NAMM

We can all argue that, of course, music is involved somewhere along the chain of our particular strain of the entertainment industry - but NAMM is so much more - it has to be to grip the exhibitors as it does. Its diversity is incredible. Even those who refused boothspace for so long - who did the majority of their business at say the Marriot pool bar - are sneaking in – perhaps not the huge presentations they flaunt at Frankfurt, but popping up with a booth or dipping a toe in the water. Because everyone else is. And importantly good business can be done here.

This year’s show was busy. A lot of press calls kicked off day one, centred as much on anniversaries and the introduction of new employees as they were on the presentations of new and exciting products.

Both Community and QSC hit their 40th birthdays at NAMM this year. Community’s celebratory event began with an introduction by Julia Lee, the company’s Director of Sales and Marketing then Community co-owner and Vice President, John Wiggins, delivered an inspirational keynote address to a packed room of journalists, editors, media executives, company representatives, dealers and distributors, followed pictorially by some wonderful shots of their impressive achievements over the years.

QSC hit their own 40th by offering short speeches from Pat Quilter, Barry Andrews and John Andrews and a very amplifier impressive cake. Complete with grilles, knobs and a few whistles from the assembled press contingent. They also announced the release of the new GX range of power amps.

Also on show was the new NAC100 Network Audio Controller (more in our networking guide), which adopts the subtleties required by designers and installers of various architecturally conscious applications.

Keeping with commercial audio applications Crown International announced the 135 MA and 160MA amplifiers both easily configurable for a variety of uses, including paging, background music, music-on-hold, security use, and safety/evacuation announcements.

They also released a limited production run of copper-faced MA-2402, MA-3600VZ, and MA-5002VZ. Having recently crossed its 60th year and more than two decades of producing the industry-standard Macro-Tech Series of power amplifiers, Crown commemorated both milestones with a special, one-time production run of the three products. And very nice they are indeed.

D.A.S. Audio launched the Artec series, a complete range of compact systems that have been designed to provide wide bandwidth and high SPL in a visually discrete package. The Artec products can be easily installed on walls, ceilings or columns thanks to an extensive selection of optional mounting accessories. Ideal for under balcony, area fill, and near field applications, their reduced dimensions and sleek new styling fit perfectly into multiple surroundings including hotels, restaurants, and convention facilities.

D.A.S. also expands the Variant Installation Array line of products with the new Variant 112A, a powered compact array system designed to provide users with a small format professional sound system. The Variant 112A inherits the technology and the legendary performance of the Aero Line Array systems, a worldwide touring standard with more than 14,000 units sold. Rental companies, professional sound installations and live performers will benefit from the Variant system’s exceptional flexibility and performance available in a compact, portable package.

Component manufacturer P Audio showcased an impressive line of ultra-precision low-frequency driver at this year’s NAMM. The Thailand based company are also a leading supplier of OEM loudspeaker component solutions for a number of household-name brands. In addition to LF drivers, the company offers a comprehensive range of high-performance high-frequency component drivers and HF horns.

The impressive new ranges include the Woofer Series, Flagship Series, Challenger Series II, SN Series II, AM Series, E-Series II, and IMF Series II.
Allen & Heath unveiled a fifth model in the new ZED range of small format, USB-equipped mixers for live performance, recording, and production. The new ZED-24 stereo mixer provides 23 independent sources to the mix, 10 independent outputs, four aux sends (two pre and two post fade), a USB send and return (for PC or Mac recording, playback and effects), a unique dual stereo input capability, and advanced monitoring facilities.

The NAMM show was also the official debut for the ZED 4 bus series (ZED-420, ZED-428 and ZED-436 mixers) that were previewed at the PLASA show, and the first time that the Xone:42 DJ USB mixer has been shown outside of the UK.
GCI Technologies, presented a number of exciting all-new and innovative products from its three brands, Gemini, Cortex, and iKEY Audio proving design guru Mark Matthews’ output knows no bounds.

Gemini showcased many new products including the CDM-3600 Professional table top dual deck CD player/audio mixer combo and the completely redesigned GX Series of high-efficiency, high-output loudspeakers, the new CDT-05 turntables, the first turntables of its kind allowing the simultaneous playback of both CD and Vinyl!

