The Craziness that is NAMM (2017)

Hiking across the NAMM showroom floor I took some pictures of some of the more memorable and sometimes awe inspiring booths from merchants.

Wall of Guitars!

Convention Center Lobby.

Modular Synths are making a comeback!? (cough) Really! Big band music too (cough). I swear!

Why learn shortcut keys when you can just buy a keyboard that has your favorite DAW keys tattooed on it. Writing a Word document and finding the correct letter key may prove difficult, but at least you'll know how to "quantize in place!"

I think this was a lighting company, but at NAMM this could be the information desk for lost children. "Billy, has anyone seen... Billy!"

Talked with the guys from Rednet and told them how much we are enjoying the MP8 in the CLEAR Lab.

This company wanted us to know that they had mastered the art of live video-casting a live performance on a large screen within a live venue, live. Did I mention they were doing this live?

UA is great mic pre company and purveyor of great sounding stuff so naturally to advertise this they covered a wall with tchotchke not dissimilar to a Bennigan's or Applebee's. (insert half-priced apps joke here)

Indoors guys? Really!?

After seeing an earlier taping of Pensado's Place featuring Butch Vig this video/podcast interview was underwhelming. 

Not sure which is cooler (a) this Moog Booth that featured an interactive floor synth, (b) this David Byrne quote, or (c) the fact that Byrne referred to Robert Moog as Bernie.

Analog Consoles at NAMM

When "hiking" the the NAMM 2017 showroom floor I began to notice that true analog boards were hard to find. A big name like SSL only had their smaller nucleus or XL desks on display. API had their AXS Legacy desk on display, but it felt more like a museum piece.

AXS Legacy

In the back of the API booth was the new modular smaller format API 1608 16 Channel Recording Console. Basically API's answer to the modular SSL XL-Desk(similar price point)

API 1608

The NEVE Genesys Black offers the flexibility of an analog console with a truly virtual recall system. Unlike the SSL and the API you can adjust compressors and EQs and save the automation for automatic recall later.

Slate Media Technology had their RAVEN MTi2 27” Multi-Touch Production Console featuring a state of the art multi-touch panel and the powerful new RAVEN 3.0 Control Software. on display

RAVEN MTi2

Even the smaller format mixers, normally a cheap Behringer or Mackie were replaced with digital small format touch screen mixers.

So are true analog consoles dead? Are they saving them for the AES show (this year in New York in the fall)? Are people not making music this way and have they become merely an outdated and expensive status symbol for recording studios? Or has production and recording become such a part of the initial creative process that "the Lab" or "studio" is no longer a needed space for creativity.

Considerations for Getting a Degree in Music Technology Part 1: Calculating Cost and Value of a Music Technology Degree

This NAMM 2017 video excerpt is from my paper presentation, "Calculating Cost and Value of a Music Technology Degree" given on Friday January 19th in Anaheim CA. In the excerpt I discuss 3 major formulas for calculating the cost, value, and annual earning potential of a degree in Music Technology.

The Best Sound Team Ever Assembled!?

Had a great time last November (11/13/16) working with student volunteers for the audio recording and filming of Eric Salazar's new ensemble project "Forward Motion"


The video below is a basic version of the entire concert held Sunday, November 13, 2016 from 7 PM - 8:30 PM at the Grove Haus, Indianapolis, Indiana 46203

We ended up doing a basic documentation style mikking setup with a pair of Earthwork's M30 (spaced omni) at the back of the stage and a Neumann 184 (XY) pair at the front of the stage. I think the sound came out good. The film was shot with a sony handycam which didn't respond well to the low-level light. Looking forward to shooting future events in 4K with the new Sony Alpha 6300.


Working with students Tara Lantrip, Wyndhem Bell Ennaemba, Michael Bauchert and Zach Reeser was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to working with them this semester as part of an independent study class at the Department of Music Technology at the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology. BOLO for subsequent adventures in event sound/video!