AES Convention Highlights
Each fall the Audio Engineering Society holds a Convention in the USA, with an outstanding technical program and exhibits. Much of what happens at an AES Convention applies to Houses of Worship. What follows are a few highlights from the recent Convention in New York City.
The Live Sound Seminar series included “Sound System Design and Installation Considerations for Churches and HOWs” moderated by consultant Bill Thrasher. Mary McGregor gave a Seminar on fitting wireless mics on actors. Dean Giavaras of Shure organized a panel of top engineers talking about selecting, placing, and using the right microphones. There were two Seminars devoted to wireless microphones. Michael "Bink" Knowles once again organized a great program on Automixers and their use in live sound. Jim Risgin lead the seminar on “Networking Digital Audio in Live Sound”. Tom Young, Dave Gunness, Charlie Hughes, and Doug Jones spoke on “State of the art Loudspeaker Design for Live Sound”. Bruce C. Olson, Paul Garrity, Dave Stevens, and Bill Whitlock addressed “AC Power and Grounding”.
There was a series of Tutorials including one on Hearing Conservation, which is a topic that should be of interest to everyone involved with music or sound.
Churches that broadcast their services would have been interested in many of the four days of Broadcast presentations at the Convention.
Among the Workshops of interest to church audio folk were “Microphones—What to Listen For and What Specs to Look For”, “Audio Myths”, and “Turn it Down! Consequences of the Ever-Escalating Loudness Wars”.
Exhibitors included:
• AKG – showcased the latest versions of their legendary C414 mics.
• Audio-Technica – expanded their 40 series mics including two new ribbon mics.
• CAD Audio – introduced their new 1700VP variable pattern choir mic.
• Community – showing their new Entasys Column Line-Array speaker systems.
• Crown – showed their PIP-USP4 audio DSP that can plug into their power amplifiers.
• Da-Cappo – introduced their DA15 combination earset mic and in-ear monitor.
• JBL – added 9 models to their AE series speakers.
• Lectrosonics – showed the latest variable power SMV and SMVQ models in their Digital Hybrid wireless mic line.
• Lexicon – showed their new PCM92 digital reverb.
• Mackie – showed off their Onyx-i series mixers with firewire recording connections.
• Neutrik – showed their wide range of audio connectors including the new Tiny XLR.
• Renkus-Heinz – featured their IC Live steerable live sound line array speaker.
• Shure – showed their new very rugged ribbon mics.
• Sony – showed their new digital wireless mics.
• Yamaha – featuring the latest software upgrade to their popular M7CL digital console.
If you ever get the opportunity to attend an AES Convention you will not regret it!
Ray A. Rayburn
Ray@K2Audio.com
http://K2Audio.com/
