NAMM 2019: JBL Series 104 reference monitors for content creators

JBL's new 104 is a desktop speaker for musicians, YouTubers and podcast producers with some neat features but not all the trappings (or bass frequencies) of full-on studio monitors.

NAMM 2019: Korg Volca Drum – digital percussion synthesizer

Volca Drum is a 6-part DSP based digital drum synthesizer that models analogue waveforms and physical resonators to offer a uniquely noisy and exciting percussive experience.

NAMM 2019: Korg Volca Modular – West coast modular for the masses

The leaks were right - it's a Buchla Music Easel in Volca form (almost). Volca Modular is the 200 dollar hardware modular synthesizer we've been waiting for.

NAMM 2019: Noatronic adds MIDI control to your guitar!

Designed in Denmark, this little guitar upgrade could add MIDI expression to your guitar - without the need for any routing or permanent modifications to your instrument!

NAMM 2019: Vintage outs VS63VW, VS63CR and VS63VCR SG-style guitars

Three new instruments recall SG models from the 1960s and 1970s with three humbuckers - and there's a bass model too. Looking for a budget SG-style guitar? Check these out.

NAMM 2019: Tsakalis Audio Works Six B.O.D. overdrive pedal is one to watch

Tsakalis is making bold claims about its new multi-mode overdrive pedal - if it can even get close to the three premiere boutique overdrive pedals mentioned in the marketing, it will be a bargain.

NAMM 2019: Ibanez cuts costs on new JEM7VP Steve Vai Premium guitar

A new, slightly more wallet-friendly Premium version of Steve Vai's famous JEM guitar is being premiered at Ibanez's NAMM 2019 booth - and it screams shred!

NAMM 2019: IK Multimedia tease the AXE I/O guitar tone infused audio interface

IK Multimedia get the tease machine working on the run up to NAMM 2019 with what appears to be the AXE I/O audio interface with some "Z-TONE" guitar tone built in.

Best Free Plug-ins This Week: Two synths, a piano and a filter

An emulation of the fabled Yamaha C7 Grand Piano, Piano One uses the Sound Magic Hybrid Modelling Engine which utilizes both sampling and modeling.

NAMM 2019: Something big coming from Noise Engineering

Noise Engineering has a new 24HP uber-module to show at NAMM this year. The internet is alive with combinations of latin words to try to guess the name of what is probably a complex digital oscillator

Frequency Central releases semi-modular Eurorack synth voice called Product

The Product Modular Synth is three Frequency Central Eurorack modules jammed behind a single front panel and motherboard PCB. It's normalised pre-patched signal paths gives instant sonic satisfaction.

NAMM 2019: LR Baggs adds new Chorus and Delay pedals to its Align Series

Like the other pedals in this LR Baggs line, these two new stompboxes are specifically tailored to acoustic guitar, adding a chorus and a delay to add to the Align Series.

Mutable Instruments Tides modulator module comes to VCV Rack

The Mutable Instruments modular previews for VCV Rack continues with the Tides Tidal Modulator. $20 gets you the preview plug-in and you can run 9 Mutable modules in your virtual rack.

NAMM 2019: Martin Woodstock 50th Anniversary acoustic guitars

Martin is celebrating the 1969 Woodstock festival with the release of two acoustic models. There is one for all budgets and both feature a nod to that classic festival poster.

NAMM 2019: Ibanez AZ Series with new signature models

Ibanez has new bunch of signature models derived from its AZ Series, bearing the names of players from Polyphia and Chon; a new guitar for Andy Timmons rounds out this five-piece set.

u-he Twangström spring reverb shakes things up with physically modelled springs

u-he's spring reverb is an upgraded standalone version of the reverb unit from Bazille, one of the developer's best-known synthesizers. It uses physical modelling instead of convolution.

NAMM 2019: Joyo R-05 Maximum, a budget dual-channel overdrive

Another one?!? Joyo is releasing yet another new pedal, the R-05 Maximum dual-channel drive pedal. Could this set a new benchmark for budget overdrive pedals?

NAMM 2019: ThorpyFX Deep Oggin chorus/vibrato pedal

ThorpyFX collaborates with Lovetone's Dan Coggins on the Deep Oggin, his new chorus/vibrato effect that looks absolutely bomb-proof. Has Major Adrian Thorpe MBE done it again?

NAMM 2019: Blackstar HT-20R MKII Head and Combo Apmlifiers

Blackstar is launching the HT-20R MKII head and combo at NAMM 2019. Will this updated version of a popular amp bring enough to the table to convince players in a saturated market?

Analogue Solutions Generator step sequencer now available as a Eurorack module

Analogue Solutions have taken the back off their Generator 3-channel voltage generating 16-step sequencer and attached a Eurorack power cable so it will fit in your rack.

Microsoft to lift limit on how many plug-in DLLs you can run in your DAW

An update to Windows 10 will lift limitations on the memory allocation of Dynamic Link Libraries from 128 to 4000 slots. If you've ever tried to run more than 128 unique plug-ins then that's good news!

NAMM 2019: Audient Sono – An interface for guitarists

The cat is out of the bag: The Audient Sono is a desktop interface with a single 12AX7 tube on the inout and two notes Torpedo modelling tech to give you amp-like feel and tone.

NAMM 2019: Strymon Volante Magnetic Echo Machine hones in on vintage delay effects

The new Strymon Volante is a modern day take on classic virtual drum, tape and reel-to-reel echo effects all designed to make tape style echoes fun and less hassle.

NAMM 2019: Red Witch Fuzz God III with 64 fuzzes in one!

This new Kiwi-made Fuzz God III silicon fuzz pedal has 64 combinations/variations of fuzz available, and completes some sort of "holy trinity" (we have no idea what that means)...