Anaheim, Calif. – According to organizers, more than 115,000 industry professionals – manufacturers, distributors and end-users – attended the Winter NAMM show this past Jan. 24-27. Held at the Anaheim Convention Center, the massive music-products market produced plenty of gear debuts, including several DJ-related products. Testa Communications – publisher of DJ Times – is there with a dedicated exhibition booth. It’s also producing Convention TV @ NAMM, which provides on-the-spot show coverage. Additionally, The Music & Sound Retailer – another Testa title – presented its 33 rd Annual Music & Sound Awards. Winners included Pioneer DJ’s DDJ-1000 (Best DJ Product), Chauvet’s Freedom H1 X4 (Best Lighting Product) and JBL Professional’s 3 Series (Best Speaker). Onto the Exhibit Floor: From the inMusic brands, Denon DJ introduced the Prime 4, a 4-channel, stand-alone DJ system with 10-inch, multi-touch display, pro-mixer section, performance pads,
Prime 4: Denon DJ’s all-in-one controller.
SHOWTIME
DJ TIMES
MMW 2019
Winter NAMM Debuts New Gear for Each Segment of the DJ Market By Jim Tremayne
18
and dual-zone output. (For more, please see sidebar.) Related company Akai Professional debuted Fore, a standalone music production/DJ performance device which features clip launching, step sequencing, sampling, synths and a 7-inch touch display. For touring pros, Akai debuted the MPK Road 88, a keyboard controller with Akai’s exclusive Model-A premium 88key velocity-sensitive keybed. Native Instruments debuted its Traktor DJ 2 and Tracktor Pro 3 software, in addition to its M32 MIDI keyboard. (For more, please see sidebar.) Panasonic showed its new Technics SL-1200MK7 turntable, which features a coreless, directdrive motor and new DJ play functions like reverse playback. Germany’s Reloop, exhibiting in the American Music & Sound booth, showed the RP1000 MK2 belt-drive turntable and the RP-2000 USB MK2 directdrive turntable, which features a USB audio output for digitizing vinyl. Both units are capable of plus/ minus 10-percent pitch control. Pioneer DJ released the premium, limited-edition, carbonfiber version of its flagship HDJX10C headphones. For DJs and studio hounds, Stanton showed its SDH headphone line, which included the SDH 800, SDH 4000 and the SDH 6000 Pro models. MWM showed Phase, the DJ industry’s first wireless controller for DVS – it lets DJs control tracks playing from a DJ software
without needing cartridges or control vinyl. Roland showed updated versions of its TR-8, TR8S, TR-08 and TR-09 drum machines, making them Serato DJ OSA-ready. In addition to the ATH-M50xBT over-ear, Bluetooth headphones and ATH-M60x monitor headphones, Audio-Technica showed the AT-LP120 and AT-LP1240-USBXP direct-drive turntables. In the DJ-accessory department, Odyssey Innovative Designs debuted several new accessory-related products. They include: two BACKSPIN2 camouflage DJ bags; four Black Label DJ coffins; three Flight Zone DJ coffins; two Flight Zone cases for Leko fixtures and Chauvet lighting gear ; and a Steemline EVA carrying bag for Native Instruments Traktor S2 MK3. (For more, please see sidebar.) Decksaver, distributed Stateside by Mixware, showed a variety of gear covers, including those made for units from Akai, Allen & Heath, Hercules, Native Instruments, Pioneer DJ, and Roland. Moving to pro-audio, Mackie unveiled its new flagship DRM series of active loudspeakers. The series is available in 1,600-watt DRM212 and DRM215 models, 2,300-watt DRM315, 2,000-watt DRM12A Array and the 2,000watt DRM18S subwoofer. All models are also available in passive boxes. Yorkville Sound debuted its Synergy Array Series, which includes the SA153 3-way, active
cabinet and the SA3155 active subwoofer. QSC Audio showcased its new CP Series of active loudspeakers, which includes the CP8 and CP12 models. Suitable for portable or installed apps, both units feature a 1,000-watt, Class-D power module. RCF debuted the HDL28-A, a 2-way, active, line-array loudspeaker system and a white version of its EVOX J Series of portable loudspeakers. BASSBOSS debuted its MFLA (Medium Format Powered Line Array), a dual 12-inch plus dual 1.4-inch line array element featuring a 3,000-watt amp and comprehensive DSP. Electro-Voice showcased its range of portable speakers including the EVOLVE 50 column loudspeaker system, along with ZLX, ELX200, EKX and ETX speaker series. Also, E-V debuted the RE420 and RE520 condenser vocal microphones and the RE3 wireless system, which includes mic options, bodypacks and accessories. Bose showed its S1 Pro multiposition PA system, plus a full complement of accessories and enhancements, including the new S1 Pro play-through cover (available in multiple covers), the S1 Pro Backpack and the S1 Slip Cover. Funktion-One and its North American distributor Sound Investment showcased the Evo-6E and Evo-6E-L115 speakers from its Evolution Series, the F124 bass enclosure, the BR118/F1201 sys-
tem the PSM318 DJ monitor and the PSM12 stage monitor. From the lighting world, ADJ debuted seven new products. They include: the Starship centerpiece; Entour Faze Jr., a compact faze machine; Starbar Wash, a portable four-head LED wash bar; 4 Stream DMX Bridge; Airstream Wifi Bar, a wireless switch pack built into a T-bar; and Rayzer and Contour, two new additions to the Startec series of effect fixtures. Related company Elation Lighting debuted the Rayzor 760 wash light, the Smarty Hybrid spot/beam/wash fixture, and the Protron Eclypse LED luminaire. Chauvet DJ debuted a number of new lighting products, including three battery-powered Bluetooth wireless technology lights – the EZLink Par Q4 BT and EZLink Par Q6 BT quadcolor LED par fixtures, plus the EZLink Strip Q6 BT linear wash light – and the EZLink FS BT footswitch. Other Chauvet DJ debuts will include the Intimidator Spot 475Z moving-head light, the EZBar pin-spot unit, Scorpion Dual RGB laser, the Vivid Drive 28N video driver for Chauvet’s Vivid video panels. HARMAN company Martin Professional showed the ERA Profile fixture, the MAC Allure Profile fixture and the ELP LED ellipsoid fixtures. From the studio world, Audionamix showcased XTRAX STEMS 2, its automatic stemcreation software . High-end studio-hardware manufacturer
