Tech Reviews: New products (July 2023)
Jonathan Savage
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Dr Jonathan Savage reveals what's new this month.
Mini Moog Factory
Price: Free
Moog Music is celebrating its 70th anniversary. While most music departments won't be able to have a Minimoog Model D among their instrument stock, the Mini Moog Factory provides a brilliant virtual alternative. It allows visitors to explore a virtual ‘factory’ and experience the history and sounds that have shaped generations of electronic music. You can even get to play and record on a virtual Minimoog Model D with around 45 pre-set voices drawn from iconic bands that span the history of popular music. There is also a load of other historical materials for those students with an interest in how electronic music has been produced over the years. Get in quick, and you can also enter a draw to win an actual Model D!
Roland S-1 Tweak Synthesizer
Price: £189 RRP
The Roland S-1 Tweak Synthes
izer is part of the new and highly collected AIRA Compact series. Joining the E-4 Voice Tweaker, J-6 Chord Synthesizer and T-8 Beat Machine, the S-1 is a powerful micro polysynth inspired by the legendary Roland SH-101. It provides a fun and intuitive way for your students to learn about synthesis, wave manipulation and onboard sequencing. As with the other AIRA Compact instruments, you can create your own network of devices should you want to build a complete music production ecosystem. All these AIRA Compact devices can be networked together via USB-C cables. Music production technologies are often expensive. But alongside other technologies such as the Korg Volca range, the AIRA Compact range provides an excellent set of music technology resources for a music department at a welcome price point.
EarMaster Aural Trainer
Price: from £30
Have you got students doing ABRSM instrumental exams? If so, this new aural trainer from EarMaster will be a useful new addition to your collection of educational resources. It is specifically designed to help students prepare for the aural tests from Grade 1 to Grade 5, offering 4,000 lessons created by experienced music-theory teachers. Although EarMaster is not formally affiliated to ABRSM, the resource has carefully covered all the bases required to complete the tests within the exams, including on pulse and metre, echoes, differences, musical features, melodic repetition, rhythmic repetition and metre, and sight-singing. Incidentally, there are some great free resources on their website, too. Instrumental teachers often struggle to cover all the elements required for these exams within short lesson times; software like this can help fill in the gaps for your students.
Boss Gigcaster 5
Price: £439 RRP
The Gigcaster 5 is a powerful all-in-one digital audio mixer and streamer, purpose built for students wanting to create and stream audio for podcasts, videos or any other purpose! It provides a host of advanced features in a space-saving desktop interface, including premium audio connectivity and live operation via hands-on controls and a vivid colour touchscreen. Many features can also be controlled via a companion app. You can plug in an electric or bass guitar, as well as microphones and electronic instruments, via a dedicated high-impedance input. In total, you can mix up to five sources as you stream, including background music and sound from a remote guest or student. Adding in customisable features, external control support and more, Gigcaster 5 is a great tool for anyone looking to get into the production of music-focused media. And if five channels isn't enough, then take a look at Gigcaster 8.
