All Things Gear Best of NAMM 2025

The biggest music technology and musical instruments show of the year is here. NAMM always serves as a launch-pad for some of the most exciting innovations in the world of musical recording and performance, and this year is no different. At NAMM 2025, we’ve seen dozens of incredibly exciting announcements, from the re-launch of a beloved drum brand, to the miniaturization of Korg’s first ever synth.

With so many huge announcements, it can be hard to keep up with it all. We’ve been pouring over everything new from the show in an effort to round up only the biggest and best announcements, worthy of our Best of NAMM award. Here’s a look at the winners, and what makes them so exciting.

Recording

Recording technology is always front-and-center at NAMM. Here are the most exciting recording announcements from the show.

Neve 88C

Neve is known for its iconic consoles, but now the company is bringing the VCA compression from the 88R console to a smaller format. The Neve 88C is a desktop compressor that delivers on that warm British character without the need to buy an entire Neve console. It’s a dual-channel system with stereo linking, and it’s powered by a simple USB-C port, making setup simpler. On the back, you’ll find stereo inputs and outputs, as well as a key input for each channel. The unit looks incredibly well-built with its leatherette casing and should serve as the perfect compression companion for any mixing engineer.

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Flock Audio Switch

Flock Audio is making audio routing much less complicated. The Flock Audio Switch has a customizable LED display and door integration with support for up to eight mono or stereo inputs, and it can be controlled both using the large knob on the front, or within your DAW. It’s perfect for those who want to be able to gain greater digital control over their analog routing.

Melbourne Instruments Roto-Control

Melbourne Instruments is making the MIDI controller a little smarter. The Melbourne Instruments Roto-Control is a motorized MIDI controller that can be set up to control all kinds of different hardware and software parameters. It has up to a massive 16,000 memory locations for recall, and while it currently works best with Ableton Live, it’s likely it’ll get better support for other DAWs. With a bit of customization, it should be able to fit seamlessly into your current workflow. The Melbourne Instruments Roto-Control is available right now for $419.

Guitar

As expected, we saw a range of great guitar-related announcements too. Here are the best of them.

Marshall Overdrive series

Marshall is bringing its most popular amplifiers to your pedalboard. The new Marshall Overdrive series brings the iconic tone of the likes of the JCM800, JCM900, and JVM to a series of new pedals that will help you achieve that thick tone without having to expand your amplifier collection. The pedals offer an instantly classic design, and Marshall says they’re a “tribute to Marshall’s storied heritage, blending timeless sound with contemporary convenience.” The pedals each come at $149 — though we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to collect all of the pedals in the collection.

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Fender Standard Series

The Fender Standard Series is getting a revamp. The company has unveiled a new lineup of Standard Series guitars, but what makes this year’s selection unique is the fact that they start at only $599. The guitars are set to be built in Indonesia and each features Modern ‘C’ shaped necks along with Fender Standard pickups, and more. Included in the lineup is a Stratocaster, HSS Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz Bass, and Precision Bass. We’ll have to wait and see how they sound in person, but given how high quality Fender’s non-US guitars have been in the past, we’re expecting the new Fender Standard Series to bring that high quality to a lower price.

MXR Rockman X100

The ’80s is back. The MXR Rockman X100 boasts classic ’80s compression, distortion, EQ, and even chorus in one compact pedal. Funnily enough, the Rockman X100 actually marks the return of a portable headphone amplifier, which was used on all kinds of records thanks to its console connectivity and tone-tweaking features. Essentially, the Rockman X100 could be your secret weapon if you’re looking for an ’80s arena rock tone. The MXR Rockman X100 will be available soon for $229.99.

Drums

NAMM 2025 served as a big year for drums — even marking the return of a classic drum brand.

Slingerland Radio King Limited Snare

Slingerland Drums has had a bit of a rocky road after ceasing operations in the ’80s, then being revived by Gibson and sold to DW Drums in 2019. Now, however, the brand is finally back once again, marking its return with the recreation of perhaps its most iconic snare drum, the Slingerland Radio King Limited Snare. This marks what will hopefully be a successful and long life for the classic brand under a company that hopefully actually cares about the Slingerland name.

Roland WT-10 wireless trigger

Roland is known for its top-tier drum triggering solutions, but those wires have always been a little pesky. Now, however, Roland might have a solution. The company has announced the WT-10 wireless trigger adapter and DH-10 DrumLink Hub, promising lightning-fast triggering over a completely wireless connection. The new products are compatible with Roland drum and cymbal pads, as well as the RT-30 acoustic drum triggers for those acoustic-electric converters out there. While the company has teased the new system, it has yet to offer a release date or price. If successful, it could mark a new era of drum triggering.

Keyboard

At NAMM 2025, we saw a range of keyboard and synthesizer announcements. Here are the best of them.

Nord Piano 6

The Nord Piano 6 not only offers the dual-layer architecture from the Nord Stage line, but it also has two independent piano layers and two sample synths. Not only that, but its new design makes it easier to adjust settings while on stage, and ultimately, brings the Piano 6 pretty close in terms of features to the Nord Grand 2. It has LED faders for easy layer adjustment, and it has its own effects section with an amp simulation and two modulation effects. The Nord Piano 6 will be available starting in May 2025, and will come in both a 73-key and 88-key version.

Korg MiniKorg 700Sm

Korg is bringing back a legend. The company has announced the new MiniKorg 700Sm, which is actually a remake of Korg’s first-ever synth in a compact body. The launch comes a few years after Korg reissued a full-size version of the synth, but should make it easier for those who don’t have as much space to get that classic tone. All of the features you would expect are still there too — including three ring mods, the famous traveller filter, and more.

ROLI Piano

The ROLI Piano brings ROLI’s AI-enhanced piano education system a more accessible form. The ROLI Piano is a larger version of the miniature ROLI Piano M, offering 49 illuminating keys with polyphonic aftertouch. It can be paired with the Airwave Controller too, which detects the movement of the hands and fingers of the player using built-in cameras, then delivers constructive criticism on how to improve form. It will begin shipping in April 2025.