NAMM is the years premiere event where all the music related manufacturers descend upon Anaheim California to present their newest equipment to the distributors, stores and general public. It’s a mad house with everyone presenting their take on a small number of similar ideas with each company positively sure that their product is the best and that they have a magic crystal ball telling them what the consumer (us) will want next. Most of the time the manufacturers are living in their own dream world, promoting ideas that are either out dated or from a distant parallel universe, but there’s still no shortage of chatter, praise and pure determination to push their latest updates on the attendees hoping to make another sale in order to keep the whole industry plodding forward. Thankfully, in between all the bartering and schmoozing you can find a few dedicated companies, both industry standards and small startups, with inspired ideas that are genuine and will help push the creative use of technology forward.
For the DJ/Performer, NAMM 2011 definitely heralded the year (finally) of the digital controller. With turntables and even CD players finally moving to the side (if not to the back of the booths), the NAMM floor was filled with companies flogging every type of digital DJ/performance controller imaginable. From the ‘First Mix’ controller (http://www.geminidj.com/firstmix) for the next generation DJ, to even Pioneer finally realizing that their CDJ’s were not the answer most people were looking for and finally offering not 1 but 2 controllers each specifically setup for Traktor and Serato respectively. In between the avalanche of controllers there were also various (mostly) unsuccessful attempts to update the DJ Mixer, various plugin developments and some interesting new hardware announcements.
Here’s a few things that caught my eye/ear! (in no particular order)
HARDWARE ENVY: Dave Smith & Roger Linn’s TEMPEST
Who needs another hardware drum machine? Well, I would normally agree but with two legendary equipment pioneers coming together for the first time, who can argue that this machine is something that we should all take seriously!
Everything seems to be in place, the form factor is right, big enough to get your hands on, small enough for every travelling DJ to put into their check on luggage as part of their setup. As Roger stressed in his demo, it’s more than just another drum machine, it’s a new performance tool with dozens of ways to interact and modify your ideas, all in real-time. Perfect for the studio and possibly even more compelling on stage… this will definitely give the Maschine a run for it’s money!
http://davesmithinstruments.com/news/tempest.phpADULT TOYS: Teenage Engineering OP-1
I think every synth freak has had gear lust since first seeing the photos of this little beauty, but my first hands-on experience was honestly a little bit disappointing. Yes I still want one, but for what, I’m not sure.
Teenage Engineering’s OP-1 is even more beautiful in person, the small nuances in the UI make this one of the sexiest keyboards I’ve ever had my hands on, but apart from cute interfaces and its unique way of doing things, it still left me a bit puzzled with who this is exactly intended for?
I guess it could be a super sexy controller to use in front of your MacBook during your live performance, but then again, who’s sees anything that we are using anyway? You might be better off using one of the newly updated black KORG Nano 2 controllers and save some money.
(http://www.korg.co.uk/products/software_controllers/nano2/sc_nano2.php)
http://namm.teenageengineering.com/MIXER ON STEROIDS: Allen & Heath XONE:DB4
Although previously announced a few months ago, Allen & Health’s Xone:DB4 digital DJ Mixer is now shipping and was still ahead of all the other competition at NAMM. A hybrid digital mixer offering all the bells and whistles of effects, looping & sampling that all the computer DJ’s have, but without the computer. Meaning, for anyone out there still using actual CD’s or Vinyl, this is THE mixer to use!
For the digital DJ, whether you’re using Traktor/Ableton/Serato etc. the DB4 offers its own unique internal array of effects while seamlessly interfacing with your favourite DJ software, with two layers of midi control, untold internal digital routing capabilities and superb A&H quality and sound. A powerhouse! Although it could do with a few extra channels!
http://www.allen-heath.co.uk/uk/xonedb4.aspINTEGRATION & COLLABORATION : Serato the Bridge
One of the next steps for digital performance software is a tighter integration between the two not so distant worlds of loop and track based playback & manipulation. Many of the performers I know use both Traktor & Ableton running side by side to get this job done, but with the recent announcement of upcoming ‘sample decks’ in Traktor and ‘the Bridge’ by Serato/Ableton it looks like we’re well on our way.
