Things to do @ the 127th AES Convention in NYC…

I am hoping that those of you who will be attending the 127th AES Convention in NYC will add a few important items to your ‘must-do’ list while there.

1.  Look for me at any of the various meetings or ‘on the exhibit floor’, and please introduce yourself!

2. Approach exhibitors & inquire if they may be willing to come speak to your local section. You’d be surprised how many are anxious for this chance, and just need a little coaxing.  Many will offer to do so at little or no cost to your section too!

3.  Apply suggestion #2 with those who are presenting papers, workshops, tutorials, etc. There is an amazing array of opportunities for interesting local meetings just waiting at every AES convention.

4.  Get acquainted with other ’specialists’ at any of the Technical Committee or Standards meetings. These are OPEN to all attendees, regardless of membership status.  This is a great chance to confer with some of the brightest minds in the audio industry today.  A full listing of meeting times is available on-site.

5.  Plan to attend & participate in the Regions & Sections Meeting on Sunday 9AM-11AM. Come share your ideas & learn from other section leaders how to make your section’s experience even better.  Francis Rumsey, Regions & Sections Chair, will lead this discussion, which will include presentations by Regional VP’s and other section leaders (like yourselves).

6.  Don’t miss the Heyser Lecture on Sunday @ 7PM! This year’s distinguished lecturer is the legendary Phil Ramone, who will treat you to his insightful ‘Technology and Music Meet Again”.

I am looking forward to seeing (and meeting) you there!

- Jim Kaiser

New AES Web Site Is A Hit

Wow… it’s not very often that you can get excited about a new web site, however ‘new and improved’ hardly does it justice! Following many long months in development, the new AES site is simply stunning, and will benefit old, new, and those not quite yet, members with its attractive, informative, and easy to navigate layout.  All of these features allow you to find what you are looking for, and discover a few new things, about the AES.

Kudos especially to our AES Webmaster, Steve Johnson, and to the volunteers that helped him make this happen: team leader Nick Zacharov, graphic designer Josh Tidsbury, and copywriters Peter Cook and Michael Fleming.

See for yourself…  http://www.aes.org/

Third Annual Regional Student Summit Report

Congrats to the enthusiastic AES Webster University Student Section in St. Louis, MO! I had the pleasure to attend & participate in the 3rd Annual Regional Student Summit on April 3 – 5, 2009.

Faculty advisor & organizer Gary Gottlieb provided this report:

“With almost 400 students in attendance from as far away as Texas, Florida and New Brunswick, the Third Annual Central Region Audio Engineering Society Student Summit, hosted by Webster University in St. Louis in April, was a raging success. They came from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee and more to hear keynote speaker Phil Ramone along with other audio luminaries, professionals and educators alike, including Jim Anderson, Frank Filipetti, John Storyk, Leslie Mona, Alex Case, Jim Kaiser, John Krivit, Mark Rubel, Teri Grossheim, Steve Ward, J Franze, Bob Horner, Chris Phillips, Dave Mendez, Jeffrey Tackett, Bill Crabtree, Christopher Plummer, Chris Mara, Lee Buckalew, Bill Schulenburg, Joe Blasingame, Paul Hennerich, Ken Felton, Devon Cooke, Tori Meyer, Mary Edwards, Steve Cearley, Paul Stewart, Steve Savanyu, Elsa Lankford, Paul Stamler, Ariel Gross, Chris Lyons, Konrad Strauss, Dave Derington, Fallon Stillman, Josh Davidson, Mike Tomko, Chris Estes, Matt Emick, Lamar Williams, Bernie Hayes, Tony San Fillipo, Rusty Wandall, Gary Hedden, Amy Becker, Scott Esterson, Matthew Koschak, and Chris Collum.

Sponsors included Shure, SSL, Neutrik, AES, Endless Analog, Cengage, Genelec, Focal Press, Webster University, Sennheiser, Sony, Audio-Technica, Grammy U, Earthworks, Sweetwater, Ironman and Gotham Audio.”

Read more about it here…

Nashville Recording Workshop Makes History

Ricky Skaggs’ keynote address. (Photo by Harry Butler)

Nashville, TN (April 2, 2009)–The AES Nashville Section, in conjunction with the international AES organization, held a two-day conference and gear expo on February 20-21, 2009, at Nashville’s Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum.

The successful inaugural event focused on recording musicians, songwriters recording demos, and recording engineers working in personal production spaces. The 341 attendees came from 28 states in the U.S., Costa Rica, Canada, the U.K., and Germany.

