Chairman's Welcome
Dear Audio Friends,
Welcome to München, to the 112th Convention of the AES, which hosts the most important international Pro Audio Event in Europe in 2002. The whole professional audio world will once again gather in MOC’s exhibition halls, conference rooms and its airy foyer, basking in the spring sunshine. For four days manufacturers, Tonmeisters, engineers and students will be able to inspect the newest audio equipment and learn about the latest developments in their field. It is the very best place for personal networking and information exchange.
Exhibition, Papers, Workshops, Special Events
The Convention Committee has again prepared a program jam-packed with attractive activities. Over 250 exhibitors will show you their latest products and their staff will be eager to explain how their product may support your individual activities, thus helping you to make better-informed future business decisions. More than 140 scientific papers covering all aspects of the audio field, will bring you up-to-date on the latest research and application developments. Experts in some 16 workshops will discuss many of the most prominent topics in depth. And also there is the Heyser Lecture, which will feature Ray Dolby. Use your visit for discussion and learning. You will find plenty of knowledgeable colleagues around, eager to enter into an interesting discussion with you.
Students Program and Audio History
Recording seminars will be offered to students and special recording competitions will be held where their submitted classical, jazz and pop recordings will be judged by experts, thus encouraging all future ‘Tonmeister’ (recording engineers/producers). A job market may help those who have finished their formal education to find a job in their chosen field. The past will be brought back to life as well: presentations and displays of historical audio equipment will take you back to the ‘good old days’.
Touring München
But the hospitable city of München and the AES have much more to offer than just the activities outlined above! There are Technical Tours which will take you to the most innovative studios and broadcasters, where you can experience the new world of digital audio in action. You can discuss with the operators about their experiences and thus form your own opinion. And for those who want to sample the cultural aspects of München as well, we have organized several outings, one of which is a trip to the world of Ludwig II, Bavaria’s Fairytale King.
Pre-Convention Metadata Symposium
There is also an innovation in the 112th AES Convention program. On Thursday, May 9th, one day before the official start of the convention, while the stand building for the exhibition is still in progress, a special one day symposium on ‘Metadata’ is being held in one of the conference rooms. The purpose of this seminar for users, webcasters and manufacturers of interconnected digital systems is to hear about the actual situation (“state of chaos”) and discuss the best ways to encode and transmit descriptive data belonging to program material along with that program itself (“wishes for solutions”). Several different systems are in use today. Will this seminar pave the way to one universal interface? We’ll see.
The Banquet!
And where will we meet for an enjoyable dinner? In the Old City Hall (Alter Rathaussaal), where centuries ago the future of München was discussed and determined, we will gather on Sunday, May 12th, for an entertaining and festive banquet.
Come to München in the month of May! All the members of the Convention Committee are looking forward to meeting you again in the M.O.C. and hope that you will reserve sufficient time. The Audio world is large – the Euro will bring us closer together.
Martin Wöhr
Chairman 112th AES Convention
