The annual Musikmesse/ProLight+Sound show, jointly held in Frankfurt, Germany, from March 13 through 17, 2002 is nothing short of huge, with some 13 halls filled with the latest in musical instruments, recording, P.A., lighting and DJ gear. And despite the "Musikmesse" name, there was plenty of pro action as well, with several halls devoted to high-end audio equipment from serious suppliers such as Meyer Sound Labs, EAW, Trident Audio, Neumann, Nexo, DPA, Apogee Sound, Midas, Nagra, Funktion-One, Turbosound, etc.

This year's Musikmesse arrived just weeks after a highly successful NAMM show, yet the Frankfurt show had no shortage of news and new products. Here are a few highlights...

YAMAHA 02R96

The most talked-about product at Musikmesse was the Yamaha (www.yamaha.com/proaudio) new 02R96, the long-awaited successor to its revolutionary 02R digital console. Slated for deliveries this June, the 02R96 represents a thorough revision that updates every aspect of the console for recording, installed or live sound applications, with more than five times the processing power of the original 02R. The 02R96 inherits key features of Yamaha's recently-announced DM2000--such as 24-bit/96-kHz audio, Surround Monitoring, and DAW Control--into the same footprint size as the original 02R. The control surface and user interface were enhanced for analog-style hands-on operation, as well as 16 assignable user-defined keys.

Surround features include panning, joystick, monitoring and bass management. Also standard is 32-bit internal processing and a comprehensive range of 96kHz-compatible stereo effects plus several designed specifically for surround. Its 24 100mm motorized channel faders can be instantaneously layer-switched to control any of its 56 input channels. All available inputs, outputs, effects, and channel inserts can be assigned to any of the console's channels or outputs via an internal digital patching system. The unit is designed to integrated with DAWs such as Digidesign Pro Tools, Steinberg Nuendo and Emagic Logic Audio, and ships with Yamaha's Studio Manager (Mac and Windows) software, for external control and management of all console parameters.

AUDIENT AZTEC

Not all consoles were digital. Distributed in the U.S. by ATI (www.audiotoys.com), the new Audient Aztec Live Console, which features a completely modular architecture and an innovative, lightweight frame, ships with 32, 40, or 48 input channels. Features include 12 VCA sub groups, eight audio sub-group buses, VCA solo, a 12x8 matrix, eight mono and two stereo aux buses, and LCR outputs. A stereo ambience input facilitates in-ear monitoring, and the board features scene automation and peak LED meters on groups, matrix and auxiliary outputs. The board's innovative exterior frame design both protects the mixer, while providing numerous handgrip positions for loading the console through narrow doorways or into tight installation spaces. Aztec is already in use on the Groove Armada tour in the U.K. and makes its US debut at next month's NSCA in Denver.

MACKIE LICENSES COBRANET

Mackie (www.mackie.com) announced a licensing agreement with Peak Audio to incorporate Peak's CobraNet technology into current and future Mackie, EAW and RCF products. CobraNet is a real-time digital audio distribution technology allowing the transportation of audio and control data over 100MBit Ethernet networks. According to Mackie Executive VP Lori Stutsman, "Incorporating CobraNet technology is a natural evolution of our product line. With CobraNet, our customers will be able to easily design and assemble sophisticated systems with Mackie's unique and intuitive user interface."

TC ELECTRONIC M300

TC Electronic (www.tcelectronic.com) has always been regarded for its no-compromise signal processing. Now the company unveils the the M300 Dual Engine Processor, a digital reverb/multieffects unit that retails at an affordable $299--ideal for P.A., live, studio or club use. Slated for May release, the M300 includes 99 user presets and 256 factory settings, such as flange, phase, tremolo, delays plus 15 different reverb programs and its built-in power supply adapts to any AC voltage source.

NEUMANN WIRELESS

After months of testing--including use at this year's Grammy Awards telecast--Neumann (www.neumann.com) has teamed up sister company Sennheiser (www.sennheiser.com) to create a new wireless system using Neumann's KK 105S capsule and Sennheiser's SKM 5000N transmitter. The new capsule is based on Neumann's successful KMS 105/140/150 handheld vocal mics; the SKM 5000N adapted from the popular SKM 5000 series. Shipping begins in May.

DPA 4071 Miniature Mic

Formerly known as Bruel & Kjaer Pro Audio, Danish Pro Audio (www.dpamicrophones.com) kicked off its 10th anniversary year with the launch of several new microphones. Designed specifically for body-worn applications on performing talent, DPA's new model 4071 is an omnidirectional miniature condenser mic intended for hard-wire or wireless use with bodypack transmitters from various manufacturers. Developed to optimize intelligibility and clarity by addressing many of the problems of body-worn applications, the 4071 features a gentle +5dB presence boost at 4-6kHz and an acoustic low-cut (built-into the 4071 capsule) that extends headroom by eliminating the sub-100 Hz frequencies that are largely irrelevant when capturing voices from a mic position on the performer's body

MARTIN W8L LINE ARRAY

Martin Audio (www.martin-audio.com) unveiled its Wavefront W8L, an innovative system uses innovative horn-loading techniques in a line array format to produce an extremely powerful system. This 3-way, full-range box--which can be used without subwoofers in many applications--combines proven driver-loading techniques with vertically-coupled waveguides and true constant directivity horns for high efficiency and coverage consistency. Inside is a horn-loaded/ported 15-inch woofer, and vertically-coupled constant directivity horns loaded with two 8-inch cone mid drivers and three 1-inch HF compression drivers.

JBL SOUNDFACTOR SUBWOOFER

Winter NAMM debuted JBL's (www.jblpro.com) new SoundFactor line, which brought JBL performance to new levels of affordability, with the $379 SF15 (15-inch 2-way) and $499 SF25 (dual-15 2-way) FOH cabinets with 1,000 watt power handling and a complementary 12-inch 2-way stage wedge. Now JBL has rounded out the series with the SoundFactor SF22SP powered subwoofer, which features dual 12-inch woofers in a bandpass enclosure with balanced line-level connectors feeding an onboard 500-watt peak (300W continuous) power amp. According to company representative Gerry Tschetter, JBL went with the dual-12 approach over a single 15 or 18 because "a pair of twelves can actually outperform a single-18." The 31.6x18.3x34.8-inch SF22SP cabinet weighs 126 pounds; removeable 3-inch swivel casters simplify load in/out.

MORE TO COME

There were plenty of other interesting debuts at Frankfurt Musikmesse and we'll include some of these in our regular new product sections in the months to come. Meanwhile, we're getting ready to make the (thankfully, much shorter) trek to Denver for this year's NSCA, held April 25-27, 2002. For more details on NSCA's Expo2002, visit www.nsca.org. See you there!