BopPad Uses Smartcloth to Improve Drum Pad Response

There’s a new drum pad out there from Keith McMillen Instruments (KMI) that uses smartcloth to make the device more accurate and responsive. At least that’s what the company claims, and they’re using smart fabric sensors from BeBop Sensors to do it. Funded on Kickstarter last year, BopPad is a, “location and pressure-sensitive drum controller with a wicked-fast playing surface.” I’ve yet to meet an electronic drum I love to play, but I’m looking forward to checking out BopPad. Just watch the video. The device is $199 through the KMI website.

Hey Musicians, How about a Wearable Metronome?

Here’s something for musicians called Soundbrenner Pulse. It’s a wearable metronome that uses haptic feedback so you can feel the beat. The company says that haptic feedback is “up to seven times stronger than the vibrational alerts found in today’s smartwatches.” This is a standalone device that can be strapped around your arm or leg, or worn on your chest. Better yet, it’s controlled by an app that can sync with up to five Soundbrenner Pulses. That means five people in the band could be marching to the same beat! Come on, that could be game changing for musicians! Soundbrenner Pulse is $99 at Amazon, and it’s shipping now.

Steve Jobs Opera Premieres in Santa Fe this Weekend

If you’re in Santa Fe this weekend maybe you can check out the world premiere of the Santa Fe Opera’s The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. It’s an opera about the life of Apple’s iconic co-founder and includes key people from his world likeLaurene Powell Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The production has been in development for the past two years and includes top modern opera names like Mason Bates (composer) and Mark Campbell (librettist). The opera opens on Saturday, July 22 at 8:30pm mountain time. You can catch it again on July 26th and several dates in August, too. Tickets are available at the Santa Fe Opera website.

8 Ways to See the Charge Level of Your AirPods

If you’ve got a pair of Apple’s bluetooth headphones, dubbed “AirPods,” then it’s good to know that there are tons of ways to check their battery levels. Considering that the AirPods don’t have a physical indicator of how much charge they’ve got, that’s a good thing! In today’s Quick Tip, Melissa Holt’s gonna go over a number of methods for finding out how much more listenin’ you can do.

How to Turn Siri into a Metronome (Video)

I love this! Drummer Richy Ramirez posted a video to Instagram where he used Siri as his metronome. Really, he used her as both metronome and backing track. It’s clever and entertaining, both, and I love the beat he lays down on top. Check it out.

Can WALTR 2 Really Be Your iTunes Replacement?

When you’re looking for an iTunes replacement, you want something that can do just about everything Apple’s software can do, but better. WALTR has been a good contender in this arena, and WALTR 2 offers functionality that iTunes doesn’t. The question is, does it work as designed? Come along with Jeff Butts as he reviews WALTR 2 and uncovers how well it performs.

Turn Your MacBook Pro Touch Bar into a Piano

Turning your new MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar into a piano may not be practical but it is pretty cool, and that’s exactly what Touch Bar Piano does. The app lets you choose between 128 different instruments, and you can play chords, too. Touch Bar Piano is a free download, and while it isn’t the same as using an actual piano, it’s a cool example of the creative ideas developers are finding for the Touch Bar.