at the 111th AES Convention, 2001-12-02, in New York
Chair Jay McKnight called the AES Historical Committee (HC) meeting to
order at 12:20. He indicated that the purpose of the meeting was to review
the activities of the AES Historical Committee (AES HC) and to learn about
the views of member regarding current and future projects.
Introduction of Attendees. Attendees introduced themselves: Irv Joel, Louis
Manno, Kees Immink, Howard Sanner, Ken Wilkinson, Chris Muth, John K. Chester,
Greg James, Kurt Hulit, Al Grundy, David Baker, Frank Abbey, Steve Sohma,
Fred Katz, Dan Gaydos, Bernard Fox, Georgia Anderson, Tom Scott, Wes Bulin,
David J. Graham, Marjorie Joel, Robert Auld, Sid Feldman, Bill Pollup,
Steve Durr, Michael Christopher, Eric Somers, Paul McManus, Nicholas Bergh,
Jay McKnight (chair). Also several visitors attended the meeting part time.
Amendments to and approval of the agenda. The agenda was distributed, and
approved as distributed.
Approval of previous minutes. Minutes from the previous meetings in Los
Angeles (109th
convention, 2000 Sept.) and Amsterdam (110th
convention, 2001May) have been available on the AES HC web site. The
minutes of the Los Angeles were approved as distributed. Minor editorial
changes were made to the Amsterdam minutes, and they were approved.
Discussion
of points from the meeting at the 110th convention (2001 May)
in Amsterdam. At the AES HC meeting during the Amsterdam convention, Alex
Balster raised several questions regarding AES HC programs and practices.
McKnight reviewed these concerns as follows.
Concern about communications between North America and Europe: McKnight
suggested that the AES HC was considering a request for funds to support
one person who would attend all AES HC meeting and thereby provide continuity
betwen the Spring and Fall meetings.
Problems with the web site: McKnight reviewed the current arrangements
for use of the web site and the reflector, both of which are the official
means to distribute information about the AES HC. Many organizations use
these same methods. The AES HC is always open to suggestions for improving
these methods, and to add other methods where appropriate.
Software usage: It was noted that the AES HC tries to use simple text files
and avoid specialized software packages.
Inventory of audio projects: In response to the call for such an inventory,
McKnight noted that it already is available in the "Purposes" given in
the HC
Guidelines that are posted on the web site.
Native language interviews: This request is to conduct interviews for the
oral history project in the native language of the interviewee. It was
noted that the widest distribution of the content of interviews would be
achieved with the use of English, but AES HC policy supports the need for
interviews in native languages when the interviewee is more comfortable
using his/her native language. In these instances, interviews should be
conducted in the language of the interviewee and a translation secured.
Storage and access to historical materials: Funding from the AES is not
available now to store the audio interviews of the AES HC. Interviews are
being stored by Irv Joel; backups will be made at a later date.
Lost tapes: It is believed that this relates to tapes of the Los Angeles
"Afternoon With..." series. Paul McManus is working to add these tapes
to the AES HC oral history collection.
Committee report
to the Governors. McKnight reviewed the report to be presented to the
Board of Governors at this convention. The topics are:
The AES HC is trying to get more suggestions of people to interview for
the oral history project. Names of those planned for recording are listed
on the web site.
The AES HC is working with Roger Furness to accomodate historical materials
at the AES headquarters. Furness is the chair of this effort.
History of AES in Japan: The text of the History of AES in Japan has been
received from Steve Sohma, and it now will be loaded on the web site. A
translation currently is underway. Those interested in writing histories
of the AES in their countries are encouraged to do so and contact the AES
HC.
IEEE cooperation: A liaison has been established with the IEEE history
center at Rutgers University. Discussions are now underway exploring areas
of cooperation.
At the Amsterdam convention, word-of-mouth comments indicate that the Historical
Café was a big success.
The Vinyl Ruled 2 exhibit is ongoing at this conference and has drawn a
strong attendance.
The AES HC runs a web site, FTP
site and reflector. They are accessed through the main AES web page. Contact
McKnight if you have problems.
Manfred Krause is continuing work in Germany on a catalog for classifying
the inventions and developments made in audio engineering, based on the
work of HK Thiele.
The oral history project is active in the USA and Europe. Interviews are
being transcribed and will be placed on the web site.
Members were encouraged to send ideas and materials to McKnight
to further the projects of the AES HC. New projects are welcome, and the
AES HC will use its web site to distribute the results of historical projects.
Munich conference: The local arrangement people are preparing displays,
papers on historical subject, and exhibits. Some historical films may be
included in the program.
Committee membership list: The membership list of the AES HC was started
some years ago, but has not been kept up to date. Secretary Ted Sheldon
will be contacting members listed there asking for confirmation of contact
information (name, mailing address, email address, telephone number). How
would the membership list be used? Most persons do not want their information
listed on a public list. One possibility is to list it on a list available
to members of the AES HC only. Another possibility is to have the listing
several pages down in the web site. It was suggested to post only names
and email addresses. This last was the concensus of those present.
New Business:
Many of those present indicated that they were on the AES HC reflector.
For those not on the reflector, the preferred methods is that people follow
the instructions
on the website. If all else fails, email Howard
Sanner who will acknowledge and make arrangements.
Ampex had a museum of artifacts that was stored several years ago. Stanford
University Libraries have acquired
that collection. They are organizing it now and they hope that it will
be publicly available in two years.
Kristina Schwarz was introduced. She will be making oral history interviews
in Europe starting at the Munich convention. She intends to start at the
IRT in Munich.
Thanks to Irv Joel, John Chester and all those involved for putting together
the exhibition here at the New York convention. Irv Joel described the
process of bringing the exhibit to life with the interruption of the World
Trade Center attacks. The exhibit is totally a volunteer effort except
for required union work. The Javits Center staff has been wonderful. Joel
also reviewed the historical programs presented in recent years, commenting
on how the programs were assembled.
Discussion from the floor.
It was announced that SoundWave, the international museum of recorded sound
and entertainment, will be opening in Camden, New Jersey, USA. Tom Corcoran
was the creator of this center. Members of the AES HC are invited to become
involved. SoundWave now needs support from the audio industry.
Michael Christopher announced that he is working on a project involving
Edison cylinders. He aims to release a cylinder recording on CD of a recording
of Thomas Edison's voice.
Nicholas Bergh talked about transcribing oral interviews to text.
Howard Sanner noted the last living acoustic recording engineer should
be interviewed for the oral history project. Cyril Francis worked for Parlophone
in London and is the father of David Francis, former head of the Library
of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division.
Irv Joel is working on this.
Irv Joel demonstrated the exhibition being presented at this convention.
The next meeting will take place in 2002 May, in Munich, Germany.
