This year's Technical Program is full of cutting-edge events, where attendees will have the opportunity to be a part of history as the next chapter in professional audio developments come to light through a detailed series of Papers, Engineering Briefs, Tutorials, Workshops and Special Events. AES137 will offer dedicated program Tracks in the fields of Broadcast and Streaming Media, Game Audio, Live Sound, Networked Audio, Recording and Production, Product Design, and Sound for Picture, as well as Historical Events sessions, Standards Committee meetings, Tech Tours and more.
Those in attendance with either an “Exhibits-Plus” badge (FREE with pre-registration) or a premium “All Access” badge will have entry to two of the AES convention’s newest and hottest events: the Project Studio Expo and the debut of the Live Sound Expo and High Resolution Audio (HRA) program.
The Project Studio Expo brings together the latest techniques, tools and experts for professional training on topics ranging from acoustics in small spaces to microphone placement, mixing and mastering. The Live Sound Expo offers expert advice for the broad spectrum of live sound engineers with an emphasis on the practical, bringing professionals with decades of experience to the stage to inspire and educate attendees.
Additionally, a High Resolution Audio (HRA) program will be held on Friday, October 10, 2014. The direct result of a collaborative effort between the AES and DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, the HRA program will include sessions addressing the current and future direction of HRA from various perspectives, including content creation, digital distribution, licensing of hi-res music files, archiving, subscription models, marketing/promotion of hi-res music, compatibility of playback devices and more. These sessions will feature some of the brightest minds in the business as they discuss some of the most current and controversial issues concerning the rapid adoption of high-resolution audio across the industry.
AES Executive Director Bob Moses stated, “Excitement is growing as we finalize the Technical Program itinerary for AES137. We have quite a varied program this year that is sure to garner attention in many audio circles. People who have been to the AES conventions know what a truly unique experience we offer, and this year’s convention is on track to be one of the best. Our online calendar, mobile app and other resources really help to round out the experience and help attendees take advantage of the full spectrum of what they want to get out of the convention. And we are looking forward to more big announcements in the weeks to come further underscoring that AES137 will be the audio event of the year.”
Expanded Broadcast and Streaming Track
The ways in which both broadcast and streaming audio platforms are evolving and converging will also be on display at this year Broadcast and Streaming Track during the 137th Audio Engineering Society Convention. Broadcast and Streaming Track Chairman David Bialik has identified key trends in these spheres and assembled a series of cutting-edge panels that will explore and discuss these topics.
The list of presentations is comprehensive, including:
• Loudness for Streaming and Radio
• Audio Issues for 4k and 8k Television
• Facility Design
• Audio Issues and HTML5
• Routing Audio in a Broadcast Facility
• Listener Fatigue and Retention
• Hear Now/Sound Effects
• SBE/Troubleshooting and Maintenance of Equipment
• Troubleshooting Software
• Compliance with CALM Act/PLOUD
• The Streaming Experience
• Telephony and IP Codecs: How to Choose What Is Best for You
• Understanding Audio Processing—How to Use the Audio Processor
• MPEG-DASH—What about Audio?
These panels and presentations will go into considerable depth under the guidance of thought leaders in their categories. For instance, the Loudness for Streaming and Radio panel will look at key questions, such as “Is the ‘loudness war’ in radio over?” “Has it moved over to Internet streaming?” “How can we control level without disrupting the audience?” These will be examined by a panel consisting of John Kean, NPR Labs; Thomas Lund, TC Electronics; Robert Orban, Orban; Frank Foti, Telos Alliance; Tom Box, DTS; and Scott Norcross, Dolby.
Attendees at the Broadcast and Streaming Track sessions will also experience a rare treat: a look at facility design through the eyes of two audio legends. Eddie Kramer, acclaimed engineer/producer for such legendary acts as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Kiss; and the Walters-Storyk Design Group’s John Storyk, designer of Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios as well as hundreds of other iconic recording and broadcast facilities, will both be there to discuss how two leading FM music stations, KEPX in Seattle and KPFK in Los Angeles, are managing substantial changes.
KEPX is preparing to move to a new broadcast facility that will feature cutting-edge broadcast/recording studios and a live performance venue designed to showcase visiting artists, while KPFK, one of the most powerful stations in the U.S. at 110,000 watts, will undertake a major acoustical update of their live performance studio and create a new control room. That both stations will operate professional‐level recording studio/performance venues underscores radio’s continued importance for music, and the presence of Kramer and Storyk to share their expertise will provide a unique perspective for attendees.
Commenting on the Broadcast and Streaming program at the AES137 Convention, David Bialik states, “The AES Tracks, Sessions and Workshops are about learning ‘Technology and Technique,’ while the sales presentations stay on the exhibition floor. I believe this is the reason that the attendance for the ‘Broadcast and Streaming’ sessions only increases year after year.”
www.aes.org/events/137/
