In the portable amps category, Blackstar are launching the Super Fly mini amp: two 3 inch speakers, 12 Watts, Bluetooth, battery power (eight AA cells), tilt back stand, optional rechargeable battery pack. [Click image to enlarge.]
Mini amps are usually designed for electric guitar. So, if you’re a keyboard player looking to put your synth or digital piano through one, don’t expect a clean sound. I was super excited by the original Blackstar Fly until I ran a synth into it. Of course, if you’re looking for grunge, that’s fine.
What gives me hope about the Super Fly: The Super Fly has two channels: an XLR/jack combi input for microphones and line level instruments and the usual instrument input for guitars, including overdrive. Potentially, Blackstar have paid attention to the clean sound and not simply “clean” in the sense of clean guitar (still colored!) There are separate, per channel EQ and reverb controls. As I said yesterday, when it comes to mini amps, definitely try-before-buy.
Musicradar has the UK price at 199£. We should expect a USA price at about $259 USD.
IK Multimedia have pumped steroids into the successful iLoud Micro Monitor and will be shipping the iLoud MTM: 100W RMS, 103dB SPL, 40Hz to 24kHz frequency range, $349.99USD. They will be available during the second quarter of 2019. Each monitor unit has a pair of 3.5 inch woofers and a 1 inch tweeter. The “MTM” means a midrange-tweeter-midrange symmetrical design. The iLoud MTM performs built-in acoustic self-calibration using its built-in ARC™ reference microphone.
The original iLoud Micro Monitor sounds damned fine and I’m looking forward to hearing the iLoud MTM when it’s available.
Looking for an 88-key controller? Test the Akai MPK Road 88: 88 keys (duh!), fully weighted hammer action, aftertouch, pitch bend and mod wheels, class-compliant USB, 5-pin MIDI IN and OUT, 2 expression pedal inputs, 1 sustain pedal input, 4-output USB soundcard, 67 pounds (shipping weight). Street price: $899.
The board is fairly slim although 67 pounds is scary if you don’t have your personal road crew. Best yet for touring — it has a detachable hinged cover. At least you won’t have to put this beast into a road case!
BTW, I think we should expect more from Yamaha at Winter NAMM 2019. Their NAMM preview press release hints at portable keyboards, hybrid pianos, combo instruments and band instruments.
Copyright © 2019 Paul J. Drongowski