Thirteen-time Grammy Award winning artist, label and studio owner, Ricky Skaggs gave the keynote address, reminding the audience that “it all comes back to the music.” Skaggs also set the stage for the parade of engineers, producers and other high-profile industry professionals serving as presenters, panelists and moderators for the various workshops. This group included Rich Adler, Tim Akers, Jeff Balding, Ben Blue, David Davidson, Tony Darren, Tommy Dorsey, and Casey Wood. Traveling to contribute to the conference were New York-based mastering engineer Alan Silverman, giving a Mastering 101 workshop, and California-based engineers Tony Shepperd and Jeff Markham, offering a Pro Tools 101 workshop.  A sizeable student contingent (many from local schools as volunteer workers) was also in attendance.

The conference was designed to give the recording and songwriting community access to the experience and knowledge of the AES and its affiliates, and to provide real-world insights into technology and techniques that can help attendees achieve professional results, even on shoestring budgets.

Exhibitors partake in networking opportunities at the first Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo. (Photo by Harry Butler)

Beyond workshops, attendees could also browse the offerings of the sold-out Expo portion of the conference, with gear, products and services demonstrated by ADK, AEA, Prodigy Engineering, Purple Audio, Quest Marketing, Raxxess, RMGI, Robert Wolf, Royer Labs, Rupert Neve Designs, Solid State Logic, Sonicraft A2DX Lab, Sony Pro Audio, Source Elements, Steinberg, Tannoy, TC Electronic, Genelec, The Recording Academy P&E Wing, Sennheiser USA and, the reception sponsor, Sweetwater Sound. AES President Jim Anderson and Executive Director Roger Furness were among the VIP guests.

“Whether a musician recording performances, a songwriter laying down demos or a professional engineer creating in his or her own production space, NRW+E provided insights and essential information geared toward boosting the careers of attendees,” said Nashville Section chair Mike Porter. “In addition to exhibits and product demos from leading manufacturers, workshops, and roundtable discussions, NRW+E provided attendees with an outstanding networking opportunity. Essentially, we introduced a mini-AES Convention targeted to a specific audience. We are looking forward to making this an annual event in Nashville.”

Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo
www.nashvillerecordingworkshop.com

Audio Engineering Society
www.aes.org

Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo Special Offer!!!

Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo Expands Roster Of High-Profile Sponsors And Special Guest Presenters

Pre-registration still available for 2-day workshop and gear expo & pre-registration qualifies Attendees for Prizes!

The AES Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo, taking place February 20th and 21st at the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN, has added several new sponsors and Master Class programs to its recording workshop and gear expo lineup. Topics ranging from miking and mastering workshops to songwriting and demo preparation will be presented by top industry professionals including recent GRAMMY® winners Vance Powell and keynote speaker Ricky Skaggs, as well as 2008 AES Gold Medal Winner George Massenburg.

Registration for the NRW+E includes lunch on both days, Friday reception sponsored by Sweetwater, Musician’s Hall of Fame & Museum admission, and a 2-day pass to Workshops, Master Classes, and Exhibit Hall. In addition, all pre-registrants are eligible for prize giveaways to be presented during Friday’s evening’s reception (pre-registration ends February 18th).

Offering a 2-day, intensive schedule of programs focused on enhancing productivity in personal production spaces and other recording environments, the NRW+E gives participants a unique opportunity to network with audio professionals from all facets of the industry including other major music and pro audio organizations and educational institutions. Both beginning recordists and experienced professionals will be given unique access to information and demonstrations provided by sponsors ranging from top gear manufacturers, magazines and websites, and professional production service providers.

Additionally, Universal Audio and the Nashville Section of the Audio Engineering Society have “sweetened the pot” for all pre-registrants to the Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo by offering a chance to win a Universal Audio UAD-2 Solo DSP processing engine. In addition, 10 AES Nashville Test CDs will be offered as prizes.  Two winners will receive a 50% rebate on their registration fees, and two registrants who are not currently AES members, one student and one professional, will win complementary one year memberships to the AES. Advance registration will close at midnight on Wednesday the 18th and all non-exhibiting current registrants are also eligible for these giveaways.

