NAMM2020: Day 1 – MIDI guitars, portable powerhouse synths, and Tim Exile’s new ambitious app.
Get your LA tix before they sell out! https://www.seetickets.us/event/The-Flashbulb-w-Chihsuan-Yang-at-El-Cid/403695
Next year, I’m gonna start my own NAMM. That’ll show em! Otherwise, today we looked at the SY-1000, Korg’s ARP 2600, the Sonicware ELZ_1 and Liven, Qu-bits new quad of modules, and finally Tim Exile’s most excellent music collaboration app and synthesizer.
@thetiminatorrr
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
I'm being a bit hypocritical for saying this (I complain about much more nit-picky things) but you DO realize how massive NAMM is, right? Like… finding parking for the event is inevitably going to be a shitshow. You were sick and tired and driving for three days though, so I probably woulda complained if I were you. Just saying though, you're crazy if you expect event parking to be easy for something as staggeringly huge as NAMM lmfao
@DrFrankenolly
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Chalk a lot of that crap up to the Anaheim convention center "Management" and NAMM trying to save money. The convention center over charges the shows that come through and haven't updated the facilities there since the early 2000's. They're COMPLETELY disorganized. Which then only highlights the short comings of the trade shows that come through. If the center doesn't have any kind of structure or aren't prepared for eventualities, then that leaves the trade show to shoulder those responsibilities and trade shows "can't be bothered" sometimes since they have other things to worry about. So then you get crap like what happened at NAMM. They have a gigantic drive in parking garage. I bet they were charging too much to where NAMM decided to use off site parking options. The fact that you were forced to park way off at Anahiem Stadium just reinforces my suspicion that NAMM was cutting some corners for cost reasons. Sorry that went the way it did. And after you were excited to flex your filming gear with some polished showcases and video segments too.
@RoboticusMusic
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
0:07 Anyone have a link to the Empress live AI performer thing he mentioned?
@jackk9366
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Nam(m) is hell
@SpoodBeest.
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Sigh.. simpler times
@0oSiLveRo0
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
I always thought I wanted to go to NAMM once in my life. Not anymore.
@badinibeats5939
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
love how awkward you are ahhaah
@MadelnMachines
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Boss guy is far too cool for school
@FunkTree
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Benn u really don't wanna be there
@evejustamante3908
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine!! That stuff has saved me many a time lmao 😂 this was great, Benn. Patience is truly a virtue!
@brianrodman1033
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Thanks for the video. This is the first time I’ve watched anything on your channel. By the twenty minute mark I decided to subscribe.
@enneff
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Lmao the arp 2600
@MakeKasprzak
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Any thoughts on the LIVEN? The video cut to something else while you were playing with it. I'm tempted to grab one myself since they're only $200 on Kickstarter, but I haven't played with many synths so I don't know what to think.
@continuummusic220
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
That looks like hell to me.
@Relemsis
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
more comb filters!!!!!
@riojamz2553
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Thanks for your videos Benn. You are a smart and humorous guy but it seemed like you wanted to kick some ass at first, lol. Hope you'll be great for your show, good luck.
@silversulu
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
First NAMM myself. I did one day, first day, whole day focused on synth area and I had a list of synths I wanted to check out. Got there early enough that the chaos hadn't started quite yet—then out. It's a sensory firehose for sure.
@i_never_asked_for_an_alias
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Holy… i would never participate at such a event. Thanks Ben and all the other people for going thru all the pain to get in and take coverage.
@randomaztec2208
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Never new that so many people would turn up to something like this.. Interesting to know.. the hall it's in must be mega big
@ehhhhhhhhhh
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Much respect for taking a damn road trip while you were sick. Jesus Christ.
@cameronleggett
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
You, Benn are such a brat… and that is why I love watching your videos. It's full on NAMM verité. You did not abuse anyone, not even the vaper (no video shaming anyway.) You actually did more to sell the SY-1000 and even seemed to make the neon rock icon into more an ally than a mockery. ENDLESSS is inspiring (saw it on SonicState) but iOS and Apple Inc. both make me cringe. The distributed co-op audio looper is super cool I hope it takes off. I want to see the video looping/manipulation/layered version of ENDLESSS.
