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| The show started at full blast with key meetings between the new IK
Multimedia team and IK distributors and dealers who were over-joyed to hear of the new product announcements including Sonik
Synth™ 2 synth workstation plug-in, Sonik Capsule™ multi-format
library/modules, T-RackS® plug-in for OSX AU and VST, Amplitube®
plug-in for OSX AU and VST, T-RackS® 24 stand alone for OSX and T-RackS®
VS for the Roland® VS recording systems. The new IK Multimedia team at the show includes Jeni Karlieva, IK’s new marketing coordinator, Derrick Floyd and Antonio Hernandez, IK’s product specialists and sales account representatives, Dave Lane IK’s events manager, Dave Kerzner and Dan Dashnaw of Sonic Reality who have joined efforts with IK through a recently announced strategic alliance plus special events assistance from Katy Ostrander and key members of the IK team worldwide including Davide Barbi, Elisa Armaroli and IK’s international executives. The NAMM show was off to a great start for IK. Early on the first day of the show SampleTank® 2 received the distinguished EQ Exceptional Quality Award from EQ Magazine as EQ’s Editor Mitch Gallagher came by the booth to present the award to the IK team in person. During the show the glowing red IK booth was at the center of a widely populated area of Hall A. With adjacent neighbors like Digidesign®, M-Audio®, Apple®, and MOTU® this was undoubtedly the hot spot for this year’s show. Constantly packed with the industries top professionals in retail, distributors, media and partners there was never a dull moment at the IK booth this year. On one side of the booth you could have listened to Davide Barbi and Derrick Floyd demonstrating the massive capabilities of SampleTank® 2 on an 80” plasma screen and Digi 002® Protools® system. In the front of the booth you could listen to Antonio Hernandez jamming with AmpliTube™ and a variety of Brian Moore® Guitars and Basses. At the center of the booth you could be greeted by any of the friendly IK staff with plenty of free AmpliTube™ guitar picks, demo CDs and a rack of literature for the wide range of IK products available this year. Also, around the booth you could check out Macs and PCs with T-Racks®, AmpliTube™ and SampleTank® 2 connected to a variety of Yamaha®, Digidesign®, M-Audio® and Edirol® controllers and audio systems. On the other side of the booth a second 80” plasma screen occasionally had a glimpse of the all new Sonik Synth™ 2 demonstrated by Sonic Reality’s Dave Kerzner and Dan Dashnaw. During the show, a toast at Digidesign® booth with Ableton® and Propellerheads® executives celebrated the success of the Digidesign® bundle which was heavily showcased at Digidesign® main stage. A group photo at Roland® booth with Roland® founder Mr. Ikutaro Kakehashi and all 3rd parties VS plug-in developer, celebrated the launch of the new VS8F-3 expansion card for Roland® VS HD system. The sounds heard around the IK booth ranged from “bombastic” finger drumming with SampleTank® 2 from Dave Kerzner and Derrick Floyd to sweet jams between Davide Barbie and Antonio Hernandez demonstrating SampleTank® 2 and AmpliTube™ in a live music making session. The booth was filled with the industry’s top producers, engineers and recording/performing artists such as: Andrae Crouch (Grammy Award® winning Gospel producer), Roger Nichols (Steely Dan), Josh Gabriel (House producer), Lyle Workman (guitarist for Beck and Jellyfish), John Shanks (producer of Alanis Morissette and Michelle Branch), Lady Miss Kier (Dee-lite), David Frank (writer for Christina Aguilera), Russ Landau (Survivor, Fear Factor and Sea Quest), Doane Perry (Jethro Tull), Felicia Michelle Collins (David Letterman's show) and Kat Dyson (guitar player of Cindy Lauper and Prince), George Clinton (Funk legend), Roger Powell (keyboard legend), Jonathan Butler (Jazz guitarist), Ken and Scot from The Crystal Method, Neal Zaza, Omar Hakim (one of world’s best drummer, he played for Sting, Madonna and many other pop stars), Paul Jackson Jr (guitar player of Michael Jackson), Roger Manning (Beck and Jellyfish), Tito Jackson (the Jacksons), Uberzone, Vernon Reid (Living Color). As a “grand finale” the last half hour of the show was spent with everyone gathering around to watch Stevie Wonder get a personal demonstration of SampleTank® 2 from Dave Kerzner in which they both jammed on SampleTank® 2 drum kits, electric guitars that morphed into clavinets with the unique STRETCH™ engine and inspiring fluid gliding STRETCH vocals. After Stevie played played at length with SampleTank® 2 he shook Dave’s hand and said “I love it, it sounds great”. Just a few minutes later the show was over. A nice ending to four hard-working days at NAMM but nobody wanted it to end. We celebrated with a final toast. This was IK’s best NAMM show ever! |
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