SN - Soundware Scene

This issue is always my favorite issue of the year since we get to write about our favorite unveilings at the Winter NAMM Show.

For me, the number one jaw-dropper was Parker’s new MIDIFly Guitars. If you've read the Early Winter 1998/99 issue of Sweet Notes, you're already aware how much I love my Parker Guitar (serial # 13!) and how I felt that nothing could ever take its place. But try to imagine the same excellent NiteFly Guitar with both a MIDI In and MIDI Out jack. That's right, true MIDI, no converters needed, just one MIDI cable, any synth or sampler and you're on! You can see a picture of it in our 1999 New Products Directory.

Next, one of my all-time favorites is back and looking better than ever. Roland has retooled their factory and, after a long hiatus, is once again cranking out their famous strap-on MIDI controller. The newly remodeled AX-1B ($595 list) has all the cool features of the old AX-1 including a 45-note, velocity sensitive keyboard, an Expression Bar which can send Mod Wheel or After Touch, a teflon-feel Pitch Strip for guitar-like bends and hammer-ons, Octave Up and Down buttons, a Transpose button, and a thumb-knob that can adjust Volume, Tempo or other MIDI Controllers. There's even Sequence Stop/Start buttons that allow you to control everything from the front of the stage (for once!). Since 1993 I have never played a gig without my AX-1 handy; I just never know when I'll want to unchain myself from my rig and join the guitar player. And the new AX-1B now has an elegant Black and Gold styling that would even look good while you're wearing a tuxedo.

Also new at NAMM was TC Electronics’ new M3000 Studio Reverb Processor. You can check out my exclusive report on Page 1.

All-in-all Winter NAMM was a very exciting show, but now it's time to start preparing for the '99 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville. It seems like there's always something new and exciting to learn about in this industry. If you've ever thought about joining us in this pursuit of music technology excellence, please give us a call (ask for Kristine) or sign up through our Web site. We're always looking for the best the industry has to offer. Maybe that’s you!