Ion Audio definitely had a busy CES. Besides launching iCade Mobile — which adds eight buttons and a D-Pad to your iPhone — they also showcased upcoming instrument learning rigs. Piano Studio is a 61-note keyboard with lighted keys showing you how to play, while Drum Master is a full-size electronic drum kit with six velocity-sensitive lighted pads and cymbals. We also got a sneak peak at guitar apprentice. Video!
The iPad accessories include a free app with built-in lessons and also connect to Garage Band (and other iPad instrument apps). Piano Studio and Drum Master both arrive in September and will be US$150 and US$300, respectively.
A smaller, cheaper version of Piano Studio called Piano Apprentice is already available in Australia from iWorld for $150. The cut-down Drum Apprentice won’t arrive until September, and is also expected to cost around the same price.
Though clearly too limited for serious music producers, these rigs look like a great introduction to musical instruments for kids. Well, the keyboard and drum accessories do, anyway. I’m still not sure about guitar apprentice. It looks fun, but seems more ‘guitar hero’ fun than practical first steps to learning how to play. More info on all the devices at [Ion Audio]
Guitar Apprentice
Drum Apprentice
iDJ2Go Controller
John
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 6:02 PMLol, I wonder how many iPads will be smashed with the drums!
dayo
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7:16 PMhaha that’s the first thing i thought too
Drihscol
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7:39 PMThis just looks like a rip off of Rockband’s Pro mode.
smurfydog
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 8:18 PMAlthough I was imagining integration with real electronic instruments rather than these semi-toys, I saw the potential for this kind of thing when iPad first came out.
I’m a little surprised it’s taken so long.
Not suer what I think of this.
If you already have an ipad, this would be a relatively cheap way to learn some basics on piano or drums. Although, you could just get real instruments and a music stand for your ipad and follow video tutorials. At least then you’d have real instruments.
Danny Allen
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 9:20 PMI’d actually go so far as calling these “real instruments”
In the same way I’d call a 61-note MIDI keyboard hooked up to Ableton Live a real instrument.
In this case, Garage Band is the sequencer and sound generator, the computer is the iPad, and the controller is Ion Audio’s stuff. You wouldn’t need to use the tutorial functionality if you didn’t want.
Don’t get me wrong, my native instruments Maschine and Edirol MIDI controller are staying firmly planted on my desk at home — but these drums and keyboard did actually impress me. Not so much the guitar.
Sam
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:23 PMAs someone who has played both acoustic drum kits, and proper Roland electronic drum kits, I can testify the vast majority of electronic kits leave a lot to be desired. The kit shown is even more bare-bones than the ones I’ve played – so while they may be suitable to replicate percussion on some level, they’re a long way off being called a real instrument.
Danny Allen
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:31 PMDepends what your definition of real instrument is.
Very very basic yes, but real enough for a kid to practice paradiddles man.
Though $300? Agreed that’s getting close to old Rolands on Gumtree.