Musikmesse – Top 5 Product Announcements
Once a year, around this very time, all eyes in the pro audio / music world find themselves drawn to Frankfurt. You’re thinking it’s some kind of sausage thing, and why not? However, I am actually talking about the European equivalent of NAMM known as Musikmesse. In addition to having a rad Euro name that makes me think of the average synth goon’s noodle infested studio, Musikmesse is often regarded by those in certain quarters as the trade show where vapors become real and all the coolies trot out the next enviable piece of tech candy.
I always dream of attending it myself, but there seems to be some reason I can’t go every year. Last year, I believe I was in Germany not too long before, not too long after, but not at all during. This year, I was in Miami,… Read the rest
Winter NAMM 2012 – UniqueSquared Awards
So, as we come to a close with our NAMM coverage, we feel a strange need to complete this in the time honored tradition of so many who have gone before us: with a crocked up awards ceremony! We aren’t wasting time trying to cull some kind of authoritative top ten either. This is a quickly slapped together list of things that made surprise impressions on us or just made us scratch our heads and say “oh… um… yeah.” You might say “um, whatever happened to awards shows with high standards?” We simply point to the Academy and shrug. Let’s present some awards with practically no prestige and definitely no monetary value!
The Gadget Most Resembling a Sex Toy Award:
Given the sordid history of the music biz, one would think this field was filled with contenders. Shockingly, no, it isn’t. So you can write it off to thoughtful design… Read the rest
Alesis Vortex and DM Dock at NAMM 2012
Alesis were on the floor peddling their wares with all the other folks at NAMM. While they didn’t jump in on the spectacle hogging DJ controller bonanza (2012 Namm was all about iPads and DJ Controllers if you haven’t figured that one out yet), they were front and center on the iPad, and are a solid reminder that DJ controllers aren’t the only controllers out there.
The Alesis Vortex Keytar
Alesis Vortex at NAMM 2012 UniqueSquared
While one has to lean on technicalities to call it the “first USB keytar controller,” the Alesis Vortex Keytar certainly has one feature that is new to the device. With their accelerometer control built to wire to any midi controllable parameter, it is to be assumed that the keyboardist who has always wanted to charge other players on the stage while triggering pitch bends with their aggression will finally have… Read the rest
Alesis DM8 Pro Electronic Drum Kit Review
Because the kit is called Pro, we brought in a pro to show us what the latest Alesis electronic kit is all about. Alex Selph is a clinician, studio drummer, and touring performance drummer who plays in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. We were fortunate enough to have him come in and demo the Alesis DM8 Pro Kit and he gave us some insight into how this kit feels and performs. Here are some specs:
- DM8 high-definition drum module with over 750 Dynamic Articulation sounds
- RealHead 8″, 10″, and 12″ drum pads with tension-adjustable drumheads
- 12″ dual-zone Snare, 8″, 10″, and 12″ Toms, and 8″ Kick, which works with single and double pedals (sold separately)
- DMPad 12″, 14″, and 16″ multi-zone cymbal pads with natural motion
- 16″ 3-zone Ride with choke, 14″ Crash with choke, 12″ Hi-Hat with RealHat continuous pedal
- StageRack with four-post design, integrated cymbal booms, and
