ANAHIEM, Calif., Oct. 27, 2017 – The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN), is thrilled to announce the 2017 She Rocks Awards honorees. Paying tribute to women in the music industry, the fifth annual She Rocks Awards at the NAMM show will take place on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel in Anaheim, Calif. Tickets are available for purchase at sherocksawards.com.
The 2017 She Rocks Awards recipients include:
• Monique Boyer, director, global artist relations/PRO membership at M.A.C. Cosmetics
• Rebecca Eaddy, marketing communications manager for Roland Corporation U.S.
• Lita Ford, legendary rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter
• Beverly Fowler, director of artist relations and events at PRS Guitars
• Lisa Foxx, radio personality at MYfm on the iHeartRadio network
• Charyn Harris, conductor of music programs at A Place Called Home
• Karrie Keyes, founder of Soundgirls and sound engineer for Pearl Jam
• Tracy Leenman, owner of Musical Innovations music retailer
• Dani Markman, director, A&R, Disney Music Group
• Shirley Manson, lead singer from multi-award winning band, Garbage
• Esperanza Spalding, Grammy® Award-winning bass player, singer/songwriter
• Leanne Summers, president/CEO of LAWIM (Los Angeles Women in Music)
“We are excited to recognize our 2017 honorees, who come from diverse areas of our industry. Each has made her contributions in her own, unique way, inspiring and energizing others. We look forward to honoring them all and sharing this celebration of women in music,” said the WiMN founder, Laura B. Whitmore.
In addition, the She Rocks Awards will host the album release of She Rocks Vol 1, A Collection of Kick-Ass Guitar Goddesses, a compilation of eleven virtuoso female guitarists produced by Brad Tolinksi and released on Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label. Performances from the artists on the CD will be included in the program.
The She Rocks Awards will open with a performance by Brandy Robinson, winner of the #SaveAGuitar opening act contest. The house band for the show, Rock Sugah, is led by bassist Divinity Roxx and features Kat Dyson on guitar, Benita Lewis on drums and Lynette Williams on keys.
Gearing up for its fifth consecutive year, the She Rocks Awards pays tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry, and has become a standard at the NAMM Show. Previous award recipients include female industry leaders such as Chaka Khan, Jennifer Batten, Karmin, Colbie Caillat, Sheila E, The Bangles, Orianthi, Dinah Gretsch, Craigie Zildjian, Janie L. Hendrix, Amani Duncan, Mary Peavey, and more.
With featured performances, food and beverages, giveaways, networking opportunities and more, the She Rocks Awards brings together industry professionals, music icons, artists, fans, and media to celebrate women in music.
This event has sold out for the past four years and does not require a NAMM badge to attend. The She Rocks Awards will take place on Friday, January 20, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel. Men are welcome, too!
The 2017 She Rocks Awards is sponsored by Neumann, Gretsch, Seymour Duncan, Avid, PRS Guitars, Roland, #SaveAGuitar, Breedlove, Zildjian, Guitar Center, Casio, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Sabian, Linear Integrated Systems, Schecter Guitars, Gator Cases, Berklee College of Music, The Music People, LAWIM, Music Inc., Music & Sound Retailer, Music-News.com, Premier Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Keyboard, Bass Player, Electronic Musician, and more.
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VOX announces new additions to its iconic AC amplifier family: the AC15 Hand-Wired Greenback and the AC30 Hand-Wired Greenback. These new models are designed for players who want the unmistakable character, touch sensitivity, and harmonic depth associated with classic VOX amplifiers, while offering a warmer, mid-forward tonal profile and earlier speaker breakup thanks to their Celestion Greenback configurations. Built with vintage-accurate circuits, meticulously hand-wired construction, and refined modern functionality, the new AC15 and AC30 Greenback versions give guitarists a bold alternative voice within the revered AC lineup.
