MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014 Pics

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Update: added a few notes below.  I hate picking highlights because I honestly do love it all.  That and I don't like missing anyone or anything.  The focus is on what's new.  More will come with the videos.

This is the full set of 282 NAMM pics including the following sub-sets just posted:
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: WMD et al. Modular Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Moon Modular Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Miselu, Quicco Sound & Audiobus Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Studio Electronics & Pittsburgh Modular Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Schmidt Analog Synthesizer Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Radikal Technologies Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Big City Music Booth & Aerosmith Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Buchla Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Elektron Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Dave Smith Instruments Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Monome ALEPH Looper Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Moog Music Booth Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Dubreq Stylophone Pics
MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: Bob Moog Foundation Booth Pics

And that's it for my NAMM pics. Videos will follow over the coming days. As you can see I missed a few of the major synth booths including Clavia/Nord Keyboards, Waldorf, Access, Teenage Engineering, Korg, Roland, Novation, Studiologic and Yamaha. This is no slight to them. I would have loved to check them out, specifically the new A1 from Clavia and the new Waldorf 2-Pole filter.  I did see the new full size KORG MS20 kit but the booth was packed and I didn't get any pics. I knew anything AIRA was not going to be shown so I skipped Roland. I typically go to NAMM on Saturday as I'm literally glued to the site posting away all the NAMM news along with everything else that comes in up to then. By Saturday I have a pretty good idea of what has and hasn't gotten plenty of coverage on the site.  Based on that, new product announcements, and prior commitments with those that reached out to me, I go through my list of booths in order.

As for standouts, although I didn't get to try the new A1 from Clavia, I was impressed by the new oscillator and effects section in the demos to date. I like what I hear. I do think they made a mistake with the messaging on it being an entry level synth. Not sure why they chose to go that route as it degrades the synth's capabilities in my opinion and the price does not reflect an entry level synth.

The new Elektron Rytm sounded fantastic. I should have a video of Highsage jamming on it coming up. Hopefully the audio is good.

The Sub 37 is a thing of beauty.

I'm a fan of the Prophet 12 and the new Prophet 12 module. I'm a fan of mixing digital with analog and I think it is capable of timbres you simply can't get out of pure analog.

The Tiptop Audio system at the Big City Music Booth was absolutely insane! Tomio is a Jedi master on that thing. I should have video of it coming up.

The new Make Noise modules were a mind trip. Video coming.

Noise Engineering is new to the scene and their modules sound fantastic. I particularly like the drum module. They also have a vocal formant module. I mentioned the Yamaha FS1R's formant synthesis and they said it was actually based on it to an extent. Video coming.

The STG EMS Oscillator sounded insane. Video coming.

The new Studio Electronics Boomstars sounded pretty incredible. Video coming.

It takes quite a bit to surprise me.  Two things did.  Full on patch memory on a modular synth with the Buchla Music Easel and what's coming for Audiobus. The Miselu iPad keyboard and Quicco Sound controller were pretty cool devices as well. The Future Retro Triadex Muse based sequencer caught my interest. I didn't show it, but it definitely was a geek out moment for me and caught me by surprise. Who would have thought technology based on the obscure Muse would re-appear today.

That's it for now. The videos and pics should speak for themselves. I love it all.

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

I want to start by thanking everyone that comes to MATRIXSYNTH and helps make it what it is - the readers, the supporters, and of course all the sponsors on the right.

THANK YOU and have a GREAT 2015!!!

This site is a labor of love and a ton of work. This site is ultimately meant to be an testament to everything synth in the making. We have over nine years of daily synth history captured here, 119,983 published posts. I can't wait to see what the future brings us in 2015!

That said, here are a few interesting bits from 2014 in the longest post of the year. ;)

CLICK FOR MORE »

MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: WMD et al. Modular Booth Pics

Pics of the WMD modular booth at NAMM 2014. Manufacturers include WMD, STG Soundlabs, The Harvestman, Verbos Electronics, Flight of Harmony, Foxtone, hexinverter, Steady State Fate, Enclave, KOMA Elektronik, 4ms, Delptronics, Super Synthesis, Noise Engineering, Pro Modular, and Audio Damage.

Spot Don Buchla!

WMD Analog Synth Modules at NAMM 2014

Published on Feb 4, 2014 Electronic Musician Magazine·55 videos

"A demonstration of the new low-cost modular synth gear from WMD during NAMM 2014."

