In this episode of Academy of Tone, the team discusses their preparations for the NAMM show, showcasing their latest developments in the AMPX project, including sound revisions, new features, and upcoming events at the convention.
Welcome to Academy of Tone, episode 243! In this episode, we dive into the preparations for the upcoming NAMM show, sharing insights from our R&D department and the latest developments in our AMPX project.
As we gear up for NAMM, we are excited to present revision number six of our AMPX project. This revision includes significant improvements, particularly in high-gain sounds, which we struggled with last year. We are pleased to announce that the high-gain sound is now to our liking, and we have much more to showcase.
Next Tuesday, I will be flying to the NAMM show with my colleague Valessa. We have an early train ride from Zaren to Frankfurt, followed by an 11-hour flight to Los Angeles. Upon arrival, we will rent a car and drive to Anaheim, where the convention center is located. We will be staying in an Airbnb with friends from the industry, including Kman, Andreas Kopman, and Nick Huber, ensuring everyone has enough privacy.
For those attending NAMM, our booth number is 5910. Although the number has changed, we are in the same location as last year. Our booth is strategically placed next to Martin Guitars, which allows us to conduct some unofficial demos without disturbing them. We are excited to showcase our signature guitars alongside vintage models from the UK brand Vintage.
In addition to the regular trade show hours from 10 AM to 6 PM, there are several exciting events planned:
We are currently in the R&D phase, focusing on the AMPX project. This revision is a complete redesign from scratch, with all previous sounds from version five being recreated and improved. The new PCB features numerous enhancements, allowing us to achieve a higher quality across the sound spectrum.
The sound design process involves using specialized software to create and modify sounds for the AMPX. This software is not publicly available and is tailored specifically for our development needs. Each knob on the reference amp corresponds to multiple parameters in the software, allowing for intricate sound adjustments.
We have been working hard to refine the high-gain sound, and we are excited to share a comparison between the new AMPX and our reference amp. The goal is to recreate the authentic sound as closely as possible, and we are pleased with the progress made so far.
In our discussions, we also touched on speaker technology, comparing traditional speakers with modern neodymium options. The new Neo Pro speaker offers more power handling and is lighter, catering to musicians who need portability without sacrificing sound quality.
Throughout the development process, we emphasize the importance of sound quality. Our goal is to create an amp that inspires musicians to play, rather than just collecting sounds. We believe that the right sound quality can significantly enhance the playing experience.
As we prepare for NAMM, we are excited to share our progress on the AMPX project and look forward to connecting with fellow musicians and industry professionals. Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the show, and thank you for joining us on this journey!
