Abstract: A keytar is disclosed. The keytar has a keyboard body having a front face, left side, right side and rear face. A piano-style keyboard with a number of keys is on the front face of the keyboard body. A neck extends from either the left or the right side and the left side of the keyboard body. A number of drum pads are on the front face of the keyboard body. A microprocessor is electrically connected to the drum pads. The microprocessor is configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the drum pads and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each drum pad. The keytar may further include an accelerometer to provide music effects and an internal sound engine to generate analog audio.

Abstract: A guitar controller for a tablet computer is disclosed. The guitar controller includes a body having a cavity formed therein sized and dimensioned to receive a tablet computer. The body has an edge on a front of the body defining an opening into the cavity. The edge has a thickness forming a lip into the opening wherein the lip is configured and arranged to be received partially over the tablet computer. A neck extends from the body and has a plurality of simulated fret positions thereon. An electronic circuit is included and configured and arranged to transmit a message encoded with presses of the simulated fret positions to the tablet computer.

Abstract: A keytar is disclosed. The keytar has a keyboard body having a front face, left side, right side and rear face. A piano-style keyboard with a number of keys is on the front face of the keyboard body. A neck extends from either the left or the right side and the left side of the keyboard body. A number of drum pads are on the front face of the keyboard body. A microprocessor is electrically connected to the drum pads. The microprocessor is configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the drum pads and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each drum pad. The keytar may further include an accelerometer to provide music effects and an internal sound engine to generate analog audio.

Abstract: A keytar is disclosed. The keytar has a keyboard body having a front, back, left side, and right side. A piano-style keyboard with a number of keys is on the front of the keyboard body. A neck extends from either the left or the right side and the left side of the keyboard body. A number of drum pads are on the front of the keyboard body. An electronic circuit is electrically connected to the drum pads and keys. The electronic circuit is configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the drum pads and keys and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each drum pad and keys and transmit the MIDI note signal to the tablet computer. The keytar may further include an accelerometer to provide music effects.

Abstract: An electronic drum kit module and drum kit using the same is disclosed. The module includes a body having a cradle configured and arranged to hold a tablet computing device. A number of trigger inputs are on the body and configured and arranged to receive trigger cables from a number of electronic instruments. A microprocessor in the body is configured and arranged to receive trigger signals from the trigger inputs and transmit a message to the tablet computing device corresponding to the electronic instrument that generated the trigger signal.

Abstract: A digital piano having a dock for a handheld computing device is disclosed. The digital piano includes a keyboard having a number of keys and at least one speaker. A sound engine is operative to make audio signal in response to key presses on the plurality of keys of the keyboard. The sound engine includes an audio output to transmit the audio signal. A dock is configured and arranged to connect to a handheld computing device. The handheld computing device has an audio port and a music program running thereon operative to play musical accompaniment to the pianist. A summing circuit is provided that has an input electrically connected to the audio port of the handheld computing device and audio output of the sound engine and an output electrically connected to the at least one speaker.

Abstract: A game controller for a tablet computing device is disclosed. The controller includes a control console. A groove on a top portion of the control console configured and arranged to capture an edge of a tablet computing device in an upright orientation. A number of controls are included on the control console for transmitting game control inputs to the tablet computing device.

Abstract: A turntable with a dock for handheld computing devices is disclosed. The turntable includes a housing having a record player with an analog output. An analog-to-digital converter has an analog input operatively connected to the analog output and a digital output. A serial interface device is operatively connected to the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter. A moveable dock connected to the housing is configured and arranged to support a handheld computing device therein.

Abstract: A karaoke machine with an integrated computer interface device is disclosed. The karaoke machine includes at least one microphone input having an audio output. A computer interface device configured and arranged to receive digital audio and convert it to analog audio. At least one speaker is also included. A summing node is provided to combine the analog audio from the computer interface device with the audio output of the microphone input together into combined audio and transmit the combined audio to the speaker.

Abstract: An audio input and output dock for a tablet computer is disclosed. The dock includes a housing having a cradle configured and arranged to receive a tablet computer docked therein. A number of audio output and input connectors are configured and arranged to connect to the tablet computer when docked in the cradle. The audio output and input connectors include professional grade audio output and input jacks that musicians highly desire.

Abstract: A controller for a handheld computing device having a music-oriented program operating thereon is disclosed. The controller includes a control surface configured and arranged to be manipulated by an operator to generate a control input. Further included is a circuit configured and arranged to detect the control input generated from the control surface and transmit the control input received from the control surface to the music-oriented program operating on the handheld computing device.