Barry Wood's NAMM Oddities 2009 Edition
Techno Geek Toys
A Wirey Nonagram
As a combination art/electrical design program project, Skot Wiedmann has built this one-of-a-kind modular synthesizer that uses a Haken Continuum as its main controller.
One particularly inspired bit of the mechanical design is the fact that your longest patch cord only needs to be about 1 meter long to reach any patch point.
- Skot Wiedmann
- www.motusmavis.com
The Assblaster!
Metasonix is batting a solid .500 in the Oddities, in the twelve years I've been doing these pages they've had six entries.
This combines circuitry from three of Metasonix' previous processors into one device capable of untold audio mayhem. Or as they describe it: "a foot-long fecal sandwich of audio penis."
- Metasonix
- 870 South Main Street, PMB 109
- Lakeport CA 95453
- (707) 263-5343
- www.metasonix.com
Hujin+Raijin Speaker
I was able determine that Raijin is the god of thunder but I was not able to come up with anything for Hujin. My best guess is that it was meant to be Fujin which is the god of wind.
That would make sense when applied to the low frequency/high frequency bifurcation of this speaker system.
Taguchi had an even more unusual speaker design featured in the '02 Oddities.
- Taguchi Craftmanship Manufactory Co., Ltd
- +81(0)45-801-7100
- www.taguchi-craft.com
Keyboard Controller Origami
After last year's folding guitars, it's only fair that keyboard players get their due.
Aside from the obvious mechanical features, these controllers are available in six different key weightings and five different colors.
You can create all manner of key splits and it can be loaded up with all the patch names from all of your modules.
- Infinite Response, Inc.
- 404-B Baylor St.
- Austin, TX 78703
- (503) 535-5599
- www.infiniteresponse.com
Uniting DAWs and Modular Synths
What you see here is a plug-in for an analog modular synth. With this you can send DC voltages from your audio interface to your modular using tempo-synched LFOs and automation data.
I would be very careful that you're routing the DC to the synth and not your speakers.
There's a nice video of Volta up at 440tv (the relevant stuff starts at 1:07).
- MOTU
- 1280 Massachusetts Ave
- Cambridge MA 02138
- (617) 576-2760
- www.motu.com
The K-Bow
The bow transmits data via bluetooth to your computer that you can then use to control audio effects, lighting, or just about anything that accepts MIDI or OSC.
It's got a 3D accelerometer that measures the playing force and angle of the bow, a hair tension sensor a grip pressure sensor and it also tracks the position of the bow relative to the fretboard.
I asked them, and yes, Laurie Anderson already knows about this product.
- Keith McMillen Instruments
- www.keithmcmillen.com
They're Still Making Hardware?
I was surprised to come across the Solaris at NAMM. I didn't think anyone was really making new hardware synths anymore, let alone something as ambitious and full-featured as this.
I'd never heard of John Bowen before but it seems he's one of the unsung heros of synth design, having worked at Moog, Sequential Circuits, Korg, and Creamware.
- John Bowen Synth Design
- info@johnbowen.com
- www.johnbowen.com
Ooo, Ahh, Hey, Yeah!
What I like about the Realivox vocal VI is that they recorded the vocal transitions between each of the intervals so when you play legato the transition between notes sounds very convincing.
There were 11 session singers used to each sing the 24 different word sounds. Shown is the hand-drawn keyswitch card with all the sounds.
- RealiTone Virtual Instruments
- 1119 Las Palmas Avenue
- Hollywood, CA 90038
- (323) 467-6930
- www.realitone.com
No More Creepy Pedals
This is one of those decpetively simple yet incredibly clever inventions. Having chased around sustain pedals on gigs myself, I can really appreciate their utility.
The Pedal Stop is made from the same plastic that football helmets are made of so it's not likely to ever break.
- Flask of Oil, LLC
- 3100 S. WS Young Drive, Suite 11657
- Killeen, Texas, 76547
- (800) 569-0292
- www.pedalstop.com
The NoteWeaver
This Mac/Win software intecepts the notes you play and instead of sounding the note as played, the key you hit controls the interval of the next note relative to the last note played.
I knew this was going to be difficult to explain so I shot a short video on my camera. They were demo-ing this with a Casio keyboard with lighted keys.
- Note Speed
- sales@notespeed.com
- www.notespeed.com
Phantom Powered Pedals
Instead of using batteries or wall warts, these guys have come up with a system that feeds your pedals power using the cable between your amp and your pedals.
It does require a 3-conductor cable as well as modifications to your amp and your pedals but eliminating ground loops and dead batteries could be well worth it.
They get bonus points for the l33t domain name.
- The DC Voltage Company
- 16830 Oakmont Ave.
- Gaithersburg, MD 20877
- (301) 524-9939
- www.p3dals.com
'Scuse Me While I Whip This Out
Impress your bandmates with the size of your power cord. Why not go all out and get the 10 lb. power strip while you're at it?
- Essential Sound Products, Inc.
- P.O. Box 81998
- Rochester, MI, 48308-1998
- (248) 375-2655
- www.essentialsound.com
©2009 Barry Wood