Well, production on the final podbook/audio drama for TrekUnited has reached a rolling stop, so while we try to regroup and get it started again, here’s a look at some tidbits of music technology news for you:

Nodal Music: For those of you who enjoy the tactile sensation of building music through MIDI, there’s a new program out there called Nodal. Basically this system is similar to MIDI in that it multiple tracks with representations of notes and lengths, put together to form a piece of music. The interesting thing about Nodal is that it seems fashioned more after computer diagram outlines, using ‘nodes’ as musical events and the lines between them as ‘edges’. The longer the edge, the longer it takes to get from one music event to the other. While grid-based systems like this are not really my thing, it looks like a program a MIDI composer could really sink their teeth into.

Gipson Les Paul tunes itself: Ok, so this is a slightly old news bit, but since this is the month that Gipson starts its licensing rights, I figured it was worth a revisit. I’ll admit that I’m impressed with the capabilities of the system, particularly the ability to change keys mid-song, but I’m worried about its implications. Sure, Gipson may SAY that this guitar is for professionals only, and the price should be a deterent to the casual player (List price $2,400, practically double that of a standard Les Paul), but give the techonology industry two years or so and they’ll have this system reproduced for all players. I fear this technology will take some of the skill and beauty of guitar-playing, not to mention help perpetuate a generation of tone-deaf musicians. Fact, I can’t wait to see some self-absorbed lead-guitar hack fall to pieces in a national performance when his equipment malfunctions….

Belkin Podcast Studio: Scheduled for release in June, this handheld device will allow you to record directly to your IPod for mobile recording. It has yet to be seen how good the microphone capabilities and recording software will be, particularly given its retail price ($100) But one thing’s for sure — it sure is pretty…

Musical Tasers: If you’ve been listening to NPR or any sort of news broadcast this week, you’ve probably already heard this story. Taser International is pending release on a new consumer-based taser, the Taser MPH. What’s so special about this particular model? Representative Steve Tuttle explains in brief,

“…[A taser] won’t do you any good unless you have it with you. [W]e give you one more reason to carry it with you by adding an mp3 player in there with a 1 GB memory.”

It is interesting that the mp3 player will continue playing while the taser is in use. This is because the music player is actually in the holster, not the taser itself. Some people have speculated that it could be used as further defense against attackers, becoming a way of distracting them before they are tased. However, the designer color of the taser itself would probably serve to be a better distraction, as the holster has no speakers — unless you’re willing to carry around a portable speaker or two while you go running, in which case, you’re kinda asking to be mugged.

Mmm, leopard print. Well, at least now I can go out tasing while singing showtunes.

Finally, here’s a fun project for you DIY-broadcasting enthusiasts out there: How to Build a Mic Flag and Look Like A Real Broadcaster

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This has been a sampling of music tech news, to see if it’s something readers would be interested in. That is, if there is anyone reading this…. In any case, hopefully entries like this will be come a regular feature, and will put me on track for keeping this website updated.