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t a time when professional audio trade shows are in a state of flux, the NAMM show remains the go-to event for manufacturers, suppliers and customers across all sectors of the industry. Taking place between January 25-28 at the Anaheim Convention Centre in California, the winter NAMM show will have an extended pro audio space this year, something that has attracted previous exhibitors to display at the LA show once again. An example of such a company is L-Acoustics, exclusively telling PSNEurope that “with the recent addition of more floor space, and a clear objective by NAMM to dedicate this space to the professional audio industry, the show has taken on a bigger and more important place in our agenda.” Another addition to this year’s winter show is a range of all-new education programmes. NAMM’s focus on education can be dated back to the inception of the association in the early 20th century, and its 2018 show still highlights the importance of sharing best practice and expertise within the audio and MI industries. As such, NAMM’s director of professional development Zach Phillips told PSNEurope that it is “tripling the amount of pro audio and event technology
education at the show” for 2018 with partners Audio Engineering Society (AES) and Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA). As part of this extended offering, the AES@NAMM Pro Sound Symposium workshops will provide training on line array technology, live sound mixing consoles, wireless systems and studio environments, plus much more. Education is an important factor for exhibitors, and sets the show apart from its competitors, says Meyer Sound’s Jane Eagleson: “AES and NAMM together have created a fresh and exciting departure from the typical menu of trade show workshops”. Yamaha echoed the importance of developing skills, with director of marketing Marc Lopez saying “the AES@NAMM collaboration is evidence that professionals are seeking further opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge”. Manufacturer Funktion-One will exhibit for the first time at the show, citing the increased focus on pro audio as a major pull factor, and its recent US successes as a reason to focus on that market. To get the bottom of its enduring appeal, we asked some industry heavyweights why the winter edition of NAMM continues to draw exhibitors and visitors year-on- year.
Meyer Sound: ‘AES@NAMM offers a fresh departure from typical trade show workshops’ “From an educational perspective, NAMM boasts the same eye towards innovation that defines the expo at large and informs Meyer Sound’s distinctive approach to audio technology,” explains Jane Eagleson, PR manager. “To that point, the inaugural AES@NAMM 2018 Pro Sound Symposium affords a singular opportunity to connect with industry professionals, in the context of real-world recording and live sound settings. “For Meyer Sound, The Studios element at NAMM holds particular appeal, providing a unique avenue through which to showcase our Bluehorn System – a full-bandwidth monitoring solution – in a highly interactive, and therefore, highly instructive way. Attendees will not only learn about the system’s capabilities, but actually engage with them firsthand, from the driver’s seat of a fully equipped studio environment.” The educational offering at NAMM, which grows year-on-year, is one of the key reasons Meyer Sound continues to exhibit at the show. Eagleson adds:
“Recognising there is simply no substitute for participatory education, AES and NAMM together have created a fresh and exciting departure from the typical menu of trade show workshops, and Meyer Sound shares their commitment to elevating the collective experiential knowledge of the professional audio community. For these reasons, we are pleased to support the AES@NAMM 2018 Pro Sound Symposium.”
THE INAUGURAL AES@NAMM 2018 PRO SOUND SYMPOSIUM AFFORDS A SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
JANE EAGLESON, MEYER SOUND
Bluehorn System
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