Tech reviews: New products (November 2023)

Stylophone BEAT pocket drum machine

RRP: £29.95

Many readers will have fond memories of the stylophone. Building on the classic stylus-led approach to music, the Stylophone BEAT is now available for a modest price, with the functionality of a drum machine and bass-line generator. You can mix and match four different drum-kits with four bass sounds. The banks of sounds are Rok, Techno, Hip-hop and Beatbox, which give you a rough idea of what to expect! You play the Stylophone BEAT by tapping and sliding the connected stylus on the touch-sensitive, circular beat pad. Each segment on the surface plays a different drum or bass sound, and additional features include an automatic tempo lock, the ability to record multiple layers and sounds, and the option to add variety by muting individual sounds.

stylophone.com/product/stylophone-beat

Roland E-X10 keyboard

Price: £189

The E-X10 keyboard sees Roland taking on the likes of Casio and Yamaha with a starter keyboard full of sounds and other features drawn from its extensive range of pianos, synths and workstations. The keyboard features a large range of expressive acoustic piano samples and hundreds of other sounds. There is also an array of full-band auto-accompaniment features with the option to connect a mic to sing along. Importantly for teachers, the keyboard features fully-sized piano-shaped keys (not weighted, but velocity sensitive) which will allow students to make the transition from this keyboard to a traditional piano more effectively. Also included are a music stand and mains power adapter – both things missing from competitors' keyboards at this price point.

roland.com/global/products/e-x10

ODD Ball

Price: £109

ODD Ball is perhaps one of the most accessible electronic instruments to date. With a silicone outer and a strong protective core, ODD Ball is dubbed as one of the most durable instruments in the world. By bouncing, shaking, tapping and rolling it with different intensities, you can affect the quality and types of sounds made. The ODD Ball companion app is packed full of sounds from all genres: disco, hip-hop, rock, grime, arcade – and there's even a special ODD sound library to draw upon and get creative with. You can jam to your favourite songs on music streaming platforms and sample your own sounds to use with the ball too. More advanced users can use the ODD Ball as a midi controller with your DAW of choice, further opening up music-making possibilities.

oddballism.com

Open Studio Jazz

Price: Free on YouTube or £32 p/m for full access

Featuring a wealth of video lessons and courses on jazz improvisation, instrument-specific skills and harmony, Open Studio Jazz offers an incredible amount of content for the budding jazz player. Aimed at students who are already making a sound on their instrument, Open Studio has commissioned some serious names to provide courses at a good variety of levels: bass with Christian McBride, vocals with Dianne Reeves and Fred Hersch on piano, to name a few! It's a compelling offer of £32.09 p/m for full access to all of the courses on all instruments. But if you're seeking a good starting point for a lesson, they also have a wealth of content on their YouTube channel. Here you can find one-minute, rapid-fire ideas about harmony and improv, and longer dissections of albums, recording techniques as well as broader discussions about jazz.

openstudiojazz.com