Summer NAMM 2018 starts in a few days and so far it looks like a snoozer. I haven’t found many preliminary announcements of interest. I’m tempted to predict Yamaha’s MOXF replacement (or upgrade), again. However, at some point, one starts to look like a broken clock being right twice a day. 🙂

Yamaha have announced a new product in the P-series digital pianos. The new model P-515 replaces the P-255 as the P-series flagship.

The P-515 is a slab that incorporates much of the new digital piano technology that was introduced with the CSP series (Smart Pianist and Piano Room). The P-515 includes NWX natural wood white keys with synthetic ebony and ivory key tops. Piano sounds include the Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial. It has forty panel voices plus a 480-voice XG sound set. The CFX Grand Voice has binaural sampling which recreates the perspective of the player position. Other goodies include key-off samples, smooth release, Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM), and half pedaling. VRM includes damper, string, Aliquot, and body resonance. Bluetooth audio/MIDI is built-in. Speakers are built-in: Oval 15W (12cm by 6cm) and dome 5W (2.5cm). [Two of everything, of course.] Weight is 48.5 pounds and MSRP is $1,999 USD and MAP (street) is $1,500 USD. A little too heavy for regular gigs out, but its compact size, sound and action make the P-515 a winner for home, especially at $1,500 street. [Manuals now available.]

60s retro is always in with me, so I’m charmed by the Vox Mini SuperBeetle. (Yes, they are using that abominable spelling.) Vox hit the real Super Beatle with a shrink ray, producing a small version that should have some punch. The Mini puts 50 Watts into a 10″ Celestion speaker (or other 4 ohm cab). It has a Korg NuTube tremolo circuit for warmth and 60s reverb.

The Mini has the distinctive Super Beatle chrome stand. I wish Korg/Vox would reissue the Continental in retro form instead of the form factor and stand that everybody pretty much hates. No pricing information yet.

Although it was announced in May, the IK Multimedia UNO analog synth looks like a good time. For a $200 USD synth, the specs aren’t too bad: two independent VCOs, 2-pole multi-mode VCF, LFO, VCA, step sequencer, battery or USB power, and it’s tiny. The UNO has four control knobs which are mapped to synth parameters through a 4 by 4 matrix. Plus, it has five performance buttons. Wisely, the UNO supports old school MIDI IN and OUT via 2.5mm jacks.

If only IK Multimedia had the presence of mind to add 5-pin MIDI to the iRig Keys I/O (25 or 49). Systems thinking, people. Systems thinking.

Roland (and Boss) have announced a new wireless audio system for guitar and other instruments. Two products are aimed at guitar players: the WL-20 and the WL-50. The WL-20 is a very compact transmitter and receiver pair — transmitter for the guitar and receiver for the amp. The WL-50 is a wireless receiver for the pedal board and has additional functionality like providing pedal board power, transmitter recharging, etc. The WL-20L is like the WL-20, but it’s for electronic instruments with line-level audio outputs. Other features include low latency, automatic rendezvous between transmitter and receiver (10 second rendezvous time) and up to 20 meter range. The WL system operates in the 2.4GHz band. I’m interested in the low-latency aspect because Bluetooth doesn’t cut it in this application.

The WLs will be sold under the Boss brand.

News you can use. Avid has announced and released a free version of Sibelius® | First. Sibelius | First is my go-to notation tool for lead sheets, deconstructing MIDI solos, etc. For sure, I will be downloading it and will appreciate the update. (My current copy is rather old, having been part of an M-Audio bundle.) You need to create an Avid account in order to download the free version. Might as well download Pro Tools® | First for free, too.

The modular synth trend has inspired a lot of great products such as the Moog Grandmother. Expect to see new announcements in the Roland System-500 line and literal “plug and play” products in other realms like the Finegear mixerblocks series.

Well, there is always the Moog One rumor. (Save your pennies.)

Copyright © Paul J. Drongowski