Playable Technology – Edinburgh based start-up, – has introduced BeatBlocks, an iOS app that enables you use LEGO bricks to make beats.
Founded by Scottish academics and technology entrepreneurs, David Skulina and Benjaman Schogler (creators of the Skoog accessible MIDI controller), Playable says that they’ve created BeatBlocks to give children the best of both digital and real-world environments.
BeatBlocks uses your iOS device’s camera and its custom AI to scan for different bricks. When it sees a brick it plays a sound. The color of a brick defines the instrument: lead sounds, bass sounds, drums and percussion. Beatblocks can recognize 2×2 or 4×2 bricks in red, yellow, orange, blue, green and pink.
“BeatBlocks extends the scope of construction toys like LEGO , honouring the original spirit of the toys, and adding an entirely new layer of creativity,” said co-founder Benjaman Schogler, a developmental psychologist and expert in educational technology, learning and play. “The App is so easy to use there is no need for training or lessons. It really is child’s play.”
BeatBlocks is available now. It is free to download, and $3.99 to unlock the full version.
Behringer today announced that they are dropping prices on many of their synths, with price reductions of up to 60%.
The company says it’s responding to improvements to the global supply chain issues that, over the last three years, have driven a production slowdown and price increases across the industry.
They note:
“As semiconductors become more available and prices come down, we’re able to ramp up production. In line with our promise to share our savings with you, we’re really excited to lower our pricing by up to 60%.”
Many of the price drops are small, like a $10 price cut on the $149 Brains module. But some of the price reductions are substantial, including:
In these instances, the price cuts are big enough that they will significantly disrupt the market for used Behringer synths. For example, every used Poly D on Reverb is currently priced substantially higher than the price to buy it new:
Behringer says that prices should be updated at their ‘Superpartner’ websites, including Amazon and others.
What do you think about Behringer’s price cuts? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This Is Not Rocket Science (TiNRS) has introduced the Wobbler 2 (Wobbler Squared), an advanced LFO and a drum synthesizer module for Eurorack systems.
The Wobbler 2 is an LFO that features 5 shapes, two of which are based on physical modelling. Select the ‘Bang On’ button, though, and the module doubles as a drum synth.
