The Roland CD-2e personal SD/CD recorder would be useful for those who can not figure out the simple task of recording their voice or music onto CDs directly without needing to use a computer.

The CD-2e comes with a built-in mic. You can easily adjust pitch, key and tempo while you’re recording. It even has a metronome for improving timing and rhythm and stereo speakers. It can record directly to CD, but also provides an option to use SD if you want more capacity. For instance, using an 8 GB SDHC card will let you have up to 12 hours of recording time.

This is probably one of the most useful devices ever made if you love music. The i2i Stream Digital Music Broadcaster, from Aerielle. It allows users to listen to music wirelessly by streaming music content from any audio device.

The i2i Stream is already available for $70, with 2-packs priced at $130. It’s universally compatible with Apple’s iPod, as well as other MP3 and media players. Each i2i can broadcast or receive music, and features a compact lightweight design.

If you are looking for a stylish CD/MP3 clock radio that has quality German design, Sonoro Audio has three new cubos that are launching during CES 2008. These retro looking units are an all-in-one clock that contains a slot-in CD/MP3 player as well as an internal iPod docking station with remote control compatibility and recharge function. It also has that old archaic thing known as AM/FM radio reception.

If you happen to be a fan of radio, they will also be offering a internet/FM radio cubo. It certainly combines form with functionality and they paid attention to design detail. Each of the three cubos are encased in wood in order to provide high quality acoustics. The metal grill located on the top of the product enables upward resonance from its powerful full range speaker.

The news just keeps coming in from CES 2008 and it hasn’t even officially started yet. Kleer.com announced today that Sennheiser has introduced the industry’s first true wireless stereo earphones based on Kleer’s wireless audio technology. The MX W1 wireless earphones are said to deliver crystal-clear CD-quality stereo sound, as well as providing extremely high immunity to noise in the crowded 2.4 GHz band. Since all Kleer-based products are compatible, the MX W1 earphones can receive wireless audio from any Kleer-based PMP.

The earphones come with a carrying case that also acts as a charger, and you can recharge the transmitter and receiver simultaneously via a connecting cable, without removing the transmitter from the player. With Kleer’s Listen In technology, two or more people with
MX W1 earphones can listen to the same audio stream at the same time. The MX W1 will be available in May of 2008.

If you are a musician, there’s nothing worse then showing up for a gig and finding that you can’t plug instrument A into device B. Your whole act could be silenced due to one missing little plug or adapter. Well, this nylon bag could possibly be the musician’s best friend, and save the show.

It’s full of necessary audio adapters you might never need, but you’ll be glad you have them. Just in case. The idea came from electronic musician Liz Mclean Knight, who put the kit together. You even get a red LED flashlight attached to the drawstring which should help you find the adapter you’re searching for in those dark areas backstage.

I’m not proficient at any musical instruments myself, but if I was I would be into this cool roll-up synthesizer. It’s completely flexible with a super compact design for storage and for moving. Which is probably why it looks like a Fax Machine spitting out Piano keys. With 61 standard layout piano keys, 128 different synthesized tones, 100 different rhythms to play with, you won’t get bored. It also has MIDI and Speaker OUT as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack.

It might look like just a gadget, but it’s not. All of these features make the portable piano synthesizer comparable to many high end digital pianos. But at a fraction of the price. The fact that it will save you some valuable space, makes it practical, since many of us don’t have room for a large Piano.

Some of us are old enough to have not only CDs lying around, but cassettes and maybe a few vinyl LPs as well. Or God forbid, 8-Track tapes. Despite the fact that the cover art was superior on those old records, by now it is time to bring them up to date so you can enjoy them more easily and put them away for safe keeping.

The Crosley Songwriter may not help with 8-Track tapes, but it will let you burn an LP onto a CD in style and it takes only minutes. Not to worry, it’s also a three-speed record player, so you can still play your old records if you are feeling nostalgic. The device also burns cassettes into CDs as well. The design is the perfect blend of old and new style and will cost you $400. If you have a ton of rare cassettes and records that are not available on CD, it will pay for itself in no time while you preserve your music.

We’ve covered devices before that will update your old-school cassettes to digital, like the plusdeckEX. The plusdeckEX even has a great retro look, but the Ion Dual Ripping Cassette Deck with USB Output beats it hands down for an authentic 80’s design. This dual-ripping tape deck transforms your old cassette tapes into digital files, so you can listen to them on your MP3 or CD player. You won’t have to worry about those old tapes wearing out from years of play.