The AC15HWR1 Greenback model continues the legacy of the original AC15, delivering the distinctive chime, saturation, and feel that shaped generations of music, but doing so with a bolder and more grounded edge. Its EL84 power section and carefully voiced phase inverter distortion work together to produce the signature blend of clarity and harmonic richness that defines the AC15, while the Celestion Greenback speaker introduces faster breakup, warmer mids, and a tighter low end that players can push into expressive British overdrive more easily. The hand-wound output transformer, vintage-inspired power supply sag characteristics, and 12mm birch ply cabinet all contribute to its resonance, compression, and authentic response under the fingers. The familiar Normal and Top Boost channels remain, offering everything from warm thickness to refined chime, with a BOOST function unique to this model that adds midrange growl and more gain to drive the Greenback more assertively.
The AC15 Hand-Wired Greenback version is not intended as a simple reproduction; it is a tribute refined for modern demands. Updated functionality includes a master volume for better control, a transparent FET-buffered effects loop that can be fully bypassed when not needed, and a tube-driven spring reverb powered by its own dedicated circuit and output transformer for correct impedance and tonal integrity. The reverb’s Level and Tone controls allow players to blend depth and presence without masking the amp’s core sound, while the overall design preserves the musical compression and touch response associated with early 1960s VOX amplifiers, but without the instability or noise often found in vintage units. With 15 watts of EL84-powered output, the AC15HWR1 is suited for studio environments and small to mid-sized stages, and its earlier speaker saturation helps players reach the sweet spot at more manageable volumes, with the option to connect extension cabinets or attenuation devices when required.
Alongside it, the AC30HWR2 Hand-Wired Greenback version brings the same philosophy to one of the most influential amplifiers in history, offering the familiar feel of the AC30 while presenting it with a warmer tonal emphasis and a slightly darker midrange character. Like its 15-watt counterpart, its sonic identity is rooted in the EL84 power section and the subtle harmonic bloom generated as the phase inverter is driven harder. In this configuration, the twin 12" Celestion Greenback speakers reshape that response slightly, trading some of the traditional top-end brilliance for stronger midrange presence, smoother overdrive transition, and an authoritative yet focused projection that makes it particularly compelling on stage and in the studio.
The AC30HWR2 also features a custom-wound output transformer developed to recreate the harmonic behavior of original 1960s units and a 12mm birch ply cabinet that supports the amplifier’s natural openness and resonance. The Normal channel delivers thickness and warmth with the choice of added brightness, while the Top Boost channel keeps the trademark VOX chime but responds with increased control at lower volumes thanks to the Greenbacks’ earlier breakup. As with the AC15 model, its spring reverb is driven by a dedicated tube circuit with its own output transformer to keep clarity and proper impedance, while Level and Tone controls allow musicians to tailor its depth in the mix. A transparent, FET-buffered effects loop integrates modern pedal setups without compromising tonal integrity and can be bypassed entirely when a straight signal path is preferred.
With 30 watts of British tube power and dual Greenbacks, the AC30 Hand-Wired Greenback version has the headroom, authority, and dynamic response expected from an AC30, but reaches its saturated tones at more practical live volumes, offering a compelling alternative to traditional configurations. Both new models are designed for players who value the unmistakable feel of vintage VOX amplification but appreciate enhanced reliability, tonal control, and a different expressive character shaped by the Greenback speaker voice.
The AC15HWR1 and AC30HWR2 Hand-Wired Greenback versions mark an evolution of two legendary designs, preserving their heritage while offering guitarists a new way to experience classic VOX tone. For full specifications and other information, please visit NAMM Booth #6802 or online at www.voxamps.com.
Trace Elliot® introduces the Trace Elliot Overdrive pedal. Overdrive is by far the most popular category of pedals on the market - and for good reason. With just a simple twist of a knob or push of a button, the colors and character of a player’s tone can completely change leading to endless inspiration and fun. But there is an obstacle for bass players. The lower notes on a bass guitar can often get muddy and lose definition. Thus, extra care needs to be taken in the circuitry and features. Trace Elliot believes they have solved the problem.
