MORE Music Technology at NAMM 2008
Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4

JS Benchcovers Piano Bench Covers

Maybe a lot of you won't think this is important, but I think you're just naïve.



I met the owner of JS Benchcovers as we both sought lunch and relative silence at the Marriott across from the NAMM Show. She had figured out that making comfortable piano bench covers that don't slide off was a good idea. When she explained that she made them by hand and that each one had three fixed corner straps and one Velcro-enabled adjustable strap, I was convinced.

JS Benchcovers
Are you sitting down? With JS Benchcovers' Velcro-snugged pads, you won't be sliding as well. (Click to enlarge.)

It was all there: the human elements of comfort and aesthetics, the tradition and musicality of the piano, and the technology of Velcro.

A great combo and a business that's bound to grow.

www.jsbenchcovers.com

More High-Tech Hits from NAMM

By David Battino
Highslide JS
The SolidStand Freedom quietly zooms up and down under footpedal control to accommodate tall players, short players, and players who simply bounce up and down, like this guy.
BeatHive.com
At BeatHive.com, you can upload original samples and loops to sell to other musicians. The site then splits the profits with you. There are already 10,000 files online.
Garritan Steinway
I got to play Garritan's software Steinway, and it sounded wonderful. The instrument, whose recording Steinway itself supervised, will come in $99, $199, and $399 versions.
AudioEase Speakerphone
One of my favorite demos was of Audio Ease Speakerphone, which applies modeled speaker characteristics to a raw sound and also includes sound effects. The demonstrator transformed a dry vocal into a train station announcer, and then triggered samples of footsteps, a bell, and an approaching train to complete the audio illusion. It offered a lyrical approach to audio storytelling.
Olympus LS-10
Handheld flash recorders were popping out all over, but the Olympus LS-10 had a strong combination of size, features, and construction quality. The all-metal casing felt quite solid.
Highslide JS
It's hard to tell from this low-res digicam clip, but the RealiTone Vocal Palette sounded amazing. Developed by Emmy-winning composer Mike Green (pictured) for his own sessions, this virtual instrument plays oohs, ahs, and other background vocal sounds with natural sounding transitions.