The amount of new and innovative products at this year’s show demonstrated that manufacturers are confident that the economy is turning around and musicians and engineers will have the cash to do some shopping. A major theme of the show was iOS connectivity, with iPad docks appearing on amps, keyboards, mixers, and entertainment devices. Live sound was also an area that received a lot of attention at the show, with Line 6 and Yamaha leading the way.  And, of course, everyone was talking about the Universal Audio Apollo interface/DSP-accelerator combo.

 

Boutique analog gear continues to grow in popularity, especially stompboxes and synthesizer modules. It’s telling that major manufacturers are introducing handmade-looking effects pedals and 500-series processors. And with a so much activity in the hardware synth world, particularly around the Eurorack modular format, we’re starting to see the larger companies utilizing CV and gate functionality in products that can be manufactured...

Business as usual at NAMM: Too much to see, but that doesn't stop us from trying to see it all.

There are so many iOS-related products at the NAMM show this year, it's worth looking at a couple of the trends.

With so many new products to investigate at NAMM, let's check out the first day's highlights.

The Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, is one of the largest music tradeshows in the world, attracting music and technology manufacturers, retailers, and musicians seeking to network, conduct business, jam, and learn about the newest musical instruments. The mammoth show sprawls across five halls and an arena, with wall-to-wall gear, and withElectronic Musicianeditors out in full force, you'll be getting all of the action, minute-by-minute, from the show floor. Follow us onFacebookandTwitterfor the fastest updates, and come back here nightly for our perspectives on the coolest gear from the day. And if you're in Anaheim, be sure to visit us at booth 5761. Stay tuned!!!!