Best of Winter NAMM 2010 Mac News Awards
TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Best of Winter NAMM 2010 Mac News Awards

In some ways, the 2010 Winter NAMM show was a different show, but the larger vendors were not missed nearly as much as one might imagine. Attendance was actually up, according to the NAMM press office, and anyone who was there will attest to the fact that the floor was jammed every single day of the show.

The bonus was that the less corporate vendors and manufacturers really shined with some excellent new products in many cases. While some companies did not present anything really new, there were some very impressive items that caught the attention of the attendees.

Why did we wait so long to release our "Best of Show" Macsimum Awards? We wanted to try many of these products off the show floor and away from the noisy environment that can make it tough to know what you are really listening to when sound quality really counts. So, without any further ado, the 2010 Winter NAMM "Best of Show" Macsimum Awards.

Sony PCM-M10 Portable Digital Recorder (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-audio/cat-recorders/product-PCMM10/B/)

This super-small digital audio recorder sports many of the features of the larger professional stereo recorders from Sony, including excellent sound quality. The PCM-M10 has 4 GB built-in memory and also accepts up to 16Gb Sony MemoryStick or SD cards for additional storage capacity. At only 3/4" thick and under 5" tall, the small package has the same control button layout as the M50 and D1 models. but, unlike its larger siblings, the M10 can record in .MP3 (if you like that sort of thing) via the external mic or line level input or the built-in microphones that, also unique to its siblings, are internal for up to 95Khz 24-bit recordings. Another great feature is that the M10 lets you copy from the internal memory to the removable storage card and vice-versa. Should you fill the internal memory, the device automatically switches over to the add-on memory. Street price is between $300-400 USD. There is also an optional playback case with small speakers, but there is a small speaker in the M10 as well. This is an amazing little recorder that is 100% Sony.

MTD American Handmade 435 Electric Bass (http://mtdbass.com/pages/MTD.html)

From the workshop of the legendary Michael Tobias (who founded Tobias Bass, MTD Bass, and now MTD American Handmade) comes not only one of the best sounding bass guitars we've ever heard, but the most beautiful looking as well. The 35" scale 21 fret (or optional 24 fret) bolt on bass has the Buzz Feiten Tuning System® along with custom-made Bartolini pick-ups that are exclusive made by Bill Bartolini for MTD. The hardware doesn't suffer with custom bridges and tuners by Hipshot. While priced somewhere in the middle of the high-end basses, coming with a steep $4,200 USD tag, it is at least $2,000 less than any other brand that might even get close to this quality. This is a custom instrument for the serious professional available in some of the most beautiful woods available on top of the already incredible tone. Each instrument can be built-to-order to match your own signature sound. If you are serious about your tone and your style as a bass player, this is the way to go.

MyMix Networked Personal Mixer & Multitrack Recorder (http://www.mymixaudio.com/)

When it comes to monitoring for either live performance, or in the studio, having your own mix is essential to the performer. There are a variety of solutions available for small and medium sized venues that serve this purpose, but none that offer so many features as the MyMix system. Like many personal monitor mixers, the MyMix is networked over standard Ethernet; however, and unlike their competition, each mix is by person and not by input. This has both advantages and disadvantages, but does allow the user to control their mix easily with a simple fly-wheel and LCD screen that gives you a very easy to navigate system. Supporting up to 8 stereo mixes, the MyMix saves each user profile and can record live directly to an SD memory card. Inputs on the device are either TRS or XLR and outputs for both personal earphone monitors or traditional floor wedges. Built-in effects add a bit of space to your mix, as needed, and a selectable EQ gives you control over your tone. While there is no rack-mounted "brain" or outboard mixer at this point, it is a new approach to monitoring hardware. This is clearly an early winner and a huge leap for personal monitoring systems.

The Select Custom Series by Shine Drums (http://www.shinedrums.com/ver2008/)

With so many big commercial drum manufacturers out there, the sound is really all that should matter. Most drums are maple, birch, bubinga or even mahogany is some cases and each has its own tonal characteristics. What each manufacturer chooses to do with those woods (how many ply thick, treatments, how/where they drill, hardware, etc.) makes all the difference in the world to a drummer. After listening to more than a dozen brands, in all shapes and sizes, the "boutique" custom drum shop, Shine Drums, really got our attention. Full, detailed, warm sounding drums that present a well articulated strike. The drums sport vintage tube lugs, triple flanged hoops, and North American 7-ply maple shells. Each drummer we heard sit at their kit sounded different, but the quality of that sound was the same. With that said, the finishes on their Select Custom Series may not do it for some drummers but the company reports that a huge range of new finishes will be available soon. We just want to bang on the(se) drums all day.

