Forty Audio Industry Pioneer Interviews Now Available

NEW YORK: AES Executive Director Roger Furness has announced the completion of the second volume of Audio Engineering Society DVD Oral History Project interviews. Conceived in 1997 by long-time AES member Irv Joel, the project was initiated as a critical opportunity for preserving the creative and technical thought process of the originators of professional audio as related by them personally.

“Irv Joel has maintained close, on-going relationships with many of the giants of our industry,� Furness said. “In addition to coordinating the interviews, he personally served as cameraman and off-camera interviewer for most of them. The entire professional audio community owes Irv Joel a vote of thanks for producing over 100 irreplaceable one-on-one interviews.�

In 2007, Joel brought Pro Audio Industry veteran Harry Hirsch on board to glean through a voluminous amount of video, photographic and related material, carefully organized by Technical Director John Chester in preparation for the transfer to individual DVDs. Working with Final Cut Pro, Hirsch, devoted hundreds of hours to the massive editorial project.

Among the innovators featured in the new set of twenty DVDs are:

Bruce Martin: (1944-2004) Founder, Martin Audio, one of the industry’s largest dealerships in the 1970s and‘80s, he was an innovative console designer, and inventor of the Martin Vari-Speed, used by many studios to alter tape machine speed.

Bill Hanley: The “father of festival sound,â€? best known for designing, building, installing, and operating a custom sound system for the historic 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Fair. Mr. Hanley is a storied FOH mixer and a co-founder the Fillmore East.

Ed Greene: Chief engineer at MGM Records in 1970s; world-renowned engineer; mixer for Grammy and Academy Awards and the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics broadcasts; recipient of nineteen Primetime Emmy Awards and inducted into the Technical Excellence in Creativity Hall of Fame in 2007.

David Hewitt: A pre-eminent remote recording engineer for almost 40 years (Neil Young, Yes, ELP), Hewitt has received multiple TEC, Grammy, Emmy and
Cinema Audio awards as a live recording and broadcast engineer, and film sound mixer. Founder of Remote Recording Services, he created an innovative and hugely successful mobile recording studio. Mr. Hewitt was inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dr. Floyd E. Toole: Recipient of the 2008 CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Toole is a 40-year pioneer in the acoustics field, widely known for his research on small
room acoustics, relating measurements to a listener’s perceptions. A contributor to many audio publications, he continued his groundbreaking work as VP of Acoustical Engineering at Harmon International Industries, Inc. until his retirement.

Dr. Marina Bosi: An AES past president AES, Dr. Bosi is Consulting Professor in the
Music and Electrical Engineering Departments at Stanford University, and a founding member/director of the Digital Media Project. An accomplished author, she holds several patents and received the AES Fellowship Award for her work on audio standards development.

Ioan Allen: Since joining Dolby Laboratories in 1969, Allen spearheaded the
introduction of many breakthrough film sound technologies. He received an Oscar for his contributions to motion picture sound development, holds several patents and has authored many AES Journal papers. He is active in world standards organizations, and is Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Cinema-Television.

John Meyer: Influencing the way audiences hear sound since the late 60s, Meyer began creating loudspeakers using integral control processors at SF-based McCune Sound Service. Since founding Meyer Sound Laboratories in 1979, his innovations such as advanced self-powered loudspeaker systems have changed the face of live sound. Meyer Sound has garnered 37 U.S. and international patents and numerous industry awards. He was made an AES Fellow in 1985, and he received the Silver Medal in 2007.

The other industry leaders featured in the 2nd AES Oral History series are: Frank Abbey, James E. Webb, Manfred Schroeder, Hamilton Brosious, David Blackner, Neil Muncy, Kunimaro Tanaka, D.B. Keele Jr, Gualtiero Berlinghini, Jerry B. Minter, Dan Dugan, and Walter Selsted.
“Irv Joel, Harry Hirsch and John Chester are making an invaluable contribution to the appreciation and understanding of our industry’s early prime-movers,� comments AES Historical Committee co-chair Bill Wray. “We are fortunate to have a library of over sixty additional videotaped interviews, all of which are planned for DVD release. And,� Wray adds, “we plan to continue producing an on-going series of interviews with current and future visionaries.�
“This AES Oral History Project was initiated as an inspiration to new generations of audio industry professionals,� Roger Furness concludes. “Education remains an AES priority, and these unique DVD personal histories represent a priceless link between our past and our rapidly evolving future. Many of the leading pro audio schools both in the United States and abroad have already added our initial twenty productions to their libraries. We look forward to a steadily growing subscription list as meaningful new titles are added to this collection.�
The entire (current) series of forty compelling AES Oral History Project DVDs is available now at www.aes.org $15.00 each for AES members, $20.00 for non-members.

Photo: Pre-eminent remote recording engineer David Hewitt is one of the 20 audio professionals featured in the 2nd volume of AES DVD Oral History Project interviews.