Sponsors and exhibitors of this first Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo include ADK Microphones, AEA Microphones, ATR Magnetics, American Songwriter Magazine, Aphex Systems, Auralex, Avant Electronics, Avastor, Belmont University, Blackbird Audio Rentals, Cascade Microphones, Charter Oak Acoustics, DPA Microphones, Dyn Audio, EQ Magazine, Endless Analog, Equator Audio, FDW-Worldwide, Fxpansion, Genelec, Gordon Audio, Great River Electronics, IADT, Interface Audio, MasterMix, Microtech Gefell, MTSU, NPNG Mic Preamps, NTS Pro Media, Nashville Muse, Peluso Microphone Lab, Prism Sound, Prodigy Engineering, Pro Audio Review Magazine, Professional Audio Solutions, Pro Sound News Magazine, Purple Audio, Quest Marketing, RMGI, Raxxess, Rupert Neve Design, Sennheiser USA, Solid State Logic, Sonicraft, Sony Pro Audio, Source Elements, Steinberg, Sweetwater, Tannoy, TC Electronic, Universal Audio, Yamaha, and Waves. Additional exchange partners include the AF of M Local 257 Mus ician’s Union, Nashville Music Pros, The Nashville Muse, Record Nashville, NARAS P&E Wing, Music Row Magazine, NSAI, 3D Audio, RMA Nashville, and FH Mastering.

Passes are still available for the 2-day event and opening night reception, with pre-registration continuing through February 18th. Discounts admission available to AES members, students, and other associated industry memberships.

Visit www.nashvillerecordingworkshop.com for more information.

February Update!

Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo Adds Workshops, Sponsors 02.06.2009 Nashville

The Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo, sponsored by the AES Nashville section in conjunction with Audio Engineering Society, Inc., has expanded its offering of top Nashville talent and cutting-edge gear exhibitions for this inaugural event set for February 20-21, 2009 at the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum.

In addition to updated Master Class sessions led by industry pros such as Pro Tools 101 with Tony Shepperd and Jeff Markham and Mastering 101 with Alan Silverman, and the addition of presenters and panelists George Massenburg, Dave Sinko and Rich Adler, further brand participation has also been announced including:

ADK Microphones, ATR Magnetics, Analog Recording Lifestyle, Avant Electronics, Blackbird Rentals, Cascade Microphones, DynAudio, Gordon Instruments, Great River Electronics, Nashville Muse, Purple Audio, Raxxess, Sonicraft, Sony Pro Audio, Source Elements, Sennheiser, Steinberg, Sweetwater, Tannoy, T C Electronic, Waves Audio and Yamaha.

Previously announced exhibitors involved with the first NRW+E also include DPA Microphones, Prodigy Engineering, NTS Promedia, FDW-Worldwide (with brands Violet Design, Sontronics, Nevaton and Cable Up), RMGI America, Prism Media Products, Professional Audio Solutions, Avastor, MicroTech Gefell, Aphex, Quest Marketing, Auralex, Genelec, Solid State Logic, Rupert Neve Design, Interface Audio, Equator Monitors, Peluso Microphones, TechRep Marketing, Universal Audio and FXpansion.

Building on the close-knit relationships of the world’s top talent, top production professionals, and the cutting-edge pro audio facilities and high-end studio gear available in Music City, the Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo will offer attendees a unique AES convention experience with a focus on today’s techniques and technologies which have opened up new worlds of new opportunities for artistic production. Combined with the irreplaceable knowledge of recording fundamentals as presented by workshop panelists and special guests, many of the world’s finest gear manufacturers will also be on-hand to present attendees with a first-hand look at some of the latest and most relevant gear available for any personal production space. From microphones and processing to software and studio monitors, participants will have the chance to interact directly with representatives from top brands in a traditional trade show-type environment.

Passes are still available for the 2-day event and opening night reception, with discounts available to AES members, students, and other associated industry memberships. Visit the event’s website for more information.

Nashville Recording Workshop www.nashvillerecordingworkshop.com

Jan. 2009 Update

I am sure that most of you have received your email notification that it is ‘time to renew your AES membership’.  Hopefully you have already done so, however if you haven’t yet, please take a few moments to do this right away!

Remember… your participation as an integral part of our strong (and growing) organization is vital.  The nominal investment that you make helps to support major events like the International Conventions & Conferences, as well as the local activities of your own professional & student sections.  Your continued membership in the AES is one of the easiest ways for you to affect the welfare of your audio industry in this difficult economy.

Best,

Jim Kaiser, AES VP Central Region USA/Canada

P.S. Also, make plans to attend one of the upcoming events listed below…

December 2008 & Beyond!

Happy Holidays to All!