@shitmandood
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
I would've taken all the gear into NAMM because someone could bust your windows & steal all your gear. It happens so often you can set your watch to it.
@mvsr990
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
I had no idea NAMM was this bad, the minute I saw those lines I would have gone home. Things they don't show you on Youtube.
@BloodRainbows
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Looking forward to the next video, "Why NAMM is fucking awful (Day 2)"
@willjosef8087
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Thank you for this nice video. Will Endlesss only be available for Ipad?
It could be nice if you stumble upon Unify made by PluginGuru and have time to check it out – it seems like an interesting cross platform program.
@shaboogen
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
7 minutes in and this is already definitely the best NAMM coverage. Well done.
@MH-rt9ts
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Holy shit, I think that was Jason Keene in the parking lot! That dude is a killer chromatic harmonica player aka Bluesbop on YT.
@vinylarchaeologist
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
6:24 is priceless 😂
@mrrafsk
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
more chats with music friends pls! it’s the only medicine for being so honestly grumpy 😉
@henrikemanuelsson7080
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Great questions! You are good at making the presenters give great information! For example the ELZ synth you asked about how does it differ to a mother32.
@wescoast
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
4:51 – Haha! Face says it all.
@SNAFU2012
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
youve brought up that you use linux a few times now. as a fellow linux music person, would you be willing to do a video (or series) on the linux side of things? e.g. daws, jack vs alsa, repos you use, preferred distros, etc?
@goemon4
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
I believe i asked you to check out the Elz 1 in another video. Glad you stopped by the Sonicware booth as the Liven series seem really capable, more so than the Elz 1. As the Elz 1 makes cool sounds it definitely lacks a lot of traditional synth options, but given it was their first synth and has super impressive DSP (and cool features like having 4 serial effects) its a great synth to sample. Its not perfect but im so excited for Liven, esp at the price point.
And ues the Elz 1 is very toy like, i play with it a lot. I took it to a friends house and all they wanted to do was tweak it. Was very popular that night
@henryturner-ward3879
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Loving the footage that you and your wife have captured so far, Benn! Looks like Tim's app will launch around Spring; very excited about that. If you're looking to expand your microphone collection, please check out 'Sontronics', managed by Trevor and Lisa, to see their latest range of products at NAMM – you won't be disappointed.
@forestine_
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Love to know if they have a response to the lack of accessibility for disabled folks. Thanks for pointing that out.
@BecomingProductions
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Great honest coverage Benn. I was jealous seeing all the coverage popping up but after watching your video I think I'm quite happy catching it on Youtube. Hope tomorrow goes better for you.
@toitoitoy
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Look at the Korg Opsix fm synth
@mathieupe666
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Wow! That was the longest name ever…
@Robert-kx8mp
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
it was a good interview, you were able to make it work, thanks
@semyonboyk0
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
When for the love of god will companies like Boss or Fishman start hiring electronic musicians to create presets for their guitar-oriented synth products? Since most demos on Youtube is just guitarists/bassists going through presets, a lot of amazing products with great capabilities are presented like shit.
@vegeta897
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Holy crap! I was anticipating this video all yesterday but never expected it to be finished and uploaded so soon. Thank you for your hard work! Not only that, this is exactly the kind of video I was hoping for.
@goskullheads
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
This cracked me up! Grumpy Benn goes to NAMM!! TBH I can fully relate to the grumpiness – hate mass events that have no user friendly attitude. Also video was nice with no fancy gear – just dudes talking bout gear! Keep the good work up! 🙂
@BookooZenny
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Feels weird to be here so early lol. Good shit as always, Benn
@curcapsicum
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
8:40 Your face hahahah. Oh my god. Poor Benn.
@Renzsu
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Living the misery vicariously, please never change! 🙂
@cybWasHere
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Funny how even without your pro hardware it still feels like a professionnal reporting video, while keeping the fun and easy way of this channel. Well done !
@Loscha
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Can kind of almost read your license there, Benn @2:21
Comments are closed.