NAMM 2025: Little things - Sand, software and sound

Last year we were excited to see a lot of pre-NAMM, post-pandemic product announcements. This year, not so much.

Here’s a few little things that you might have missed. NAMM 2025 is only four weeks away (January 21-25, 2025).

Behringer GO MIDI HOST

Behringer have rolled out a boatload of new products in the last few weeks:

WAVE 8-voice multi-timbral hybrid synthesizer (wavetable), 49 full-size keys, thank you!
LM Drum hybrid sampling drum machine à la Roger
JT Mini Analog Polyphonic Synthesis (3 voice, 3 VCOs) inspired by Jupiter
Phara-O Mini Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer (3 voice, 3 VCOs)

And more. Behringer are gunning for the Korg Volcas with those Minis.

Behringer GO MIDI HOST

You might have missed the smallest announcement of them all: Behringer GO MIDI HOST. Behringer joins the ranks of Kenton, DoReMIDI, CME, and other. This sucker is tiny:

5-pin MIDI IN and OUT
Class compliant Type C Host and Power
Dedicated USB C power socket
500 mA maximum current draw
34.34 x 40.01 x 56.20mm (1.35H x 1.58W x 2.21″D)
43.2 g (1.52 oz)

MIDI IN and MIDI OUT DIN connectors are on the front panel. USB HOST, POWER and RESET button are on the rear panel.

Street price is $29 USD and is available for pre-order. I will definitely be ordering one of these!

Oaktone Oakboard Mini 2 MIDI Controller

Oaktone is not a name that readily springs to mind when discussing MIDI controllers.

Oaktone Mini 2 rugged MIDI controller

The Oakboard Mini 2 is a small six button controller for playback control, e.g., launching music cues and other playback chores:

Launch music cues
Works with Ableton Live
Die-cast, aluminum case
Backlit silicone buttons, tactile feel
Play button can blink in sync with MIDI clock
USB-C data and power port on the rear panel
Includes Taz Lite cue-launching plug-in for Live
0.9″H x 4.7″W x 3.7″D L (23 x 119 x 94mm)
9.3oz (236g)

The keyword here is “rugged.” Oaktone emphasize dependability.

The Oaktone Oakboard Mini 2 is $229 MSRP.