Photo Roundup: The New Gear of NAMM 2020
January 21st, 2020 by SonicScoop
Once again, we walked the trade show floor at NAMM to scope out all the best new pro audio releases so you don’t have to!
Here are some of our top picks from the show. Did we miss any of your favorites? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Microphones
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- Golden Age audio gets into the higher-end market with its first entry into the “GA Premiere” line, a clone of the much-coveted (and uber expensive) Sony C-800G, at about half the price.
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- The FET 47 from United is now shipping.
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- A view of AKG’s newer interface and microphone in one, the Lyra.
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- The new Austrian Audio OC818 opened eyes with its smart features, including an app to fine tune the polar pattern.
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- Roswell Audio showed their new Mini K87 high resolution condenser microphone – an 87-style sound that works well for overheads, as well as vocals.
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- MXL launched its Revelation II, at $499 a more affordable version of its high-end tube microphone.
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- Earthworks showed their new Gravity series of instrument-mounted microphones, including this G339.
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- The new Sontronics Podcast Pro dynamic mic drew a crowd, promising broadcast sound out of the box for $149.
Hardware and Interfaces
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- The SSL 2+ 2×4 audio interface made a major buzz at NAMM, a desktop audio interface with 4000-inspired sound that makes SSL sonics affordable.
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- This Traverse tube preamp is the latest from a new boutique gear maker from Canada.
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- Heritage Audio finally offers a Neve 33609-style 2-channel compressor.
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- A new power supply from Heritage audio.
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- AVID expands the MTRX line.
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- In addition to the newest MTRX interface and S1 and S4 controllers, they debuted two versions of a new HD chassis that makes Pro Tools’ HD power available to laptop and compact desktop users. The unit pictured at the bottom left can house both an HD card AND a Mac Mini.
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- Steinberg brings their latest flagship interface to the world of USB3.
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- A lineup of the latest premium portable SSD hard drives from OWC.
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- SPL unveils the Mercury DAC
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- A colorful new DI box from Spectra Sound.
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- Highland dynamics BG1 Mono adds new features to this high-end compressor line.
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- The Quantum series of incredibly fast audio interfaces from PreSonus expands its Thunderbolt options.
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- The latest rack IO from RME.
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- A new version of the Babyface Pro from RME.
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- The latest in 2 channel A/D conversion from RME.
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- NAMM was the first trade show look at MOTU’s M4 audio interface, featuring 120 dB dynamic range on its main outputs and priced at $219.
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- The new Apogee Symphony Desktop two channel interface will be available in March.
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- The 4 in/4 out Audient Evo 8 is an intuitive, affordable and portable interface.
Monitoring
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- Output releases its very first speaker, in collaboration with Barefoot Sound.
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- Barefoot Sound released its newest and most affordable studio monitor, the Barefoot 002.
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- A totally new speaker company, Ex Machina, revealed its high end three- and four-way coaxial designs.
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- IsoAcoustics announces a speaker decoupler for use with guitar amps.
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- IsoAcoustics adds to its line of speaker decouplers with mini and extra-large sizes.
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- A new portable PA solution from JBL with 12 hours of battery life.
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- The Kali Audio IN-8 3-way powered monitor proved to be an impressive listen as it made its show debut, and…
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- …Kali Audio’s upcoming Sub WS12 is smooth and satisfying, all the way down to 23 Hz.
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- Burl introduced the B22 Orca control room monitor daughter card.
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- “Purity and detail”: Amphion debuted its Amp 700 high resolution stereo amplifier, with 700W per channel.
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- The HEDD Phone, with its groundbreaking ribbon headphone design, proved to be a very high-end listen.
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- What’s more welcome than a wall of Augspurgers?
Control Surfaces
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- The new S1 series from Avid is a modular solution that can click together magnetically.
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- A view of the latest from the S4 series from Avid.
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- The new MPC One.
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- Quantica offers a new take on touch screen control for plugins.
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- The latest FaderPort from PreSonus is also an interface…just like the latest in their compact mixer line.
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- The Lynx Aurora(n) interface now offers an ADAT option – six of ’em shown here plugged into the powerful new Mac Pro.
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- Novation launched its new Launchpad Pro, with 64 pads and the ability to work with Ableton Live as well as MIDI-compatible hardware — no computer needed.
Software
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- Spring from Eventide sprang onto the scene at NAMM 2020, modeling top spring reverbs from guitar amplifiers.
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- Krotos comes out with a new softsynth called Concept.
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- Nugen shows off the latest updates to its EQs.
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- We weren’t sure what kind of picture would do it justice, but in one of the most interesting pieces of news from the show, Universal Audio announced the launch of Luna, its new software recording system. Effectively a DAW with built-in Neve summing and more!
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- Slate Digital maintained its visual appeal with the versatile new Infinity EQ graphical equalizer.
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- Waves opened up totally new possibilities with the wildly creative new OVox synthesizer, which shines with vocals as a sound source.
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- PSP revealed their Old Timer MB, their vintage style mastering grade multi-band compressor.
Preamps, Outboard, and DI
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- The revered Focusrite ISA 828 MkII mic pre arrived with new optional Dante A/D cards, for studios incorporating audio over IP.
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- Auralex makes a surprise entry into the audio hardware market with it’s new vintage series of vacuum tube preamps and direct box.
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- Analog aficionados Useful Arts unveiled a new look and workflow for their SFP-60 dual channel tube preamp.
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- The Whitestone P331 stereo tube loading amplifier arrived with a fresh link function, plus new padding controls.
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- The Cloudlifer Zx adds transformer character in a two-channel unit.
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- IK Multimedia debuted its Buffer Boost preamp/DI pedal and Z-Tone active DI/preamp.
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- BAE whispered about an upcoming “Kenny Aronoff” recording package – some of the gear shown here.
Synths and FX
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- Artiphon Orba features a built-in synth, looper, rhythm and lead for $99.
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- The affordable SE version of Expressive E’s innovative force-feedback controller Touché showed up.
Fun On the Floor & NAMM Nightlife
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- You KNOW when you’ve arrived at NAMM!
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- NAMM always serenades attendees with acoustic tunes to start the morning.
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- Soyuz founder Dave Brown is in love with his Launcher gain booster.
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- A photo op with audio statesman Jimmy Douglass is not to be missed! Flanked here by hitmaking LA production/songwriting partners Clarence Jay (left) and Steve DuBerry (right).
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- Meeting of the musical minds: producer/DJ/controllerist/violinist/live show designer Laura Escudé and reggae superstar Sidney Mills at the Eventide booth.
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- Megastar mixer Chris Lord-Alge held court with an inspirational talk at the Waves booth.
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- Jack Joseph Puig drew a crowd at the Mix with the Masters booth.
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- A sonic SELFIE! Converter genius Michal Jurewicz of Mytek met up with SonicScoop’s David Weiss.
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- A slew of writers and editors from the SonicScoop crew break for lunch OUTSIDE.
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- This guy was constantly killin’ it with the Keytar on the NAMM floor.
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- The style never stops at NAMM.
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- You just never what will pull up to the NAMM show floor.
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- PureMix rocked the Marriott with THE Friday night fiesta.
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- Mixing and recording maestro Mick Guzauski at the PureMix party.
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- Universal Audio’s huge Luna Recording System launch included a literal moon shot.
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- And finally…Ain’t that the truth: Do partake!
— Photo coverage by Justin Colletti and David Weiss
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