'When Vinyl Ruled!' Exhibit - Room 3D-02

Organizers:
John K. Chester, High Bridge, NJ, USA Irv Joel, Irv Joel and Associates, Teaneck, NJ, USA
Team Leaders:
David Baker, Jerry Bruck, Dan Gaydos, Albert B. Grundy, Walter Sear

A live, interactive exhibit of vintage studio equipment and tapes, organized by the AES Historical Committee, brought back to life the early years of commercial stereo recording. Grouped around a tubed mixing desk was a collection of Ampex, Scully, and Studer tape decks; McIntosh amplifiers; and Altec A7-500 "far-field" monitors. Of special interest is a fully restored, fully functional Neumann disk mastering system set up to cut a lacquer from a live source or a master tape.

This event was more than just a collection of vintage gear, there was demonstrations, mini-tutorials, and guest presentations by top professionals rooted in that era. David Greene, George Massenburg, Eddie Kramer, Bob Ludwig, Walter Sear, Judy Sherman, and Joe Tarsia played original material on vintage equipment from albums of The Spinners, Elvis Presley, Netania Davrath, Sir Adrian Boult, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Judy Collins, and Peter Gunn. Not to be missed was our "Full Monty" on-site direct-to-disk recording of a live musical group cut onto a master lacquer in full view of all those present.

So look elsewhere for those 24/96 converters, hard disk multitracks and cross-platform DAWs, the magnetic attraction of this exhibit was the real thing. These bits were tangible; you could see them, touch them, even catch a heady whiff of oxide binder and fresh-cut lacquer chip. It left you yearning for a studio with soul, from the days "When Vinyl Ruled!"

* A meeting of the Historical Committee took place on Sunday, December 2, at 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm, in Room 3D-02.