As we wrap up another year of successful AES activities, it is a great time to reflect on our accomplishments, and to look  at what the coming year has to hold.  I know that many of you had the opportunity to travel to the 125th AES Convention in beautiful San Francisco to get your yearly dosage of ‘audio adrenaline’.  This year’s program was particularly compelling, and showed an encouraging attendance improvement, despite the downturn in the economy.  Click here for details….

At this recent convention, I was pleased to have two new sections in the Central Region USA/Canada become officially recognized by unanimous vote of the Board of Governors.  Congratulations & welcome to St. Louis Professional Section (St. Louis, MO) and to Purdue University Student Section (West Lafayette, IN)! Both are demonstrating their abiding interest in the importance of audio in our society.

Looking ahead to next year, there are several activities in our region to help you maintain your ‘AES-fix’…

Starting in February 2009, is the first ever “Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo” in … er Nashville, TN. Check it out!!!

This compelling two-day immersion in the art and technology of recording music is designed to share the expertise of the Audio Engineering Society with a new generation of audio engineers hungry for the information and insights they need to make the most of their personal studios.

Keynote speaker will be 13-time Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs, whose musical career has spanned 37 years in the bluegrass & country genres.  He continues to be one of the music’s most sought after live performers, and also owns his own studio & record label.  A full list of luminary presenters, workshops, and master classes is listed on their site… registration begins NOW, so don’t miss out!

Also, coming up in early April, is the 3rd Annual Regional Student Summit, which is hosted by Webster University Student Section (St. Louis, MO). This event has become THE place for students, educators, and professionals to get together  in the spring to discuss the practice of professional audio.  Previous year’s gatherings have included keynotes by David Moulton and Bob Katz, with this year’s opener the legendary producer & visionary Phil Ramone!  Doesn’t get any better than this… more details to follow.  Put this on your calendar NOW!

And, finally… if you are involved in ‘car audio’, you will be especially interested in “Sound in Motion“, the 36th International Conference on Automotive Audio, to be held in early June in Dearborn, MI. Click on the logo for more details!

I look forward to seeing you at these extraordinary opportunities for collaboration, learning, and enjoying audio.

Wishing you and yours the best of holiday wishes, and a Happy & Prosperous New Year!

Jim Kaiser

AES VP Central Region USA/Canada

Greetings AES Central Region Members!

I hope that you and your AES Section have enjoyed a pleasant summer.  Now is a great time to get caught up on some “AES Business”…

Thursday October 2 – Sunday October 5, 2008: 125th AES Convention
“Make The Right Connections” @ Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA

This is the premiere, must-see, event for the world’s audio community…the Fall AES Convention in the beautiful Golden Gate City! You cannot afford to miss it…details are available at http://www.aes.org/events/125/. I will look forward to seeing you there at the Regions & Sections Meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday Oct. 2 @ 5:00 PM. More details soon!

Jump to ‘In The Know‘, and find out why you need to attend…

The 2008 Boston Area Definitive Audio Student Summit on 9.20.2008!

Check out ‘Section Highlights‘, featuring exciting news from the AES Webster University Student Section & the newly-developing AES St. Louis Professional Section!

See renowned Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick on October 29!!!

Remember to visit the ‘AES Student Website’…

This is a web site devoted to AES Student Section activities and interests world-wide. You need to check it out… http://www.aes-sda.org/cms/ . There are great articles, tutorials, and forums, along with information about past and upcoming student events at the conventions. This site is developed & maintained by student AES members like you.

Finally…please confirm & update your Section Contact Info periodically…

This notifies HQ, and the rest of the AES world, who your section leaders are. The best time to do this is following your local annual elections. Go to http://www.aes.org/sections/ and follow the link in the top paragraph (“The following is the latest information we have available for our section contacts. If you wish to change the listing for your section, please fill out this form.”) Also, all documents for helping run a successful section can be found where it says “Information for Section Officers can be found here.”

One special note re: Section Officers & Faculty Advisors…it is important that all of your section’s officers and faculty advisors remain current AES members during their tenure. In addition, it is expected that Faculty Advisors are to be Full Members. You will notice that this info is requested when you make changes to the officer listing. You can easily verify member numbers simply by using the on-line member database, which can be found at www.aes.org/members/. Your Section Contact (typically the Section Secretary) may also access a full database listing of members of your section. This should be reviewed periodically for accuracy so that you are certain of maintaining your section membership.

That’s all for now…. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Best,

Jim Kaiser (jak@aes.org)
AES VP Central Region USA/Canada