Winter NAMM is traditionally the time when we roll out highly anticipated new products—and this year was no exception. Numerous exciting new products greeted dealers and other visitors at the jam-packed M-Audio booth.











 

FireWire 18/14—18-in/14-out FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface w/ ADAT Lightpipe For openers, we showed the new FireWire 18/14—an 18-in/14-out FireWire audio/MIDI interface including 8 channels of ADAT Lightpipe I/O and 8 x 4 analog I/O. Complete with two channels of mic/instrument preamps, this exciting new piece is perfect for project studios that want to go all digital. The ADAT Lightpipe I/O allows you to bring ADAT tracks into your software studio, and connect directly with other digital gear such as digital mixers and our new Octane preamp. Other features include 192kHz fidelity on 2 inputs and all four analog outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O with support for PCM, AC-3 and DTS, flexible internal mixing with assignable rotary encoder and a front-panel momentary switch for DJ-style headphone auditioning between two assignable sources. The FireWire 18/14 is just $749.99 MSRP and should be available around the end of May.

Octane—8-channel Preamp and A/D Converter with ADAT Lightpipe The perfect match for the FireWire 18/14 is our new Octane 8-channel preamp with ADAT Lightpipe output. Aggressively priced at only $699.95, Octane is specifically designed to enhance the front end of any multitrack digital recording system. Its award-winning M-Audio preamp technology delivers pristine digital signals to any Lightpipe-compatible devices such as hard disk recorders and digital mixers. Octane is ideal for miking drum kits or bands—and the two mic/instrument channels are great for guitar, bass and other instruments. M-S matrix encoding lets you employ stereo miking techniques previously available only in pro studios. Octane even has analog preamp (direct) outs for each channel, making it the perfect upgrade for any digital audio interface or mixer. Word clock also means that you can sync multiple Octanes for as many channels as you need as your studio grows.

Keystation Pro 88—88-Note Hammer Action USB Powered MIDI Controller We also demonstrated the killer new Keystation Pro 88, an 88-key hammer-action USB powered MIDI controller with features that make it the most comprehensive and competitive product of it's kind. The response of the professional action has been fine-tuned to satisfy the most demanding players, and 4 zones accommodate up to 4 layers or splits per patch. The stunning complement of MIDI-assignable controllers includes 9 faders, 24 rotary controllers and 22 buttons—and pitch wheel, modulation wheel, sustain pedal and controller pedals are all fully assignable as well. 10 memory locations store all controller settings, and the included Enigma editor provides unlimited storage. All this power weighs in at approximately 40 lbs., making it the perfect centerpiece for both studio and stage.

Keystation 49e—49-Key Entry-Level USB MIDI Controller There was a lot of hoopla over the new Keystation 49e, especially since Apple CEO Steve Jobs highlighted it with Apple's new entry-level sequencer, Garage Band, in his Macworld keynote speech a few weeks ago. This 49-note, velocity-sensitive keyboard is a no frills USB MIDI controller for just $129.99 MSRP. Available in both Apple stores and M-Audio dealers, this little gem works does Windows as well.

Vol. 18—Hard Desert Breaks slams with up-tempo dance floor breaks and Nu Skool rhythms. For over a decade, Ball of Wax producers John Kelley and DJ Brian have spun breaks and beats on dry lakebeds in the Mojave Desert and around the world. Hard Desert Breaks brings them into the studio to capture the spirit of their legendary Full Moon sets—known for sending many tripping through the desert ‘til sunrise.

Vol. 19—Underground SoundSystem packs the power to move the dance floor. Ball of Waxx producers John Kelley and DJ Brian have recreated their special brand of pounding techno and electronic tech house they use to fill dance floors from L.A. to Tokyo. It's the latest sound from the underground.

Vol. 20—Ambient Alchemy: Open Source brings you futuristic transmissions from BlueTech and Shakatura, the wizards of ambient electronica. This blend of subterranean bass wobbles, digital glitchery, ascendant arps, and percolating percussion defies genres and is guaranteed to be inspiring.