As a pioneer in bass amp innovation, Trace Elliot aims to set the standard in all bass overdrive pedals to follow. With true bypass operation, this pedal offers classic full range overdrive specific for bass guitar. The proprietary high overhead soft asymmetrical clipping circuit really contributes to the pedals overall performance creating that vintage, tube-like drive. The pedal has four knobs to help players dial in their tone. The DRIVE controls the amount of overdrive on the signal. The LEVEL control dictates the overall output volume of the pedal. The TONE control is a basic EQ helping players define their overall tone and the BLEND control allows players to mix the clean and overdrive signal. This pedal is also equipped with an internal transformer to give more headroom to the signal ensuring better quality of tone- especially on those lower frequencies.
Alongside the traditional ¼” input and outputs is a separate DRY OUT that helps this pedal standout amongst other overdrives. By offering the player a separate DRY OUT, the player can send the dirty signal to a separate amp while sending the dry signal to either front of house or an effects chain for maximum flexibility in tone. As with all things Trace Elliot, the pedal is built for long lasting durability and performance.
Bad Cat Amplifiers has released the new Hot Cat 50, the latest evolution of its flagship high-gain amplifier platform, available in a 1x12 combo or amp head format.
For more than 25 years, the Hot Cat has been Bad Cat’s go-to amplifier for professional players who need powerful clean tones and authoritative high gain in a single, road-ready design. The new Hot Cat 50 builds on that legacy with a redesigned 50-watt power section, expanded EQ flexibility, two fully independent channels, and switchable Lo and Hi gain modes.
“Our goal was to make the cleans bigger and bouncier, like the older Hot Cats, while at the same time making the dirty channel bigger and more visceral than any Hot Cat before. We feel it sets a new benchmark for what a channel-switching amp can be,” said Jon Bingham.
Positioned alongside the company’s Black Cat 30, which focuses on classic, expressive tones, the Hot Cat 50 is designed for players who demand wide dynamic range—from bold, glassy cleans to aggressive crunch and modern high-gain sounds.
The clean channel delivers American-style clarity and headroom in Lo mode, with added bite and bounce in Hi mode for country and roots-rock lead work. The second channel draws inspiration from classic JCM-style circuits, offering punchy 1980s rock tones in Lo mode and tighter, more aggressive gain in Hi mode for modern hard rock and metal.
Additional features include an onboard reverb, effects loop, direct line out, and included two-button footswitch, making the Hot Cat 50 a complete centerpiece for stage or studio rigs.
The Bad Cat Hot Cat 50 combo carries a $2699.99 street price and Hot Cat 50 head is available for $2499.99. For more information, visit badcatamps.com.
KORG announces the new microAUDIO series, the compact yet powerful microAUDIO 22 and microAUDIO 722 audio interfaces for creators working in studios, onstage, or online. Designed to bring studio clarity straight to the desktop, the series arrives to meet the growing demand for high-quality sound in a portable format, giving musicians, streamers, and producers professional results without complexity. The two models deliver this through KORG’s studio-grade engineering, advanced preamp design, and modern creator-focused workflow, ensuring users can capture, shape, and share their sound with confidence.
Compact in form yet generous in capability, the microAUDIO series combines premium sound with a clean and intuitive layout. Both models support 24-bit/192kHz audio and feature balanced inputs and outputs, offering pristine, open sound with striking depth and ample headroom. The preamps are tuned for musical gain with minimal noise, prioritizing clarity while avoiding excess circuitry so every nuance of a performance—whether detailed vocal recording, layered synthesizers, or live performance playback—is faithfully preserved.
Each channel provides mic, line, and Hi-Z connectivity with 48V phantom power, together with assignable processing tools including a Noise Gate and either a Compressor or Limiter designed for smooth, musical gain control with minimal noise. These processors are not limited to input sources, as they can also be applied to audio returning from a connected computer. Front-panel controls keep essential parameters within immediate reach, while zero-latency direct monitoring ensures precise performance feedback. The headphone output can be assigned independently from the main outputs, enabling routing such as click-track-only monitoring or cue listening with DJ applications, and the Stereo Link function allows paired channels to be adjusted simultaneously from a single control. These workflow decisions keep the technical processes streamlined so creative focus remains uninterrupted. These expanded routing and processing capabilities are scheduled to be added in version 1.01 of the microAUDIO firmware, planned for release in February 2026.
