Summer NAMM 2000 Report
Part 1
Your NAMM Report Staff agreed not to begin another Summer NAMM report by whining about how hot Nashville can be in July. We also swore there would be no peevish little digs at country music this time around. So, consider the suffocating heat and clammy blanket of humidity unmentioned, the ubiquitous country music uncommented on, and follow us into the much more pleasant, air-conditioned confines of Summer NAMM 2000 in Nashville. There’s nothing like a NAMM show to bring out the GIMME! impulse in even the most composed gear head and audiophile, and it would take superhuman strength to resist the goodies at this year’s Summer NAMM. Summer NAMM 2000 has it all – innovative recording gear, beautiful instruments, cutting-edge software, and mind-blowing effects machines. Drums thundered, guitars squealed, and synthesizers did both. We glimpsed exciting new developments in audio. We explored the most sophisticated, innovative equipment. And we saw demonstrations that made us gape like hooked sharks. Through it all, your NAMM report staff will try to keep it all straight for you, collecting everything we can about the next big things in professional music making equipment…
Please keep in mind that this is not intended as a complete listing of all new or relevant products debuted at NAMM, nor is all of the information here guaranteed to be 100% correct. The key phrase here is “Subject to Change.” In many cases, manufacturers are still solidifying things like price, availability, and features. We gathered all we could from the things that caught our eye. We hope you enjoy this first sneak preview.
BITHEADZ: Like always, the new releases at Bitheadz are sure to take computer-based audio up a notch. First up is the Retro Lite Software Synthesizer ($79), an “entry-level” version of their highly-acclaimed Retro AS-1 Analog Synth. “Entry-level” is what Bitheadz calls it, by the way. We heard it in action and there’s nothing “entry-level” about the sound – or the performance. It’s fully polyphonic and multi-timbral, with lightning-fast response time, and you get real-time control of all parameters thanks to extensive MIDI implementation.
Another exciting new release from Bitheadz also fits into the “entry-level-in-name-only” category. It’s the Unity Player Software Suite ($199), based on their DS-1 Digital Sampler. The Unity Player offers all the great sample playback features of the Unity DS-1, and provides extremely fast load times and huge sample storage capacity. It looks like an excellent solution for anyone who doesn’t need the advanced editing features of the Unity DS-1, but needs professional quality sample playback.
Then there was Bitheadz’s new software for loop-based composition and arranging, Phazer. Phazer lets Mac users combine different loops and phrases and change the tempo and key of any audio file imported into a Phazer session. Then, you can assign volume and panning operation per track and add DSP effects. The sounds were right on the cutting edge of loop-based music, and the level of performance from this software was just amazing.
Last, but certainly not least, from Bitheadz was the “Tubes, Tines & Transistors” keyboard sample library in the Native Unity DS-1 format. There’s over 300 megabytes of sound, everything from the classic sounds of a Hammond B3 to samples of vintage Oberheim, Moog, Sequential, and Arp synthesizers. The sample programs have a wide range of different filter settings, modulation routings, and effects, so you have tons of variations for each sampled instrument.
STEINBERG: All the hard-core “enthusiasts” (they get angry when you call them fanatics) of classic synths were clustered around the Steinberg booth to check out their new, state-of-the-art virtual synthesizer. It’s the Pro – 52, a virtual synth that is able to import sound data from the legendary Prophet 5 SysEx, which means it can read and accurately reproduce all the existing sound libraries made for the original. We heard the Pro – 52 in action, and the sonic detail is amazing! You can fine-tune the sounds with incredible detail and precision. There’s also a built-in effects unit, and it’s available for the Macintosh and the Windows platform. Essentially, it’s a bigger and better version of their Pro – 5, which has been discontinued. Pro – 5 users need not worry: an upgrade is available.
But the really big news from Steinberg has to be the unveiling of Cubase VST 5.0. They’ve given Cubase a whole new graphic makeover as well as a huge list of new features for some remarkable improvements in sound quality and usability. Cubase now boasts analog warmth with Magneto technology and 32-bit recording, output and mixdown. It’s also optimized for Power Mac G4 with Velocity Engine for speedy audio processing. Other features include new Linear Time Base technology for unparalleled accuracy with MIDI, down to 300 microseconds. There are tons of FX processors for every style of music production, and a MIDI Track Mixer for VST-style control over any connected MIDI gear. The list of features here is truly enormous, and Sweetwater will be bringing you more as we get it!
SENNHEISER: They were showing off what’s sure to be a welcome addition to their Evolution Series of microphones. The e 865 ($399) is the first electret condenser microphone in the series. It’s an excellent live microphone, with great feedback rejection and very detailed sound reproduction. Its all-metal housing means it can withstand life on the road while maintaining high standards of performance. Actually, the e 865 is already paying its dues on tour with Sting!
Sennheiser is also revamping and resurrecting their convenient (and extremely popular) e-packs, the everything-you-need-in-one-box packs of microphones. They’re kicking off the series with the Kick Pack ($412.95) for drummers. It’s sure to be a hit with anyone who has tried to mic a kick drum either for a live situation or in the studio. It features an e 602 microphone, cable and mini mic stand. Sennheiser is set to release more e-packs in the very near future; stay tuned to Sweetwater and inSync for further developments.
But perhaps the most exciting news from Sennheiser is the release of their new wireless in-ear monitoring system, called 300-IEM. The system boasts over 1200 frequencies, programmable in 25 kHz increments for maximum flexibility. Judging from the great sound quality, it really could be the monitoring system that gets performers to give up their wedges.
TC ELECTRONIC: Getting a workout during a live demonstration at the TC Electronic booth was their Stereo Chorus/Flange Stomp Box. True, the Stereo Chorus Flange is not new, exactly, but it bears a mention because… well, because (a) it’s sterling reputation among guitarists of all styles makes it an effects box truly worthy of the description “classic”; and (b) it sounded SO FREAKIN’ COOL we couldn’t just let it pass (the Stereo Chorus/Flange Stomp Box retails for $399, by the way).
The latest version of the popular Finalizer 96K Processor boasts some powerful and exciting new features, most notably the ability to perform full up-sample and down-sample rate conversion. This means you can enter and exit at different sample rates with asynchronous conversion – welcome news indeed! They’ve also added a new 3-band stereo width control and an enhanced dynamic range.
This is pretty much just a sneak preview. We’ll be back with much more from the show floor on Monday and throughout next week.