[Bobby Owsinski]

I've posted part 1 of a NAMM Overview on my blog. This is mostly general
observations but there will be more product specifics (and more video)
in parts 2 and 3.

http://bobbyowsinski.blogspot.com/

--
Bobby Owsinski
bobbyowsinski.com
Visit my blog at bobbyowsinski.blogspot.com

[Mike Rivers]

Bobby's observation about booth babes is accurate, though the ones at
CES mostly looked like dress-for-success office workers rather than
dress-for-punk rockers.

The next generation of pocket recorders is here with an upscale and a
downscale model from TASCAM and a much improved version of the H4, the
H4n from Zoom.

And of course everybody needs a keyboard that folds in the middle to
go along with your guitar that folds in the middle.

Rumors that Mackie was about to file for bankruptcy were abounding
after a production on NAMM TV. A couple of days later they interviewed
the CEO who said everything's fine. But the product behind the "dark"
teaser that they've been advertising with for the past several months
isn't close enough to shipping for them to have shown at this show,
and of course they aren't talking about what it is. I've been assured
that it will knock my socks off. I'll believe that when I see it.

Presonus is finally shipping the StudioLive digital console. They have
a new Chief Technical Officer, Bob Tudor, who spent many years at
Mackie, then worked independently with his company Sanewave (which
included development of the StudioLive), and now he has a real job
again. g

The Black Box Recorder is a 1 rack space 24-track stand-alone hard
disk recorder (well a little more than one rack space since it records
to an external USB disk drive). Designed by one of the original Sadie
folks, it's very well thought out for the band that wants to record on
the road.

Many guitars. Many amplifiers and pedals. Many pianos. Both Yamaha and
Roland had new more realistic than ever sounding electronic pianos.

Anyone who doesn't think there were crowds at NAMM this year didn't
stand next to a bass player or drummer.

Conspicuous by absence - Millenia Media. I missed happy hour at John's
booth (though I saw him slumming at CES)