Enjoying the Thrills of Computers

Last night took an unexpected turn… in a techy way. Ever since I was young, I’ve enjoyed merging my interests in guitar playing and technology. Nothing too serious, just a creative outlet. So, while I was engaged in this around 10:30 p.m., a technological spark ignited within me.

The short version? I’m having a blast with technology!

The core of my guitar setup is a DigiTech RP155 multi-effects processor I purchased 15 years ago. It surpasses my Rode Podcaster v1 microphone (which is due for an upgrade soon) as the oldest tech I still use. This guitar pedal features a USB-B output, enabling me to play and record electric guitar using applications like GarageBand, though these days, I mainly focus on recording video jam sessions.

The latest addition to my tech ensemble is the impressive Rockster Air 2 Bluetooth speaker created in partnership between Fender and Teufel. It stands almost two feet tall, weighs 30 pounds, and includes handles for easy transport. It’s not just a fantastic piece of hardware; it boasts satisfying knobs, a 7,800 mAh battery that provides up to 58 hours of playtime, and offers an extensive range of input/output options.

• Bluetooth 5.0, supporting aptX, aptX HD, and AAC codecs
• Inputs:
  • XLR microphone input
  • Instrument input (6.3 mm stereo jack)
  • AUX input
  • USB-C port (also serves as a power bank)
• Outputs:

This speaker allows me to wirelessly stream audio from my iPhone and iPad, power my USB-C devices, and connect my guitar for a powerful 80 watts of amplification.

One of the coolest features? I can jam on my guitar while music plays from my phone, with separate volume controls for each input. Initially, this was simply amazing because I could play blink-182 riffs over the actual blink-182 tracks, adjusting the audio for both sources effortlessly.

Prior to my jam last night, I launched GarageBand on my iPad to tune my guitar using the tuner feature. Then, after some experimentation, I tried out the drummer feature again for the first time in a long while. Earlier that day, I had streamed music from the iPad through the Rockster Air 2, so the drum track played wirelessly from the speaker along with my guitar. SWEET! GarageBand makes it easy and fun to change drum patterns, and the M4 iPad Pro is perfect for this task (the nano texture is fantastic for me).

Meanwhile, I was using my iPhone 16 as a webcam through Photo Booth on the Mac, where I record many of my sessions. I was eager to try recording guitar and vocals separately with the new Rode Wireless Micro lav mics, yet both my iPad and iPhone were in active use. The receivers for each wireless mic are USB-C, so I decided to connect them to my brand-new M4 Mac mini, which has two front-facing USB-C ports. It seemed worth a shot!

To my delight, connecting the Rode Wireless Micro receiver to the Mac was seamless! The LED indicators confirmed that both wireless mics were connected, and the audio input method displayed “Wireless MICRO” as a recognized source.

That’s when everything fell into place. I attached one mic near the amp where the guitar and drums were playing, and clipped the other to my shirt to capture vocals. The iPhone recorded the video, and everything played back beautifully on the Mac post-recording.

Casual yet deeply satisfying songwriting sessions—thanks to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, some superb audio gear, and a guitar pedal I purchased back when I was 18.

Follow Zac: X, Bluesky, Instagram / Support my work by shopping Apple on Amazon 🙏