Winter NAMM 2008

Every once in a while, company like C.F. Martin likes to give the nod to an up-and-coming guitarist who's paving the way for a new generation of musicians to carve their own voice out in the tapestry of popular culture by presenting them with their own signature model. On the other hand, here's two new Martin 00-28 Eric Clapton models.  

Bassists have been using the guitar voiced Electro-Harmonix Big Muff with spectacular results for years, so why the need for a dedicated Bass Big Muff? No more runny bottoms, for one, as you get that grimy distortion without sacrificing bone-shaking, gut-twistin' low end.  

Who has sold half a billion records, won over 90 Grammy awards, and has hundreds of years of experience?

If you guessed Vampire Michael Jackson, you're correct. If you guessed the METAlliance™ Seven, you're technically a lot more correct.

 

Obviously, Cakewalk's bread and butter program is SONAR, but at Winter NAMM 2008, they were raising awareness about some of the stellar sound sets they sell. With new sounds for Dimension Pro and Rapture featuring contributions from and emulations of E-MU and Moog to name a few, it is something to consider.  

Say you want intelligible drum sound, but you don't have the dough to spend on a quality drum recording. Your DIY attempt is good, but its not good enough, and you don't want the mechanical, flawless digital feeling. What do you do?  

We were drawn to the Chauvet booth by its colorful lighting display, but we never would've guessed all of those lights were coming from the ultra-compact MiN Washes and MiN Spots. If you want to see some sweet dance maneuvers, check out this video.  

Do you have $16,000 burning a hole in your pocket? I know I don't, and I probably never will. If you do, and you're a dedicated Cakewalk SONAR user, you might want to check out the newly compatible Euphonix controllers.  

At Winter NAMM 2008, we caught producer / composer Peter Wolf attending the METAlliance ™ press conference. We got his thoughts on everything from the convention itself to his method of producing music.  

In a perfect world, we could walk around in public and dock our iPods onto anything, anytime we needed to. Alesis brings society one step closer to iTopia with the iMultiMix 9R at Winter NAMM 2008.  

Bill Holland Recaps his reactions to this year's Winter NAMM. While many drooled over gear they couldn't possibly afford without taking out a second mortgage, Bill decided to look at things he might actually buy for himself.  

Bernie Grundman says, "give me the danger." The man who helms the eponymous mastering studio drops some science on Bill and Gearwire. Part 1 of 3.  

One of the biggest ideals METAlliance ™ holds is that all seven members must unanimously vote before a product gets their certified approval. Luckily, they didn't add an 8th juror, like Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men or nothing would ever get certified.  

Back at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Bill talks with Chris Bellman, whose impressive client list includes Alanis Morissette, Ani DiFranco, k.d. Lang, Yanni and Carole King. Can you spot which of those clients is not like the other? That's right, it's Ani DiFranco [not her real hair-color].  

The new Rhodes Mark 7 combines the classic Rhodes tone with new modern features. Especially high tech is their infrared MIDI technology which works based on infrared sensors for fast, accurate MIDI transmission. It's nearly "light speed."  

Phil Ramone announces the brands in the Pro Partner group, a group of manufacturers cooperating with METAlliance ™. Jim Pace calls the time a perfect storm [starring Mark Wahlberg and Diane Lane], where people are ready for audio quality to stop being substandard.  

In the running for "music gear the most looks like a Star Trek prop" [see the Focusrite ISA One for it's fiercest competition] is the Axis-64 Pro MIDI controller from C-Thru music. Though it may look like a novelty, we promise, more thought was put into it than the entire series run of "Voyager."  

The Stanton SC Digital Vinyl System Controllers pack a lot of creative features into this two-piece unit. B-Side takes us through what's new and unique to the system.  

Josh speaks with Sonja at AKG's NAMM08 booth, and gets schooled on the differences between "circumaural" and "semiaural" designs. There's also a mention of "cuh-shins," which is some sort of Euro-unit of audio measurement, I'm assuming.  

The Boss GT-10 is basically the holy grail of multi-effects processors, and in the hands of Danger Danger's Rob Marcello, it can really rip. New and convenient features make this the bossest Boss of all time.  

At Winter NAMM 2008, Rhodes had some incredible new Mark 7 pianos with keys that feel like they're made out of the flesh of angels. Improvements have been added, but nothing has changed about the fact that Mark 7s are authentic Rhodes pianos.  

The ever-modest Mr. Bonzai commandeers the Gearwire mic from Bill, and gives us a whirlwind tour of Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood [NOT LA]. Our man the Bonz gets us some time with Chief Electronic Design Engineer Beno May, and informs us of some of the "perks" that clients of Mr. Grundman enjoy. PUN ALERT!! PUN ALERT!!  

Al Schmitt and Phil Ramone of METAlliance ™ speak more on the intended purpose of METAlliance ™. The difference between mp3 and high resolution isn't as apparent to the average listener as it is to the trained ear of studio rats, but METAlliance ™ is looking to spread audio quality awareness.  

If you haven't already noticed, we toured a few notable studios in Los Angeles when we weren't at the NAMM show. Bill Holland recaps the places he saw.  

Tim Vear from Shure's Applications Engineering department shows us the KSM32 and KSM137 and uses his expertise to describe the applications of each microphone. Tim also explains and compares the benefits of large and small diaphragm microphones  

Tama's Superstar kits have been outfitted with Hyper Drive series toms for 2008. This gives them a more defined, unique sound that is unlike any comparably priced kit.  

Bill sure had a busy schedule in the days before Winter NAMM 08. Here he is in the SSL2 Vocal Booth at Record Factory in Hollywood. And guess who's name gets dropped. . . oh you can't? Hint: Gee And Effin' Are.  

Josh and Tim are at it again. This time they pick apart the Shure KSM27, a mic that shares most of the same characterists of the KSM44, but with a few minor differences that make it suitable for some different applications. Intrigued? Read on, good sir, read on.  

TAMA'S GOT THE COOLEST KIT
YOU CAN RULE ALL GREECE WITH IT
YOU COULD EVEN ROCK IN THEBES
JUST FOR DROPPING FOUR-TEEN G'S!

GO SPARTAN, WOOOOO!!!!!  

In his role as "purveyor of keen aural output for all media past, present and future," Albert Fox of Mutato Muzika talks about scoring music for The Sims. When his clients say "jump," Albert asks, "how high?" He then jumps 25% that height.  

Tim Vear at the Shure booth confides in J. Irving-Giles his deepest fears, dreams and desires. Also, he talks about the Shure KSM44 studio vocal mic.