Distributed in 94 countries, Mix is the world's leading magazine for the professional recording and sound production technology industry. Mix covers a wide range of topics including: recording, live sound and production, broadcast production, audio for film and video, and music technology.
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 2008: It was a long, hot, busy summer for Aurafonic Records, the label established by multi-award-winning Latin music producer/composer KC Porter and production/composing partner Sebastian Jacome, with many major album projects completed and others scheduled for the upcoming months. Jacome, a graduate from the Berklee School of Music, and KC Porter worked together on Ozomatli’s Grammy-nominated, “Don’t Mess With The Dragon.” Says Jacome, “KC was one of the engineers and producers of that album. I programmed the beats, played some guitars and arranged some strings - a little bit of everything” Porter, alongside Robert Carranza, Serbhan Ghenea and John Hanes, was recently nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award in the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical category for the recording.
Many of the projects at Aurafonic Records span several types of music, but regardless of the genre, Jacome relied heavily on Metric Halo’s ChannelStrip equalization and dynamics plug-in. “Everything starts when I insert ChannelStrip in the track just to listen to it. I don’t listen to a track unless there’s an instance in it. I really like how ChannelStrip evens out the dynamics. Even when the compression is set to the minimum it makes everything smoother,” reports Jacome.
In fact, the Metric Halo plug-in is Jacome’s go-to compressor on every single project. “I use every plug-in made, but ChannelStrip is my compressor of choice. I’ll use ChannelStrip, then maybe go out to the Summit, then the Manley or the dbx or whatever,” he explains. “We have a Digidesign D-Control and an SSL summing amp and a nice set of outboard gear at KC’s studio, but ChannelStrip is always the first step when compressing - and sometimes it’s the only one.”
According to Jacome, one reason that he uses ChannelStrip so much is that it is very CPU friendly, allowing multiple instances to be inserted simultaneously. For example, he explains, when he was mixing a recent album project for Nashville-based jazz singer Rachel Price, for which Porter had tracked a large string section, “I had ChannelStrip on every single microphone input - something like 48 instances. But it worked perfectly and never had a hiccup.”
He also enjoys ChannelStrip’s sound quality: “It’s very musical. I especially like the high range - above maybe 10kHz. It has a lot of air.” The ability to save personal favorite settings has proved useful, he continues. “I have developed my own banks that I use for drums. I have maybe six or seven presets for kicks, four or five presets for snare, and a couple of presets for overheads and room microphones. Plus, I have maybe four or five presets for vocals.”
Jacome is currently working with a true Latin music legend, Lucho Gatica. “He’s the Latin Sinatra. He’s 80 years old this year and he’s sold over 40 million records.” Gatica, who is the uncle of multi-Grammy Award-winning engineer Humberto Gatica, is a major worldwide star and has been awarded the highest civilian honors in Chile, his birthplace, and Mexico, where he made his home for many years.
On November 7, Lucho received a lifetime achievement award from the Latin Grammys and in 2008 he will receive a star on the famous Hollywood Boulevard. Jacome and Porter are producing a duets album for Gatica that will feature some of the biggest names in Latin music.
Based in New York’s Hudson Valley, Metric Halo provides the world with high-resolution metering, analysis, recording and processing solutions with award-winning software and hardware.
Leading Pro Audio Manufacturers Join Top Engineer/Producers
Pictured at Winter NAMM 2008 are METAlliance founders (L-R rear) Elliot Scheiner, Ed Cherney, Al Schmitt, Frank Filipetti, Phil Ramone, George Massenburg, and Chuck Ainlay. In the foreground are inaugural Pro Partners (L-R) Bill Putnam, Jr., Universal Audio; Joel Silverman, Millennia Media; Jeff Phillips, Lexicon; Peter Chaikin, JBL Pro; Mike Edwards, Audio-Technica; EveAnna Manley, Manley Labs; John Jennings, Royer; Carl Jacobson, Cakewalk. Photo by Leah Lee.
Anaheim, CA, January 19, 2008, Winter NAMM — The METAlliance today announced the first group of Pro Partner manufacturers in a new program of professional audio and video companies working with the Alliance to recognize the call for quality in the recording arts.
The METAlliance is comprised of a group of globally-recognized, award-winning audio engineers and producers who have been deeply involved in establishing techniques and technical standards that are the foundation of modern music recording. The METAlliance Board of Directors is Chuck Ainlay, Ed Cherney, Frank Filipetti, George Massenburg, Phil Ramone, Elliot Scheiner and Al Schmitt.
George Massenburg addressed the press conference: “We hold thorough, comprehensive testing and evaluation in the highest regard. The METAlliance is all about recognizing the benefit of quality workmanship, not to mention quality listening. We qualify tools knowing that in our everyday work we’re using what we’re testing.”
Pro Partners who joined the METAlliance at the press conference include Audio-Technica, Cakewalk, GML, JBL Pro, Lexicon, Manley Labs, Millennia Media, Royer Labs, Sanken Microphones, and Universal Audio. Once named a METAlliance partner, the organization supports evaluated products of the partner companies.
