Toronto AES Bulletin Review Jan 2001

The 109th AES Convention Review

The annual Convention Review is as much a part of Toronto Section tradition as is the Tim's coffee and donuts. The following is a list of some of the highlights as presented by Stanley Lipshitz and John Vanderkooy, followed by a review of the workshops by Ron Lynch, and a review from the floor by Ed Segeren in conjunction with Patrica Carr. A new segment this year was a review of the convention's Educational Forum by Mark Banbury.

PAPERS:

Reviewed by John Vanderkooy:

An Inter-Channel Redundancy Removal Approach for High-Quality Multichannel Audio Compression-Dai Yang, Hongmei Ai, Chris Kyriakakis, and C.-C. Jay Kuo, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA - Compression commonality between channels in a multichannel program using KLTs. The example sited was a 10 channel version of the Messiah.

The Design of VALDEMAR-An Artificial Head for Binaural Recording Purposes by Flemming C hristensen, Clemen Boje Jensen, and Henrik Møller, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Diagnosis and Remedy of Nonlinearities in Electrodynamical Transducers-Wolfgang Klippel, Klippel GmbH, Dresden, Germany

Diagnosis and Remedy of Nonlinearities in Electrodynamical Transducers by Wolfgang Klippel, Klippel GmbH, Dresden, Germany - To measure distortion in loudspeakers and the parameters of various drivers.

Design of Acoustic Lever Loudspeaker Systems, Part One by Alan S. Phillips, Visteon Automotive Systems, Allen Park, MI, USA - A new acoustic principle used to make loudspeakers more efficient.

The Effect of Room Acoustics on Subwoofer Performance and Level Setting by Eric Benjamin and Benjamin Gannon, Dolby Laboratories, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA

Reviewed by Stanley Lipshitz:

Advanced Watermarking and Its Applications by Christian Neubauer and Jürgen Herre, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, Erlangen, Germany- some of the current schemes for watermarking were presented. Testing has shown that watermarking can be detected in some cases.

Why Professional 1-Bit Sigma-Delta Conversion is a Bad Idea by Stanley P. Lipshitz and John Vanderkooy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada - in short the good doctors argued that 1 bit is flawed and demonstrated mathematically that it is impossible to perfect.

The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms-The Stereo Past and the Multichannel Future by Floyd E. Toole, Harman International Industries, Inc., Northridge, CA, USA (Invited Tutorial) - Described as the paper of his career, Floyd Toole discussed what we are trying to measure when we measure loudspeaker performance, what parameters we should be measuring, the test tools we should use and what kinds of aberrations are audible.

Distributed Mode Loudspeaker Resonance Structures by James A. S. Angus, University of York, York, North Yorkshire, UK

The Application of Broadband Constant Beamwidth Transducer (CBT) Theory to Loudspeaker Arrays by D. B. (Don) Keele, Jr., DBK Associates, Niles, MI, USA

Development of a Piezo-Electric Super Tweeter Suitable for DVD-Audio by Mitsukazu Kuze and Kazue Satoh, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Kadoma-City, Osaka, Japan

WORKSHOPS - Reviewed by Ron Lynch, Toronto Section Committee Member

W1: Small Room Acoustics (Tutorial) Chair: Jan Voetmann, DELTA Acoustics and Vibration, Lyngby, Denmark Presenters: Søren Bech; David Griesinger; David Moulton; Jiri Tichy; Bob Walker A tutorial in basic room acoustics followed by four presentations addressing important issues in small room acoustics. Recent approaches to solving acoustical problems were shown.

W2: Speech Intelligibility of Public Address/Audio Systems Chair: Peter Mapp, Peter Mapp Associates, Colchester, Essex, UK The influence of loudspeaker design and application combined with acoustic characteristics on the perceived intelligibility of speech, aspects such as loudspeaker directivity, frequency response and distortion, together with the effects of signal-to-noise and direct-to-reflecting ratios were discussed. Methods of measurement and prediction were also presented after an illustrated introductory talk presenting current knowledge. The discussion was helpful to loudspeaker manufacturers, PA system operators, and sound reinforcement system designers. (ie: When the message has to get out as in emergency situations.)

