720081Project Medway: Development of a range of Digital Signal Processing based technology Guitar Amplifiers that can successfully emulate "Valve" sound quality and tone, whilst at the same time maintaining corresponding sound pressure levels associated with trClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKBlackstar successfully completed a Research project for Guitar Amplifiers (Ref EMX06825) in April 2011. This follow-on project seeks to use the results to develop a range of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) based guitar amplifiers that are indistinguishable from valve based guitar amps in terms of both sound and tone quality, whilst keeping equivalent sonic pressure (loudness) at the same levels of wattage specification. It is a well known fact that digitally based guitar amps are inherently inferior to their valve based counterparts in terms of sound quality. This innovative project addresses a need within the music and creative industries for amplification technology which allows the benefits of superior sound and tone quality, married with the versatility afforded by digital technology. Phase 1: An Indicative Prototype Unit used to prove basic functionality. Phase 2: The NAMM (USA show Jan 2012) Prototype. This unit will have fully schematic-designed PCB’s, operational software and GUI (Graphical User Interface) fully developed programme algorithms, complete hardware both mechanically and cosmetically. The unit is to be shown confidentially to Blackstar’s distributors at the NAMM show. Phase 3: Frankfurt Pre-production units to be shown at Frankfurt Musikmesse in Mar 2012. A range of 8 core products are to be developed from 100W down to 1W. The high-powered products share some technological similarities, so these will be developed first. Benefits: 1) Using our existing supply chain and routes to market, success of this project will enable Blackstar to enter the remaining 55% of the market (low price points) that it cannot currently address, raising sales from £8m to £15m. To this end Blackstar has been re-investing most of its profit in R&D, but needs on-going grant support to complete the overall project. 2) Blackstar will create 4 new technical jobs in November to meet the project timetable. The company created 5 new jobs during the research project phase.