The Nationwide Affiliation of Music Retailers (NAMM) conference is one of the best place to take a look at rising traits within the music and audio world. This yr, the SoundGuys staff scouted the conference flooring to search out the best and most fascinating merchandise. These are the merchandise and experiences that caught our eye at NAMM 2024.
Sennheiser HD 490 PRO
We had been impressed by what we heard on the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO demo.
Sennheiser introduced a brand new open-back headphone full of options that caught our eye. The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO is a reference headphone with two varieties of ear pads: velour for a extra low-frequency response and cloth for a flat, impartial response. Swapping between the 2 ear pads is straightforward, and they’re even machine-washable.
Sennheiser features a license to the dearVR MIX-SE plugin with every set of HD 490 PRO headphones, which simulate totally different mixing environments and include tuned presets for every of Sennheiser’s reference headphones. The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO is out there for $399, whereas a Plus variant with an additional transport case, headband pad, and three m cable is out there for $479.
Reloop Mixtour Professional
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
Sufficiently small to carry in a single hand, the Reloop Mixtour Professional packs lots right into a small package deal.
In collaboration with well-known DJ and music producer Laidback Luke, Reloop introduced the discharge of a brand new compact DJ controller at NAMM. The Reloop Mixtour Professional is a extremely moveable controller that packs all the important thing options you’ll want to carry out reside. We noticed Laidback Luke himself carry out a complete set reside at NAMM utilizing nothing however the Reloop Mixtour Professional linked to a smartphone.
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
Laidback Luke was performing with the Reloop Mixtour Professional.
Designed to work with djay Professional from Algoriddim, the 4-channel controller has eight efficiency pads and an entire FX part. With Neural Combine software program from Algoriddim, the EQ knobs could be set to separate vocals, drums, and devices from a monitor. Other than jog wheels for scratching, the Reloop Mixtour Professional brings every thing you’ll want to ship a cell DJ set.
Austrian Audio MiCreator
The Austrian Audio MiCreator is a high-quality condenser microphone with a easy USB-C interface. You by no means know when inspiration will strike, so that is the proper instrument to seize your concepts on the spot. With a max SPL of 130db, it will possibly deal with nearly any degree you throw at it, so you can additionally use it to file your rehearsals to assist dial in your efficiency. Austrian Audio additionally gives a “satellite tv for pc” microphone in case you’re after a stereo recording. With numerous functions and sturdy, all-metal housing, the MiCreator is an easy-to-use and handy recording instrument for any recording musician.
Sony MDR-MV1
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
These headphones are exceptionally light-weight and cozy.
Spatial Audio is all the fad as of late, and so, in fact, Sony has put ahead their preferrred headset for mixing in these audio environments. Launched in November 2023, the Sony MDR-MV1 are open-back headphones designed with a large soundstage in thoughts. With a impartial frequency response that extends from 5Hz to 80kHz, these headphones may discover their means into many studios.
We bought to hearken to the MDR-MV1 at NAMM, and proper off the bat, we had been struck with how light-weight the headphones felt and the way snug they had been to put on. Whereas enjoying normal MP3 tracks on the Sony ZX707 Walkman, we had been impressed by the large and impartial sound it supplied.
Audeze and mixing with Dolby Atmos
The Audeze Maxwell is among the finest gaming headsets we’ve reviewed because it launched in 2022, and a current firmware replace the corporate rolled out for them throughout the present made them that a lot better. Including to their spatial audio capabilities, the headphones now natively assist head monitoring in Dolby Atmos Renderer, no matter whether or not you’ve gotten a PlayStation or Xbox mannequin.
Experiencing the headset’s binaural impact on the present, we had been struck by the pinpoint accuracy of sound localization as we turned our heads in actual time. Moreover, we attended a compelling presentation by Andrew Scheps on the Audeze sales space, the place he demonstrated his course of for mixing tracks in Spatial Audio utilizing Dolby Atmos Renderer. Scheps has transformed to solely utilizing the Audeze LCD-MX4 for its distinctive sound externalization — and actually, after listening to it for ourselves, we get it.
