Studio Highlights NAMM 2025: Five Exciting New Releases
New Studio Gear, All Hot From NAMM
4,4 / 5,0 | 
NAMM Show 2025 is over, so let’s take a look at five studio highlights. This year, there were many exciting innovations in studio and recording technology. And some of them are already available. A full-featured audio interface from Solid State Logic, a compact compressor from Neve, a channel strip from Harrison, a modern tube compressor from WesAudio and a flexible microphone from Austrian Audio. Here we go!
All About Our Top 5 Studio Highlights of NAMM 2025
SSL 18: A ‘Big’ Audio Interface From Solid State Logic at an Attractive Price
Of course, there were a few audio interfaces among the new products at NAMM 2025. The new Audient iD48 and, of course, the Connect 4/12, Bitwig’s first interface, caught our eye. But what’s particularly exciting is the SSL 18, the latest USB audio interface from Solid State Logic. The SSL 18 offers some very nice features at an attractive price.
The interface has eight analogue inputs and ten outputs, plus an additional talkback input that can also be used for the integrated Listen Mic Compressor (a legendary ‘effect’ from the SSL 4000 series). There are also digital options (S/PDIF, ADAT), insert, send, return and MIDI connections, as well as extras such as a switchable 4K mode for colouring the sound during recording.
The SSL 18 also includes two individually adjustable headphone outputs and other sought-after features such as stereo loopback. And with the SSL ALPHA 8, the renowned manufacturer has even introduced a matching (and very flexible) extension! Without a doubt, one of the studio highlights of NAMM 2025.
Get the SSL 18 from Thomann*.
Neve 88C: Neve’s 2-Channel Compressor for Today’s Studios
Let’s move on to another studio highlight from this year’s NAMM show: the Neve 88C is a very compact 2-channel compressor that has the same look and feel as the 88M audio interface (with Neve preamps).
As a VCA compressor, 88C is very flexible and, thanks to its two channels, can be used to process stereo signals or individual groups. The ratio can be adjusted so that 88C can be used not only as a compressor but also as a brickwall limiter.
Attack times are set adaptively, and release times also react automatically depending on the settings on the controller. The compressor also offers sidechain functions, and the bypass function is equally useful. The power supply is also interesting, as it comes via USB-C – so the compressor can be powered from a laptop! Of course, the price is a bit steep – but you will never get a Neve compressor for less! A nice piece of hardware, that is of course part of our studio highlights article.
Buy the Neve 88C at Thomann*.
Harrison 32Classic MS Mix Strip: High Quality Console Sound in a Compact Form Factor
Today, many people don’t want a large mixing console in their studio – but there is still a demand for high-quality analog signal processing. Channel strips are a great compromise, offering important features in a compact format. A company like Harrison understands this. With the 32Classic MS Mix Strip, the manufacturer known for its excellent mixing consoles offers a 19-inch channel strip that can grow with your needs. Definitely one of our studio highlights at NAMM 2025!
The Harrison 32Classic MS Mix Strip features a transformer-based microphone preamp from Jensen, and of course you can easily connect instruments. And as you would expect from an official channel strip, there are high and low pass filters and a parametric 4-band EQ. Sound shaping is a top priority with this channel strip!
Features like switchable phantom power or a PAD with -20 dB are a matter of course. The mix bus feature makes it easy to expand the 32Classic MS Mix Strip to a larger recording setup while saving space and making it easy to transport in a rack. Great!
Order the Harrison 32Classic MS Mix Strip from Thomann*.
WesAudio ngTubeComp: A Stereo Tube Compressor for the Digital Workflow
This year again there were some really “heavy” gear on display at NAMM 2025. For example, the very impressive Black Box Analog Design HG-Q or the fantastic looking API ASM164 Summing Mixer. But the WesAudio ngTubeComp made a particularly big impression, and therefore has to be shown here again among the recording highlights.
This 2-channel tube compressor combines classic concepts with modern technology. If you know the manufacturer, you already have an idea of what to expect. The compressor can be used in dual mono, stereo or M/S mode, but is also very flexible. Tube saturation, for example, can be selectively controlled, and the compressor itself can be switched between feedback forward and feed forward. The Mix control makes parallel processing a breeze, and there are several sidechain options.
But what’s really cool is the all-digital integration: 100 presets can be stored on the unit, there are A/B/C buttons to switch between three settings, and the most important parameters can be controlled and automated via a plugin from the DAW. The WesAudio ngTubeComp may not be for every studio – but it’s without a doubt an insanely cool piece of hardware!
Get WesAudio ngTubeComp at Thomann*.
Austrian Audio OC-S10: Dual Output Condenser Microphone
And now for the fifth gadget of our studio highlights of NAMM Show 2025 in this review. Of course, there were a lot of microphones on display at NAMM, and we noticed the Peluso P-24 and the UT Twin48 from United Studio Technologies, among others. While these two mics are based on well-known classics, the OC-S10 from Austrian Audio goes its own way.
With the OS-S10, the Viennese manufacturer aims to offer a large-diaphragm condenser microphone that is rooted in a certain tradition, but does not necessarily want to deliver a vintage sound. Low noise and hiss are among the desired characteristics.
Five selectable polar patterns, two PAD settings and four settings for the switchable high-pass filter provide flexibility in the studio. Two XLR outputs are located on the bottom of the unit. Signals can be sent directly to various effects or recording chains. A ball-joint shock mount and pop filter complete the OS-S10’s sophisticated design.
The Austrian Audio OC-S10 will be available soon, and you can find the manufacturer’s large-diaphragm condenser microphones at Thomann*.
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