W3: Audio Watermarking for Packaged and Network Media Chair: Tony Faulkner, Green Room Productions, London, UK Panelists: Karlheinz Brandenburg, M.O.J Hawksford, Paul Jessop, George Massenburg, Al McPherson, Glen Meadows and Joseph M. Winograd This highly topical presentation on audio watermarking has important implications for future economic models of music distribution. Presenters demonstrated examples of current approaches with practical applications. A lively discussion followed. (For copyright management and royalty collection)

W4: Mastering for the Internet Chair: Dave Harris, StarMedia Broadband, San Francisco, CA, USA Panelists: Bernard Grill; Rick Schwartz; David Wheeler Webcasting, or the streaming of audio and video over the Internet, has emerged as a new industry with new opportunities for audio professionals. This workshop covered different methods for optimizing audio for a range of streaming codecs.

W5: High Resolution Audio Chair: Malcolm Hawksford, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK Panelists: Kevin Halverson; Jim Johnston; Siegfried Linkwitz; Vicki Melchior; Mike Story; Bob Stuart; Takeo Yamamoto This workshop addressed the key issues of high-resolution audio acquisition, storage and playback. Panelists also discussed the impact of these technologies on working methods and final delivery. Small listening room demonstrations of high-resolution audio were available throughout the convention.

W6: Digital Libraries, Preservation and Metadata Chair: Elizabeth Cohen, Cohen Acoustical, Los Angeles, CA, USA Panelists: Richard Bradshaw; Peggy Bulger; Mike Christel; Werner Deutsch; Henry Gladney; Mickey Hart; Steve Lymam This workshop explores the artistic and technical challenges of storing and retrieving audio programs and full asset management. Various solutions for digital audio library management will be shown. Topics included the future of optical and magneto-optical media, media longevity, data migration, development of digital libraries and data management.

W7: Microphones-How They Work and How to Put Them to Work for You (Tutorial) Chair: Ron Streicher, Pacific Audio-Video Enterprises, Monrovia, CA, USA Panelists: Wes Dooley; John Eargle; Juergen Wahl

A comprehensive review of the broad range of factors that determine how microphones work with emphasis given to practical methods for applying these complex tools to your recording or sound reinforcement project. The basic operating principles of microphones as transducers, how to make best use of polar patterns, the physical characteristics and limitations of microphones, powering systems, and other related pragmatic issues including microphone mounting hardware, cables, windscreens, etc. - W8: System Problem Solving with Alternative Transducers Chair: John Stewart, Harman Motive, Inc., Martinsville, IN, USA Panelists: Thomas Danley; Neil Harris; Klaus Heinz; Tony Hooley; Roger Sanders; Bruce Thigpen This workshop presented alternative approaches to putting air in motion and show how these approaches can be applied to problematic system issues. What options are available to the system designer? An eclectic collection of manufacturers and experimenters demonstrated transducers that reproduce sound without axial pistonic motion.

W9: Perceptual Audio Coders-What to Listen For Chair: Markus Erne, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland The workshop presented the work of the AES Technical Committee on Coding of Audio Signals, which aims at explaining different types of coding artifacts and making a collection of such sound material available to the public.

W10: Everything You Ever Wanted to Hear About Loudspeakers (Tutorial) Chair: Justin Baird, Meyer Sound Laboratories, Berkeley, CA, USA Invited Panelists: Durand Begault; Wolfgang Klippel; Bob McCarthy; David McGrath; David Wessel The current technological trends in loudspeaker processing and design were discussed. Also discussed were practical methods for subjective loudspeaker testing.

W11: Mastering and Authoring for High Resolution Audio Chair: Garry Margolis, Consultant, Los Angeles, CA, USA DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD, the new high-resolution consumer audio formats, have introduced new challenges for the preparation of content for commercial release. Mastering and authoring for these new formats will be explored by a panel of engineers who are involved in the creation of the discs.

W12: How Many Loudspeaker Channels are Enough? Chair: Chris Cain, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA Panelists: David Griesinger, Tomlinson Holman There are differing opinions on the necessity and feasibility of the number of channels and relative positions of loudspeakers which are required to accurately reproduce a naturally occurring soundfield. This workshop brought together the leaders in the field of soundfield reproduction to explore and demonstrate the possibilities.

