AES New York 2017
Sound Reinforcement Session Details
Wednesday, October 18, 9:00 am — 10:30 am (Rm 1E09)
SR01 - Sound System Optimization with Bob McCarthy
Presenter:Bob McCarthy, Meyer Sound
Bob will lead a discussion of methods of system optimization using speaker aiming, equalization, timing and level matching.
Wednesday, October 18, 10:45 am — 12:15 pm (Rm 1E09)
SR02 - RF Best Practices and Advanced Techniques
Chair:Jason Glass, Clean Wireless
Panelists:
Henry Cohen, CP Communications
Jim Dugan, JetWave Wireless
Pete Erskine, Best Audio - Mt. Vernon NY 10552
Vinny Siniscal, Firehouse
Beyond the basics of accepted RF practices for wireless microphones, intercoms, IEMs, and IFBs is a plethora of facts about antennas, coax, and other passives not commonly understood by the production community at large. This session is comprised of an expert group of RF practitioners who will discuss the various types and performance characteristics of antennas, coax, filters, isolators/circulators, hybrid combiners, directional couplers, and other devices along with their own tips and tricks for dealing with difficult deployments.
Wednesday, October 18, 3:45 pm — 5:15 pm (Rm 1E09)
SR03 - RF and TV Spectrum - The Post Auction Update
Chair:Karl Winkler, Lectrosonics - Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Panelists:
Mark Brunner, Shure Incorporated - Niles, IL USA
Joe Ciaudelli, Sennheiser - Old Lyme, CT USA
Jackie Green, Alteros - Stow, OH, USA
The 600MHz spectrum auction concluded in April of this year. Join a panel of experts on spectrum matters, FCC regulations and the upcoming spectrum changes that affect all UHF wireless microphone, intercom, IEM and IFB operations in the core-TV bands, along with some new band allocations to be available in the near future.
Thursday, October 19, 10:45 am — 12:15 pm (Rm 1E07 (5.1))
SR05 - Corporate Sound Design
Presenter:Lee Kalish, Positive Feedback llc - Kingston, NY, USA
Sound for corporate events can be lucrative but can also be very demanding. Complex matrixing or other unusual solutions may be required in signal routing to loudspeaker zones, recording devices, distant participants and web streaming. Amplifying lavalier mics strongly into a loudspeaker system is its own art. Client relations are of top importance. A discussion of how these factors shape our differing approaches to corporate sound systems.
Thursday, October 19, 4:30 pm — 6:00 pm (Rm 1E14)
SR11 - Sound System Design for Public Address and Intelligibility
Presenter:Peter Mapp, Peter Mapp Associates - Colchester, Essex, UK
This Tutorial discusses what constitutes a difficult acoustic space and the effects of reverberation, echo, and noise on speech intelligibility. Sound system Intelligibility measurement methods and techniques will be reviewed, while system optimization techniques will also be examined. The tutorial includes numerous case histories and examples illustrating the techniques discussed. A fundamental question that will be raised will be “how intelligible do sound systems need to be and does this change with application or is intelligibility universal?” The case histories and examples will include Churches, Cathedrals and Houses of Worship, Concert Halls, Ceremonial Halls / Banqueting Halls, Shopping Malls, Sports Facilities and Arenas, Railway & Metro Stations, Road Tunnels and Airports. The challenges associated with each type of venue will be discussed, as will the thorny subject of aesthetics (i.e., Architects) and loudspeaker size and placement.
Friday, October 20, 9:00 am — 10:30 am (Rm 1E08)
SR06 - Canceled
Friday, October 20, 10:45 am — 12:15 pm (Rm 1E09)
SR07 - AC Power, Grounding, and Shielding
Presenters:Bruce Olson
Bill Whitlock, Whitlock Consulting - Oxnard, CA, USA
There is a lot of misinformation about what is needed for AC power for events. Much of it has to do with life-threatening advice. This panel will discuss how to provide AC power properly and safely and without having noise problems. This session will cover power for small to large systems, from a couple boxes on sticks up to multiple stages in ballrooms, road houses, and event centers; large scale installed systems, including multiple transformers and company switches, service types, generator sets, 1ph, 3ph, 240/120 208/120. Get the latest information on grounding and typical configurations the two leading experts in this field.
AES Members can watch a video of this session for free.
Friday, October 20, 1:30 pm — 3:00 pm (Rm 1E09)
SR08 - Live Sound Subwoofer System Design
Presenter:Adam J. Hill, University of Derby - Derby, Derbyshire, UK; Gand Concert Sound - Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
There is little reason this day in age to accept undesirable low-frequency sound coverage in live sound reinforcement. The theories behind subwoofer system optimization are well-known within academia and various branches of industry, although this knowledge isn't always fully-translated into practical terms for end-users. This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of how to achieve desirable low-frequency sound coverage including: subwoofer polar response control, array and cluster configuration, signal routing/processing options, performance stage effects, source decorrelation, acoustic barriers and perceptual considerations. The tutorial is suitable for practitioners, academics, and students alike, providing practical approaches to low-frequency sound control and highlighting recent technological advancements.
AES Members can watch a video of this session for free.
 | This session is presented in association with the AES Technical Committee on Acoustics and Sound Reinforcement |
Friday, October 20, 3:15 pm — 4:15 pm (Rm 1E09)
SR09 - Microphone Dressing for Theater
Presenters:John Cooper, Local 1 IATSE - New York, NY. USA; Imperial Theater
Mary McGregor, Freelance, Local 1 - New York, NY, USA
Fitting actors with wireless microphone elements and transmitters has become a detailed art form. From ensuring the actor is comfortable and the electronics are safe and secure, to getting the proper sound with minimal detrimental audio effects all while maintaining the visual illusion, one of the most widely recognized artisans in this field provide hands on demonstrations of basic technique along with some time tested “tricks of the trade.”
AES Members can watch a video of this session for free.
Friday, October 20, 4:30 pm — 6:00 pm (Rm 1E09)
SR10 - Intercom Systems
Presenter:Pete Erskine, Best Audio - Mt. Vernon NY 10552
Whether a simple a 2-wire intercom system with only a few stations or a complex digital matrix based system with a mixture of 2-wire, wireless, IP, and other technologies and scores of user stations, intercom is a mission critical part of any show and traditionally been the domain of the sound company/department. Intercom veterans share design and operational aspects for designing and deploying all types and sizes of intercom systems while minimizing system noise, controlling audio levels and assigning individual audio paths.
Saturday, October 21, 9:00 am — 10:15 am (Rm 1E09)
SR04 - Theatrical Sound Design
Chair:Nevin Steinberg, Modern Projects Inc. - New York, NY, USA
Panelists:
Kai Harada
Scott Lehrer
Nicholas Pope
Since the late 1980’s and the introduction of digital signal processing, Broadway sound designers have explored ways of closely associating the amplified signal with its acoustic source in time and space. Localization techniques have developed around increasingly sophisticated technology. In a panel discussion, four leading Broadway sound designers discuss both their localization approach and recent productions to illustrate the state of the art."