Category Archives: Audio

Marathon eLIGHT 80 Record LP Travel Case

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Marathon eLight series LP Case 80 records

I really want to own one of these cases. The Marathon eLIGHT 80 album LP case is great for gigging when you want to carry some of the sweet titles you’ve got stashed but can’t bear to convert and use as MP3s instead. My one big issue with ANY of these types of cases is that for air travel, you REALLY need a case that is ATA rated. That means it’s been judged “safe” to run through the baggage abuses (remember the United Breaks Guitars guy?). Unless it’s ATA rated, you might have trouble making a claim at the airport. BIG trouble. Don’t take MY word for it, read Patrick Ogle’s dirt on traveling with your gear.

I’m not saying don’t buy the Marathon eLIGHT LP travel case...but I AM saying that unless that case clearly says “ATA RATED” you should not put through as checked baggage. It will end in tears. What I would love is for someone out there to chime in with a good source of ATA record cases that they themselves have actually used with no negative consequences after air travel. The voice of experience sure would come in handy here…

Skullcandy Lowrider Silver and Red Headphones

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skullcandy lowrider headphones silver and redThis is not a gear review, because frankly we don’t own a pair of these Skullcandy lowrider-style headphones. But the color scheme and design sure is eye-catching and it’s tempting to purchase a pair based on looks alone. A few reviewers mention that these are great for drum-n-bass sounds, which sounds fine to us. If you’re interested purely in style over function, these are pretty sweet. But how do they stand up to the test of the tunes? If you own a pair, we’d love to know–help us decide whether to buy or flee? Drop us a comment, eh? They sure are pretty though. Continue reading Skullcandy Lowrider Silver and Red Headphones →

Moldover Album Cover is Also a Theremin

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moldover-album-cover

I found this amazing little oddity referenced at The Walrus. It’s a CD cover for an album by Moldover which is–I am certain–the first of its kind. The artwork is actually a circuit board that is a working theremin. No cheesy toy, this–there is an explanation video showing the theremin/CD art at work and it sounds FANTASTIC. I am stunned by how great this is–a great marketing gimmick that is also a no BS musical instrument. Both retro and future at the same time, this wins hands down as the coolest thing I’ve seen all year in terms of indie music innovation.

Numark Total Computer DJ in a Box

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numark-total-dj-in-a-box

Aspiring latop DJs, take note…here’s a complete solution from controller to soundsystem interface--AND it’s priced to move. This starter kit is simple to learn–the Numark Total Control mixer is simple to learn. It uses Traktor LE, which is really all you need to get started learning the ropes. That said, be prepared to fork over the cash to upgrade to a full version of Traktor, as you’ll want the extra tools once you’ve mastered the basics.

I can’t vouch for the quality or lack thereof when it comes to the headphones–I only use Sony or Sennheisers. The DJ i/o box is designed to get your signal from the laptop or desktop (shudder) to a mixing board or PA system.

Your signal is run through RCA jacks into the soundboard…don’t expect XLRs out of this package, but again for those getting their feet wet in the DJ world (or DJ podcasting ) this is a nice compact package.

I strongly recommend you use a backup system including CDs and vinyl in case your computer setup tanks for any reason—including system crashes, hard drive failure and other gremlins that can jack up a gig. The Numark Total Computer DJ in a Box itself is quite reliable from my experience with the gear, but your computer’s hard drive may be another story. Don’t rely only on MP3s to get the job done, new DJs…you’ll live to regret it.