The Bridge is a great idea, instead of one company copying another company’s great idea, here Ableton & Serato come together to tightly integrate their two programs and offer a unified streamlined interface to allow quick and easy (and in my mind, creative) combinations of Ableton clips and Serato songs.
I have to hand it to Ableton to being one of the most open-minded companies out there. The Bridge along with last years Max4Live shows us that this company, as big as it has become, still has the users’ best interests at heart, offering open, customizable environments for the creative performer. If only all companies could be as modern in their thinking, as the last thing our scene needs is it’s own VHS/Beta or Blueray/HD-DVD competition!
http://serato.com/thebridgeCAPTURING THE MOMENT: Joe Co. Black Box Recorder
Well it took a small startup to show the industry giants of Fostex and Tascam what the people really want! A beautifully black one space rack mount digital recording device with multiple in/out options successfully recording up to 24 channels of 96k/24 bit audio onto a high-speed USB stick! Of course, I prefer to work and support smaller companies and the Joe Co. team rock! If you’re a touring DJ, performer, band and/or you need to record more than 8 channels of audio, then this is the box for you. Man, even if you only have a few channels to record, this is probably still the box for you. Check out the specs! Great for studio too, but excels on the road!
http://www.joeco.co.uk/main/index.htmlBAND IN A BOX: Feel Tune’s RHIZOME
The problem with the Rhizome is that most of the people who can afford it are producers who already have their own unique setup and do not want to move to a new turn-key solution, while the younger producers who might be attracted to such a solution will probably be turned off by the price. It’s a tough situation that has unfortunately derailed numerous companies with great ideas.
First off, it’s a complete system that truly offers a complete studio in a box, just plug-in some monitors and your ready to go, intuitive editing, powerful sampling, with every angle in the creative process covered. But that convenience comes at a price, and I’m not sure if there’s enough of a market for this beast. I’m sure someone will take use of this device and turn it into their secret weapon, I hope so, as the developers and people behind the Rhizome have more energy, ideas and inspiration than the rest of the industry combined! Good luck guys!
http://www.feeltune.com/en/products/rhizome.htmlFOR YOUR EYES ONLY: LZX Visionary Video Synthesizer
Years ago EMS had their own analog video synthesizer which we all drooled over, so it’s about time someone has returned to that idea and updated the concept into a Euro rack modular Video Synthesizer. The LZX Visionary offers patchable modules, akin to any other normal modular synth, outputting a display of rich colours and controllable analog patterns. The possibilities of inter-patching voltages between your audio modular and this beast are endless and could be quite powerful if plugged into a towering high-resolution LED display!
http://www.lzxindustries.net/TOUCH SYNTHESIS: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 1.5
Spectrasonics updated their powerful Omnisphere synth to 1.5 with a new feature called “The Orb” offering real-time synthesis manipulation. The real power is unlocked with a companion iPad App called “Omn TR” which gives you multitouch access to these new features and allows deeper expression within your own patch or modulation settings.
HIT MAKER: Rob Papen’s Punch Drum Synth Plugin
Rob Papen’s new drum plugin Punch (coming soon) seems to raise the bar in that area offering a high powerful synthesis engine for creating your own custom drum sounds along with powerful per step modulation and nuance capabilities. Punch also offers sample playback with a lot of attention to humanizing playback parameters of both sampled and synthesized sounds.
INTERFACE ME: RME Fireface UFX
There’s always the toss-up of quantity vs. quality when it comes to Audio interfaces. Yes, of course there are interfaces with more ins/outs, but I’m always looking for interfaces with REAL analog ins and outs, not advertising of 16 x 16 and then finding out that it’s all only ADAT/Spdif connectivity!
