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Yamaha Electrifies at Record-Breaking 2012 Namm Show

 

BUENA PARK, Calif. – Yamaha Corporation of America kicked off the New Year with an electrifying exhibit at Winter NAMM 2012, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The largest and longest-running music industry trade show in the United States, this year’s NAMM Show attracted 95,709 registered attendees, a six percent increase from last year and representing a new record for the 110-year-old show.

Yamaha Remains "In Tune" With the Market
Amid an atmosphere of growth, optimism and excitement, Yamaha's exhibit at the nearby Anaheim Marriott included keyboard instruments, band and orchestral instruments and professional audio and combo products, while Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH displayed in Hall A of the Convention Center. Adjacent to Yamaha's main exhibit, a dedicated room exclusively showcased premium pianos, such as the Yamaha CFX Concert Grand piano and numerous, high-end Bosendorfer models. Under the theme of "Yamaha - In Tune," the company followed Yamaha's trade show black-and-white display format, creating striking exhibits that effectively drew visitors.

New Products, Performances and Events Impress
Beyond several powerful new music technologies, including Yamaha Keyboard Apps and Content, the NU1 hybrid piano, the new DXR/DXS powered speakers and THR guitar amplifiers, Yamaha's booth also featured an array of exciting, live performances and artist signings.

Yamaha opened the show on Thursday, January 19, with an extremely well-attended Live Sound multimedia DXR/DXS product launch event. Booth attendees were then treated to vibrant performances by Yamaha Marimba artist Pius Cheung.

The Yamaha Music Education System also hosted its perennially captivating Junior Original Concert in the Keyboard Division exhibit area. Again, Yamaha served as the presenting sponsor for Muriel Anderson’s All Star Guitar Night, which provided a prime opportunity to demonstrate the exceptional sound of Yamaha guitars, with artists like Lee Ritenour and Mike Stern.

On Friday, January 20, Yamaha hosted violin performances by Mads Tolling and Jeremy Kittle, as well as the Bella Electric Strings ensemble. On January 21, Yamaha Drum Artist and Guitar Artist autograph signings drew patient crowds seeking signatures from their favorite musical artists. Renowned trombonist Andy Martin also performed with a small jazz combo.

Among the new products unveiled at the show, Keyboard Division revealed innovative Yamaha Apps and content for use with iPhone and iPad products, the EZ-220 keyboard and the NU1 Hybrid Piano, as well as the new Disklavier DGB1KE3 Classic. Demonstrations of Disklavier Remote Live technology also took place throughout the show in a luxurious living room setting constructed specifically for the event. There, musicians and students on the NAMM show floor were connected via the Internet with musicians in a studio at YCA Headquarters in Buena Park, California.

Meanwhile, the Pro Audio and Combo Division showcased many new products, including the powerful 01V96i-digital mixing console and the DTX 700 and DTX 500 series electronic drum kits, which feature new OS modules. Guitars featured the new THR personal, computer-compatible amp with a sleek retro look and big sound, as well as the FGX700SC guitar, the GL-1 Guitalele and the A Series Bear Claw spruce top guitars.

Acoustic Drums celebrated its 45th Anniversary with the Hex Rack II and with new Recording Custom and Stage Custom Birch colors. Yamaha also entered the new Live Sound product categories with the low-priced, high performing DXR active speakers, DXS active subs and MGP professional-grade mixing consoles.

The Band & Orchestral Division debuted the new Advantage Intermediate products, as well as the innovative, award-winning new ACP Acoustic Conditioning Panels.

Finally, Steinberg displayed the new CMC Controllers (featured in Engadget and Gizmodo) and the solid UR Series interfaces, which offer great sound quality.

Numerous Yamaha Products Recognized with Awards
Yamaha products received a number of awards at the 2012 NAMM Show. For the first time ever at Music Inc. magazine's Best in Show Award, three panelists chose the same product in the "Gotta Stock It" category: Yamaha's THR amplifier. The AvantGrand was voted Product of the Year in the Musical Merchandise Review Dealer's Choice Awards and the Clavinova was recognized as Best Digital Piano of the Year, while the Band & Orchestral Division was again named as Product Line of the Year. Music & Sound Retailer also presented Yamaha with its Manufacturer of the Year Award and Drum Set of the Year for the Club Custom Kit. In addition, Yamaha's Acoustic Conditioning Panels were recognized as the Best Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool for classroom use.

Leveraging the Power of Multimedia Technology and The Web
Expanding the company's reach far beyond the show floor, Yamaha streamed live, high-definition video from the booth at www.yamaha.com/namm. This year, YCA also provided product spotlight interviews and image galleries on-demand, along with an interactive, three-dimensional booth panorama that was controllable by viewers over the Internet in real time via desktop and laptop computers, as well as mobile phones and tablets.

For more information about Yamaha products, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com, or visit www.yamaha.com/press.

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