The groundbreaking Cortex brand unveiled the DJ industry’s first USB-compatible professional Digital Music Turntable, as well as presenting its revolutionary rack-mountable HDC line of digital music controllers, including the HDC-1000 and HDC-3000. Also featured was the first true all-in-one digital mixing solution for the iPod®, the DMIX-300 along with the newer, tech-savvy sibling the DMIX-600.

GCI’s digital recording and digital recording accessories brand, iKEY-Audio, introduced its exciting new M-Series line of professional, self-powered active studio monitors, along with the new standard in portable digital audio recording, the iKEY-Plus Portable USB Recorder.

Stanton DJ used NAMM to announced the release of the C.324, the company’s newest slot loading tabletop CD player for the professional DJ. The C.324 is designed for digital DJs who want to scratch CDs like vinyl, and has all the latest components needed for ultimate performance.

It features MP3 and CD audio playback with onboard file and folder browsing, onboard pattern and real-time sequencer for drum machine style performances, seven on board digital effects, and a sleek slot loading CD mechanism with LED for quick loading of CDs into the unit in low light situations.

Klark Teknik added a third model to its popular Square ONE range - the Square ONE Splitter. Packaged in a road-worthy, 2U steel chassis, the Square ONE Splitter combines a simple eight-channel solution with a high-performance, Midas XL8-inspired pre-amp design, making it ideal for applications ranging from concert sound to recording.

“This new unit reflects the fact that the analogue audio splitter remains the most versatile and cost effective way to distribute audio signals to multiple locations,” said Midas and Klark Teknik brand development manager Richard Ferriday. “This is especially relevant where digital and analogue consoles are paired in front of house and monitor configurations, and digital consoles employ different audio transport protocols.”

Mackie’s launches included the FRS Series of amps (FRS-1300, FRS-1700, all combining Mackie’s Fast Recovery™ circuitry with a modern switching power supply), the SRMv2 (the next generation of its industry-standard SRM Series Active loudspeakers), and new additions to Mackie’s compact mixer line with the 402-VLZ3 and the 802-VLZ3 Premium Mic/Line Mixers (which incorporating the same technology as their big brothers in the series, the 402-VLZ3 and 802-VLZ3).
Rane and Serato announced the release of the Serato Video-SL software plug-in for Scratch LIVE.

Video-SL will require version 1.8 of Scratch LIVE and the Rane TTM 57SL Mixer. Video-SL is a software plug-in for Scratch LIVE which adds the ability to playback and mix video files with the Rane TTM 57SL mixer, manage a variety of video clips from within the Scratch LIVE library and load them onto a virtual deck for control with either vinyl or CD.

The controls of the TTM 57SL allow you to mix clips with a variety of transitions, as well as apply exciting effects to each video clip. The mixed output can be sent to your computer’s secondary display for connection to external monitors or projectors.

Chauvet always use NAMM as a launch pad for an impressive line of product. For Albert, Berenice et al, ‘08 was no different. A vast array of innovative lighting products were on show in the Arena area of the convention centre - too many to list here - but one such product deserved of a mention is the Vue™ VI by aiming to take the pain out of centerpiece effects.

This 6-channel DMX fixture features LED illumination, built-in automated programs, individual control of red, green, and blue LEDs for each pod, and a staggeringly wide beam angle. Equipped with over 250 LEDs distributed into two pods, the Vue™ VI produces an extremely bright output that is reminiscent of a fireworks explosion. It incorporates the best of the Vue™ series and adds pod rotation for a dazzling effect. Clever.

Equipson proudly announced a considerable coup in these health and safety regulated times. Joining the 400 series Tower Lifters, and boasting BGVC 1 certification, were their new LW 415 and LW 425.

All in all, NAMM’s winter convention is a very, very important show for us. Whilst companies like FBT and B-52 may diversify their product ranges to suit this show’s more instrumental appeal, they still display wares that would sit perfectly at PLASA or LDI.

There is certainly good reason for this. NAMM isn’t a one trick pony and, as the first really strong show of the year, many more manufacturers are realising that to not be seen makes a statement they’d rather not be seen to make.

One final note: NAMM has got loud. Very, very loud. 82% of non-musicians wish they had the ability to play an instrument according to the NAMM Ideas Center. Personally I wish the 18 per-cent of players at NAMM chose a different outlet to express themselves. Like being quiet - or eating, or something.