For more than six decades, the AES has been bringing together professionals in the pro audio industry from over 100 countries. The 125th AES Convention is scheduled to run from October 2nd to 5th at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, California.

This year’s show will feature pro audio exhibitions, technical sessions, exhibition stands and application seminars from the industry’s leading figureheads. Many of the major players in the pro audio industry will be exhibiting at this year’s show, including Abbey Road Studio, Adamson, Allen & Heath, Digidesign, Harman International, Solid State Logic, Studer, Primacoustic, Soundcraft, Neutrik, Rupert Neve Design, Sennheiser and numerous others.

TL Audio will introduce its new M1-F consoles and the DO-F Firewire interface card, which is designed for use with the M1-F and the Fat Track Tube Production Suite.

Sound reinforcement will be a major focus this year. Papers and workshops aimed at improving audio professionals’ understanding and aiding their work in the field will be held throughout the show.
 
On Thursday, October 2nd, Bruce C. Olson of Olson Sound Design will chair a session on AC power and grounding to discuss how to provide AC power properly, avoid hum and work safely.

With the DTV conversion scheduled for completion on February 17th, 2009, white space issues are a major concerrn for the entire industry. On Friday, October 3rd, Chris Lyons of Shure Incorporated will discuss the impact the conversion will have on the industry and the concerns surrounding the FCC decisions.
 
Another white space seminar will be held by Lectrosonics’ Karl Winkler, which will examine live sound events held in smaller venues like houses of worship and community theatres. It begins with a basic discussion of the elements of properly choosing components, designing systems and setting them up in order to minimise the potential for interference while maximising performance. It will also cover antenna placement, antenna cabling, spectrum scanning and many other relevant issues.

A session on mic techniques for live sound will also be held at the show, chaired by Dean Giavaras of Shure Incorporated.
Panellists Richard Bataglia, Phil Garfinkel of Audix USA, Mark Gilbert, Dan Healy and Dave Rat of Rat Sound will discuss their tips, tricks and methods to properly address the beginning of the signal path in the live sound environment.

For those less technically inclined, a seminar on digital and networked audio in sound reinforcement will be chaired by Bradford Benn of Crown International. The two-hour session will feature a discussion of the challenges and planning involved with deploying digital audio in the sound reinforcement environment. It will go beyond a discussion of digital audio and examine the factors that should be covered during the design and application of audio systems.

 On Sunday, October 5th, a historical perspective on innovation in live sound will be chaired by Ted Leamy of Pro Media and UltraSound in conjunction with panellists Graham Blyth of Soundcraft, Ken Lopez from the University of Southern California and Meyer Sound’s John Meyer. As leading innovators in the live sound industry, the group will look back at historical live sound innovations with an emphasis on the needs and constraints that drove their development and adoption.

In addition to the sound reinforcement seminars, Chair David v.R. Bowles will guide visitors through a three-day itinerary of technical tours, recording and mastering studios, the Sony Computer Entertainment Center and the ILM/Letterman Media Complex. Historical Events Chair Tamara Horacek with AES members Marina Bosi Gene Radzik and Steve Fields will lead a program of discussions on the timely perspective of three of the most significant sectors in the pro audio industry. Special Events Committee Chair Chandra Lynn will also lead a diverse program of special events.

There are scores of other sound reinforcement related topics at the AES convention this year. Each one is held by absolute experts in each field, and, in some cases, the people responsible for driving the development of these technologies. Attendance is virtually compulsory for audio professionals who are looking to progress in this field.
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