Winter NAMM 2000 Report
Part Three
SONY: Exciting news from Sony! Their DMX-R100 Digital Audio Mixing Console ($20,000) is not only Sony’s first entry into the compact professional mixer market, but it also represents a significant move forward for the entire category of gear. This really is a remarkable unit. It’s a fully professional, 48-channel mixer with 25 motorized faders, a sophisticated control panel with touch-screen control, a fully-integrated package of automation, a digital routing matrix and machine control. The DMX-R100 can handle the full range of production applications – recording, post-production, mastering, etc. – and was specifically designed for surround sound projects. Among its full feature set is the touch screen control panel, which allows you to place your “sound source” by touch. For all its complexity, the DMX-R100 still manages to be a very intuitive machine.
Their CDP-D11 ($700) was another breakthrough – a slim, SINGLE SPACE professional CD player.
FOSTEX: They were showing several great new releases sure to be of interest to recording professionals. The first was the NF-1A ($1598/pair), a nifty near field monitor that boasts an almost completely neutral sound. These were powered versions of the NF-1 introduced at AES ’99. The NF-1A features a “patent-pending” hyperbolic parabolic transducer design that provides a tight off-axis response.
Also introduced were the D 824 ($1795) and the D 1624 ($2795), two powerful, high-end hard disk recorders. They offer an RS422 interface and a total of five recording formats, including non-compressed 24-bit, 96kHz audio. The new interface increases the recorders’ versatility dramatically by allowing remote placement and offering compatibility with video editors and other professional tools. The D824 and the D1624 also feature unlimited UNDOs, COPY/PASTE between programs, a dedicated ALL INPUT key and more handy capabilities.
Continuing Fostex’s tradition of top-of-the-line compact recording workstations is the VF-16 16-Track Digital Multitracker ($1500). It features 16 recording tracks plus 8 additional “ghost” tracks, and fantastic digital mixing capabilities. There are two independent digital multi effects using acclaimed Fostex A.S.P. technology.
They also had the VM88 ($799) 8-channel Digital Mixer with DSP Effects. This was a nifty, compact submixer for live performance, loaded with great features and simple to operate. If you’re a performing musician you need to check this one out.
KORG: The new TRITON OS version 2.0 adds a little boost to the sampling section of this amazing keyboard. New features include time slice, which lets you take a sampled loop or phrase, cut it into segments, and then create a new multisample and program. This is placed into the sequencer along with the required track data to play the part. There is also a time stretch function, which matches the tempo/length of sampled phrases. The crossfade/looping function lets you loop complex sounds without clicks or pops at loop point.
Korg was also showing their new old skool synth, the MS2000 Analog Waveform Synth ($1100). This is the first new entry in Korg’s classic MS Series in 20 years. The MS2000 faithfully recreates the analog sounds of the past using the latest DSP technology, and adds a very cool vocoder. We got a brief demo of this synth and the sounds were excellent. Tweakers will especially love this synth: there are no less than 35 dedicated knobs on the MS2000, all so you can create and manipulate sounds in realtime. The weird thing was that your NAMM Report staff had just come from an exhibit of vintage synths, and it was interesting to see how people seem to like the look and “hands-on” aspects of the older synths with knobs, even if the dependability, performance and sound quality of today’s synths bears no resemblance to the instruments of even 15 years ago.
Finally, the ES-1 Rhythm Production Sampler ($600) is the newest member of the Electribe (this one is green). The ES-1 is a kind of variation on the ER-1 (that’s the red one), but the ES-1 lets you process the samples in an astonishing variety of ways. You can tweak and alter your sample via the pitch, filter and effects knobs, and use the step sequencer to create complex rhythm patterns.
ALESIS: Their A6 Andromeda Analog Waveform synth ($3499) was being put through its paces during a great mini-show. The A6 is no digital emulation of an analog synth; this is the real thing. A real-deal analog synthesizer bristling with knobs. Features include 16-voice, 16-channel multitimbral with full MIDI control. It’s capable of some very sweet, soulful sounds.
KURZWEIL: Their excellent new PC2 ($2395) and PC2X ($2890) Performance Controllers are to be on the “must-have” list of any serious keyboardist. They feature a host of new sounds including Triple Strike Stereo Grand Piano, Stereo Strings, classic electric pianos and keyboards, and a wide range of other instruments. There’s also MIDI control and 64-voice polyphony.
LINE 6: It’s black. It’s vaguely kidney-shaped. And it’s for bassists! Line 6 opens the way for bass players to have a little effects fun with the Bass Pod, the bass version of their popular Pod modeler/effects device. Bass Pod offers 16 bass amp modelers, 16 bass cabinet model, 16 digital effects combinations, and much more. They were also showing their Rackmount Pod Pro, essentially a rackmount version of the Pod with extra cool features, including 24-bit AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital out, and stereo effects loop.
SAMSON: They had a very cool series of wireless mics called the Airline Wireless Series. Samson got rid of the ugly shame of wireless systems: the potentially cumbersome and always uncool body-pack. Even better, this series is also powered by inexpensive AAA batteries. There are four types of Airline Wireless “packs.” The first is a super-light weight headset and lavalier mic for applications like broadcast and presentations; the light and easy fit of the headset makes it a natural for aerobics instruction ($629.99). The second is a wind instrument mic for mobile horn performance ($699.99). The third is for guitars and comes in two types, the AF1 for Fender-shaped instruments, and the AG1 for Gibson-shaped guitars ($499.99). Finally, there’s a cool handheld mic system ($499.99).
Another exciting new entry from Samson was the Expedition Series loud speakers, a 2-way, portable loudspeaker system available in three different versions: passive, powered and powered with built-in mixer. There’s the EX10 Speaker ($329.99) with 2 1/4″ connectors, the EX20 Powered Monitor ($549.99), and the EX30 Powered Monitor with mixer. They are housed in injection-molded Polypropylene, and when we say they’re portable, we’re not kidding. They feature a telescoping handle and locking wheels. There’s also a fourth unit in the series, the EX500 ($599.99), a 500-watt Powered subwoofer with a 15″ driver.