Photo Recap: Best New Studio Gear from NAMM 2018!
Once again, we braved the crowds for you at the annual convention of the “National Association of Music Merchants” to find all the latest and greatest in new pro audio gear.
This year’s NAMM was even larger than in the past, with most of the studio hardware and software filling out a newly-purposed “North Hall”—thereby separating it from all the noisy conventional musical instrument displays that can so often sound like the music store from hell.
This created a somewhat quieter and less hectic vibe on the pro audio side of the event, making critical listening a little bit easier (as far as trade shows go…) and bringing a bit of additional focus and organization to the convention.
Just as with the most recent AES convention, new gear announcements weren’t quite as prolific and prominent as they have been in certain years. But most booths had some kind of welcome upgrade on display—and many had expanded some of their most popular new lines in one way or another.
Read on below to see and hear about some of our top picks!
Outboard and Effects
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- Novation made things very fun (and very meta) with a gigantic, playable Launchpad-style controller that took up an entire wall, made entirely out of… smaller Launchpads.
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- Novation also showed off its most recent offerings: The Peak analog-hybrid synthesizer and Circuit Mono Station.
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- Heritage Audio’s newly announced SMD series makes their take on the classic 1073 mic preamp more affordable than ever.
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- BAE also showed off a freshly-fleshed out version of its more affordable “UK Sound” line.
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- Useful Arts debuted its new high-end stereo tube DI, pictured at bottom.
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- Black Lion Audio just upgraded its line with the new “Seventeen” compressor, plus a 4 channel version of its acclaimed Autuer mic preamp.
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- Whitestone Audio continued to tweak and improve on its mastering-grade tube saturation design in advance of its official commercial launch.
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- Line 6 follows up on the Helix with its new AxeFx Line that offers everything but the amp modeling in one compact package.
Speakers and Headphones
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- Focal upgraded its headphone line with two new models: The super-high-end, open-back “Clear” and the sturdy, high performance closed-back “Listen”.
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- Focal also fleshed out its speaker range by adding the 3-active, 2-passive driver “Shape” model pictured one out from the center in this array.
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- Avantone finally made its premiere headphones available in black due to popular demand.
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- HEDD upgraded its line with a new flagship 3-peice tower.
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- Rad Distribution is now making a faithful recreation of the original Yamaha NS10 woofers and tweeters. Rumors and speculation abound that they might just be working on their own complete reissue too…
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- Reftone was also at NAMM with it’s own Yamaha NS10 update, a totally new take on the woofer for 2018.
Consoles and Interfaces
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- Universal Audio unveiled its latest (and smallest) interface, Arrow.
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- A closer look at the compact, DSP-powered Arrow.
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- PreSonus expanded its line of studio interfaces with two new sizes.
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- Focusrite brought its esteemed Clarett line of interfaces to the USB world.
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- Audient’s new iD44 desktop interface is designed to be clean and portable.
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- PreSonus also upgraded its controller line with the new FaderPort 16.
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- The Sound Techniques console drew plenty of admirers.
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- The new SQ line from Allen & Heath was in full effect.
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- RME’s anniversary reference AD DA converter, the ADI-2 Pro, is multifaceted with a memorable headphone amp.
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- PreSonus introduced the new EarMix 16 for providing networked individual mixes for its StudioLive system.
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- A new portable interface and mixer from CEntrance provides high-quality front end for phones, tablets and cameras in addition to acting as a standalone recorder.
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- SPL introduced a new version of its mastering controller, a new 16 channel monitor controller, and an upgraded mastering EQ.
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- Burl began shipping Dante cards for its acclaimed Mothership range, and accounted the imminent availability of its SoundGrid option.
Microphones
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- Golden Age Audio brought its Swedish-made U47 clone to bear.
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- Warm Audio showed several of its latest mics including the new WA-47 Tube Condenser microphone.
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- Bock Audio showed off the new 67, an LDC with high headroom and a pronounced midrange.
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- Not to be outdone, Neumann also displayed its legendary U 67, now back in production.
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- Borrowing on heritage from the high-end C800G, Sony’s new “high definition” mic line includes the C100, which sports TWO capsules—one for frequencies up to 25k and one for frequencies of 25kHz and up!
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- Audix unveiled its new mini boom mic in a much-requested white color option.
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- Check out the tringular capsule! Ehrlund is hitting the US with a new design that aims at eliminating “unwanted” transients.
Photos by Justin Colletti, David Weiss and Jon Lurie.
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