NAMM Wrap-up: top 5 fun additions to make your studio stand out
Despite the current coronavirus pandemic that has prevented this important event from taking place, as usual, at the Anaheim Convention Center, NAMM has organized a virtual Believe in Music Week. This highly anticipated event for the music industry in America (and in the entire world) had not been interrupted since 1945! NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) is, as described by its organizers, the world’s largest trade-only event for the music products, pro audio, and event tech industry.
Despite the current coronavirus pandemic that has prevented this important event from taking place, as usual, at the Anaheim Convention Center, NAMM has organized a virtual Believe in Music Week. This highly anticipated event for the music industry in America (and in the entire world) had not been interrupted since 1945! NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) is, as described by its organizers, the world’s largest trade-only event for the music products, pro audio, and event tech industry.
Everything has pros and cons. The good thing about this virtual event is that it was (and it is) possible to watch several videos that will keep you updated on the latest trends of the industry. You just have to register and watch for free.
Let’s take a look at some of the best additions exhibited this year.
Yamaha MSP3A
Yamaha has released an outstanding addition. The recent MSP34 has been designed to minimize the errors of the past. It includes a reflex port which simply removes any distortion. One of the reasons why this is an excellent option is the improvement of the bass quality. A complex shape on the cone surface avoids the formation of turbulence, which is usual in simpler designs because of noise and non-homogeneous dispersion in the near zone. The price is just USD 199.
A deep bass extension is not to be expected, but these formats are well-received thanks to their portability, size, and weight set limits, which works wonderfully in other post-production environments, auditoriums, and others. They can be operated with extra accessories, like ceiling or wall mounts, or on a microphone or standing loudspeakers.
Antelope Audio Zen Go Synergy Core
This is the first portable, USB bus-powered audio interface to be released by Antelope Audio. Under its desktop format, you will find the same effects of the previous releases, as well as the same circuitry of the rest of the range, with a price of 499 USD (an unprecedented cost considering the high-end studio equipment.) It is clear that Antelope, like other competitors, wants to bring its technology closer to more modest budgets and more compact working environments.
Among several interesting features, it includes two independent headphone outputs, a large analog rotary step encoder dominating the right side of the front panel, and direct monitor mixers to control the signal in real-time with built-in effects, (all hardware-based.)
Antelope Audio especially boasts remarkable specifications, and, in particular, the mastering-quality monitor output, which achieves a 127 dB dynamic range — according to the manufacturer.
Black Lion Audio’s Revolution 2x2
This well-known manufacturer, after releasing other creations (such as preamps, compressors, and modifications,) now is ready for its first interface, a wonder that apparently they had already been planning about for several years.
Revolution 2x2 is a two-channel interface that integrates the best of Black Lion Audio’s equipment modification techniques, with analog circuit design capacitors, as well as employing manufacturing techniques to reduce power noise within the circuit.
Its price is 399 USD. It incorporates a master clock system developed in-house and offers a USB-C connection. It has a comfortable monitor output, and it allows a recording quality of up to 192k Hz and twenty-four bits.
Revolution 2x2 comes with a comprehensive software package that includes a complete list of plugins that will make your work much easier.
Output Frontier
This remarkable monitor offers a frequency range of 45Hz to 25kHz, a crossover frequency of three thousand, and a bass and treble frequency amplification of hundred watts for each. The input impedance is twenty kOhm and the maximum power of each monitor is 265 watts.
Each monitor integrates a led bright panel to provide information about its on or off status and also integrates a power-saving mode switch that turns off the monitors temporarily while they are not emitting any signal.
It has two input ports, and next to the inputs there is a general level control. It will be available through a waiting list on Output’s website for $1,400 per pair.
Mackie’s new Onyx mixing console
Mackie is updating its Onyx line of mixing consoles, adding USB multitrack recording, and refining several elements of the overall design of all models.
All three warrants low noise, and it incorporates Onyx mic preamps with up to sixty dB of gain. The record system includes USB and SD card interfaces at up to ninety-six thousand Hz and twenty-four-bit quality. It features Bluetooth connectivity and has an integrated effects system which, along with the other functions, is operated thanks to a complete and practical display.
The channels of the Onyx mixers feature Perkins EQs inspired by the vintage mixers of the sixties and seventies, plus tools such as hundreds Hz high-pass filter, forty-eight V phantom power on all mic channels, Hi-Z switches for instruments, stereo meters, and dedicated control of auxiliary and monitors.
Enhanced Media provides post-production sound services for feature films, short films, TV shows, commercials, and trailers of all genres for all platforms.
