Special Report: Great New Gear From Summer NAMM
The 2007 Summer NAMM made its way back to the musical Mecca of Austin, Texas in late July, where upwards of 12,500 registrants enjoyed new releases from 339 exhibiting gear manufacturers. This most recent event saw the unveiling of a remarkably unique array of products covering the entire musical spectrum, and this month, we bring you a small sampling of these exciting new products.

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Headphones
Price: $219.95
Recently showcased at summer NAMM, Audio-Technica’s ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint noise-cancellation headphones feature miniature microphones in each earpiece to monitor ambient noise (such as traffic noise) and create sound-canceling signals that effectively reduces distracting background noise by over 80 percent. QuietPoint headphones also offer a comfortable, closed-back, streamlined design and large-aperture 40 mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems for deeper bass and extended treble and a wide frequency response of 10Hz to 25kHz. The headphones fold flat for easy storage and the noise-canceling technology is fully integrated into each earpiece, eliminating the need for bulky outer modules. QuietPoint headphones also come complete with a 5.2’ (1.6 m) detachable cable, a 1/4-inch stereo adapter, an airline adapter for use with in-flight entertainment systems, and a carrying case with accessory pouch.
www.audio-technica.com

Kickstand Electric Guitar Stand
Price: $29.95
New from Sound Innovations LLC and on display at Summer NAMM, the Kickstand electric guitar stand allows guitarists to rid themselves of space-consuming, stand-alone guitar stands. The lightweight, translucent stand attaches directly to the back of your guitar via the lower strap button, meaning no glue or drilling is required. Simply place the base against the floor and your guitar will sit upright safely. When not in use, the stand folds discreetly against the guitar’s back, preventing against belt buckle scratches during performances. Likewise, built-in silicon pads on the stand cushion it against your guitar. It never needs to be removed, as your guitar will still fit in its case with the stand attached. The stand is compatible on various guitar models from over 40 different manufacturers.
www.soundinnovationsllc.com

Belkin TuneStudio iPod Mixer
Price: $249.99
At Summer NAMM, Belkin exhibited its compact TuneStudio mixer, which allows artists to record directly to their fifth generation video iPod. The 4-channel, USB-compatible unit records at 16-bit, 44kHz quality and enables direct playback from the iPod. Each channel includes 3-band EQ and pan and level controls, as well as six-level LEDs that track peak and master audio levels. An additional 60 dB of gain is provided through phantom-power-enabled XLR inputs. TuneStudio also features compression control and a stereo compressor to maintain manageable recoding levels for the iPod. Complete with 1/4-inch headphone connector, iPod dock and backlight button, TuneStudio makes portable, immediate home recording and playback effortless.
www.belkin.com

Zero Crossing N-Tune Tuner
Price unavailable at press time
Zero Crossing showcased their tiny N-Tune tuner, which hides on your guitar under volume knobs or selector switches like a washer. They offer both standard guitar tuning models and chromatic tuning models, and neither one requires any structural or woodworking changes to the guitar, though it does require a bit of electrical modification. These tuners work by using Zero Crossing’s patented “automatic string detection technology” and are activated and deactivated by pushing and pulling the knob above the tuner. A familiar series of LEDs around the tuner indicate your relative pitch.
www.n-tune.com

DigiTech GSP1101 Guitar Effects Modeling Preamp/Processor
Price: $699.95
New at Summer NAMM, DigiTech’s guitar modeling rack unit packs two AudioDNA2 DSP processors that let you control a beginning tone with control knobs for gain, EQ and amp level before taking it into the effect and amp emulating part of the processor. From a large LCD screen, users can alter their guitar tone with amp and cabinet models, versions of popular stomp boxes and studio-quality effects. Combinations of these settings are also available in 99 factory presets and can be combined in up to 99 user presets. DigiTech promises gapless changes between presets during use. The GSP1101 also includes a stereo effects loop, balanced stereo XLR and 1/4-inch outputs, and internal power supply, expression pedal and footswitch inputs, MIDI in and Thru, and USB connectivity with audio streaming and editor software.
www.digitech.com

X-Tempo Zone pok
Price unavailable at press time
Another product shown at Summer NAMM was the “pok.” Basically an update of footswitches used for tape dictation machines, the pok is a wireless USB pedalboard for use with digital audio workstations like Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, GarageBand and others and basically allows users hands-free and wireless control of their recording and editing software, a step up from having to put down the guitar in between every overdub. The pok needs no MIDI programming and individual functions of the unit’s 8 different pedals are fully customizable. The pedalboard connects to your computer like a keyboard and utilizes default or user-defined shortcuts to control recording, editing and playback functions.
www.x-tempozone.com

