NAMM 2020: Access Analog returns to NAMM with Analog Matrix System

Last year, at NAMM 2019, a smaller company called Access Analog brought a concept into the convention center with a remarkable vision for the future of audio. Over the last year, that idea has been brought to fruition, and was finally launched just a few months ago. Now, as we enter NAMM 2020, we finally had a chance to look first-hand at the brain of this whole system at NAMM 2020.

The Analog Matrix is the first tech of its kind — allowing engineers to access popular, yet rare or expensive pieces of hardware equipment in the form of a plugin, remotely via a cloud-based system. It uses real, popular hardware equipment from companies like Pultec, or Universal Audio, and uses a matrix system of robotics to move knobs, push buttons, and change settings in real time. Meanwhile, the engineer in charge, is sitting in the comfort of their own home, or studio, potentially thousands of miles away, with little to no latency. According to an associate from Access Analog, “While you would have to have a decent internet connection, there are customers in Europe using these Colorado based servers with no audible delay issues.” This is certainly an impressive service Access Analog is offering, and it absolutely makes us excited about the where the future of cloud-based audio processing could take us.

The Analog Matrix from Access Analog is available now for new users to sign up for, and access right over at Access Analog’s website. Perhaps the most shocking news from it all, is that using this cloud system costs merely $10 per hour to use. To put it in perspective, if you have a mix that you anticipate spending four hours on, you can sign up for a timeframe to access a real-life vintage Pultec EQ in your laptop mix for just $40, if used for all of those hours. Of course, that price could add up over time and with lots of equipment — but that’s always the case for new tech. Again, this idea is truly groundbreaking, and even more-so gives us a unique new way to use typically expensive studio equipment.