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About Joao Martins
Since 2013, Joao Martins leads audioXpress as editor-in-chief of the US-based magazine and website, the leading audio electronics, audio product development and design publication, working also as international editor for Voice Coil, the leading periodical for the loudspeaker industry. Covering Audio and Video technology for more than 30 years - Broadcast, Film, Computer Graphics, and Music - as founder and editor of several leading publications in Portuguese and Spanish languages, (he's also fluent in French!), he benefits from a broad and rich perspective of those sectors and its multiple verticals. Marketing and Communication Specialist working at the intersection of media and technology for over three decades, Joao Martins started as a musician and studied visual arts and cinema before founding its own (short-lived) advertising agency. After a career in marketing and sales in film, television, radio and pro audio systems, transitioned full time to magazine publishing.

All items written by Joao Martins
Data-Over-Sound Pioneer Chirp Acquired by Sonos
February 13, 2020 by Joao Martins

Data-Over-Sound Pioneer Chirp Acquired by Sonos

Founded in 2011 and with a very promising trajectory of industry partnerships and growth, Chirp.io, the British data-over-sound company announced that it was acquired by Sonos, the wireless speaker company from Santa Barbara, California. With this new acquisition, that follows closely on other investments in voice- and edge-processing technologies, Sonos shows serious ambitions to expand its connected ecosystem of smart devices into the smart home and beyond.
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GSMA Announces Decision to Cancel MWC 2020 Show In Barcelona
February 12, 2020 by Joao Martins

GSMA Announces Decision to Cancel MWC 2020 Show In Barcelona

The GSMA, the promoters of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) annual show in Barcelona just announced the decision to cancel the tradeshow because of concerns with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This is a decision with major impact in multiple industries, but one that was almost predictable, given the fact that MWC is traditionally a show dominated by large Chinese exhibitors, which have been all forced to cancel their presence, due to international traveling restrictions.
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The Road to USB4 ...and a New USB Audio Device Class!
February 7, 2020 by Joao Martins

The Road to USB4 ...and a New USB Audio Device Class!

This year, I was really looking forward to meeting with the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the support organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, and discuss their projects for the USB4 Specification, the really big, gigantic update story on that front (at least in consumer electronics) since CES last year. The USB-IF announced the publication of the latest and greatest USB4 specification in September 2019, offering a major update to the USB architecture that complements and builds upon the existing USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 architectures. This article was published originally in The Audio Voice 264 newsletter, February 6.
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Avid Shows Updated Hardware and Software Integration for Studios and Creators
January 31, 2020 by Joao Martins

Avid Shows Updated Hardware and Software Integration for Studios and Creators

Avid continues to be the undisputed leading DAW solution for professionals studios and music production, offering an extensive range of solutions from free basic software for musicians, all the way to complete broadcast and film production configurations in multi-million dollar studios. And yet, Avid has failed to generate any headlines in the industry for quite some time, even with its latest announcements proving that the company remains focused in updating its complete range of hardware and software.
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Never Stop Disrupting. Good Enough Is Never Enough!
January 17, 2020 by Joao Martins

Never Stop Disrupting. Good Enough Is Never Enough!

Post-CES 2020 Impressions. "CES is over but we’re just getting started!" That’s the optimistic vision propagated by many companies who just attended the gigantic Las Vegas event and they leave without really knowing if it was a success or not. Because this is no longer the old days when audio companies would leave CES with their order books filled. Currently, all you have are “contacts” and “great meetings” and little else to backup the promises of future business. And that’s the most important game after all at a show like CES. That and the media hallo effect that new product presentations might have caused.
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Universal Audio Steals the NAMM Show with New LUNA Audio Recording System
January 17, 2020 by Joao Martins

Universal Audio Steals the NAMM Show with New LUNA Audio Recording System

Universal Audio was the center of attention for musicians, composers, sound designers, producers and audio engineers visiting NAMM 2020, with the introduction of the all‑New LUNA Recording System, basically expanding all the massive power of the company’s existing Apollo Thunderbolt UAD recording interfaces. The new LUNA software uses all the UAD hardware power to create a powerful multitrack recording system and to run virtual instruments, truly leveraging the best of both worlds.
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USound MEMS Microspeakers Now Available to the Audio Industry as Components, Development Platforms, and Reference Designs
December 17, 2019 by Joao Martins

USound MEMS Microspeakers Now Available to the Audio Industry as Components, Development Platforms, and Reference Designs

Austrian microspeaker company USound is the most advanced MEMS Microspeakers initiative currently in the market. Since announcing a production partnership with STMicroelectronics in 2017, the world's first miniature piezoelectric MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) actuators for smart audio systems in portable devices have become a commercial reality. Targeting multiple possible applications from headsets to high-end speakers and completely new development ideas, USound has announced multiple reference solutions to push the technology forward.
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Audio Collaborative 2019: More Audio Market Facts, Trends and Predictions
December 13, 2019 by Joao Martins

Audio Collaborative 2019: More Audio Market Facts, Trends and Predictions

Promoted every year by the market research firm Futuresource Consulting, Audio Collaborative 2019 full-day conference on November 7 was invaluable, with Futuresource's leading market analysts and researchers sharing some of the latest stats and trends on the topics in the agenda, combined with great panels and in-between keynotes. This is the fourth - and last - of my reports, originally published in The Audio Voice newsletter.
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Audio Collaborative 2019: Two Key Audio Trends and What to Expect
December 5, 2019 by Joao Martins

Audio Collaborative 2019: Two Key Audio Trends and What to Expect

Promoted every year by the market research firm Futuresource Consulting, Audio Collaborative 2019 full-day conference on November 7 was invaluable, with Futuresource's leading market analysts and researchers sharing some of the latest stats and trends on the topics in the agenda, combined with great panels and in-between keynotes. This is the third of my reports, originally published in The Audio Voice newsletter.
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Audio Collaborative 2019: The Professional Loudspeaker Market
November 27, 2019 by Joao Martins

Audio Collaborative 2019: The Professional Loudspeaker Market

Promoted every year by the market research firm Futuresource Consulting, Audio Collaborative 2019 full-day conference on November 7 was invaluable, with Futuresource's leading market analysts and researchers sharing some of the latest stats and trends on the topics in the agenda, combined with great panels and in-between keynotes. This is the second of my reports, originally published in The Audio Voice newsletter.
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