniac’s founder and CEO in a press release. “Bringing people from all over the world together through art and experience is a goal we’re always working hard to achieve, and together wi...
