AES New York 2011
Historical Event Details
Friday, October 21, 2:30 pm — 4:00 pm (Room: 1E13)
Leopold Stokowski and the History of Analog Recording
Presenter:
Robert Auld
Abstract:
Leopold Stokowski was active as a recording artist from 1917 until 1977—virtually the entire period of the recording of music by analog technology. Further, due to his obsessive interest in the art and technology of recording, he was frequently in contact with engineers and researchers who were working on technical advances. Therefore, it is possible to trace most of the major developments in analog recording over nearly 60 years through examining the recordings of Leopold Stokowski.
Auld's multimedia presentation will include rare audio recordings, still photos, and film clips, all drawn from the extensive activities of Leopold Stokowski over the course of his career. Special attention will be paid to his involvement in the development of multichannel sound recording, including his collaboration with Bell Labs starting in 1932, his work with Walt Disney for the film Fantasia, and his encouragement of recording in quadraphonic sound in the 1970s.
Robert Auld is an audio engineer active in New York City and the northeast region. His clients include National Public Radio, the BBC, Riverside Symphony, Beantown Swing Orchestra, and many others. He has written for Recording Magazine on technical audio issues and has made presentations on historical audio subjects at AES conventions and section meetings. He is a former chairman of the New York Section of the AES.
Sunday, October 23, 9:30 am — 11:00 am (Room: 1E08)
A Tribute to Walter Sear
Moderator:
Noah Simon
Panelists:
Steven Durr, Acoustical Engineer
Roberta Findlay, Walter's partner at the studio and filmmaker
Brian Kehew, Historian for the Bob Moog Foundation
Sean Lennon
Ray Noguera
Abstract:
Since his untimely passing in April 2010, Walter Sear’s world-famous Sear Sound recording studio has continued to thrive as a champion of analog fidelity. With its reputation for meticulously selected and maintained equipment and a superbly trained staff, Sear Sound has attracted such clients as Paul McCartney, Wilco, and Norah Jones. Walter Sear’s encyclopedic knowledge of and unbridled passion for audio quality set a Platinum standard for studios around the world. This panel will address Sear’s incomparable life and legendary accomplishments from audio engineering and music composition, to his experimentation with theremins and synthesizers. Noah Simon is a Brooklyn-based engineer/producer/arranger and long-time AES member. He has worked with artists such as Eric Anderson, Scout, Bill Frisell, Susan Tedeschi, and Shawn Colvin.
Sunday, October 23, 2:30 pm — 4:00 pm (Room: 1E11)
American Classical Recording—From 1 Microphone to 24 Tracks
Presenter:
Tom Fine
Abstract:
This Historical Event is an exploration of the history of recording techniques and equipment from the 1954 heyday of monophonic full-range high fidelity. Beginning with a single microphone, evolving to early stereo’s “golden age of recording,” and continues with the increasing complexity of the late 1960s and early ‘70s, when Columbia and EMI won Grammys for classical recordings made with as many as 32 mics and 24 tracks. This event is highlighted by a rare, comparative listening session featuring Grammy-winning recordings of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe recorded over three decades. Thomas Fine is a member of ARSC and owner of an analog-to-digital audio transfer studio. With a primary base of archival and education/ institutional clients, Fine specializes in transferring magnetic and grooved-disc media to high resolution digital formats. He is an avid collector of music recordings and student of recording-industry history.
