Education & Career

AES Student Blog

AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! Leapwing Audio

We are thrilled that Leapwing Audio will be joining us again as sponsors of the student competitions

We love analog, we love digital and recognise that focus is key. Additionally, we acknowledge that there are certain things you can’t accomplish in the analog domain. Therefore we solely focus on building tools that use the strength of digital to shape and improve your sound, with serious impact and without any artefacts.

How do we do that?

You can call us geeks (we actually like that) but we are also end-users. As a group of developers, musicians, audio engineers and producers we have one thing in common: the love for music and technology.

Why do we do that?

We build the tools we need or would use ourselves. At the same time, we believe that your time is important. We have one goal: once you open one of our tools, within 10 seconds you understand what it does and you get great sound with serious impact within the next 10 seconds. We have a clear dedication to building something that is easy to use and works intuitively.

What do we do?

We pride ourselves to focus on only using the highest quality filters and algorithms we can come up with while acknowledging the current boundaries of modern-day CPU’s. Remember we are geeks; we can spend weeks getting our filters to sound just the way we want them to be. We also strongly believe that our paying customers should not be our beta testers. We recently set up a very strong testing and debugging framework to make sure our plugins leave our lab in the best possible condition.

We listen!

Our customers are our source of inspiration and improvement. We are proud to have build a warm and strong community of end-users in a short period of time, including some of the greatest engineers on the planet. Thank you all! Your feedback helps us to improve and make sure our plugins are working according to the latest technology and needs.

We look forward to helping you make a big impact, within a short period of time.

The Leapwing Audio Team

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Posted: Tuesday, September 4, 2018

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AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! Acustica Audio

We are thankful for Acustica Audio's support of the student competitions at AES144!

Acustica Audio creates faithful software plug-in emulations of rare vintage or modern hardware gear and new hybrids impossible in the analogue domain. Our core tech is based on dynamic sampling and Volterra series nonlinear convolution. This approach help us create plug-ins that deliver gear-like transient response, accurate phase, and tone which will make you smile! Our main product, the 'Nebula' gear sampler is in version 4 now and it has been around since 2005. N4 and the free N4 Player are both capable of loading 3rd party gear libraries. Our website hosts the official online store for such libraries and an entire line of standalone Nebula-based plug-ins know as 'the Aqua range'.

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Posted: Tuesday, September 4, 2018

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AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! Routledge

We are happy to have Routledge supporting the student competitions once again!

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group. We are the leading publisher in media technology, providing engaging, and practical content, and tools to help you excel in fields including Audio Engineering, Recording, Mixing, Mastering, Editing, MIDI, Music Business, Dance, DJing, and more. For further details visit our site.

Twitter: @arts_routledge

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RoutledgeMusic

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Posted: Monday, September 3, 2018

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AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! Sonnox

We are excited to have Sonnox's support in the student competition agin this fall!

Sonnox is the leading designer of innovative, high quality, award-winning audio processing plug-ins for professional audio engineers. Oxford Plug-Ins are used in an extraordinary range of audio applications including mixing for music production, live sound, broadcast, TV & Film, and even scientific and forensics projects.

The Sonnox design team traces its heritage back to the 1980's, to the development of the legendary Oxford OXF-R3 digital mixing console. With a base price of $1 million, the OXF-R3 was installed in major recording studios worldwide, and became widely accepted as the first ‘musical’ sounding digital console.

As music production began shifting towards digital workstations, the console inspired a series of unique software developments starting with the Oxford EQ and Dynamics plug-ins.

The expanding family of Oxford Plug-Ins quickly acquired a reputation for excellence among leading engineers worldwide; a reputation that was earned through a no-compromise attitude to audio performance and a desire to push the boundaries with intuitive and novel user interfaces.

Sonnox continues to develop unique, high-quality plug-ins for audio production, embracing new technology and formats with partners such as Avid, Universal Audio and Fraunhofer.

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Posted: Monday, September 3, 2018

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AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! PSP Audioware

We are happy to have PSP Audioware supporting the student competitions once again!

PSPaudioware develops high quality audio effect and processor plug-ins. Their products garner rave reviews and endorsements from every corner of the music production, engineering, composition, and post-production worlds and become staples in professional and home studios worldwide.

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Posted: Sunday, September 2, 2018

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AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! Native Instruments

We would once again like to thank Native Instruments are once again for sponsoring the Student Competitions at the upcoming Convention!

Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and complementary hardware for computer-based music production and DJing. The company’s mission is to develop innovative, fully integrated solutions for all professions, styles and genres empowering all music creators. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike.

Native Instruments opened up the fascinating world of real-time sound synthesis on standard computers in 1996, and today offers an extensive product range for musicians, producers and DJs. The company currently employs more than 500 people in its seven offices in Berlin, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Toronto, Paris, and Shenzhen and works closely with more than 40 international distribution partners to ensure its future growth and success.

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Posted: Sunday, September 2, 2018

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AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! Linear Audio

We are happy to have Sweetwater supporting the student competitions once again!

Linear Audio publishes technical articles about technology, developments and the state of the art in audio and perception from a technical perspective.

It is meant for anyone who is interested in technical audio developments or who wants to contribute. Being employed in audio engineering is not a requirement.

