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Casio’s 61-key CTK-496 has everything a beginner needs on board: 100 tones, 100 rhythms, 100 songs. The familiar CD player control buttons (stop, play/pause, rewind, fast forward) make child’s play of song bank operation. The on/off buttons for the right and left hand–as well as the button for activating the chord book function–are located just beside the song-bank controller. The instrument offers 12-note polyphony, which means up to 12 keys or voices may be sounded simultaneously. The song book included in the package yields insight into notes and lyrics. Once you’ve rehearsed the tunes, the next job is waiting: Sing Along via the top-panel microphone input and dedicated volume control. Other features include MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in/out, auto-accompaniment, assignable pedals, a headphone jack, and 2 speakers powered by 2 watts each. Power the unit using an optional AC/DC adapter (model AD-5) or with 6 AA batteries (not included) (more…)

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The ProKeys 88 is the premium digital stage piano that doubles as a great MIDI controller. It’s loaded with large, realistic samples 14 world-class instruments in all, including split/layer capabilities. We paired those great sounds with an 88-key hammer-action keyboard, delivering a realistic feel to satisfy the most demanding pro. The ProKeys 88 is also a great master controller keyboard, including a built-in USB MIDI interface for easy direct connection to your PC or Mac, MIDI In and Out jacks to communicate with other MIDI gear, pitch and modulation wheels, sequencer controls and more. ProKeys 88 pulls out all the stops in creating the ultimate playing experience in an affordable digital stage piano. Ultra-Realistic Piano Our goal in designing the ProKeys 88 was to create an extremely musical and realistic piano experience. The caliber of a digital piano is greatly influenced by the quality and the size of the samples, so we started by giving the ProKey (more…)

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Designed for the young or beginning musician, the Casio SA-75 Starter Musical Keyboard provides enough features and functions to get anyone to enjoy and learn to play music without having to invest a lot of money. And thanks to a microphone headset included in the package, your aspiring musician can even sing along over the amplifier without having to take his or hands from the keys. The Casio SA-75 features 100 top-notch PCM tones, as well as 30 accompaniment patters including 10 rhythms, 10 free-sessions, and 10 funny ones. This musical keyboard also features an LCD-screen musical information display system that includes a music-staff which displays the notes that are being played and as well as icons that indicate the beat. Additionally, the SA-75 has the option of turning off the melodies so that the student can play the songs with just the notation. This Casio keyboard has 37 keys, with a maximum polyphony of four notes. Two speakers are built in to t (more…)

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The M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 keyboard controller builds on the acclaimed Axiom 61 with premium TruTouch action, proprietary HyperControl MIDI mapping technology and other cutting-edge enhancements. HyperControl automatically maps the keyboard’s 65 controls to commonly accessed parameters in digital audio workstations including Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic and Reason, as well as software instruments. The constant two-way link with your host DAW means the keyboard’s controls are always in sync with your software’s active parameters. The intuitive graphic LCD constantly updates the current values, which ensures seamless editing and prevents parameter jumps–even when plug-ins are closed. Toggle instantly between Mixer and Instrument control modes. Map buttons to send QWERTY key commands right from the Axiom Pro 61. Save settings to 50 memory locations–each with four profiles of quick recall via the intuitive graphic LCD. Now you can control your entire session right (more…)

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The M-Audio Axiom Pro 49 keyboard controller builds on the acclaimed Axiom 49 with premium TruTouch action, proprietary HyperControl MIDI mapping technology and other cutting-edge enhancements. HyperControl automatically maps the keyboard’s 65 controls to commonly accessed parameters in digital audio workstations including Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic and Reason, as well as software instruments. The constant two-way link with your host DAW means the keyboard’s controls are always in sync with your software’s active parameters. The intuitive graphic LCD constantly updates the current values, which ensures seamless editing and prevents parameter jumps–even when plug-ins are closed. Toggle instantly between Mixer and Instrument control modes. Map buttons to send QWERTY key commands right from the Axiom Pro 49. Save settings to 50 memory locations–each with four profiles of quick recall via the intuitive graphic LCD. Now you can control your entire session right (more…)

Eight-thirty: I have been practicing the tabs of this Rufus Wainwright song – as well as some original compositions – for over two hours now. My band mates haven’t yet called; we are all supposed to meet after lunch to rehearse for the gig tonight at a local bistro called The House of Blues. They’re probably all still asleep, with the exception of Andrew, who is the most diligent harmonica player I’ve ever known.

Ten-twenty: After my Communications Theory class, I pull out my cell phone to read the text message I’ve been waiting for. “Let’s meet at Tony’s house 1 pm. See you later.” Tony is our lead vocalist, he has a really powerful rock star voice, but I don’t think he realizes how good he is. Oh – he also has a neat house and a makeshift recording studio in his basement with a lot of awesome audio equipment and hi-tech effects pedals.

Twelve noon: I have just had lunch (a four-inch BLT sandwich), and before I drive all the way to Tony’s house, I first check in at the library to look up something on the Internet. Andrew had E-mailed me something he saw at the Guitar Center website; it was a combo amp that might work well with my guitar. I find out that if I use coupon codes I can slash down the price from $150 to $100 – a good deal, considering that it’s one of the most popular brands for musicians and audiophiles, Crate. Anyway, I also chat online briefly with my girlfriend Jenny, who I hope will show up to watch us tonight.

