For Release: December 7, 2020
— Through on-demand sessions and scheduled streams with live Q&A, the Sound Reinforcement Track sessions will highlight immersive audio, concert sound, recent issues with safely-distanced listening and more as part of the AES Show Technical Program —
The world of live events has been hammered this year by dramatic changes and challenges. Even with that backdrop, the ongoing importance of sound reinforcement in communications and entertainment is nowhere more evidenced than in the AES Show Fall 2020 Convention Sound Reinforcement Track sessions. Taking place October 27 – 30 in this year’s exclusively online format, the AES Show Technical Program will highlight the latest advancements in sound reinforcement tech and practice, as well as pandemic-driven issues including optimizing health and safety standards for live sound technicians and their audiences. The Technical Program On Demand content will be available beginning October 26, with parallel scheduled streams featuring live Q&A sessions taking place October 27 – 30. AES Show All Access registrants can attend all Sound Reinforcement Track sessions along with the rest of the comprehensive Technical Program Special Events, including everything else the AES Show has to offer.
“While we’re unable to be physically together this year, we’re excited to have so many great presenters sharing and showing their work to us” stated AES Show Sound Reinforcement Track Chair and Historical Track Co-Chair and President of Dansound Inc., Dan Mortensen. “In some cases, particularly the ‘Remote Optimization’ and ‘Sound Reinforcement in a Covid World’, there are specific techniques of how to deal with the strange times we are in. Many or most of us are still looking forward to doing our first show again, and we hope our Track will not only help remember the good times but also help you to look forward to the new good times when we’re working again at the thing we love so much.”
One challenge throughout the sound reinforcement industry is providing a full and impactful listening experience while maintaining safe and comfortable listening levels. In the session “Sound Engineering for Safe Listening,” streaming Tuesday, October 27, at 6:30pm EDT, experts in fields from sound reinforcement to audiology will gather to share the World Health Organization’s vision for safe audio listening levels, provide insight into current actions and discuss the important role sound engineers can play in this global effort. Panelists include Shelly Chadha (World Health Organization), Kaloyan Kamenov (World Health Organization), Mark Laureyns (AEA European Association of Hearing Aid Professionals), Adam J. Hill (University of Derby), Michael Santucci (Sensaphoncs), Ian Wiggins (University of Nottingham) and Marcel Kok (dBcontrol).
Another topical and timely session, “Sound Reinforcement in a Covid World: An International Panel of P.A. Company Representatives and Production Professionals Summarize the State-of-the-Art of Getting on With It,” will take a look at current conditions and the emerging research and technologies that are helping keep the industry alive, streaming Thursday, October 29, at 6:30pm EDT. Panelists for this session include Track chair Mortensen, Jonathan Stoverud-Myers (Carlson Audio), Tim McCulloch (Pro Audio Systems), Gordon McGregor (GBR Scotland), Owen Orzack (Eighth Day Sound), Denise Woodward (IATSE Local 16, San Francisco Symphony), and Victor Arko (Eighth Day Sound).
The AES Show Sound Reinforcement Track will also feature eight on-demand sessions being made available for personal viewing as of October 26, covering immersive audio in venues, concert sound, system optimization and other topics. Of note, the on-demand session “Wireless Microphone and Intercom Spectrum Update” provides an important update on recent frequency allocation and the 600MHz spectrum auction, which features the late Mark Brunner (Shure), known for his outspoken knowledge and mastery of the subject, along with panelists Karl Winkler (Lectrosonics) and Joe Ciaudelli (Sennheiser).
Visit AESShow.com to find out more about the AES Show Sound Reinforcement Track and other Technical Program sessions, the AES Show Partner Showcase, and much more happening as the AES Show 2020 expands across October as Audio Engineering Month. Showcase registration is free for AES Members, while non-members can register for just $25, or for free with a VIP promo code from one of the AES Show Partners (special thanks go to AES Show Fall 2020 Convention Platinum Partners Amazon Devices, Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Genelec, NTP Technology (DAD, Penta), and The Recording Academy Producers and Engineers Wing). For everything AES Show 2020 has to offer, including the comprehensive Technical Program, All Access Registration starts at just $149 for AES Members and $99 for AES Student Members.
