Thursday, June 08, 2006
M-Audio's Wireless Keyboard
M-Audio recently announced a new line of wireless MIDI keyboards. Based on the Oxygen series, the "MidAir" series will start with the MidAir 25 and 37 with 25 and 37 keys respectively.
The biggest draw of the MidAir series will be the wireless aspect. The keyboard itself can run off batteries and then wirelessly transmit MIDI data as you play to your computer. You will need to connect the 2.4 Ghz MidAir receiver to the USB port on your computer, giving you a range of 30 feet. The MidAir receiver will also include a MIDI in/out port, so you can use your keyboard wirelessly with other MIDI gear as well - without needing your computer!
Although other wireless MIDI products are coming into the market (such as the WIDI-X8) the MidAir series marks the first affordable entry into what will likely be a popular area.
I've already got a warless mouse and keyboard for my TabletPC, so adding a wireless MIDI keyboard will be my next step. Although I probably won't end up using the keyboard too far from my computer - after all, I'll want to see what I'm doing on the computer screen, it means one less cable to worry about tangling myself up in!
Probably the more exciting use of the keyboard will be for live situations where you want to be able to move around, without worrying about cables. When used in conjunction with a hardware synth, or a low latency software synth running on a desktop or laptop PC, you will be able to "play" the keyboard anywhere you want (well, at least up to 30 feet from your computer!)
Personally, I'm also happy to see M-Audio giving product names that match the number of keys! For example, the Oxygen 8 has 25 keys, and the PCR-M80 from Edirol has 61 - very confusing!
- Kelly
Posted at 12:12 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Practica Musica 5
Ars Nova recently started shipping Practica Musica 5. There are a number of new features and activities. Several of the version 5 activities are based on a new design that resembles questions in the AP Music Theory exam: four music examples are displayed and one is heard: the student decides which was the one that sounded. Another new approach presents students with two intervals or chords in succession and is asked which was played first - this is a good introductory activity for users that find the regular interval and chord exercises to be too challenging.
Another potential weakness with Practica Musica has been addressed with the addition of something called "Course 1." In previous versions of Practica Musica, it could be a challenge to figure out what exercises you should complete, and in what order. Course 1 offers a linked series of 10 activities that takes you from one exercise to another. Each activity is a prerequisite for the next one, and each activity automatically launches the next activity. Teachers can create their own activities automatically move on to a specified different activity, allowing you to create activities in series.
In addition to the new activities and sequence, moveable-do solfege symbols are now available to be displayed on the keyboard, or above the notes, or both.
The popular "Exporing Theory with Practica Musica" is now provided as a digital edition instead of a printed book. Although some may miss having a hard copy to work with, Ars Nova has enhanced the material by including musical examples that you can listen to "live". In other words, anywhere you see a musical example, you can click and hear the example.
- Kelly
Posted at 9:50 AM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::