Vol. 21—Skillz 2 Pay the Billz contains banging beats, slammin' music and hits that will blow your mind. Written and produced by Carlos Vasquez of Digital Assasins and Compüfonic, Electricity is the perfect collection for creating breaks (nu, hard, or old skool), electro, electroclash, and more.

Vol. 22—Sounds Of Unseen Worlds is a sonic voyage of atmospheric signals derived from plants, rocks, fungi, shortwave radio and bat radar, and expanded by an Eventide Orville Harmonizer. The sounds were captured via proprietary biosensors by sonic artist Duncan Laurie and tweaked into loops by DJ Sherlock. The collection transforms nature's subtle nuances into musical phrases and soundscapes. This unique material is perfect for film scores, video game soundtracks, electronica and hip hop.

Jeff Rona's Liquid Cinema—7 More Exciting New ProSessions Titles Renowned film/TV composer Jeff Rona (“Black Hawk Down”, “Traffic”, “ Homicide”, “Chicago Hope”) did a live demonstration using the seven titles in his new Liquid Cinema series of ProSessions titles to create an instant soundtrack to picture. “Over the years I have developed a method of scoring for film, TV and records that keeps things fresh, interesting, and cinematic,” Rona says. “I continually develop a palette of sounds and rhythms that excite me that I can draw from for the project at hand. Like a painter, it's my palette of colors before I touch brush to canvas. I've collected many of those unique sounds—and created a lot of brand new ones—and put them together in Liquid Cinema. The collection delivers inspiration for film, television, commercials, music production and games.” The Liquid Cinema series includes Cinematic Ambience, Cinematic Pulse, Junkyard Sessions, Cinematic Impact, Tabla Science, and The Hollywood Players: Late Night Sessions 1 & 2. Stay tuned to m-audio.com for more details.

Sonic Reality Sonic ReFills—Top-Quality Instruments for Reason
Attendees were also treated to a presentation of the new 15 volume series of Sonic ReFill titles by none other than Sonic Reality founder David Kerzner. This amazing collection is like having a warehouse full of vintage instruments for Propellerhead Reason. Be sure to check out our interview with Kerzner in the January issue of M-Pulse.

For the complete list of titles at a low price of only $49.95 each, visit the Sonic ReFill product pages

Evolution X-Session— USB MIDI Control Surface with Cross-fader The digital DJ revolution has arrived—and Evolution's X-Session puts you in the center of the action with total control over today's hottest music software. Scratch and cut using the classic 60mm cross-fader. 10 assignable buttons let you trigger loops and digital effects, or instantly mute and unmute tracks. 16 assignable knobs give you control over volume and panning, digital effects and synth parameters. A steal at $149.95, X-Session even comes with Ableton Live XS and Arturia Storm XS for a complete, powerful digital DJ experience right out of the box.

Studiophile DX4—Professional Desktop Monitoring System Today's Internet and multimedia entertainment experiences have spawned a sea of desktop monitors. Now M-Audio has distilled award-winning Studiophile technology into the new DX4s, a desktop monitoring system worthy of professional ears. The DX4s are a natural sale to musicians and producers with discriminating ears who want studio reference quality from their computers without a huge investment. The new units offer 4” polypropylene LF drivers, 1” mylar HF drivers with wave guide and 27-watts per channel of amplification. At just $199.99 MSRP, computers never sounded so good.

Nova—Entry-Level Cardioid Condenser Microphone Using manufacturing breakthroughs pioneered by M-Audio's popular Luna and Solaris, the new Nova cardioid redefines the entry-level price point for quality studio condenser microphones. The 1.1” evaporated gold diaphragm mounted in a solid brass capsule ensures recordings that are faithful to the source, and the Class A solid state electronics are engineered for low noise, distortion and coloration. At the staggeringly low price of $129.95 MSRP, these puppies will be flying out the door.