UkeStuff
Well-known member
I am a relatively new player, having started playing in January and working with my (choir) students with ukulele since February. This wasn't a forced decision--it is something I started on my own accord.
My choirs will each be singing a song with ukulele in the spring concert...the 6th grade will sing "Lava," 7th Grade will sing the 21 Pilots version of "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You," and the 8th grade will sing a multi-part version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I am teaching all of the students the chords, but only a select few (chosen/volunteer) will play in the concert itself.
I have been trying to figure out a way to record myself playing as a "main track" that our choirs can practice with, and likely perform with (this is middle school).
My instruments are all pretty basic at this point and are likely to stay this way: a Makala Concert Electric-Acoustic, an American Flag Kala Ukadelic, a Kala Travel Tenor, and a Kala Concert Banjo Ukulele. I have a couple of other instruments but I don't consider them "players:"
The Makala can plug into my computer or iPad for recording, but I don't have the right HD iRIg that I need, and field recordings just aren't working out with these instruments.
I ran into the Lanikai UkeSB series a couple of weeks ago at my local music store--and while the Soprano and Concert models did not appeal to me, I liked the Tenor. So I have been watching eBay and Amazon.
It ended up that Butler music placed a "blemished" model on eBay, and I managed to get the Spruce version (normally$399) for $225 shipped.
While I am aware that there are far nicer instruments out there, I am still early in this ballgame and basically wanted an instrument that would let me record to my iPad.
That instrument arrived today...and the blemishes don't even look like blemishes. Again, an instrument is worth what you would pay for it, but I am incredibly pleased with my purchase at $174 less than its normal selling price.
While I don't own any of the Hawaiian "K" instruments (my self-made rule is that I will buy one when my wife and I go there on a vacation), this Lanikai is the nicest instrument in my small collection, and is likely to be the best for a while.
I am also contemplating (i.e. planning to buy in May) an Outdoor Ukulele (Tenor) from a local dealer.
In function, the UkeSB is doing everything it is supposed to do...it plugs into my iPad (USB adapter needed) and records clearly without any additional background noise. You can also run the UkeSB through the amps on GarageBand--and I imagine you can run it through just about any recording app.
This ukulele won't be for everyone--but it scratches the exact need that I have, and admittedly, as a person that loves the intersection of technology and music, even the dorky pearl USB logo appeals to me. Most people won't have the same need as I do for this instrument--and the model is 3 years old at this point. I'm just gald I was able to get it for a good price.
My choirs will each be singing a song with ukulele in the spring concert...the 6th grade will sing "Lava," 7th Grade will sing the 21 Pilots version of "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You," and the 8th grade will sing a multi-part version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I am teaching all of the students the chords, but only a select few (chosen/volunteer) will play in the concert itself.
I have been trying to figure out a way to record myself playing as a "main track" that our choirs can practice with, and likely perform with (this is middle school).
My instruments are all pretty basic at this point and are likely to stay this way: a Makala Concert Electric-Acoustic, an American Flag Kala Ukadelic, a Kala Travel Tenor, and a Kala Concert Banjo Ukulele. I have a couple of other instruments but I don't consider them "players:"
The Makala can plug into my computer or iPad for recording, but I don't have the right HD iRIg that I need, and field recordings just aren't working out with these instruments.
I ran into the Lanikai UkeSB series a couple of weeks ago at my local music store--and while the Soprano and Concert models did not appeal to me, I liked the Tenor. So I have been watching eBay and Amazon.
It ended up that Butler music placed a "blemished" model on eBay, and I managed to get the Spruce version (normally$399) for $225 shipped.
While I am aware that there are far nicer instruments out there, I am still early in this ballgame and basically wanted an instrument that would let me record to my iPad.
That instrument arrived today...and the blemishes don't even look like blemishes. Again, an instrument is worth what you would pay for it, but I am incredibly pleased with my purchase at $174 less than its normal selling price.
While I don't own any of the Hawaiian "K" instruments (my self-made rule is that I will buy one when my wife and I go there on a vacation), this Lanikai is the nicest instrument in my small collection, and is likely to be the best for a while.
I am also contemplating (i.e. planning to buy in May) an Outdoor Ukulele (Tenor) from a local dealer.
In function, the UkeSB is doing everything it is supposed to do...it plugs into my iPad (USB adapter needed) and records clearly without any additional background noise. You can also run the UkeSB through the amps on GarageBand--and I imagine you can run it through just about any recording app.
This ukulele won't be for everyone--but it scratches the exact need that I have, and admittedly, as a person that loves the intersection of technology and music, even the dorky pearl USB logo appeals to me. Most people won't have the same need as I do for this instrument--and the model is 3 years old at this point. I'm just gald I was able to get it for a good price.