It’s only been one day at the NAMM show in Anaheim California, but I’ve been seeing a couple of themes recurring as I walk among the booths. Continued integration of or integration with touch-screen devices and miniaturization & portability seem to be features that a lot of vendors are including in their product lines this year. Day 2 will be a test to see if my hunches here are correct and to see if there are any other trends emerging.
Touch-Screens.
Integration with iPads seems to have not been a passing fad. We saw Roland incorporating iOS devices into their products with the CUBE JAM app with their Cube Amp line as well as the Piano Partner app to be used wirelessly with their digital pianos.
I’m looking forward to visiting vendors such as Korg and IK Multimedia as they’ve unveiled some interesting iOS offerings. Korg has an iPad app to compliment their new Gadget iOS app that looks quite interesting – a collection of circuit-bending and found sound devices packed into one package. IK Multimedia unveiled their iRing device at CES a couple weeks ago. It looks to be plastic device that fits on your fingers that’s used in conjunction with the iOS camera to control a variety of elements.
Compactness and Portability
Again, Roland had some items in their product line that we saw for the mobile musician. Their amp line has many different compact sizes that can be made portable easily. Devices such as the VE-5 and the TM-2 module are solutions that give the musician many options in small packages. The VE-5 is for the vocalist to mount on the microphone and give them access to looping, effects and harmonization.
We also saw with Samson, a number of small and innovative products for the mobile and gigging musician.
I’m looking to see if these themes will continue on today’s treasure hunt through NAMM.
I’ve got my laptop and my badge ready to tackle Day 2. Today, I’m going to have my earplugs handy as well. 