Come on, I’m a travelling DJ/performer who needs the smallest box with the most Analog ins/outs, is that really too much to ask? Finally RME steps up to the plate with a high quality (really) 12 analog In and 12 analog Out box! Yes, it’s still a little wide but with its full spec list, offering both USB2 and Firewire connectivity and all those extra non-analog connections this box is perfect for both the studio and the stage! Now just shrink this into a half a rack and we’ll be rocking!
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_ufx.phpLOGICAL NONSENSE: Rene & Z8000 Analog Sequencers
I can’t play a melody on a keyboard worth sh*t, so that’s probably why I’m still infatuated with any type of sequencer that I can use to come up with something musically interesting!! Move over MAQ16/3′s and let’s welcome two new arrivals.
Make Noise Music’s RENE and Tip Top Audio’s Z8000 are both worthy of a lunatic asylum offering untold ways of modulating and turning your most logical sequences into un-logical masterpieces. If I’m honest, I still don’t quite have my head around each of their capabilities, but if you’re in the market for any type of analog sequencer, check BOTH of these out!
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/RENE.html http://www.tiptopaudio.com/z8k.php?goto=features
SEQUENCED SAMPLING: Elektron Octatrack
The Jury is out on this one still, and to be fair, I ran out of time to go back and get another full demo of the final production model of the Octatrack at NAMM. What the Octatrack offers sounds amazing; fluid performance based sampling for the Ableton generation. Imagine having this little baby next to you in the studio or on stage, (re)sampling, stretching and sequencing on the fly! That’s the promise, and if I take Elektron’s past accomplishments as a measure (the amazing Machinedrum & wonderful Monomachine), then the Octatrack is probably all of that and more!
http://www.elektron.se/products/octatrack
SPRING CLEANING: Gobbler
I’ll give credit to anyone who can help me organize my (dis)array of hard drives and folders full of half-finished Pro Tools, Ableton and Logic sessions! Gobbler is the online backup management software that our community has been missing. It’s time to allow Gobbler to search your hard drive and back up all those sessions to the cloud for both organization and security. In Beta at the moment, Globbler scans for Pro Tools, Ableton, Logic, Cubase, Garage Band and Logic sessions and then keeps an eye on updates, changes and versions of your sessions, compressing and backing up to their secure servers in the background. Gobbler is free at the moment while in beta, so check it out.
getgobbler.com
BOX OF KNOBS: Livid Instruments CODE controller
I was heartbroken when Doepfer discontinued their Drehbank controller but finally the wonderful Livid Instruments have brought their own updated version of it out under the name Code. A beautiful (as all Livid instruments are) compact box of 32 push button/endless encoders each with LED rings for visual feedback and 5 vertical and 8 horizontal buttons to round off the package. A customizable MIDI hardware solution for any of your software controller needs!
http://lividinstruments.com/hardware_code.php
LITTLE BUTTON DEVICE: DJ Techtools Midi Fighter
The connection between performance and video games finally comes to fruition with a small well-built box with 16 arcade grade buttons for your triggering happiness. Watch the demos online to see how you can configure these little boxes into a power house storming over controllers double it’s size! A big step in the right direction to a world where we can all use a unique collection of small Midi (hopefully one day OSC) devices that allow us to transfer our physical movements through the technology and unleash all of our creativity! Limited edition run of 500, tons of custom colour options, so order soon. Also check out the custom Midi fighter that can be expanded with extra capabilities! To think that some people thought Defender and Stargate had too many buttons when they first came out!