Built for modern creation environments, microAUDIO includes a loopback mode that feeds computer audio directly into a livestream or DAW without complicated setup, making it ideal for streaming, sampling, and content capture. USB-C connectivity allows seamless use with smartphones and tablets, supporting mobile production as easily as traditional studio workflows. Whether recording at home, performing live, or streaming online, the series adapts to the demands of today’s creators and delivers consistent, professional sound.
The streamlined microAUDIO 22 focuses on essential performance for beginners, hobbyists, and creators who want high-quality audio in a straightforward interface with no unnecessary complexity. The microAUDIO 722 extends the concept into new creative territory by integrating KORG’s iconic analogue filter from the miniKORG 700S directly into the interface. This transforms the unit from a simple recording device into a hybrid creative tool capable of shaping tone in ways digital processing alone cannot replicate. The filter may be used as a standalone analogue processor or integrated into DAW workflows, and it can bring expressive movement and character to guitars, basses, digital synthesizers, and more. It offers Low-Pass, High-Pass, and Bypass modes, can process both live inputs and computer-based audio, and its MIDI In/Out connectivity allows automation, synchronization with external hardware, and hybrid digital-analog performance setups.
Exclusive to the microAUDIO series, KORG also introduces Filter Ark, a next-generation filter plugin that extends the creative potential of the hardware into the software environment. Filter Ark recreates legendary analog filters from the MS-20, Polysix, miniKORG 700S, and ARP Odyssey while adding new models including physically modeled resonators and vowel-based filters. Up to four filters may be routed in series, parallel, or feedback configurations, with morphable LFOs, sequencers, macros, and scale-aware control enabling expressive sound design that treats filtering as a musical performance tool.
To ensure users can begin creating right out of the box, microAUDIO includes a comprehensive software bundle featuring Ableton Live Lite, Native Instruments Komplete Select, and iZotope Ozone Elements, covering the complete journey from composition and recording through mixing and mastering. Both models provide 2-in/2-out operation with two preamps, two combo microphone/line/Hi-Z inputs, two DC-coupled TRS outputs, a headphone output, and USB-powered operation via USB-C or dedicated DC adapter, with MIDI I/O available on the microAUDIO 722. The microAUDIO 22 measures 150.0 × 128.0 × 68.0 mm and weighs 407 g, while the microAUDIO 722 measures 220.0 × 128.0 × 68.0 mm and weighs 553 g.
The microAUDIO series brings compact design and studio clarity together, giving creators tools that are powerful, musical, and ready for today’s connected creative environments.
For more information, please visit NAMM Booth #6802 or online at www.korg.com.
Walrus Audio is proud to announce Mantle, a premium preamp and DI for electric bass created in close collaboration with Ian Martin Allison of Scott’s Bass Lessons. Mantle is designed to give players a powerful sonic foundation with studio grade refinement in any setting, whether performing onstage, tracking in the studio, or shaping tone at home.
Mantle features two proprietary custom wound Sapphire Transformers, developed through years of research and refinement by the Walrus engineering team. The input transformer is inspired by classic Neve approaches to deliver strong low-end and midrange presence with clean handling of large signals. The output transformer takes influence from an API 312 output stage to provide quiet, balanced output and rich harmonic character.
The interface is intentionally simple with three large rotary knobs for Bass, Gain, and Treble. Mantle offers sparkling cleans to subtle transformer saturation without unpleasant breakup, and includes an Active or Passive pad to optimize signal headroom. The EQ is flexible and musical, operating as a broad bell boost above noon and switching into high-pass or low-pass filter behavior when cutting below noon. This allows powerful control over sub-lows, mids, and top-end content while remaining intuitive for fast tone shaping.
Additional features include transformer balanced XLR and 1/4 inch outputs that can be used simultaneously. Mantle delivers strong signal integrity and reliable performance whether feeding a console, interface, or bass amp.
Ian shares, “I needed this product to exist. I’m thrilled to say that now it does, and it is absolutely killer.”
Walrus Audio is offering the Mantle Analog Bass Preamp, DI for $749.99. Pre-orders begin today with shipments beginning early Febuary. Experience the Mantle exclusively at walrusaudio.com and authorized dealers worldwide.
