NAMM2K: Day 1 roundup

US 04/02/00

) Akai Musical Instrument Corporation has purchased all the musical instrument R & D and assetts of Akai Electric Tokyo and London Musical Instrument Divisions. You probably knew this already but they made an official statement. This means basically that they now get to call their own shots, and hopefully will spurn more product development and more product introductions. 2) Well, the OB-12 is now BLUE! with white lettering. according to my friend Giancarlo at Viscount (Oberheim) this is the new color scheme. Z-plane synthesis, Knobs, ribbons etc.... 3) Speaking of Oberheim, they also stuck the guts of two OB3squared units in a wooden box and have a mini B-3. 4) Yamaha has a spiffy little competitior for the Roland VS-880 stuff called the 4416 5) ROland has an 88-key version of the JV3080 called the XV-88. Improvements over the old roland family include stereo samples and improved crossfade options. 6) BOSS/Roland has a cute BR-8 Digital recording station. - Built in effects, Tap-tempo tempo guide and a couple of other cool features - definately designed with a different customer in mind. naybe more of a DJ crossover Sound artist type of deal. 7) VERY COOL!!!! ROland Virtual COnga Drums with 15 zone head, two ribbon controllers, D-Beam, Midi out... a very cool step in a new direction. It does not have the "authenticity" and drum head features of say the Korg Wave Drum, but it is way cool. More later M

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