“The METAlliance founding members are legendary in their contribution to recorded music and pursuit of excellence,” remarked Peter Chaikin, JBL Director, Recording and Broadcast Marketing. “We’re honored JBL studio monitors have received the METAlliance certification and we’re thrilled to become a METAlliance Pro Partner.”
Recognizing the industry’s success in bringing products offering convenience and low cost, the Alliance is dedicated to the passionate commitment of securing the art of music through recording technologies that best deliver the music in all it‘s many modern forms. To do this, quality needs to be recognized and supported.
Elliot Scheiner explained: “Somebody needs to step up to the plate to show the people that make recordings that you can still have quality. We’re a group they can trust to speak the truth.”
Jim Pace, METAlliance Dir. of Business Affairs, added: “Some may argue that there is no need for higher quality because the average consumer doesn’t care. It’s not a question of bandwidth or delivery anymore. So who is the METAlliance speaking to? One group would be the people who buy these products here at NAMM — people who try to create and craft their art in any way they can. Because they work to get it right, these are the ‘consumers‘ that realize it’s worth it to get the full sonic experience at home or wherever they play music. It doesn’t have to be ‘almost good enough,’ it can be a truly fulfilling experience.”
Pro Partner membership is limited to companies which have shown a capacity and proclivity to manufacture and distribute products that meet the organization‘s professional audio qualifications.
Interested companies should contact:
Jim Pace, Dir. of Business Affairs: jpace@metalliance.com
METAlliance : strategic union of music producers and engineers dedicated to the highest standards of audio and delivery of music, securing the art through recording technology in all its evolving modern forms.
OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT - January 2008: You hear them and they stick in your memory: sound logos are to the ear, what a visual symbol is to the eye. So what does an ‘audio specialist’ sound like? “That’s precisely what we’d like to find out, with the help of music enthusiasts around the world,” says Susanne Seidel, president of Global Marketing at Sennheiser. “Our customers have huge creative potential, and having fun composing and messing about with music and sound lies at the heart of the sound logo competition, which we are launching on January 17th at Winter NAMM in Anaheim.”
An entry is allowed to be up to eight seconds long. To make it as technologically simple as possible for those taking part, contributions should be uploaded onto the www.sennheiser.com/soundlogo website in MP3 format (stereo, 128 kb/s, max. 10 MB).
Professional and amateur musicians alike will have six months to play with. Contributions have to be uploaded to the website by July 17, 2008. Each entrant may send in up to five entries. By the end of August thirty finalists will be selected, at which point their sound logos will be appraised by an international jury. “The public will be a virtual member of the judging panel of five,” adds Susanne Seidel. “You too can vote for your favorite sound logo via the website!”
It Wouldn’t Be a Competition Without a Prize!
The winner will receive a prize of 5,000 euros, as well as an optional 30,000 euros if Sennheiser acquires unlimited rights to use the winning logo. Those placed second to tenth will win first-class sound for their home. They can choose between Sennheiser’s dynamic top-of-the-range HD 650 headphones or equipping their rehearsal room with an evolution wireless ew 300 G2 microphone system. Says Susanne Seidel, “We’re really looking forward to receiving entries from all corners of the world. There’ll be an explosion of musical creativity.”
ABOUT SENNHEISER ELECTRONIC CORPORATION
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems, Sennheiser is celebrating 50 years of wireless technology innovations. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is active worldwide. Sennheiser Electronic Corporation is the U.S. wholly-owned subsidiary, with headquarters in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
For more information, visit www.sennheiser.com/soundlogo
For more information, please visit www.sennheiserusa.com
~ Auralex Acoustics Incorporated into “Green” Multi-Purpose Room ~
ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 24, 2008 — David Ronn, a high-profile corporate attorney and musician from Houston Texas, is a poster child for green living. His entire home is designed with energy-saving construction and appliances, including a multi-purpose room that functions as a home theater, dining room, rehearsal space and a home recording studio.
Bob Suffolk, a top recording studio designer and founder of Suffolk Studio Design, customized David Ronn‘s multi-purpose space, turning to Auralex Acoustics‘, Inc., the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions, for several of its state-of-the-art acoustical treatments, including Auralex‘s ELiTE Custom Fabric System, pArtScience AudioTile, Custom ProPanels, SonoFlats and its S-CORE Panels.
“I choose Auralex‘s S-CORE Panels because it can kill off a space without actually sucking the room dry of low end or mid-frequencies,” said Bob Suffolk, founder, Suffolk Studio Design. “The materials are also environmentally friendly, which was a major factor throughout the entire construction.”
The room is designed to look like an everyday living room, but it has the acoustic value of a full-sized professional recording studio. The room features a 7.3 surround sound system, a ceiling mounted television and sectional coaches, enabling it to be easily transformed into a performance space for David‘s band, Plastic Farm Animals, and/or a dining room when entertaining guests. The control room is sound-proofed and separated with electric glass, making it either opaque or transparent, depending on the use of the space at that time.
