POWELL, WYO: An enthusiastic AES member, Robert Rumbolz has always made a point of attending Broadcast Facility Design Panels chaired by John Storyk at recent Conventions. In 2009 as he was reviewing plans for a teaching/recording studio for the Music Department of Northwest College in Powell, Wyo., where he serves as Music Dept. Coordinator and Director of Music Technology, Rumbolz visited the Walters-Storyk Design Group AES Booth at the Javits Center. In a meeting with WSDG principal architect/acoustician John Storyk, he sought an opinion on drawings prepared by CTA, a local (Billings, Montana) architectural firm.

A fervent supporter of pro audio education, designer of many teaching facilities around the country, and a frequent lecturer on studio design and acoustics, Storyk’s initial take on the plans revealed some design issues. A discussion with Rumbolz led to WSDG coming on board as a design consultant on the project. more

NEW YORK: Audio Engineering Society Executive Director Roger Furness has announced that the 130th AES Convention will be held in the Novotel London West Convention Centre, Friday, May 13 – Monday, May 16. The 131st Convention is confirmed for NYC’s Jacob Javits Center, Thursday, October 20 thru Sunday, Oct. 23.

“Extraordinarily positive attendee and exhibitor feedback confirmed the success of our 129th Convention in San Francisco this past November,” Furness said. “We received high marks on all levels, technical, social and organizational. A palpable sense of optimism permeated the entire event.

“Our Convention Committees have already begun the year-long process of developing both these major 2011 events. The call for papers has been posted for the London Convention, and NY Convention Chair Jim Anderson meets this week with our Committee here to begin plans for October,” Furness adds. more

Tech, Talks, Tweets and Turnout Testify to AES’s Unique Pro Audio Audience

SAN FRANCISCO: A full year of preparation, augmented by hopeful rays of economic sunshine and a spirit-boosting World Series sweep by the SF Giants, provided 129th AES Convention exhibitors and attendees with an enthusiastic platform for previewing the industry’s latest hardware and software advances, re-establishing relationships and, updating business and technical expertise.

Over 14,000 attendees and more than 300 exhibitors crowded the Exhibition Hall, Workshops, Tech Tours, Panels, Platinum, Live Sound and Special Events. more

NEWARK, NJ: The recent 35th annual Friends of Old Time Radio Convention presented an Award to composer/producer David Lucas (pictured left) for his contributions to Radio’s Golden Age.â€? A Clio Award-winning jingle writer, Lucas has created memorable commercial music for AT&T’s “Reach Out and Touch Someone,â€? GE’s “We Bring Good Things To Life” and many other iconic campaigns. Also pictured is author, performer Brian Gari.

Held at Newark’s Ramada Plaza Hotel, the four-day celebration of the Golden Age of Radio (Oct. 21-24), featured live recreations of classic shows, celebrity interviews, panel discussions and historical presentations. Among the attendees at this year’s convention were Chuck McCann, Joe Franklin, actor Will Hutchins, Dick Heatherton and ABC, NBC, CBS, news anchor Bob Gibson.

Hi Res Computer Audio, Hybrid Mixing, iPhone Sound Design & iPod Audio Artifacts

SAN FRANCISCO: “In the chain of events which comprise the 129th AES Convention, Master Class and Tutorial sessions are two of the most significant links,” declares Convention Co-Chair, Jim McTigue. “Tutorials provide introductory-level insights into topics with a broad appeal. Master Classes engage senior industry members in discussions on significant technical issues. Master Class/Tutorial Co-Chairs Conrad Cooke and Vene Garcia have coordinated a particularly relevant program for this year’s event.” more

A Very Special Event

SAN FRANCISCO: Christopher Smith, Special Events Chair of the 129th AES
Convention has announced that celebrated organist Graham Blyth will perform a solo recital at SF’s Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on Saturday November 6, 8:00 – 9:00pm.

A perennial AES Convention highlight for 17 years, Blyth will perform on the famed Ruffatti Organ. Considered one of the world’s finest pipe organs, the magnificent instrument consists of 4842 pipes on 89 ranks and 69 stops. Rising dramatically from its soaring pedestal platform, it was built in 1971 by Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy. Designed with the Baroque repertoire in mind, it is considered as much a work of art as the music it produces. more

Rethinking the Digital Audio Workstation – Wireless Audio Streaming – BluRay Audio

SAN FRANCISCO: Crystallizing the 129th AES Convention Bridge To The Future theme, the Nov. 4-7 program at SF’s Moscone Center will offer twenty diverse Workshop presentations. Featuring stellar names from the pro audio community hierarchy, the groundbreaking agenda will address issues directly impacting on work techniques and livelihoods. “Workshop Co-Chairs, David Bowles and Mike Wells have developed a content-heavy curriculum designed to inform and inspire both seasoned and aspiring professionals,” remarked Convention Committee Co-Chair, Jim McTigue. “The time and energy they devoted to this lineup are evident in every event.” more

Artists, Producers & Mastering Engineers To Expound On Precious Metal-Earning Techniques

SAN FRANCISCO: “Interest in precious metal never seems to flag,” says 129th AES Convention Platinum Panel Chair Paul Verna. “Our sessions have earned high marks for their healthy mix of candor and technical insight. The intriguing stories behind the hits resonate with all our attendees. This year we are fortunate to have a number of established panelists back on board. And, we have augmented our line-up with some significant first-timers.” Co-author of The Encyclopedia of Record Producers, and a senior entertainment analyst with eMarketer, Verna is a former journalist who has written extensively for Billboard and Mix Magazine. more

SAN FRANCISCO: Preparing next-generation pro-audio practitioners for successful careers has never been more challenging. The introduction of new methods for creating, producing, formatting, distributing and using audio, have challenged established professionals to dramatically retool their business models and work environments. A nation-wide building program has seen schools commit substantial investments in facilities capable of preparing students to thrive in this digital/downloading/wirelessly-streaming environment.

AES Convention Committee Co-Chairs Valerie Tyler and Jim McTigue report that, in an effort to explore the many factors inherent in developing 21st Century teaching/learning facilities; 129th AES Convention Education Committee Chair Alex Case will chair the AES Convention Education Forum Panel on Teaching/Learning Environments. more

Workshops, Tutorials & Master Classes Explore Design Tips & Challenges– From iPhone Strategies to DSP For Dummy’s

SAN FRANCISCO: Supporting the axiom that creativity is one part inspiration, 99 parts perspiration, 129th AES Convention Committee Product Design Track Chair Bob Moses has assembled nearly two dozen Workshops, Tutorials and Master Classes into the first dedicated Product Design Track. Set for SF’s Moscone Center November 4 – 7, the AES Convention is a magnet for audio professionals from every quarter of the industry: broadcast, live sound, game audio, recording, mixing, mastering and education. more