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Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Audio Engineering Society was formed in 1948 by a group of concerned audio engineers. With over 14,000 members throughout the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Japan and the Far East, the AES serves as the pivotal force in the exchange and dissemination of technical information for the industry. For additional information visit http://www.aes.org

NEW YORK, NY, July 13, 2009 ─ Mantra Design, Creative Group’s design and visual effects boutique, announces the appointment of Casey Steele as executive producer. A 15-year veteran of the motion graphics industry, Steele brings his extensive experience working on both the creative and business sides of the industry to Mantra, further strengthening the company’s ability to deliver cutting-edge creative to its large roster of clients. more

New Cerwin Vega! Passive Series (CVP Series) debuts at Formula One British Grand Prix

The recently launched Cerwin Vega! CVP passive series of speakers made its UK debut at the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The CVP series was selected by Rory Chaplin of RJCC Events for the star-studded three day event which saw numerous bands and DJ’s perform alongside guest appearances from renowned F1 commentator Murray Walker, Fifth Gear’s Vicki Butler-Henderson and comedian Bobby Davro.
“We considered several different systems from a number of manufacturers but following extensive listening tests with the organizers and working with Cerwin Vega! on system design it was clear that the new CVP system stood out as the right choice for this event. If you have ever heard the noise created by Formula One cars you would know that the PA had to work hard under demanding conditions and be seriously loud! The new boxes provided high SPL and truly amazing deep bass, flawlessly for three days solid�, said Rory Chaplin, RJCC’s Owner. “As a growing company it was also important for us to look ahead and from a hire perspective it’s an extremely flexible and easy setup with huge power and clarity�.
The system used comprised of six CVP-2153 dual 15-inch full range tops and eight JE-36c subwoofers all powered by EV amplifiers for the 2500 capacity venue. The amplification and system setup was handled by Andy Collins from Eclipse Sound & Light in Ipswich and Chris Penney, Cerwin Vega!’s European product specialist. As soon as Andy heard the system he was so impressed that he arranged to take a similar setup for Eclipse’s busy summer festival season.
“During setup I was amazed at how little EQ the system required. We managed to get great coverage from a small number of boxes and despite being played loud the system had a real hi-fi quality�, said Andy from Eclipse Sound & Light.
Jamie Ward, Cerwin Vega!’s UK Sales Director, comments: “We are really excited by the response to our new flagship range of loudspeakers. They are getting noticed by some major players in the pro audio business and it’s great that the first outing in the UK was at such a prestigious event as Formula One�.

About Cerwin Vega!

A member of the Stanton Group of companies, Cerwin-Vega!, Inc. is a leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of loudspeakers for the home, mobile, and professional audio markets. Designed in the pursuit of dynamic, accurate sound reproduction since 1954, Cerwin-Vega! products are distributed throughout the world via a network of distributors and dealers in more than 75 countries. For additional information on all Cerwin-Vega products, please visit us online at www.cerwin-vega.com .

Buena Park, CA – July 2009 … Hosa Technology, the leading innovator of analog and digital connectivity solutions for the modern musician and audio/video professional, is pleased to announce the introduction of the SKO-200 Series speaker cables. Available in lengths from three to one hundred feet and featuring popular terminations to connect to a wide range of speaker products, the SKO-200 Series speaker cables provide superior signal transmission for today’s most demanding audio projects. more

New Monitor’s look and performance based on industry-standard Rokit monitors

KRK Systems, the world’s leading manufacturer of powered recording monitors are pleased to announce they are now shipping the R6 passive studio monitor. The R6 incorporates design cues from KRK’s best selling Rokit line, including radically radiused edges along the front of the cabinet.
Since 2004 Rokit monitors have provided thousands of musicians, songwriters, producers and remixers with a value-priced monitor that delivered meaningful mixes that translate to all listening environments. The R6, like its Rokit brethren, remains true to this legacy, providing a sleeker, more modern look that is as functional as it is beautiful. A key component to the new look is the molded front baffle. This design feature virtually eliminates diffraction distortion caused by standard flat baffles.
The R6 leverages KRK’s research and development into baffle design and fabrication. The curved front baffle was engineered to minimize diffraction of high-frequencies, resulting in a sweet spot that is significantly larger than products with square or lightly rounded baffles. The baffle also houses a molded front-facing bass port that minimizes low-frequency phase distortion and unwanted frequency emphasis typical of rear-facing bass ports. The end result is a harmonious yet accurate blend of low and high-frequency components that result in a more accurate speaker. The R6 voicing is designed to mimic the voicing of KRK’s Rokit 6 monitor, which is renowned for its accuracy and mid-range clarity. The R6 features 5-way speaker binding posts, a precision crossover and is capable of handling 100 watts (RMS) of power.
“While powered monitors make up the majority of the studio monitor business, there is still demand for passive monitors. The R6 addresses the needs of broadcasters, project studios and home enthusiasts by providing legendary KRK precision and accuracy in a passive speaker,” said Tony Rodrigues, Vice-President of Marketing for KRK Systems.
The new R6 is available now at leading music retailers around the world.