KickPort Bass Drum Enhancer (http://kickport.com/)

Had we not heard it for ourselves, we would never have believed that this small device makes such a huge difference to the sound of any bass drum in any size. It was after seeing these things at nearly every drum and cymbal manufacturer's booth that further investigation was required. The unobtrusive, simple booth was set up with just a kick drum and a table, nothing more. The demo was simple: Listen to the before and after for the difference. Clearly, the addition of the KickPort adds more depth, better attack tone, and a dramatic increase in the frequencies below 100Hz. These improvements to the response of the bass drum are not boomy and do not alter the pitch of the tuning. What was somewhat startling was that these increases are not just felt out in front of the drum, but by the drummer performing as well. The increase in feel and resonance behind the kit were also demonstrated with before/after attempts with impressive results. No special microphones are necessary, either. Available today in black-only, the company reports that more colors should become available in the coming year. The truth is, once you hear the difference with a KickPort, you'll never go back to just another open hole again. 

-- Daniel East

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Six fantastic ways to spend National Vid...
As if anyone needed an excuse to play games today, I am about to give you one: it is National Video Games Day. A day for us to play games, like we no doubt do every day. Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead, feast your eyes on this... | Read more »
Old School RuneScape players turn out in...
The sheer leap in technological advancements in our lifetime has been mind-blowing. We went from Commodore 64s to VR glasses in what feels like a heartbeat, but more importantly, the internet. It can be a dark mess, but it also brought hundreds of... | Read more »
Today's Best Mobile Game Discounts...
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links below... | Read more »
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's...
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Nintendo has been locked in an epic battle with Pocketpair, creator of the obvious Pokémon rip-off Palworld. Nintendo often resorts to legal retaliation at the drop of a hat, but it seems this... | Read more »
Apple exclusive mobile games don’t make...
If you are a gamer on phones, no doubt you have been as distressed as I am on one huge sticking point: exclusivity. For years, Xbox and PlayStation have done battle, and before this was the Sega Genesis and the Nintendo NES. On console, it makes... | Read more »
Regionally exclusive events make no sens...
Last week, over on our sister site AppSpy, I babbled excitedly about the Pokémon GO Safari Days event. You can get nine Eevees with an explorer hat per day. Or, can you? Specifically, you, reader. Do you have the time or funds to possibly fly for... | Read more »
As Jon Bellamy defends his choice to can...
Back in March, Jagex announced the appointment of a new CEO, Jon Bellamy. Mr Bellamy then decided to almost immediately paint a huge target on his back by cancelling the Runescapes Pride event. This led to widespread condemnation about his perceived... | Read more »
Marvel Contest of Champions adds two mor...
When I saw the latest two Marvel Contest of Champions characters, I scoffed. Mr Knight and Silver Samurai, thought I, they are running out of good choices. Then I realised no, I was being far too cynical. This is one of the things that games do best... | Read more »
Grass is green, and water is wet: Pokémo...
It must be a day that ends in Y, because Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has kicked off its Zoroark Drop Event. Here you can get a promo version of another card, and look forward to the next Wonder Pick Event and the next Mass Outbreak that will be... | Read more »
Enter the Gungeon review
It took me a minute to get around to reviewing this game for a couple of very good reasons. The first is that Enter the Gungeon's style of roguelike bullet-hell action is teetering on the edge of being straight-up malicious, which made getting... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Take $150 off every Apple 11-inch M3 iPad Air
Amazon is offering a $150 discount on 11-inch M3 WiFi iPad Airs right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 128GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $449, $150 off – 11″ 256GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $549, $150 off – 11″ 512GB M3... Read more
Apple iPad minis back on sale for $100 off MS...
Amazon is offering $100 discounts (up to 20% off) on Apple’s newest 2024 WiFi iPad minis, each with free shipping. These are the lowest prices available for new minis among the Apple retailers we... Read more
Apple’s 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros are on sa...
Amazon has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $410 off Apple’s MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party... Read more
Red Pocket Mobile is offering a $150 rebate o...
Red Pocket Mobile has new Apple iPhone 17’s on sale for $150 off MSRP when you switch and open up a new line of service. Red Pocket Mobile is a nationwide MVNO using all the major wireless carrier... Read more
Switch to Verizon, and get any iPhone 16 for...
With yesterday’s introduction of the new iPhone 17 models, Verizon responded by running “on us” promos across much of the iPhone 16 lineup: iPhone 16 and 16 Plus show as $0/mo for 36 months with bill... Read more
Here is a summary of the new features in Appl...
Apple’s September 2025 event introduced major updates across its most popular product lines, focusing on health, performance, and design breakthroughs. The AirPods Pro 3 now feature best-in-class... Read more
Apple’s Smartphone Lineup Could Use A Touch o...
COMMENTARY – Whatever happened to the old adage, “less is more”? Apple’s smartphone lineup. — which is due for its annual refresh either this month or next (possibly at an Apple Event on September 9... Read more
Take $50 off every 11th-generation A16 WiFi i...
Amazon has Apple’s 11th-generation A16 WiFi iPads in stock on sale for $50 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 11th-generation 128GB WiFi iPads: $299 $50 off MSRP – 11″ 11th-generation 256GB... Read more
Sunday Sale: 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros for up t...
Don’t pay full price! Amazon has Apple’s 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $220 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather... Read more
Mac mini with M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $12...
B&H Photo has Apple’s Mac mini with the M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $1259, $140 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – Mac mini M4 Pro CPU (24GB/512GB): $1259, $... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.