Ion Audio has continued development of their ever popular USB Turntable to now include a direct-to-CD model version. Forget about connecting the USB turntable to your PC and forget about burning CDs through your computer too.

The LP 2 CD is your one-stop shop. This is the fastest and easiest way to convert your vinyl records to CD. Simply place your record on the turntable, insert a blank CD and record your album.

ION Audio includes EZ Vinyl Convert 2 for the PC user and EZ Audio Converter for the Mac in case you are still interested in compressing the audio to MP3 so you can dump it into iTunes.

I would think ION Audio created the LP 2 CD unit for (more…)

Seems everyone is going green these days.  I don’t mind - let the grandkids live longer, better design on products and less impact on the environment.  Veiro applied this philosophy to their new hand crank MP3 player.

I’ve seen hand crank music players before, they where specifically design for [lack of better terms] 3rd world countries where batteries are hard to find or too expense.  I would think the Veiro is going after the same consumer base…but with solid state memory.  Why?

The products I’ve seen before where (more…)

Okay, so that’s a cheezy headline, but here’s the deal - Vers Audio has this all natural cherry-veneered wooden speaker cabinet to add that classic look/feel to your office.  Personally, I think there’s nothing better than the sound coming from a wooden speaker box.  I still have some solid cherry-wood Bang&Olfsen speakers from 20 years ago - that sound absolutely awesome.

Although the Vers 2X isn’t Bang&Olfsen, the 3 inch full-range speakers backed with 20-watts per channel should livin up your space.  At just 11.5″ x 5.6″ x 5.6″ the Vers 2X wont take up much room either.

The Vers 2X supports the entire Apple i-stuff line (including iPhone) and comes with a brushed aluminum remote for the armchair music enthusiast. (more…)

So now ION has some competition and from who else, the monster retailer, Sony.  The PS-LX300USB is a vinyl playback turntable with USB output to easily convert those cherished records into MP3.

With a belt drive motor for reduced motor noise and rotational stability - the PS-LX300 USB turntable includes a static balance tone arm with a bonded diamond stylus for precise tracking and low record wear (ok that was straight of the Sony site). (more…)

IK Multimedia is shipping their new USB stomp box, the StompIO for a plug-n-play floor contoller and audio interface for guitars. I’m a bit familiar with embedded designs and especially those related to USB, so the reports of the StompIO being delayed wasn’t a surprise.

None the less, the USB stomp box is a unique product which provides the musician with a host of benefits such as replicating numerous amps, mics, stomps, cabinets and rack effects on the fly.

So here’s the deal, the stomp box is the first of it’s kind with high quality effects in a compact floor control design. You can operate every aspect of the software without connecting a monitor and keyboard. Connecting the box [via USB] to a host computer (Mac & PC compatible) , the StompIO is a powerful tool for recording making it an excellent [portable] solution for the touring and gigging guitarist. The StompIO is the only software-based guitar amp and FX that can truly be used live.  Since you need a computer for processing the effects, IK Multimedia sells a nice add-on computer to run the StompIO while on stage.

The IK stomp system comes with five pre-loaded software packages. They are:

• AmpliTube 2
• Ampeg® SVX
• AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™
• AmpliTube Metal
• AmpliTube X-GEAR

The grubby details include StompIO having 51 stomps, 26 amps, 33 cabinets, 11 mics and 23 rack effects.

The IK Multimedia StompIO will set you back $1,050 and is available now. IK Multimedia webpage.

I’ve got at least four different piles of CDs and DVDs around the house.  I just can’t find a happy medium.  I’ve tried the DVD case with matching DVD cover clipped out.  I’ve tried the library with the discs still in the jewel case, but nothing satisfies my ideal organizational methods.

However, Skymall, that gadget company we are forced to fall in love with, has a possible solution.  The USB CD Carousel is just what this doctor ordered.  It holds 150 discs and through included software and USB cable you can database your entire collection, and select a given CD by simply entering keywords or title.  Within seconds the correct CD or DVD is popped out ready for viewing.

What’s better, is the USB CD Carousel can also be used in standalone mode.  You can also use the included software to manage multiple CD carousels…after all, who only has 150 discs these days? (more…)

U2 used iLike.com to post a video of Bono singing “Wave of Sorrow” while sitting on a couch. It’s a track that U2 demoed during sessions for The Joshua Tree in 1987. Just recently Bono laid down vocals for the song and it will be released for the first time next week on the remastered release of The Joshua Tree.

As Bono plays the track, he sings over it and talks listeners through the story of the song and explains the lyrics.

“Wave of Sorrow” is one of several rare and previously unreleased cuts which are featured on the bonus audio CD of the remastered deluxe and super deluxe versions of the remastered release of The Joshua Tree. (more…)