Audio and Music Gadgets

Learning how to play an instrument may be as simple as playing with blocks. You can get started with the reactable without even touching a user's manual.

By John Fuller

Ever had to answer your cell phone in the middle of a busy street? You could shout above the din or let your call go to voicemail, or you could speak clearly into a noise-canceling headset.

By Tiffany Connors

Freed by the latest technology and dipping prices, bands are now able to put together their own recording studios -- and take them on the road.

By Jonathan Strickland

Noise-canceling headphones maximize your listening experience by removing ambient noise, all without sacrificing the sound quality of your music. But how do they do it?

By William Harris

You can use it to watch TV shows and movies, listen to music and flip through digital photos -- all while sitting on an airplane. Learn all about the latest addition to the mobile-entertainment market.

By Eric Tucker

We all know it, and it always makes us cringe -- it's that terrible howling of a PA system. Everyone calls it feedback -- what's "feedback"?

Microphones have been around in some form for more than 150 years. Modern mics incorporate fiber optics, microchips, and even lasers to suit a variety of audio needs.

By Mark Boyer & Talon Homer

Magnetic recording is the backbone of the electronics revolution. Learn how this analog technology lets you store and erase data!

By Marshall Brain