W13: Auditory-Visual Interaction Co-chairs: Durand Begault, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA; Armin Kohlrausch, Philips Research Laboratories, Eindhoven, The Netherlands Panelists: Myra van Esch-Bussemakers, Armin Kohlrausc, Dominique Massaro, Russell Storms, Elizabeth Wenzel An understanding of image, sound and movement perception is vital for the successful design and application of audio/visual systems. Examples included multimedia entertainment, gaming, soundscape analysis, teleconferencing, virtual reality and user-system interaction. This workshop brought together professionals from the research and professional application communities who defined relevant areas and methodologies and discussed the significant issues of audio/visual interaction.

STUDENT PROGRAMS - Reviewed by Mark Banbury, Toronto Section's Educational Liaison

Mark reviewed the convention's educational forum, which is a separate stream for students.

Student Delegate Assembly 1 Chair: Justin Davis, University of Colorado-Denver Student Section, Denver, CO, USA Vice Chair: Marie Ebbing, Ball State University Student Section, Muncie, IN, USA Students and educators were invited to participate in a discussion of opportunities in the audio field and issues of importance to audio education. This opening meeting of the Student Delegate Assembly introduced the candidates for the coming year's election for the North/South America Regions. Entries for the Recording Competitions and the Poster Session events were collected at this meeting. One entry from each AES student section or audio program was forwarded to the respective judging teams for selection of finalists in each category.

Meet the Textbook Authors Don Puluse, Berklee School of Music, Boston, MA, USA A panel of leading authors of the instructional materials that are shaping education in the audio industry discussed present and future publications. The audience participated in a dialogue on content and needs in books, articles and training aids available in our industry.

Student Recording Competition Host: Roy Pritts, University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO, USA Finalists selected by an elite panel of judges gave brief descriptions and played recordings in the Classical and Jazz/Pop categories. Meritorious awards were presented at the closing Student Delegate Assembly meeting on Sunday.

Education Fair Institutions offering studies in audio-from short courses to graduate degrees were represented in a "tabletop session." Information on each school's respective programs was available through the display of literature and academic guidance sessions with representatives.

Organ Tutorial/Student Recording SessionA special student tutorial on location recording preceded the Graham Blyth organ concert at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Ron Streicher of Pacific Audio-Visual Enterprises and 109th Convention Co-chair, provided students with insight into the techniques of microphone placement, acoustics and recording within the church environment.

Educators' Forum Hosts: Roy Pritts, University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO, USA; and Don Puluse, Berklee School of Music, Boston, MA, USA A meeting of the AES Education Committee, teachers, authors, students and members interested in the issues of primary and continuing education of the audio industry. .

Student Delegate Assembly 2 Chair: Justin Davis, University of Colorado-Denver Student Section, Denver, CO, USA Vice Chair: Marie Ebbing, Ball State University Student Section, Muncie, IN, USA The closing meeting of the SDA elected new officers. Judges' comments and awards were presented for the Recording Competitions and Poster Session. Plans for future student activities at local, regional and international levels were summarized.

Jobs Forum Host: David Porter, Music Annex, San Francisco, CA, USA An elite panel of representatives of the audio industry addressed the issues of entry-level employment and expectations of employers. This panel of experts in the audio field discussed the present state of the job market. Broad aspects of the audio industry were represented and enthusiastic participation by attendees was anticipated.

Continuous throughout Convention: a) Student Center The Student Center is an assembly area for the Student Delegate Assembly and students to meet as well as the designated area for many of the student events. A communications board was available to post e-mail and Web site addresses from all participating student members and institutions. b) Poster Session The Student Center served as the display area for the showcase of Posters of the scholarly, research and creative works of student AES members.

THE EXHIBIT - Review by Ed Segeren

Ed and Patricia Carr prepared a review of the convention floor. There were 360 exhibitors all together with products ranging from revisited analogue technology to microphones for robotics. Some of the highlights included:

Yamaha was high speed with a line of Fireware ready products. Roland presented a line of guitar amps that can emulate any guitar at the click of a button. NXT New Transducers Ltd. presented a line of flat panel speakers. AMS Neve PLC revisited their Neve 88R, an analogue console.

For more information on the 109 Convention, please see the AES Headquarters website.

We would like to thank our presenters for their time and very informative presentations. We would also like to thank our hosts, Ryerson.

Back to the Jan 2001 Bulletin