One-thirty: We’re feeling it. Tony is in his element, Andrew is showing off some new musical stylings, Richard at the keyboards is striking complicated but breathtakingly pretty chords, and I am plucking and twanging away like Johnny Lang who has drunk too much caffeine. I love making music, and it makes it even all the more worthwhile with a group of friends who are so dedicated to the craft – and who don’t worry too much about talent fees.

Five in the afternoon, and we are all headed to The House of Blues. I like the place not only because they serve some tasty barbecue, but also because they have an addictive pinball machine right by the cocktail bar and the owner lets performers like us play for free. But Jenny’s not yet here, I’m afraid. “Still in Starbucks, having coffee with girlfriends,” her text message reads. Well, that or she’s compulsively scouring the Internet again for Victoria’s Secret coupon codes.

Nine-thirty: Our one-hour set is almost over. For the first time we perform “Teasingly Hazel Eyes” – a song I wrote as a tribute to Jenny. Yes, she did show up, and she clapped louder than the rest of them. As I get off the stage with Tony, Richard, Andrew, and my beloved guitar, I immediately walk up towards my girl and give her a kiss.

Web sites that do not include photos are boring. For example imagine that you are looking to buy a new MP3 player. After searching for “mp3 players” you land on a web site that offers a new MP3 device. The site has a lot of information: specifications, user guides, capabilities descriptions and more but it does not have any photos of the device. You are most likely going to skip that site and move on to the next one.

This behavior is common to most consumers especially in this era of immediate gratification and impatience. Consumers do not want to spend time reading and figuring out what you are trying to sell. They want to see a photo and get a short snippet of what the main features of the product are and what the price is..

Just taking photos and adding them to a web site is not enough. Good photos can add a lot to a product image but at the same time bad photos can really damage that image. Here are some tips and concepts that can help taking good photos that in turn help selling products online:

Variation: Take more than one photo. Show the product from many angles: zoomed in and zoomed out and in different positions – for example if the product is a clamshell-phone you should show it both in the opened and closed positions.

Quality: The photo quality must be as high as possible. Don’t confuse quality with file size or resolution – we refer here to photographic quality: Follow the rules of good photography, use a tripod if long exposure is needed make sure the photo is not overexposed or underexposed and that it is not blurry.

Background: It is very important to shoot with the appropriate background. Usually you would stage a background that is in contrast with the product and that has no details or distracting objects that can catch the viewer’s attention. Make sure that the background is a matte color and that it does not reflect light. For example when taking a photo of a black computer mouse and keyboard use a white or light gray background.

Show details: Emphasize the product details. Every product has unique features or important details that you would like to draw the viewer’s attention to. The best way to do that is to take close-up photos of those details. You are not limited to physical details for example when selling an MP3 player that has long battery life take a close-up photo of the player’s LCD screen displaying the time left “13 playing hours left”. Such a photo conveys credibility and is much more powerful than the product battery life specifications text.

Support the product description: Take photos that support the textual description of the product. For example if the text claims that the MP3 player comes in three colors: black, silver and red show three photos of the player in those colors.

Convey physical attributes: If your product has unique physical attributes that you would like to emphasize take photos that convey them. For example if the product size is important use a known size object in order to help the viewer visualize the size – take a photo of the MP3 player next to a quarter coin to show how small the player is. It is much easier for viewers to visualize and understand measurements if they are put in reference with objects they know very well. This is much more powerful than specifying inches and ounces in a textual specification.

Keep file sizes small: Keep the photo file size small. When viewing a photo on a computer screen low resolution photos are more than enough. In most cases a VGA (640X480) picture is all that is needed and such a photo file size can be 50Kbytes or less. It is important to keep this in mind and not be tempted to put high resolution big photos files. Such big files load slowly on the viewer’s computer and in most cases the viewer will get frustrated from the slow response and would just skip to the next site.

Sony PRS-700 – a unique digital book reader

The PRS-700 version scores over its predecessors the 500 and the 505. Firstly, the 700 has a touch screen which works as a keyboard not found in the earlier models. Secondly, the pages can be turned over with tactile gestures as well as buttons. Thirdly, the predecessors had a very slow scrolling rate. This has been rectified by the 700’s screen controller. Incidentally, the 700 also has better zoom capabilities. Compared to Amazon’s Kindle the 700 is ergonomically sounder, has a longer battery life and is more user friendly. It has a memory card and can store e-books in the thousands. It does however have a few drawbacks if you do nitpicking! It does not have a built in wireless, there are glare problems associated with the 700’s screen and the 700 does not support audio books. Compared to the Kindle, the 700 is perhaps a tad more difficult to read. However, the 700 is undoubtedly a connoisseur’s choice for the pleasure of reading.

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Compatible with all electronic keyboards, the SP-1 sustain pedal from M-Audio offers a simple, compact, and sturdy means of prolonging a chord or note. The pedal is particularly ideal for any application that requires a non-latching momentary switch. The SP-1 also works with tone modules and drum machines, and comes with a 5-foot cable with a 1/4-inch phone plug. What’s in the Box Sustain pedal, 5-foot cable (1/4-inch plug), user’s manual.

The M-Audio SP-1 is a simple, compact and sturdy sustain pedal for today’s electronic keyboard. The SP-1 is perfect for any application that requires a non-latching momentary switch. It is compatible with all electronic keyboards.

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