SKB 31-0907-4B and 31-0907-6B Watertight Utility Cases
Prices unavailable at press time
SKB Corporation recently announced its release of two additional sizes to their line of Injection Molded Watertight cases: the 3I-0907-4B and the 3I-0907-6B Watertight Utility cases. These two new cases come with the option of customized layers of cubed foam to line the inside. Both new models boast SKB’s blend of high-impact co-polymer polypropylene, a water- and dust-tight submersible design resistant to both impact and corrosion damage, and a continuous hinge, as well as a “trigger release” latch system, a molded cushion grip handle, and an automatic pressure equalization valve. The cases are fully lockable with a padlock supplied by the customer or the SKB latch system upgrade with TSA locking latch kit.
www.skbcases.com

Gig Gard
Prices unavailable at press time
This recently released line of instrument covers, collectively known as Gig Gard, offers protection for everything from guitars and basses to saxophones and flutes. Designed by music industry veteran Rob Winch, Gig Gard shields against the inevitable knocks, dust, scratches, smoke, heat and moisture damage that instruments are susceptible to when they are left exposed in the studio or on stage. Made of a durable, lightweight material that can easily cover a wide variety of instruments, Gig Gard can also help reduce unwanted resonance in the studio or maintain instrument temperature during a break at a live gig. The line also offers covers to help protect equipment, with Gig Gards for both studio mics and stage mics, in various sizes.
www.gig-gard.com

Yamaha N-Series Digital Mixing Studio
Price: $1,599 (n12), $1,099 (n8)
Yamaha announced at Summer NAMM the release of their new FireWire-enabled N-Series mixing studio, featuring a big 12- or 8-channel mixing board (with Sweet Spot Morphing Compression on all XLR inputs, Yamaha’s Class-A Discrete Mic Preamp, and more) from which user can control the entire studio, including complete 5.1 surround systems, independent headphone mixes, monitor selection, and talkback capability. The board runs in tandem with Steinberg’s Cubase AI4 software included in this package, a version of the consistently great Cubase DAW that was designed to run with Yamaha’s MW series of hardware. Cubase AI4 allows up to 48 simultaneous audio tracks and 64 MIDI tracks, offers VST and VSTi synth and effect plug-ins, and syncs with the mixer with compatible features like Transport Control, Track Selection, and Click Track On/Off, a DAW Control Work Mode, Wet or Dry Monitoring, and Project Templates.
www.yamaha.com

Peavey SP FH Folded-Horn Subwoofer
Price unavailable at press time
Peavey pulled the curtain on this new monster sub at Summer NAMM. Weighing in at 150 lbs., the SP FH peaks at a 3,200-watt output (the program power handling is 1,600 watts). It uses an 18-inch Low Rider Black Widow loudspeaker with a 4-inch voice coil and Kevlar-impregnated cone and Peavey’s field-replaceable loudspeaker technology. It registers a focused frequency response from 30Hz to 300Hz. The whole unit comes in a handsome all-black casing and carpet cabinet covering with built-in casters and works with both a 1/4-inch input jack and a four-pin Neutrik Speakon.
www.peavey.com

TC-Helicon VoiceTone Vocal Effects Pedals
Prices unavailable at press time
TC-Helicon recently released its first line of vocal effects pedals, which were being shown at Summer NAMM. The VoiceTone series is designed to give vocalists the same control over their sound that guitarists have when they use multi-effects pedals. The first two pedals in the line are the VoiceTone Correct, a pitch correction and adaptive EQ/dynamics processor, and the VoiceTone Create, a multi-effects pedal for vocals. The VoiceTone Correct provides pitch correction with features such as auto-chromatic pitch correction, de-essing, an adjustable auto-smooth compression and multi-band auto-shape EQ. The VoiceTone Correct helps vocalists sing in tune and provides a “warmth” setting for the low richness of deeper voices. The VoiceTone Create offers 99 preset effects, including reverb, thickening/microtuning, tap tempo delay, distortion and megaphone. The controls are very straightforward and radio preset buttons make the VoiceTone Create easy to use during live performances.
www.tc-helicon.com

X2 Digital Wireless XDR95
Wireless System
Price: $899
X2 used Summer NAMM to trot out its new wireless system. The XDR95 is a digital, 24-bit system with a three-hundred-foot operating range and broadcasts from instrument to receiver on two separate RF carrier frequencies. Additionally, the receiver employs four different antennas (the “QDiversityPLUS” setup) for optimal cancellation of interference. No compressor/expander noise reduction is used in this transmission. The receiver is equipped with LED readouts to indicate operating channel, diversity status, RF signal, audio level (16 segment) and remaining battery life in the transmitter (16 segment) in 20-minute increments, while the bodypack transmitter shows operating channel, battery life, and audio level. The unit is also backward compatible with other X2 systems and components.
www.x2digitalwireless.com