Meeting Topic: AES 129th Convention Wrap-Up
Moderator Name: James G. Williamson
Meeting Location: The New School Jazz Performance Space
The November 16th New York Section meeting covered the 129th Convention: discussions of everything from Acoustics, Analog Recording Techniques, Broadcasting and Streaming, Live Sound and Venues, to Mastering the classics and records (Yes, vinyl!). Also discussed were new products, including Avid's ProTools 9, allowing 196 simultaneous tracks, to a full range of analog products. One mixing board manufacturer boasted that its product was 26 years in the making.
Tutorials, Workshops, Papers and Master Classes were discussed. These were as diverse as iPhone Sound Design (its Audio Architecture and third- party middleware) to Grounding Principles, Digital Microphones with AES-42, and on to LF Damping in Small Rooms and High-Resolution Playback on Computer Workstations.
Features of AES Conventions run from hearing tests by The House Institute to Keynote Speakers who began with Andy Warhol films; and Ben Burtt, The Heiser Award winner, who has been the Sound Designer for every Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Wall-e movie. He is someone after our own hearts. He began his "career" at the age of eight, using a reel-to-reel to record his favorite TV Shows, and as of now has made and archived over 14,000 original recordings.
Written By: James G. Williamson
