If you were going to NAMM...

[misterpete]

If you were going to NAMM... to check out the SUB-PHATTY — what else would you want to look at while you were there?

[tommyecho]

Great Thread!

I would be looking at any new modules by 4MS or Makenoise, and, in the digital realm, I'm also really excited to find out what new plugins are coming out from Universal Audio. They do some amazing things with their emulations of analog gear, the roland dimension D and cooper time cube plugins are really fun to run a synth through.

[MC]

I'm a multi-instrumentalist and have been to three NAMM shows.

There is so much fascinating stuff there and I can easily consume all four days there. Not just gear. Lots of celebrity spotting and appearances, live shows, etc. Some of the impromptu jams can be amazing, I remember this funk trio with a ten year old kid playing drums and he was phenomenal! Keith Emerson's modular was set up in the Monster Cable booth during NAMM2001, we got to play it Had an interesting conversation with Keith Emerson's former keyboard tech from the 1970s. Even Elvira had an appearance at a NAMM show

If you're just into keyboards and not much else, there's lots to see but you wouldn't need all four days.

I usually get the prime spots covered on Thursday and/or Sunday, because Friday/Saturday the place is MOBBED.

[GovernorSilver]

I've only been to NAMM once, as a guest of Stick Enterprises. It was fun, but overwhelming - my head was on the verge of exploding from information overload by Sunday afternoon.

Top things I'd look for if I were going:

1. Sub Phatty
2. Modular stuff
3. Harpejji G16 by Marcodi - been intrigued for a while by this stringed instrument which, unlike the Stick, Warr, etc. has a keyboard-like layout. Stevie Wonder now plays one.
4. Strandberg Bosen 8 - eight-string electric guitar, production version.
5. Elektron Analog Four - want to try it in person
6. Gittler Guitar and Gittler Violin - Gittler guitar is back in production, with MIDI options and such. Would love to try it just because of the radical design. I'd also love to see and try the Violin.
7. LEV-96

I'll probably think of more later.

[EricK]

GRP
Tom Oberheim
Dave Smith
Moon Modular
Audio Technica
Buchla

[timmy]

hot chicks.

[GovernorSilver]

Forgot about Oberheim. Had my eye on the Son of Four Voice for a while.

Hot chicks? Skip NAMM and go straight to Malibu, Santa Monica, or the other LA beaches.

[museslave]

I'm going to NAMM. I'll be checking out what the Bob Moog Foundation is doing.

[Sir Nose]

Sub phatty
Pulse, if Waldorf finally has a working Instrument
Elektron A4
korg ms20 mini

edit:
I'd also have my eyes wide open looking for innovation in control. Lots of great synths coming out these days. There is a big need for advancing how we interact with them.

[David Bulog]

Sub Phatty & Korg MS-20 Mini

[Steve]

Would most definitely want to check out the new Pittsburgh Modular stuff http://pittsburghmodular.com/

[JohnLRice]

Hi everyone!

Please stop by the Noisebug booth, #6005 and say HI! I'll be there Thursday through Sunday helping out Gert from Moon Modular (new modules coming out, stay tuned! ) and there will be Pittsburg and Synth Tech eurorack gear there also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtwvRu_90x0



And, you've all probably seen this but just in case:
Bob Moog Foundation to Inspire Winter NAMM 2013 Through Legendary Instruments and Archival Exploration

January 21, 2013 (Asheville, NC) – The Bob Moog Foundation (BMF) will celebrate the indelible nature of the synthesizer pioneer’s legacy at Winter NAMM 2013 with demonstrations of vintage Moog instruments and an exploration of rarely seen archival material from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives.

Front and center at the Foundation’s booth at NAMM (#5307) will be Erik Norlander’s Wall of Doom modular Moog synthesizer. Encasing over 100 modules (including 22 oscillators), many built between 1967 and 1972, the Wall of Doom is a touring configuration of the legendary synthesizer that gave birth to an industry. Norlander and the Foundation collaborated three years ago to reconfigure the massive instrument into a portable, rack-mounted configuration. Four of the six racks of the instrument will be present at NAMM, the number limited by the space of the BMF booth.

Marc Doty, Archive and Education Specialist at the Bob Moog Foundation, will demonstrate the Wall of Doom at 11am, 2pm and 4pm each day.

Also featured will be one of the few duophonic Minimoogs in the world. Recently donated to the BMF by Tom Coppola, the Minimoog was modified by Doug Slocum of Synthetic Sound Labs in the late 1970’s. Of particular note is Coppola’s use of the synthesizer to create the signature 3 note Duracell sound. Slocum will be present to demonstrate the instrument at 1pm and 3pm each day of the convention.

On Saturday, January 26, from 5pm-6pm in room 203 A-B, the Bob Moog Foundation will present “Exploring Bob Moog’s Archives with Michael Boddicker” at NAMM’s H.O.T. Zone. Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa and Archive Specialist Marc Doty will be joined by legendary Grammy winning film composer (Flashdance, 1984) and session synthesist (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie) Michael Boddicker. Boddicker has been three times N.A.R.A.S. Most Valuable Player "Synthesizer" and MVP Emeritus. He was the winner of Keyboard Magazine's Reader's Poll Award - "Best Studio Synthesist" 1986 & 1987 and "Best Session Player" 1988.

Together the panel will explore rare archival material including photographs, project notes, vintage catalogs, audio from restored reel-to-reel tapes, vintage ads and articles, and more. Boddicker, who has over 700 album credits to his name, will lend a musician’s perspective, speaking to his vast experience with the wide variety of early Moog instruments used throughout his career, including some that are quite rare.

Finally, the Foundation is encouraging NAMM attendees to bring their photos of Bob Moog at NAMM to the booth, where a “Remember Bob at NAMM” wall will be created.

[Kevin Lightner]

I won't be going, but have been to about 10 Namm shows, about half of where I was working.
Maybe 20-30 days spent at Namm in total.
But when working you're there every day and don't always get much time to explore.
Since instruments are usually grouped, there are years I didn't even see the drum or guitar sections.

The place is a multi-level circus and a constant cacophony of sound.
People often go outside to get a break from all the noise.
To me it is a more interesting experience to see all the people than the gear.
Anyone and everyone in the music biz is there.
You never know who you'll meet: one day I became a sort of guide for the late jazz bassist, Ray Brown.
He was about as far from electronic music as possible, but we got along well.

One suggestion: if you like "real" food, map out where the restaurants are in the area.
Namm show food isn't the high point of the experience.
Wear comfortable shoes too. You're going to do a LOT of walking.

[GovernorSilver]

Add this to the list of things to ogle at NAMM:
http://www.antiquitymusic.com/



I will probably never buy one, but holy smokes that is a beautiful instrument and I'd personally make the time to see/hear it in person.

[Voltor07]

Add this to the list of things to ogle at NAMM:
http://www.antiquitymusic.com/



I will probably never buy one, but holy smokes that is a beautiful instrument and I'd personally make the time to see/hear it in person.

It's a motorized hurdy gurdy!