AES News

The Audio Engineering Society has always been at the center of the audio recording, production and mastering communities, bringing the top engineers together to share techniques and promote new ideas. At the upcoming AES New York 2019 convention, taking place October 16 – 19 at the Jacob Javits Center, visitors will be able to learn from the pros and hear the latest advances in the state of recording by attending the Recording and Production Track events, set to explore a wide range of topics from drum programming to mixing tricks to setting up listening rooms.

The Recording and Production Track will feature several dozen events over the convention’s four days, with top minds in recording and production sharing their perspective. 

A few highlights include:

On Wednesday, October 16, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., the session “So Unforgettable—Two Iconic Albums from Two Non-Studio Spaces” will see engineer/mixer Kevin Killen and interviewer Alex Case explore the making of U2’s The Unforgettable Fire and Peter Gabriel’s So – released just two years apart, and both featuring Kevin Killen’s mixing/engineering work. These records represented major points of creative inflection for each artist. Most of the production took place outside of any traditional studio, U2 recording in a castle and Gabriel in a converted cow shed. These special projects placed unique demands on the producers and engineers, yet became sonic touchstones for many artists and engineers since. 

Also on Wednesday, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, “The Making of Sheryl Crow's Threads” will feature Glenn Lorbecki interviewing mixer/engineer Dave O’Donnell, breaking down the making of the latest LP from the superstar singer-songwriter. This album features duets with different superstar artists on every track, and the album’s recording and mixing process employed a number of different approaches to capture the unique personalities of these diverse performers. 

Thursday will feature a lunchtime keynote from multiple GRAMMY award-winning producer Emmy-winning musical director and A-list drummer, Steve Jordan, taking place from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Jordan has recorded with the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Sheryl Crow, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Bruno Mars, The Pretenders, James Taylor, Diana Krall, Billy Joel, Don Henley, and Chick Corea, to name but a few, as well as being a member of the original Saturday Night Live Band and a founding member of the World's Most Dangerous Band for Late Night with David Letterman.

Also on Thursday, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, “The Doppler Gang – A Panel of Pros Discuss the Pros and Cons of Pitch Change” will feature co-moderators Anthony Agnello and Richard Factor (both of Eventide Inc.) with panelists Alex Case, Bob Clearmountain, George Massenburg, Susan Rogers and Tony Visconti – all noted recording professionals and educators – discussing the topic of pitch change processing. Analog tape invited tape speed manipulation and pitch change processing became the basis for many tracking and mixing effects. The effect became digitally available in the mid-70s. A broad set of pitch effects has evolved ever since, led in part by these panelists. Learn about their approaches and listen to the results, from obvious to subliminal, from logical to just plain wacky.

On Friday, “How We Make Music — Crossing the Decades from Analog to Digital” will take place from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm. Legendary mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge will serve as moderator, with panelists Niko Bolas, Danny Kortchmar, Tom Lord-Alge and Dave Way. Attendees will hear from these top recording engineers and producers, sharing techniques they use in bridging the worlds of analog and digital and how they connect the dots of the past, present, and future of creative technology. 

Other featured Recording and Production Track sessions include “Changing Roles in the Audio Industry,” exploring the ever-evolving roles of producers, engineers, mixers, and more, moderated by Paul "Willie Green" Womack with panelists Ariel Borujow, Ken "Duro" Ifill, and Mike Kuz; and “Mastering Immersive Audio” with moderator Michael Romanowski, Stefan Bock, Gavin Lurssen, Andres A. Mayo, Darcy Proper and Mark Wilder. Additionally, Women’s Audio Mission will also host two panel sessions: “Evolution of Album Production from Start to Finish“ which will feature Terri Winston moderating with guests Gloria Kaba, Heba Kadry and Simone Torres; and the panel “Live Concert Sound,“ presented in association with the AES Technical Committee on Recording Technology and Practices, with moderator Terri Winston and panelists Fela Davis, Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato, and Caroline Sanchez.

For more information on the entire program for the Recording & Production Track, please visit http://www.aes.org/events/147/recording/. The Recording & Production Track is open to attendees with an All Access badge, available for a limited time at Advance Registration discount pricing with AES Members and Students receiving significant savings. Find out more about the AES New York and register now at aesshow.com.  

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