The Audio Engineering Society met Oct. 21-23 at New York City's I.M. Pei-designed Javits Center for the 131st AES Convention. Though MTA construction proved an eyesore, if not an inconvenience, it will extend the #7 IRT Flushing Line, providing Grand Central and Times Square commuters subway access to Javits, by 2012.
This year's convention's 310 exhibitors saw nearly 16,000 attendees over three days, shy of the 321 exhibitors and 18,000 attendees for the 2009 NYC AES, the last year of four-day exhibits, but the general vibe was upbeat, aisles crowded and old acquaintances rekindled.
For the fifth year, AES made free VIP exhibits-only passes available through exhibitors, saving AES members $20, non-members $60 and driving attendance on the show floor.
Live sound introduction highlights included Studer's 22-fader version of their Vista 5 M2, DiGiCo's 24-fader version of their SD-Ten and Studio Six Digital's launch of the iAudioInterface2 for the iPhone and iPad.
On the recording side, Avid released Pro Tools 10, the last release to support Pro Tools|HD (TDM) hardware and legacy "Digidesign" interfaces. For live sound Venue consoles, an HDx card can be used with Pro Tools HD 10 when using Pro Tools|HD Core or Accel cards, or a Pro Tools|HD Native card, but not with the new Pro Tools|HDX card. Pro Tools 10 does not support Venue's FWx FireWire card employed in Venue's FOH Rack, Mix Rack and SC48.
With Pro Tools 10, Avid introduces AAX, a new plugin platform that aims to replace both TDM and RTAS plugs, though existing plugins will continue to work in PT-10. There will be both AAX DSP and Native versions. AAX plugins include Revibe, Reverb One and Impact.
A range of live sound seminars were presented, however exhibits were located at the north end this year, while papers and panels were in their usual location on the first floor, three blocks south.
Panels included AC Power and Grounding, chaired by Bruce Olson with panelists Bill Whitlock and Jim van Bergen. Subwoofer Arrays and Beam Steering was chaired by Jim Risgin of On Stage Audio with panelists Paul Bauman, Doug Fowler, Charlie Hughes and Martyn "Ferrit" Rowe. Advancements in Green Technology for Pro Audio and Concert Sound Touring was chaired by Outline's Tom Bensen, with panelists Klas Dalbjörn of Lab.gruppen, Claudio Lastrucci of Powersoft, Jim Meyer of Clair Global, David Robb of Acoustic Dimensions and Felix Robinson of AVI-SPL.
TVBDs and Geo-Location Database Impact on Wireless Microphones was chaired by AES Live Sound co-chair Henry Cohen of Production Radio, who once again did a remarkable job with the live sound events.
The 132nd European AES will be held in Budapest, April 26-29, 2012. The 133rd AES Convention returns to San Francisco's Moscone Center Oct. 26-29, 2012.
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