The 10 biggest music tech releases at NAMM 2024

Merely as we thought the popularity for the NAMM Current – one among many world’s largest music tech commerce displays that’s been going since 1901 – was starting to dwindle, 2024’s winter model swiftly turned most likely essentially the most thrilling however. Happening remaining week in Anaheim, California, producers equivalent to Korg, Yamaha and Suzuki shocked us with a heft of revolutionary new gear releases, reigniting pleasure for what is going to most likely be one different thrilling yr for model spanking new music gear.

The workforce proper right here at MusicTech have been there particularly particular person on the current flooring to be taught additional about and to have a play on all of these new gadgets of medication. Proper right here’s our guidelines of the very best 10 music tech releases that occurred at NAMM over the weekend:

The MicroKORG makes a macro return

There’s not quite a bit argument accessible about it: Korg stole the current this yr at NAMM. We seen an updated Opsix MKII, new Nu:Tekt additions, a satisfying new moveable report participant inside the kind of the Helpful Traxx Play. The model new Grandstage X electric piano was a large deal and, in any case, there was moreover the re-issue of the normal PS-3300 synth.

The headline act, nonetheless, wanted to be the genuinely shocking return of the microKORG, a massively well-liked synth/vocoder that was initially launched in 2002. The model new microKORG 2 “isn’t solely a model new instrument; it’s a model new chapter in synth historic previous,” says the mannequin in a daring assertion.

Be taught additional regarding the microKORG 2.

The first new Omnichord in 26 years arrives

Ever since Gorillaz’s frontman Damon Albarn revealed that the first physique of Clint Eastwood was an unedited preset from the Omnichord, Suzuki’s retro strummable synth has been on the lips of medication nerds worldwide. At NAMM, it made a long-awaited comeback with the discharge of the model new Omnichord OM-108, set to commemorate 70 years of Suzuki Musical Units. It has all the character of an old school Omnichord nonetheless with new presets for modern genres equivalent to entice and an expanded chord pallet from 84 chords to 108.

Be taught additional regarding the Omnichord OM-108.

Yamaha goes moveable with its SEQTRACK creation station

When Yamaha unveiled its new SEQTRACK, a transportable all-in-one creation station, merely sooner than NAMM, it appeared to be the headliner of the commerce current. In some methods, asides from the rehashing of conventional well-liked synths, it did.

Taking inspiration – we anticipate it’s trustworthy to say – from Teenage Engineering’s OP-1, the SEQTRACK is a small unit that packs in a drum machine, a sampler/synth and a modulation station so that you probably can create a whole observe throughout the palm of your hand. No, it’s not a large heavy analogue synth, neither is it a blast from the earlier. What it could be, nonetheless, is a nod in course of a means ahead for additional moveable, accessible music creation.

Be taught additional regarding the Yamaha SEQTRACK.

AlphaTheta makes a splash with two merchandise for on-the-move DJing

One different juicy takeaway from remaining week’s NAMM Current is that AlphaTheta, the mom or father agency that owns Pioneer DJ, launched two merchandise. It moreover launched it could be retiring the Pioneer DJ establish for future merchandise, merely going with AlphaTheta from proper right here on out. How massive is that?!

With massive sneakers to fill, it did so in sort with its ultra-portable DJ setup, consisting of the Omnis-Duo, a denim blue all-in-one DJ system, and Wave-Eight, a Bluetooth speaker that caters for DJs and works seamlessly with the Omnis-Duo.

Be taught additional regarding the Omnis-Duo and Wave-Eight.

PWM provides us Mantis, a model new synth constructed with synth legend Chris Huggett

British synth maker PWM launched the Mantis, a duophonic hybrid-analogue keyboard synthesizer, in collaboration with the late synth pioneer Chris Huggett. Impressed by Huggett’s Wasp and OSCar synths, the Mantis choices digital oscillators and an analogue signal path.

It was initially teased at Superbooth, and offers two oscillators and a sub-oscillator per voice, analogue filters, LFOs, envelopes, and modulation routes. Additional choices embody an arpeggiator, digital outcomes, USB MIDI administration, and a 37-note semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch and velocity.

Be taught additional regarding the PWM Mantis.

Audient reveals ORIA, an audio interface tailored to immersive mixing

Further listeners recently predict to be supplied the possibility to take heed to their music in spatial audio. Heck, Apple Music even not too way back said it’d pay artists who blended in spatial audio 10 per cent additional in royalties.

That’s why when Audient launched ORIA, an all-in-one interface and monitor controller designed notably for multi-speaker arrays, it really acquired us excited. That’s on account of it provides however additional producers and engineers the devices to mix music on this fashion and maintain with a rising sample. They may moreover obtain this for tons cheaper now, due to ORIA, as a result of it’s accessible in at spherical $3k.

Be taught additional regarding the Audient ORIA.

Heritage Audio’s i73 PRO I/O fluctuate makes “the golden interval of recording on the market to everyone”

Heritage Audio’s new family of audio interfaces, the i73 PRO ONE, i73 PRO 2, and i73 PRO EDGE, really sparked major curiosity at NAMM, as a result of the mannequin promised to make “the golden interval of recording on the market to everyone”. How? Each interface choices built-in Class A 73-style preamps, which is a main for USB-C interfaces. They give you numerous enter decisions and analogue warmth paying homage to the early Nineteen Seventies, which is unquestionably an thrilling innovation.

Be taught additional regarding the Heritage i73 PRO range.

Dubreq’s CPM DS-2 is modulation mayhem

Dubreq launched its updated Theremin not too way back, which was superior. We’ve been most , though, throughout the Stylophone CPM DS-2 (CPM which means ‘compact, moveable, modular’).

Key choices of this small synth embody two analogue oscillators, sub-oscillators, and filters, with pitch linking and arduous sync decisions. The sturdy LFO half provides 14 waveforms, basic modulated delay, and eight reverb algorithms. Additional choices embody built-in speaker, stereo outputs, modular patch elements, and Eurorack compatibility.

Be taught additional regarding the Dubreq CPM DS-2.

Korg takes the Opsix up a level with its MKII model

Korg delivered another new synth inside the kind of the Opsix MKII at NAMM. It builds on its predecessor with expanded sound parts and 30 high-definition outcomes. With polyphony elevated to 64 voices and a 16-step pattern sequencer, clients can create intricate soundscapes.

Be taught additional regarding the Korg Opsix MKII.

New Finnish mannequin Supercritical unveils a surprising desktop synth, Redshift 6

Supercritical, a model new synth establish from Finland, regarded to make a scene at NAMM with its pretty Redshift 6. The synth provides a versatile sound palette, from warmth analogue tones to digital cleans and chaotic distortion. That features an analogue four-pole state variable filter and stylish synth choices like modulators, versatile routing, MPE, and DSP outcomes, Redshift 6 is described as a “Variable Character Synthesizer.”

Be taught additional regarding the Supercritical Redshift 6.