Austin Summer Namm
2006 Report

page 3

Most Innovative Booth

Mackie Designs

Mackie clearly had the coolest booth of the show.  It was like walking into a high-tech emporium, which they titled the Mackie Satellite Lounge, filled with hi-tech gear and comfortable couches.  I was hoping they'd have some Martian Mackoid waitresses in there serving cocktails, but no, just the usual nerdy types looking into computer monitors.  A nice place to chill away from those barbarian guitarists outside.

 

Inside they were showing off the new Onyx Satellite, a new small firewire audio interface with 2 Onyx preamps.  I also go a chance to get my hands on the Onyx 24-4 Mixer which looks much nicer in person than it does photographed.

The Satellite

•	Innovative two-piece FireWire Recording System for professional audio production on Mac or PC
•	Portable Satellite Pod docks into Satellite Base Station, allowing users to record on location without disconnecting and reconnecting cables
•	Dual Onyx mic preamps for superior clarity, detail and dynamic range versus competing interfaces

Naturally, they give you Tracktion to get you going

More info:  http://www.mackie.com/products/satellite/index.html

The Roland Arena  www.rolandus.com

Aside from the RC50 demonstration, Roland was there in force with all its lines of gear.  2 pieces stood out for me.  The Micro BR digital Recorder and the Roland Cube 30 Modeling Amp.  My question, as always, to the first available rep, "Show me what's really new, not Winter new, Summer new"

Micro BR-Digital Recorder

This has got to be the smallest multi-track in the world.  Perfect for recording anywhere.  Definitely pocket sized.  Its got onboard drum patterns and a guitar input, and effects.  So part of the idea is you plug in, roll one, do some chords, then WAIL. (uh, no, sorry dude, I forgot you were a guitarist, I meant roll a drum pattern).  Has an onboard mic, so you could sing too, but then you're going to wake every up.

Now I think, what would _I_ do with it?  Hmm.  Probably take it to the mall to work on my polyphonic masterpiece of shopping cart collisions.  Think about it.

Of course the people more hip than I will put their backing tracks on it, take it to school and rap over it. 

 

info

• Ultra portable, only slightly larger than an iPod
• 4-track playback, 32 V-Tracks
• Loads and plays MP3 files
• Multi-effects onboard; dedicated guitar input
• Time-Stretch and Center Cancel features (including MP3 files)
• 293 rhythm patterns
• Built-in tuner and microphone
• USB port for data transfer
• SD Card slot for recording media, 128MB card included

Roland Cube 30X

I am usually not an amp guy, but when I heard the latest version of the Roland Cube 30 Modeling guitar Amp I was impressed.  The sales blurb please:

Roland’s famous CUBE amp lineup expands with the hot new CUBE 30X. With great new features such as Power Squeezer® for maximum sustain without maximum volume, a fully equipped guitar tuner, a mini-jack aux in for playing along to MP3 and CD players, and of course that incredible CUBE sound, this amp is built to rock!

I really like the power squeezer idea for recording.  It also has a new acoustic simulation in addition to the COSM models the older Cube 30 had.  Has a tuner onboard too, just in case you don't already have 10.  Best of all, it had a good sound.

 

Of course Roland was also showing its products announced at Winter Namm, like the SH201 Synthesizer, the VP550 and the Juno G.  I did get a chance to play the SH201 for a few minutes.  Liked the big fat tones and noise. 

Akai

Akai was showing its new MPD24

 

A dramatic improvement over the MPD16.  I love their slogan "At Akai, we set the standard fro drum pad controllers, while others just give you the finger".  Hey they said that.  Of course they are talking about M-audio's Trigger Finger.  Ok let's let them say more here:

Akai Professional’s MPD24 is the velocity sensitive pad controller for musicians and DJs working with sampled sounds. The MPD24 features 16 MPC-style velocity and pressure sensitive pads plus transport controls for interfacing with DAW/sequencing applications. With Akai’s MPC 16 Levels and Full Level features for ultimate pad control, four selectable pad banks totaling 64 pads, six assignable faders and eight assignable, 360 degree knobs for transmitting MIDI Control Change data, the MPD24 provides unprecedented creative freedom for manipulating sampled material.

Ok then.  Akai was showing it's MPC 2500, announced a while ago.  Overall, their presence was smaller than I expected. 

 

Lets go check out the more studio gear

 

---

Next Page

The Choice: Soundcard vs. Audio Interface
Firewire Audio Interface Comparison Chart
USB 2 Audio Interface Comparison Chart
PCI Soundcards and Interfaces Comparision Chart
Selecting the Correct Driver
Troubleshooting your Audio
Review:  Emu 1820M
Review:  MOTU 828mk2
Review: Motu Ultralite
Review: Delta 1010
Catalog: Soundcards and Interfaces
Poll: Best Soundcard/Interface $100
Poll: Best Souindcard/Interface $100-200
Poll: Best Value $250-$375
Poll: Best Value $400-$550
Poll: Best Value $600-$1000
Poll: Best Value over $1000

TweakHeadz Lab | Studio-Central | Audio-Pro-Central | zZounds and online store Affiliations | Site Map | Support the Lab | Privacy Policy | ©2008 TweakHeadz.com