About KRK Systems:

A member of the Stanton Group of companies, KRK Systems is a leader in studio monitors and control room solutions for the professional audio market. KRK products are distributed throughout the world via a network of distributors and dealers in more than 75 countries. For additional information on all KRK Systems products, please visit us online at www.krksys.com.

New App let’s you record samples, add effects, and create custom beats

iZotope, Inc. announces iDrum Beatboxing Edition, the latest addition to their popular line of iDrum Apps for iPhone and iPod touch. This new edition puts the user in the spotlight to record custom samples, add fun effects, and create unique beats.

iDrum for iPhone and iPod touch makes beatboxing easy, even with no prior musical experience. Its pattern-based layout and built-in library of hundreds of beatboxing vocal and percussion samples will have you creating beats in no time. In addition to the built-in sounds, you can easily record your own samples at the touch of a button using the iPhone 3G built-in microphone, add effects, and add your new custom sounds to existing beats, or create something entirely new.

“With this new edition, we have put even more creative power into our users hands�, says Mark Ethier, CEO of iZotope. “You can literally be anywhere and capture your own custom content in a ready-to-go format for making beats. It’s fun, addictive, and creative all at the same time.�

iDrum Beatboxing Edition is the eighth edition in iZotope’s iPhone App lineup. The line also includes editions with genre specific content such as Club, Rock, and Hip-hop editions as well as collaborations with major music artists and record labels such as Ministry of Sound, Major Lazer, and Depeche Mode. These editions feature exclusive content from the artists themselves that can be mixed, edited, and arranged to make new, custom beats.

iDrum Beatboxing Edition Features:

• Includes hundreds of beatboxing sounds and 20 preset kits
• Easy recording using the iPhone’s built in mic
• Sound effects like “Robot�, “Reverse�, “Cave�, and “Metallic�
• Easy to use pattern-based interface
• Ability to save patterns as ring tones
• Transfer files to iDrum Desktop version for further editing
• Tap the touch screen to play and record your own musical patterns
• Customize patterns to create your own unique beats

Purchase iDrum Beatboxing Edition for $4.99 on the iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=313228345&mt=8

See a video of iDrum at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0SuI2qYXfs

—VENUE/D-Show compatibility for Waves Hybrid and PuigChild plug-ins further emphasizes Waves Live Division’s dedicated offerings for the live sound market sectors —

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, July 9, 2009 — Following closely on the announcement earlier this year that more than 50 of Waves’ most popular plug-ins are now compatible for use with Digidesign® D-Show Software and VENUE consoles, Waves Live Division announces VENUE Compatibility for its successful Hybrid Line (H-Comp Hybrid Compressor and H-Delay Hybrid Delay) and PuigChild Compressor/Limiter. Users now have the benefit of being able to use these invaluable studio tools in live sound applications. These TDM plug-ins can run on Digidesign VENUE consoles using the Waves D-Show Enabler. Current Waves TDM users can purchase the D-Show Enabler, making their Waves products fully VENUE-compatible. more

New Album Tracks Debuted at Private Listening Sessions Using Focal Twin6 Be Monitors and Dangerous D-Box

Edmeston, NY – July 9, 2009 - In a joint announcement today Focal Professional and Dangerous Music announced that Imogen Heap has just finished a preview tour of her upcoming album ‘Ellipse‘ at private listening sessions around the US using Focal Twin6 Be monitor speakers and the Dangerous D-Box for monitoring control. RCA Records organized the listening tour and worked with Dangerous Music and Focal to create the high-fidelity playback system that was used in hotel suites in major US cities to preview several tracks from Ms. Heap’s upcoming album.

The British singer-songwriter-producer and two-time Grammy nominee is set to release her much anticipated new solo album ‘Ellipse’ on August 25th 2009 on RCA Records. At the listening events Ms. Heap previewed tracks including “First Train Home,” “Wait It Out,” “Earth” and the piano song “Half Life” which ends the album ‘Ellipse’ as its final track.

Commenting on the listening events, Ms. Heap said, “I was a bit nervous as it was the first time I’d played ‘Ellipse’ outside of the studio environment. But as soon as I played it through the Dangerous Music and Focal speaker system I realized I had nothing to worry about.” more

Burbank, CA… Mojave Audio, a company founded by David Royer (known for his work with ribbon microphones), is pleased to announce it has selected Digital Revolution to represent the company’s sales efforts in several Midwestern, Western, and Southwestern territories. Well known for its sales representation and strategic consulting capabilities within the professional audio and MI (musical instrument) communities, Digital Revolution will be tasked with increasing Mojave Audio’s presence in the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. more

Miami, FL – July 2009… D.A.S. Audio, a leading manufacturer of loudspeaker systems, digital signal processing, and power amplification for live sound reinforcement, recently experienced overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception to the company’s demonstration room at the 2009 InfoComm convention, held this past June in Orlando, FL. Throughout the three exhibition days, the D.A.S. Audio demonstration room played host to a steady stream of AV system designers, consultants, and installers who were seeking to audition the sound systems in addition to obtaining answers to their questions from the D.A.S. Audio technical staff. more