http://techtools.myshopify.com/products/midifighter-diy-kitMISSION CONTROL: 4Midiloop Control DJ Control Surface
I’ll be honest, I went to NAMM hoping to have an epiphany and meet the perfect controller, alas, I found myself in a sea of mediocrity and finally the only controller that really stood out from the pack was something that was in my hotel room in a box having just arrived from the developer in Europe. The 4midiloop device is probably not for everyone as it doesn’t have the huge jog wheels (which I hate) which seem to waste so much real estate on everyone else’s controllers, but offers a clear and calculated Traktor inspired layout of knobs, switches, and faders… for not only 2, but 4 decks! The only drawback of the 4midiloop controller could be that it is so Traktor specific that it may have pigeon holed itself, but that aside, for Traktor and other digital DJ’s, this unit offers a (configurable) knob for nearly everything and is prepared for any 4 deck warrior! Warning, this is only a controller, the 4midiloop’er does not have any intergrated audio device so you’ll still need your other pieces of gear, but for intuitively getting inside the beat, this one stands out from the pack!
WHAT’S NEXT: Liine’s Kapture iDevice Edition
Ok, so this one is shameless self promotion but I do feel that once it’s available Liine’s Kapture (iPad/iPhone edition) will create a new class of session morphing performance tools! Building on the free Max4Live Kapture patch (created for the Plastikman Live show), Kapture iPad Edition allows Ableton users to take snapshots of their entire working session, recording every possible parameter possible, levels, plugins, sends, returns in one press of a button. But where the iDevice version excels is its new 4 quadrant morph feature where you have the ability to morph in realtime between 4 recorded channel snapshots, automating a tonne of parameters with one gesture. Sounds simple enough, but wait until you hear it!
http://Liine.netHOLD ON A SECOND: iPad “stuff”
For those of you who are using iPad’s during their performance, here’s three options for iPad mounting solutions that connect to either regular Mic Stands or standard VESA mounts.
http://www.criskenna.com/If you’re still insistent on using your iPad as a table top device, then invest in an iBallz device and keep your iPad safe, sturdy and vibration free!
http://www.iballz.info/
SPARE NO EXPENSE: Tonelux 1628 Console
All the old Studio guard are offering updated pure and discreet analog console modules, each offering different and unique sonic capabilities for those who have the money and ears to believe that none of these amazing hardware pieces can be perfectly modelled in our favorite DAW’s! I definitely haven’t made the plunge back into a fully analog console (I’m quite happy with my Amek at the studio) but if I was thinking about a big expensive upgrade I’d probably go the route of Paul Wolff’s Tonelux console/modules. After mixing & mastering the DE9: Transitions release on a Paul Wolff customized API 5.1 console there’s been nothing that has come close to complete discreet analog mixing that handles both stereo and surround mixes with ease!
http://www.tonelux.com/1628.html
DECKS & EFX: Eventide SPACE Effects Box
The Eventide Harmomizer series has been a stable of all professional studios since I can remember, effecting and giving ‘space’ to many of your favorite records out there. Space offers a selection of reverb & modulation patches that come directly from their flagship H8000 and Eclipse effect units. What’s great about their compact series of effect boxes is that each one has an array of knobs that allow easy manipulation of each patch leading to quick creation of your own unique effects patch… it’s amazing how a powerful little box with a few knobs can be so much fun! Congratulations to Eventide as they continue their push into the table top/pedal arena with affordable yet powerful effects boxes that live up to the Eventide name, and open it up to a whole new generation.
http://www.eventide.com/Home/Eventide/AudioDivision/Products/StompBoxes/Eventide_Space.aspx
HEROES & LEGENDS: Relevance in the Digital Age!
- Me, Roger Linn, Dave Smith, John Acquaviva @ NAMM 2011
And to finish my Music & Technology blog off, I thought I’d finish with a photo that says it all. NAMM 2011 was filled with new products from new companies and new minds, but there’s something to be said to two pioneers having one of the busiest booths at this years NAMM. When most of us were learning how to crawl or speak, or were still worried about pimples on our cheeks, Dave & Roger were creating the foundations of the music and technology scene that we still stand upon today! In this ever increasingly fast paced world, let’s see who of us are still relevant (or standing) at NAMM 2031!
Thanks.
Rich