“The space, sound and functionality of the room is amazing, there truly is no other word for it,” said David Ronn. “And it is environmentally friendly, with no wasted space or energy, which was exactly what I was looking for.”
The entire space is customized with sustainable energy in mind, from the console to the speaker brackets. The digital console in the space is made from recycled sunflower seeds, and the floors in the equipment and control room are rubber, made from recycled tires. The remainder of the home is equipped with renewable bamboo floors. The studio is completely self-contained, including its own AC system, so noise won‘t travel throughout the rest of the house. The studio also features a separate electrical circuit and lighting control system in the room, which stabilizes both heat/light.
In terms of construction, the exterior of the home is energy efficient through insulated concrete forms (ICF), making it a highly insulated space needing less energy to cool it. David has also used recycled denim throughout the construction, acting as an added insulation material and padding.
“Since this is primarily a family room that also functions as a studio and performance space, we had to make sure the décor meshed with the rest of the house,” said Michelle Quazi, Bob Suffolk‘s partner, Suffolk Studio Design. “Auralex offers such a broad range of colors and fabrics to choose from, allowing me to choose the precise fit for David‘s Studio.”
About Suffolk Studio Design
Suffolk Studio Design was founded by Bob Suffolk, a former musician and recording artist. Suffolk’s background and experience in the field of music helps him understand the frustrations and complications that arise during recording sessions and has provided him with the proper tools for designing world-class studios. Bob Suffolk and his staff work closely with their clients to produce a studio design that meets their clients‘ personal needs and wishes. Whether you want a humble home studio or a world-class professional room, Suffolk Studio Design will work with you from conception to completion. Regardless of size, specialized acoustics and sound are our priority. Suffolk Studio Design also offers personal interior designed furnishings and vintage furniture for those with a taste for the past. We will help outfit your studio down to the last fitting. Located in the Dallas area, call us at 214.826.2264 to set up an appointment.
About Auralex Acoustics, Inc.
Located in Indianapolis, Auralex Acoustics was founded in 1977 with a mission to provide top-performing acoustical treatment products at the best value. Since then, thousands of satisfied Auralex customers have experienced improved acoustics, expert advice and exceptional customer service. Auralex products enjoy widespread use among prominent artists, producers, engineers, corporations, celebrities and government agencies.
Auralex Acoustics has become the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions and continues to enjoy rapid growth through an international network of authorized dealers. Visit the Auralex web page at www.auralex.com. Auralex can be reached via email at auralexinfo@auralex.com or by calling 1.800.959.3343.
ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 24, 2008 - Auralex Acoustics, Inc., the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions, introduces the first “green” acoustical foam product on the market, Eco-Friendly StudioFoam®, at Winter NAMM 2008 (Hall C, Booth # 4295).
StudioFoam brand products now include soy components, reducing petroleum-based chemical usage by up to 60% and lessening dependence on fossil fuels, including foreign crude oil. This greener formula helps reduce global warming emissions, yet retains the longevity and acoustical properties that Auralex is known for.
Auralex StudioFoam is manufactured without harmful Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC‘s), which have been implicated in the depletion of the ozone layer. In making the conversion over to the new Soy-based hybrid formula, these products now boast an improved performance and durability over conventional petroleum-based foams.
“Green initiatives are no longer reserved for environmentalists, consumers as a whole are moving towards ecologically-friendly life-styles and products,” says Dave Paxton, director of operations at Auralex Acoustics. “Auralex is proud to be doing its part in conserving the environment and reducing global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. Auralex will continue to create products that are beneficial to the audio industry as well as those that are conducive to our environment.”
The new Eco-Friendly StudioFoam is available in the same great color choices and cuts as the original. There is no increase in cost to either the dealer or consumer. The new offering meets and exceeds the quality of product and testing data (acoustical and fire) that the professional consumer demands.
About Auralex Acoustics, Inc.
Located in Indianapolis, Auralex Acoustics was founded in 1977 with a mission to provide top-performing acoustical treatment products at the best value. Since then, thousands of satisfied Auralex customers have experienced improved acoustics, expert advice and exceptional customer service. Auralex products enjoy widespread use among prominent artists, producers, engineers, corporations, celebrities and government agencies.
Auralex Acoustics has become the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions and continues to enjoy rapid growth through an international network of authorized dealers. Visit the Auralex web page at www.auralex.com. Auralex can be reached via email at auralexinfo@auralex.com or by calling 1.800.959.3343.
ANAHEIM, CA, January 24, 2008 — The RapcoHorizon Company, a leading manufacturer of audio/video interfacing and cable equipment, introduced its new LTIBLOX mono interface at Winter NAMM 2008. more
Attention game sound developers: We're guessing you didn't always work in videogames; we know a lot of you have roots in music and post. Tell us why you made the switch to the game world, and the name of the first title you worked on by e-mailing mixeditorial@mixonline.com.
