ADAM Audio introduced the S Series comprised of five models of increasing size, the S2V, S3H, S3V and the largest-of-the-range S5V and S5H. Innovations created specifically for the S Series include completely new, highly efficient long throw ELE Extended Linear Excursion woofers; one-piece DCH dome/cone hybrid mid-range driver, newly designed waveguides for the tweeter, and a high-power DSP engine based on the very latest generation of SHARC chips.
Apogee Electronics showed CONTROl, a USB, hardware remote control designed for their Symphony I/O Mk II and Element Series Thunderbolt interfaces. Features include access to input and output levels using the large Symphony-inspired Control knob and three control knob focus buttons, plus immediate access to a wide range of functions using the eight user-configurable buttons.
Avid showed Pro Tools 12.7 and the new MTRX Interface featuring DAD conversion and a modular design. Features include operation up to 384 kHz DSD, a customizable plug-and-play design supporting 48 analog channels, 64 digital, or anything in between, and IOs including remote-controllable mic preamps, Dante, MADI, AES3, and 3G-SDI.
BAE stepped up their 500 series game with the release of the 500C FET lunchbox compressor and the R53 3-slot horizontal 500 series rack. The 500C features controls for input and output gain, plus the four selectable, time-honored compression rations of 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, and 20:1. The R53 accommodates any three 500 series units in a single rack space offering switchable linking from one slot to the next.
Bitwig Studio 2 launched at NAMM with 24 brand new modulators, new devices, better hardware integration, VST3 support, polysynth updates, and a new menu system. A free demo version will be available for download upon launch at www.bitwig.com.
Blue bowed the newly updated and enhanced Essentials Series now featuring Spark SL, Bluebird SL, and Baby Bottle SL microphones. In other news, Blue launched two new headphones at NAMM including Ella, a premium planar magnetic headphone, and Sadie, a next-generation high-fidelity headphone, both with custom, built-in audiophile amps.
Celestion showed a new line of Impulse Responses (IRs) featuring seven different classic Celestion loudspeaker models, each in five different speaker cabinets. Each may be auditioned, purchased and downloaded for use in studio and live production applications. Models include the G12M Greenback, G12M-65 Creamback, G12M-75 Creamback, G12H Anniversary, G12-65, Celestion Blue and Vintage 30 models mounted in 1×12 and 2×12 open and closed back and 4×12 cabinets.
Cranesong announced that their entire line of digital hardware products have been updated to take advantage of their proprietary 5th generation Digital to Analog converter technology. New at NAMM is the Egret 8 Channel D/A Converter / Summing Mixer joining the Avocet monitor controller, the HEDD 192 AD/DA converter, and Solaris standalone digital to analog converter.
D.A.S. Audio showed the Event Line Array Systems Performance Simulator. The intuitive new tool enables integrators to quickly calculate the number of Event 208A or Event 210A systems required for a venue, configuration options, coverage maps, and rigging data. Areas up to 115 feet by 115 feet or an audience size of up to 4,900 people can be configured in just a few clicks.
GIK Acoustics had the new Impression Series in the booth – a line of acoustic panels and bass traps with beautifully decorative plates. The five elegant designs include Bubbles, Checkerboard, Gatsby Arches, Mod Geometric, and 3D Cubes. They come in standard sizes including Square (24” x 24”), Narrow (12” x 48”), and Rectangle (24” x 48”) with levels of absorption at 2” thick, 4” thick, or 6” thick. Finishes include blonde wood veneer, rigid black vinyl, and rigid white vinyl.
Leapwing Audio released the DynOne plug-in, five-band, parallel compressor. Features include compression control for each of the five bands, parallel mode, variable peak to RMS detection, multi-mono to stereo channel linking variable control, upward expansion possibility per band, and settings for different minimum and maximum attack and release values.
Hosa showed their Pro Headphone Cables made from 24 AWG Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) conductors, and 90% OFC spiral shields for superior signal-to-noise ratio. Each cable uses REAN connectors by Neutrik AG. HMM Series Pro Stereo Interconnect is designed to hook up pro-audio headphones equipped with a mini stereo input to source audio equipment with a mini stereo output.
IsoAcoustics had their new ISO-PUCK on hand, the company’s new low-profile, highly flexible and scalable, round model of acoustic isolators designed especially for pro audio speakers and subwoofers. Features include an extremely low profile, with a height of only 1.18 inches (3cm/30mm) (down to just under an inch (2.5cm/25mm) when in use.) and just 2.3 inches (6cm/60mm) in diameter.
The Mesanovic Model 2AS ribbon microphone is an active version of the Model 2S stereo ribbon microphone. Features include high output is provided by custom, in-house wound, toroidal transformers, and phantom powered electronics working as an impedance buffer with no additional gain or coloration to the sound and extremely low self-noise.
IK Multimedia announced the release of their Fender Collection 2 for AmpliTube, a new collaboration with the product designers and R&D Team at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Also on the stand was MODO BASS featuring new breakthrough physical modeling technology bringing a new level of realism and playability to the world of virtual bass instruments.
PMC featured the new MB3 and BB6 active monitors with digital and analog inputs. Available as single- or twin-cabinet (XBD) versions, both units offer extended low-frequency response, wide dynamic range, non-fatiguing sound, and extreme tonal accuracy and consistency. Power for the units is supplied via Class-D amplification first unveiled on the QB1-A main studio monitor.
QSC had their new Firmware Version 1.1 for the TouchMix-30 Pro Compact Digital Mixer. Version 1.1 firmware adds a variety of significant product enhancements, including Direct Download for Upgrades, Parametric EQ improvements, Channel Safe functions, plus other enhancements.
RCF had some new products including the next generation ART 708-A MK2 active 2-way cabinet, new E-Series analog mixing consoles, upgrades to their D-Line HD Series cabinets, and expansion of the Expnds HDL Series Line Arrays with the new HDL6-A. Also on hand was the new low frequency with HDL53-AS and TTL6-AS, the NXL44-A Line Source, a new and powerful Active Subwoofers including the SUB 905-AS MK2, SUB9006-AS, and RCF SUB 9007-AS.
Roland showed their new Rubix line of audio interfaces for Mac, PC, and iPad. The line consists of the Rubix 22, 24 and 44 featuring extremely low noise from input to output, clean, low noise mic preamps and support for audio resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Schertel showed the ARTHUR modular console, a range of different Class-A input and output modules including Mic Input, Mic Input Ultra Low Noise and Mic Input x4 units, instrument input unit, Stereo Input unit, L/R Master, Aux Master, and external Power-In units. ARTHUR can be specified and assembled by the user (in any order and quantity) to form both compact and large-scale mixer configurations.
Yamaha had a range of new products including the HPH-MT5 and MT8 studio monitor headphones. The MT5 and MT8 feature custom 40mm and 45mm drivers, respectively. Both use CCAW voice coils, along with powerful neodymium magnets to achieve precise definition, extended frequency response and control even at the highest output levels.
