AES 2008 Historical Events Trace Audio Evolution

"Audio history has always been an intrinsic element of AES Convention programs, but as we celebrate our 60th anniversary this year, at the Moscone Center Oct. 2 — 5, it seems even more relevant," remarks 125th Committee Co-Chair Valerie Tyler. "Historical Events Chair Tamara Horacek collaborated with AES members Marina Bosi, Gene Radzik and Steve Fields to develop an absorbing program which lends a timely perspective to three of the most significant sectors in today's professional audio industry." As a Dolby Laboratories research librarian since 1993, Ms. Horacek oversees Dolby's Technical Library, Archives and Museum programs. Her research skills coupled with her deep insights into the field of sound development has contributed to a trio of intriguing panels:

EVOLUTION OF VIDEO GAME SOUND: Thurs. Oct. 2, 2:30 — 4:30PM: From the discrete-logic build of Pong to the multi-core processors of modern consoles, video game audio has made giant strides in complexity to a heightened level of immersion and user interactivity. Since its modest beginnings of monophonic bleeps to the high-resolution multi-channel orchestrations and point-of-view audio panning, audio professionals have stretched the envelopes of audio production techniques, as well as the game engine capabilities. The panel will address the challenges of landmark game platforms, techniques used to maximize the game audio experience, the dynamics leading to the modern video game soundtracks, and where the game audio experience is heading.

THE WORLD'S FIRST AUDIO RECORDINGS: THEIR RECOVERY AND RESTORATION — Lunchtime Keynote: Dave Giovannoni, First Sounds — Friday, Oct. 3, 1:00 - 2:00 pm First Sounds, an informal collaborative of audio engineers and historians, recently corrected the historical record and made international headlines by playing back a phonautogram made in Paris in April 1860 — a ghostly, ten-second evocation of a French folk song. This and other phonautograms establish a forgotten French typesetter as the first person to record reproducible airborne sound 17 years before Edison invented the phonograph. Primitive and nearly accidental, the world's first audio recordings pose a unique set of technical challenges. David Giovannoni of First Sounds discusses their recovery and restoration.

PERCEPTUAL AUDIO CODING — THE FIRST 20 YEARS: Fri. Oct. 3 2:30 — 4:30PM: Who could have imagined in 1988, that everyone would be clamoring for pocket-sized devices with MP3/AAC perceptual audio decoders? These communication / entertainment units have become integral to our daily lives, via DVD players, cell phones, mobile devices and broad/webcasting, etc. What made this possible and where is this going? This panel will present an overview of the technology, address the consumer market evolution from niche to necessity and where the field is headed.

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THE HISTORY OF AUDIO PROCESSING: Friday, Oct. 3, 4:00 — 6:30PM Moderator, Emil Torick, CBS Laboratories (ret); Participants: Marvin Caesar, Aphex; Frank Foti, Omnia; Bob Orban, Orban / CRL;Glen Clark, Glen Clark & Associates; Eric Small, Modulation Sciences; Mike Dorrough, Dorrough Electronics; and Dick Burden, Burden Associates. These pioneers in audio processing developed the tools still used today. A lively discussion of the ongoing "Loudness Wars" is anticipated. This session is a must for understanding how and why audio processing is used.

MIX FOUNDATION 2008 TECNOLOGY HALL OF FAME: Saturday, Oct. 4, 6:00 — 7:00PM Hosted by Mix Magazine Executive Editor/TECnology Hall of Fame director George Petersen: Presented annually by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio to honor significant, lasting contributions to the advancement of audio technology, this year's event will recognize fifteen audio innovations. "It is interesting to note how many of these products are still in daily use decades after their introduction," Petersen said. "These aren't simply museum pieces, but working tools. We're proud to recognize their significance to the industry."

INNOVATIONS IN LIVE SOUND — AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Sunday, Oct. 5, 2:30 — 5PM: New techniques and products are often driven by changes in need and available technology. Today's sound professional has a myriad of products to choose from. That wasn't always the case. What drove the creation of today's products? What will drive the products of tomorrow?

For more information, visit their web site at www.aes.org.