NAMM 2014: WMD Booth (20140126)

NAMM 2014: WMD Booth (20140126) from ICON on Vimeo.

WMD Coming to NAMM with the Sequential Switch Matrix & More

via WMD:

"January 14th, 2014: The long awaited Sequential Switch is in production and shipping just in time for the NAMM show. Come visit us at the WMD Booth 1076 in Hall E at the NAMM show in Anaheim, CA on the 23-26th of January! We will be showing some yet unanounced stuff that will surely blow a few minds."

Specks are also in for the Sequential Switch Matrix as follows:

"Introducing the WMD Sequential Switch Matrix: Our take on an essential module.

Four inputs can be routed with individual buttons to four outputs. Those routing settings are stored in an array of matrices that can be sequenced or controlled with CV. Preset routing, feedback loops, chop sequences, trigger blasts (with expander), four-bit-wavetable-synthesis, and dramatic controllable mayhem are all possible

Features
Four Input Four Output Routing
Inputs Mix to Outputs
16 Matrices per Bank
20Vpp Headroom
Signal Strength and Polarity LEDs
Comparator Input and Outputs
Simultaneous CV and Gate Control
Four Banks With Separate Settings
Randomizing Functions
CV Controlable Top Matrix
Can Slave to MIDI Control Change
26kHz Maximum Switch Frequency
8 Bit DAC Voltage Output
Skiffable PCB Design
16 HP
+80mA/-32mA Current Consumption"

You can find videos of the prototype here and the first render to go up here.

NAMM 2014 Richard Devine demo @WMD

Published on Jan 26, 2014 analoguezone·12 videos

"Live demo at the NAMM Show 2014"

NAMM 2014 Steady State Fate and WMD joint modules

Published on Jan 24, 2014 William Mathewson·44 videos

"First glimpse at the joint modules coming out from WMD and SSF!"

And a pic via Steady State Fate on Facebook

"Introducing the brand new SSF/WMD line. Get ready for a fresh collection of attractively priced designs with a unique and powerful feature set."

MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2014: WMD Booth Module Overviews & Demo

Uploaded on Jan 30, 2014 matrixsynth·293 videos

http://www.wmdevices.com

Shane Etter of WMD gives us an overview of WMD's latest modules. Direct audio demo below.

NAMM 2014 WMD Sequential Switch Matrix run thru

Published on Jan 24, 2014 William Mathewson·43 videos

"Here is the NAMM demo from Day 1. Make sure you check out the other videos for more info!"

NAMM 2014: New WMD+SSF modules

Published on Jan 25, 2014 Amanda Chaudhary·79 videos

"Demo of a new set of analog modules from WMD in collaboration with Steady State Fate. Watch our official kitty rock out."

The 2014 NAMM Booth List for Synths

And here is my list:

Hall A

6009 Waldorf
6100 Access
6314 Arturia
6409 Teenage Engineering
6440 KORG
6464 Studiologic, Clavia/Nord, Novation
6527 Radikal Technologies & Schmidt
6700 inMusic - Akai, M-Audio, Alesis & more
6724 Spectrasonics
6735 Big City Music (BRANDS: 4ms, Analogue Systems, Critter & Guitari, Cwejman, Dewanatron, Dirty Boy, Eowave, Jomox, Kenton, Kilpatrick Audio, Knas, Koma, Livewire, Mellotron, Metasonix, Mode Machines, Monorocket, Sherman, Vermona, Tiptop Audio and WMD.)
6825 Rob Papen
6809 Buchla

Hall B
5300 Moog
5304 Elektron
5400 Dave Smith Instruments
5406 Bob Moog Foundation (according to Marc Doty, "We'll have synths you'll want to see more than the synths in some of those other booths..")
5900 Casio

Hall C
4812 UVI

Hall E
1034 Moon Modular
1050 Haken Audio
1076 WMD - Analog Haven Booth (4ms, Delptronics, Enclave, Foxtone Music, Harvestman, KOMA Elektronik, MakeNoise, NoiseEngineering, Steady State Fate, Suit And Tie Guy...)
1385 Miselu
1675 Studio Electronics & Pittsburgh Modular

Yamaha: Booth# 100 (Marriott), 102 (Marriott)
Roland: Booth# 303C (Level 3), 302A (Level 3), (), ()

http://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2014/directory

If anyone is missing let me know.

Note: Link to this post added to the main link section above all posts.