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Posted: Saturday, September 1, 2018

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AES 145 | Meet The Sponsors! APS - Audio Pro Solutions

Many thanks to APS - Audio Pro Solutions for sponsoring the student recording competition!

APS - Audio Pro Solutions

Manufacturer of professional monitors and High End Home speakers. APS was born from an encounter between a composer and sound engineer/producer, brilliant speaker designers and a group of highly motivated audiophiles and music lovers.

APS was established in 2006 as a project devoted to studio sound production technique. As we use professional project and measurement tools, we have total control over the final effect at each stage of the product creation. Ready-made projects are implemented into production with maximum attention paid to the quality of the final product. Our present offer includes active studio monitors.

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Posted: Saturday, September 1, 2018

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AES144 Student Design Competition Interview: Denys Volkov

1) Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from and what do you study?

I am Ukrainian by the origin. It may be superfluous to say that my hobby and professional passion is audio and acoustics and I am very lucky that it is so. I have just obtained my master degree in Electroacoustics in Le Mans University, France and second one in Acoustic multimedia tools and systems in National Technical University of Ukraine in a framework of double diploma program between those two universities.

2) What initiated your passion for audio? When did it start?

My interest in audio and music in general has started since my school years. I decided to visit a music school to learn how to play guitar. Also, I was invited to play drums in folk/jazz orchestra. Since that time music became an essential part of my life. Together with that my favourite subjects in high school were math and physics. These two passions helped me to determine my further steps and choose to study acoustic equipment in the university as it was a great combination of art and science. I would like to express my deep gratitude to all my teachers at Le Mans University for their lessons, experience sharing, endless help and faith in my ideas and this project. To my family for their support of my professional path in audio. And to my friends for their useful advises and testing of my prototypes.

3) Tell us about production of your submission? What is the story behind it? How long did you work on it? Was it your first entry? What kind of problem can it solve or improve?

The idea to develop the system that I have presented in a competition was inspired by an intensive development of smart-audio system market. These systems provide a broad range of possible applications and wide functionality to their users. Except, that they are not flexible in terms of radiation directivity and could not reproduce multichannel audio content. In that way, they cannot fully satisfy all customer’s needs.

Proposed system will help to solve this issue. By varying different assemblies between the cells, it will be possible to use same system to be putted in front of TV and radiates directly for one listener, or to perform wide coverage for several people, listen to common 2.0 stereo or to organize 5.0 or 6.0 home theatre.

4) Did you considered commercializing your project? Are there any business or product possibilities?

I will be of course very happy if my prototype will become one day a final product availab

le in market. However, it is quite difficult to do any further steps and improvements by myself as it will need a lot of electronic design and software development. So, I am open for further proposals and discussions!

6) Tell us about your favorite experiences at the 144th AES convention in Milan!

I cannot single out any particular tutorial or lecture at the AES convention to be my favourite (except SDA design competition of course). I just enjoyed its atmosphere completely! This event is an amazing opportunity to feel yourself as a part of audio industry, to meet colleagues from all over the word, discuss news and just have some fun together!

Posted: Sunday, August 26, 2018

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AES 144 Student Competition Interview: Krzysztof Kicior

1) Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from and what do you study?

I have been living almost my entire life in Warsaw, Poland and I study at The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. After graduating from the Sound Engineering Department, I continue my studies in Composition.

2) What initiated your passion for audio? When did it start?

It is very hard to pinpoint a single point in my life, so I am going to choose three.

Age 2: I started to explore the audio world by hitting random objects with a stick, checking out the sounds they would produce. By then my parents knew what was going on.

Age 15: My radio adventure began, resulting with becoming a host in the local student stations and a somewhat close cooperation with Polskie Radio. By then I knew I loved the devices with flashing lights and faders.

Age 17/18: For the first time ever I heard Mew's albums "And The Glass Handed Kites" and "No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry They Washed Away // No More Stories, The World Is Grey, I'm Tired, Let's Wash Away". By then I knew my future would be somehow entwined with audio.

3) Tell us about production of your submission? What is the story behind it? What inspired it? How long did you work on it? Was it your first entry?

The entire remix category came out of the blue. I did not plan on submitting anything there, because I simply did not expect it!

It all took seven weeks. In that time, I had to decide that I want to take part in the Competition, listen multiple times to the source material, find the right ideas, remix the song, pass the local eliminations, write the documentation and submit my work. I guess there was no time for any doubts, but luckily also no inspiration was needed: that was simply a labour of love. I did not do it for the recognition, so I was shocked to make it to the final of the competition and delighted to receive an award.

That said, it was my first entry ever.

4) What/who made you join AES?

I found out about AES from our Faculty Advisor, dr Tadeusz Fidecki. It took a while, but I finally decided to join the organisation for various reasons - just in time for the 136th Convention in Berlin!

5) Tell us about your favorite experiences at the 144th AES convention in Milan!

Again, I'm going to choose three. Two things that happened to me for the first time ever, one thing that amazes me at every convention.

Friday: fulfilling my dream of a few years to present my work in the Student Recording Competition, receive the feedback from the judges and watch everyone's reactions.

Thursday: joining the D&I Committee meeting and discussing some issues with the "adults". For me, it was a whole new side of the convention.

Wednesday: seeing so many passionate people gathered in one place. It always fills my heart with joy.

Posted: Saturday, August 25, 2018

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