The device is compatible with both PCs and Macs and even features normal and high speed dubbing for cassette to MP3 conversion. I understand if you don’t want to admit to still using your old cassette tapes, but it’s time to get one of these and upgrade. Haven’t you lived with your horrible secret long enough?

You’ve heard of card sharks and loan sharks.(Hopefully you don’t know the latter very well.) How about a Guitar Shark? The Jay Turser Shark Guitar is a fairly unique hand painted shark shaped guitar that would make any amateur want to play. It would even be perfect and maybe way over the top to have a shark guitar if you play your gigs on a beach.

It’s designed for young players of course and includes a strap and gig bag. This shark measures 37-3/4″ in length. A unique instrument like this is a great way to start that future rocker’s career. Years down the road, you’ll be wondering why his songs all seem to all involve fish. The amp is powered by a 9V battery so the guitar can be played anywhere.

We all want a single unit that has every form of entertainment in one box. SE2 Labs has an entertainment super-machine that tries to oblige, while looking like a mini-computer server. Design-wise, it’s looks are simply amazing. It’s called the ITC One and it boasts an Xbox 360, HD personal video recorder, surround-sound processor, ICEpower High End D-Class Amplifiers, 4.3-inch touchscreen, iPod dock, and remote control system all in a single unit.

The price for having so many goodies in one box? A whooping $19,900. Most people would prefer to get a rocking home theater system at that price. Or even buy a car. But if you like it’s design and the fact that it’s so compact, go for it.

The Thodio iBox is a very nice and somewhat retro looking iPod amplifier that is handcrafted from wood which is finished with quality high gloss lacquer. It will make your desk look much classier. The rechargeable battery provides 15 hours of juice, and the two speakers deliver 25 watts of power each.

It’s been a trend lately to recapture that look of old 1950’s Television sets with their woodgrain cabinets, and translate the look to these new devices. Anything looks at least a bit neater in wood, but with the Thodio, I think they got the design just right. Each case is handcrafted from 15mm of beech, oak, teak, zebrano or mahogany.

These Coffin It Up coffin speakers would have been great for Halloween. Maybe you’re feeling Goth or just a tad emo, in which case they are perfect for year round use. Each coffin is made with melamine and houses 2 sets of speakers: 5″ 2 way and 6″ x 9″ three way speakers. Vibration dampening material inside helps create crystal clear sound that that will travel through your entire Addams Family mansion.

Each coffin speaker is 25.5″ long X 13″ wide X 8″ deep and comes complete with hand grips on the side for your poll-bearers to “carry that weight”. I suppose the only way these would be better for your music crypt, would be if a skeleton actually popped out with a guitar.

I never use labels. I’m in the habit of using a sharpie when I burn CDs. The problem is that my writing is terrible. Lucky for me I understand my chicken-scratch most of the time, but sometimes even I’m at a loss. Printing out labels is a hassle. So the Casio CW-E60 Title Printer looks perfect for me. We all want more professional looking CDs.

It features a 200 dpi print resolution and uses a thermal transfer ribbon to print the label on your disc. Plus it comes with easy to use software to design your labels. It will also let you choose from 8 different colored ribbons for your prints. The price isn’t too bad either at $60. Sure beats trying to decipher bad writing.

Harmonix and Viacom’s “Rock Band” has made an impression at stores and stood guitar fret-to-fret with Activision’s rival franchise and latest entry “Guitar Hero III”. However we don’t know exactly how well the rhythm game is doing in sales. The only thing we have to go on are the enthusiastic reports on gaming message boards and what a representative of MTV Networks, owners of the game, said that the game has been “flying off the shelves” during the first week of sales.

“Downloads are going great, rockband.com is going great with people logging on and downloading stuff from there,” said Mika Salmi, a rep for MTV’s digital division. “It’s got a lot of legs, we’re in it for the long term.”

Sony’s new NW-E013 Walkman is obviously geared toward the ladies and they are sure to be a hit. The design is certainly pretty enough and I imagine that women will find them quite appealing as far as mp3 players go. In fact, the more you look at them, they kind of look like high tech lipstick cases. They have 1-gigabyte of memory and come in sky blue, hot pink, and other girlly colors.

Sony even went so far as to create a set of little carrying cases with straps for these devices. It costs 10,980 yen or $101.52 starting December 19th. Considering what some women pay for shoes alone, I’d say that’s a bargain. It should also be noted that this would be a great Christmas gift that she should absolutely love.