PatchArena's NAMM 2014 Top Picks

NAMM 2014 has come and gone. Here are few favorite NAMM 2014 products that caught our eye:

Best NAMM 2014 Tech - ROLI Seaboard

Very excited to have the opportunity to play and touch this instrument in person. It feels great, soft spongy continuous control surface. Polyphonic aftertouch, polyphonic pitchbend, and expressive note sustain. Playing chords you can never land on the note position 100% precisely so it creates natural sounding chords especially with string instruments.

It also solves many of the points on Roger Linn's "what's wrong with current instruments"

What is needed in new musical instruments:

* It should be highly expressive, able to control each note's loudness, pitch and timbre continuously over time. It should be able to perform convincing performances of expressive traditional acoustic instruments.

* Easy to play in tune, yet subtle pitch nuances are possible. You should be able to easily play notes in tune while also playing vibrato, bend and other pitch nuances.

Seaboard is available in 3 different sizes, preordering now:

https://www.weareroli.com/

Best NAMM 2014 iOS Software Synths - Korg Gadget - Cakewalk z3ta+ iOS

Korg has raised the stakes once again for flagship iOS music software with the new Korg Gadget. The all in one music production synth collection.

Also looking forward to the developments of z3ta+ iOS. The first VSTi that sounded amazing is now going to be on your iPad:

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/z3ta/feature.aspx/Z3TA+-iOS

Best NAMM 2014 Synths! - It's A Good Year For Synth Fans

Arturia BeatStep

Excellent deal on a MIDI/CV Step Sequencer!

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products/BeatStep/intro.html

Elektron Analog Keys

Finally got to touch and play this in person. The custom designed case is fantastic. The keys, and joystick controls feel great. I find the sounds and sequences are different vs the Analog Four. Keyboard style versus groove box style really makes a difference for the sounds that come out.

http://www.elektron.se/products/analog-keys

Elektron Analog RYTM

There were many instant grin moments playing with it. Especially sequencing the effects and playing with the distortion! It's vicious. Sounds great for being in development status. Elektron has another winner on their hands. The layout/style and architecture present a different type of immediacy compared to other drum machines. Plocking different samples within the same voice/track is good fun, sounds great.

http://www.elektron.se/products/analog-rytm

DSI Prophet 12 Module

A beast of a synth all in a small form factor. I really love the layout of the synth section. Compliments it perfectly so that when you want to change parameters on a certain section the LED display changes instantly to allow you to tweak in your changes. The form factor will sit nicely for other tabletop sequencers and controllers.

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/products/p12m/

Korg MS-20 Full Sized Kit

I'd love the full version over the mini. The full keys really make a big difference here. Let's hope the demand turns this limited edition run into a larger run later on.

http://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/ms_20kit

MOOG Sub 37

All of the hidden functions of the Sub Phatty brought to the front panel. Plus another mod source and arpeggiator, most welcome additions. I love the mod wheels and pitch bend. Although I wish they kept the same silver front panel as the Sub Phatty. Either way this is going to be a phenomenal synth!

http://www.moogmusic.com/node/92877

Nord Lead A1

Nord fans will be happy with the new A1 keyboard. The wooden pitchbend stick is fun, nice design.

http://www.nordkeyboards.com/main.asp?tm=Products&clpm=Nord_Lead_A1

Roland AIRA Teasers...

Looking forward to see what Roland delivers. All hope may not be lost just yet.

On the horizon for Feb:

http://www.roland.com/aira/

Best NAMM 2014 Sounds - EaganMatrix Sounds For The Continuum Fingerboard

HakenAudio were demoing an updated version of the Continuum Fingerboard, a voice expander, and a digital control voltage converter for analog synthesizers.

This video is a demonstration of the VlnVlaCelBass sound on the Continuum Fingerboard, performed by Edmund Eagan. This EaganMatrix string sound has been programmed to take advantage of the Continuum's fast and accurate pressure sensing. Playing this sound with low velocity finger movement will create a smooth gentle start to each note. After the note starts volume and timbre changes can be applied by changing the pressure on the surface.

Be sure to check out the other video demos here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/HakenAudio/videos

I used this video demo because all of the NAMM 2014 demo videos are too noisy to really appreciate it. The new sounds that Edmund has programmed for the Continuum are fantastic. The best expressive instruments you can find. Looking forward to seeing some of the new sounds that users will create with the EaganMatrix Editor.

Best NAMM 2014 Synth Coverage - Matrixsynth

104 posts the first day of NAMM

94 posts the second.

Yeah, that would be busy.

Find all the posts here: http://www.matrixsynth.com/search/label/NAMM2014

Best NAMM 2014 Commentary - Chris Randall's Twitter

https://twitter.com/Chris_Randall

Longest Badge Wait Times for the First day? The lines wrapped around the hotel lobby and outside...

Find all the PSHTs here:

https://vine.co/Crandall

Best NAMM 2014 SWAG - Moog Phatty Chocolate Bars

Delicious.

Best NAMM 2014 Your Favorites? -

As always the hottest NAMM products will depend on the person. What was your favorite announcements at NAMM 2014?