NAMM Celebrates Outstanding Technical Achievement at The TEC Experience

Last night at The 2023 NAMM Show, a standing-room-only crowd at The TEC Experience celebrated twenty-one innovative technical achievement products and technologies, and one studio design project as a part of the NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards. The NAMM TEC Awards are bestowed annually in celebration of the pro audio community and recognizes the individuals, companies, and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media. View the recipients below.  

Hip Hop 50 was a highlight of the evening’s celebrations, which honored the career and legacy of Chuck D, the leader of Public Enemy, a social activist, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Musician, producer, songwriter and bandmate Brian Hardgroove presented Chuck with NAMM's Impact Music & Culture Award, an award he conceived in homage of Chuck’s ability to move culture through the power of music.

Upon receipt, Chuck D said, “It’s an honor to honor those who make this music, and that’s what I’m using this platform for. Seeing peers and technologists like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Lord Finesse, Arabian Prince and being able to see Keith Shocklee, DJ Johnny Juice. This platform that NAMM provides us helps tell the story, and we need to continue to tell that story. It is important and something I am fortunate to be a part of.” 

DJ Jazzy Jeff presented Rock Walk of Fame inductee, GrandMixer DXT with the Hip-Hop Innovator Award for his contribution of innovating the turntable as a musical instrument, the impact of which can be heard in every music genre.

Lord Finesse, an artist, producer extraordinaire, and member of the iconic hip-hop crew Diggin’ In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) gave a special  performance to open The TEC Experience. Resonant Alien, featuring Hardgroove and DJ Johnny Juice of Public Enemy capped off the celebration with a performance.  A specially-produced hip-hop video and music montage conceived by smash-up video man Mike Relm was also played at the event. Entertainment industry veteran and producer Larry Batiste hosted.

The 2023 TEC Awards recipients were selected by a panel of respected industry voters from pro audio publications and members of professional music, technical and creative organizations.

The TEC Awards will return with The NAMM Show in January 2024. Learn more about the TEC Experience at www.tecawards.org.

Congratulations to The 2023 TEC Award Recipients

Amplification Hardware / Studio & Sound Reinforcement 

L-Acoustics, LA7.16i Amplified Controller

Audio Apps & Hardware / Peripherals for Smartphones & Tablets      

Universal Audio, Volt 2 USB Audio Interface

Audio Education Technology

Mix with the Masters   

Computer Audio Hardware  

Universal Audio, Volt 276 USB Audio Interface

Console Technology   

Solid State Logic, ORIGIN

DJ Production Technology (Hardware / Software)   

Roland, SP-404MKII Creative Sampler and Effector

Headphone / Earpiece Technology        

Neumann, NDH 30 Open-Back Studio Headphone

Microphone Preamplifiers    

Rupert Neve Designs, 5025 Dual Shelford Mic Pre

Microphones - Recording     

Mojave Audio, MA-37

Microphones - Sound Reinforcement     

DPA Microphones, 4055 Kick Drum Microphone

Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects     

Universal Audio, UAFX Dream '65 Reverb Amplifier

Musical Instrument Hardware       

NORD, Piano 5 88

Musical Instrument Software

Universal Audio, Opal Morphing Synthesizer

Production Essentials 

Genelec, GLM V4.2 GRADE Report

Signal Processing Hardware

Solid State Logic, THE BUS+

Signal Processing Software (Dynamics / EQ / Utilities)     

Eventide, SplitEQ

Signal Processing Software (Effects)     

FabFilter, Volcano 3

Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers     

Meyer Sound, PANTHER Large-Format Line Array

Studio Monitors  

Genelec, 6040R Smart Active Loudspeaker

Wireless Technology  

Sennheiser, XS Wireless IEM

Workstation Technology / Recording Devices

Universal Audio, LUNA v1.2.5

Studio Design Project 

Spotify at Mateo, Walters-Storyk Design Group

ABOUT THE TEC AWARDS

Presented annually during The NAMM Show at The TEC Experience, The NAMM TEC Awards recognize the individuals, companies, and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media in Technical and Creative Achievement Categories. Through its Hall of Fame, The TEC Awards also honors the pioneers of audio technology and the music industry’s most accomplished producers and audio technicians. The NAMM Foundation’s TECnology Hall of Fame celebrates innovations and groundbreaking technical achievements of the past. For more information, visit www.tecawards.org.