60 I Technology
MUSIC
Best for... laying backing tracks
Zoom Arq Aero RhythmTrak
£499
juno.co.uk
If you want to make beautiful sound on the go, give
the Zoom Arq a shake. The instrument, which looks
a bit like a tambourine, has 96 velocity and pressure
sensitive pads that allow you to play various drum
sounds, as well as put on a programmable light display.
It’s part drum machine, part looper and reacts in real
time to your movements, distorting the sound and
triggering new sections of your music. It is composed
of two parts – the Base Station, which contains
468 instrument sounds and 70 synthesizer sounds,
and the Ring Controller, which you “play” by moving it
around (it connects to the Base Station via Bluetooth).Best for... making music
Roli Lightpad Block
£169.95
uk.store.roli.com
The Block needs to be seen to be believed. In the
hands of a keen musician, it can be used to lay
down entire electronic tracks using an inbuilt drum
machine and more than 100 individual sounds. The
tactile silicone rubber surface is sensitive to how
hard you press it – a harder jab equals a louder
noise. Connecting to the Noise app on your iPhone
(there is a beta version on Google Play) allows you to
switch the Block into its various sound modes and to
change the softly glowing colours so you know which
parts of the surface will play what sound. At 9.4cm x
9.4cm, it’s small enough to fit into your pocket, and
you can snap multiple Blocks together to create a
mobile studio.Best for... tunes and podcasts
1More H1707 triple driver over-ear headphones
£200
uk.1more.com
Launched this summer, the H1707 headphones from
British audio manufacturer 1More promise a “high-
fidelity listening experience”. With a Piezo ceramic
driver and bass reflex system, they have been
approved by Grammy award-winning sound engineer
Luca Bignardi. They are built from machined metal
in eye-catching black and bronze, and come with an
oxygen-free copper cable that you can plug into your
laptop, phone or in-flight entertainment system. The
cushioned ear pads mean they are comfortable to
wear for extended periods and can fold inwards for
easy packing. A storage bag is provided.