Got Your Gear Ready?

Streaming Tools Found at NAMM 2023

A surge of Podcasters, Youtubers, and Streamers have started enhancing the music industry and are looking for gear that delivers exceptional material with option of ease, benefit of timeliness, and budget-friendly pricing. Companies now have the task of creating products that meet both demands with options that are inexpensive but reliable. I’ve interviewed 3 companies at The NAAM show that offer products to either larger firms or the one-mic person that will enhance their business. Zoom, 512 Audio, and Insoundz have created a new buzz in the industry this year.

Zoom (https://z oomcorp.com/en/us/) has been around since 1983. Does one remember the Zoom 9002, the digital processor so small you can wear it on your guitar strap? Yes, that’s them! Now among Zoom’s impressive line of products, they are creating more tools that focus on Podcasters, Youtubers, and Streamers. The Podtrack P4 and the ZDM-1 Podcast Mic Pack are perfect tools for customers that want mobility and production from their equipment while on a budget. The P4 offers a quick but professional studio set-up with only a mic, headphones, and mobile phone in-tow. It allows the user to be in control with mic inputs that handle up to 70dB of gain, 4 headphone outputs, and receive remote call-ins. Mobile phones can connect with a TRRS cable, and computers and laptops with a USB connection without any echo or feedback. Zoom also takes it to the next level with its Zoom Livetrak L-8 which lets larger content creators mix, monitor, and record polished interviews.

512 Audio (https://512audio.com ), an offspring of WARM AUDIO, offers essential starting mics and accessories so that podcasters can present themselves online within a smaller budget. With about seven products under their belt, they offer podcasters great mics and accessories to get started. The Tempest USB microphone is one tool that offers a modern USB-C connection and a 24-bit/48kHZ resolution. The mic looks sleek and sexy when you need a good look on camera. They created it with built-in studio features that keep the podcaster in control of mic gain, a zero-latency volume control, and mute functions. 512’s mics come with their own stands. PRecently highlighted in Forbes magazine as a brand that aims to deliver the best pro audio equipment to the podcaster in an affordable way, 512 Audio showed NAAM attendees how they can meet their customers with professional quality gear.

Insoundz (https://insoundz.com) has developed a great AI-generated audio enhancement program that will give streamers and podcasters a clean polished sound. Marketing to a larger corporate budget, they plan to optimize their software in a few months so that individual consumers can get their services on a subscription service. With the relationships of iHeartMedia, 2WCom, Sensi.Ai, and several others, Insoundz has stepped out with an AI technology that remasters audio into a professional polished format. Their customers can record with any mic or mobile device in any location setting and concentrate on the interview without fear of what’s going on around them. Dog’s barking, baby’s crying, soft or overly loud talking isn’t an issue because their technology uses an AI regenerated audio to separate the speaker from the surrounding environment and redistributes into a clear audio that is ready to use instantly. With a cloud-based format, users have easy uploads and access to their compositions at any time.

This year, NAAM has brought together another great show that not only showcased new products and designers but loyal companies from all realms of the music industry. Erich Barto, who has attended NAMM for 16 years with Zoom, says, “it helps us reach individuals and our contacts all at the same time. The experience provides personal face-time with our partners that come from all over the world, and with individuals to focus on the quality relationships and not the quantity of sales.” Zoom, 512 Audio, and Insoundz were able to reach out and establish that connection and show the industry new products that empower individual podcasters and corporations.