More On Sam
(not only to let you know
who he is - if you have not had the pleasure of working with him
but also to help you prepare questions for posts to his forums):
Sam Berkow began his career in the field of acoustics
as an acoustical consultant with Artec Consultants, studying the
design of musical performance spaces. Mr. Berkow’s research
into Advanced Digital Signal Processing techniques has been focused
on finding practical solutions to both the acoustical and electro-acoustical
problems of musical performance spaces.
Toward the end Mr. Berkow has developed research
tools in the areas of simulation of early sound in auditoria via
acoustic images technique; decay characteristics of acoustically
coupled rooms; and predictive digital signal processing. Mr. Berkow
has worked as a consultant to AT&T Bell Labs regarding acoustic
measurement as well as co-developed HyperSignal Acoustic, a popular
acoustic measurement and analysis software package.
Most recently, Mr. Berkow is heading the acoustic
measurement division of Walters-Storyk Design Group. Measurement
work includes projects for Meyer Sound, Walt Disney Imagineering
and Radio City Music Hall. Berkow has developed “SMAART”
Software, a portable, real-time Windows based program for room and
sound analysis. Current design projects with Walters-Storyk include
a $15 million International Performing Arts Center, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia; AR Studios, Rio de Janeiro; All Star Cafe, NYC, and Jazz
at Lincoln Center, NY.
Sam Links Around PSW & The Web:
Pro
Sound Web Live Chat Transcript With Sam Berkow February 26, 2001
- Sam Berkow - Founder of SIA Software Company, developer of
Smaart. Expert in acoustical measurement and critical room designs.
Currently with Walters Storyk Design Group.
Princeton
ACM / IEEE Computer Society Meeting - DELAWARE VALLEY ACOUSTICAL
SOCIETY OF AMERICA and PRINCETON ACM / IEEE COMPUTER SOCIETY CHAPTERS
MARCH 1999 JOINT MEETING - Acoustic Measurement and Sound System
Optimization: A Practical Discussion of the Topic! by Sam Berkow.
SIA-Smaart®
Pro Analysis Module - Case Study #1: Domed Stadium - by Sam
Berkow, SIA Acoustics / SIA Software Company, Inc. (in adobe pdf
format)
NSCA
EAW/SIA/JBL and partners introduce Smaart training.
SIA-Smaart®
Pro Real Time and - Analysis Module Case Study #2: - Critical Listening
Room – Home Theater - by Sam Berkow, SIA Acoustics / SIA
Software Company, Inc. (in adobe pdf format)
Jazz
at Lincoln Center New Facility - Architectural Fact Sheet
SIA-Smaart®
Pro Real Time and - Analysis Module Case Study #3: - Two Way, Bi-Amplified
Loudspeaker - In A Critical Listening Room - by Sam Berkow,
SIA Acoustics / SIA Software Company, Inc. (in adobe pdf format)
The
ConcertoNet.com - New York Avery Fisher Hall 6/1/2002 - Beethoven
Violin Concerto, 3 Symphony Eroica - New York Philharmonic Orchestra,
Kurt Masur (conductor) The Avery Fisher Hall treacherous acoustics
have been improved by the various panels of the back of the stage.
(This is the result of the outstanding work done by Sam Berkow,
can we get him involved for the future work in Salle Pleyel, please).
While the Avery Fisher Hall will always remain the Avery Fisher
Hall, it is a big step forward for both audience and musicians.
No orchestra can improve unless they can hear themselves.
SIA-Smaart®
Pro Case Study #8 Polarity and Its Effect on a 2-Way Speaker Box
And Effects of Room Modes on Measurements in (Relatively) Small
Rooms - Text by Sam Berkow, SIA, Measurements by Bill Hoy, EAW
(in adobe pdf format)
RPG
DIFFUSOR SYSTEMS: News: DiffuseNews Archives: October 1998 -
John Storyk and Sam Berkow of Walters-Storyk Design Group discussed
their approach to home theater design and the power of the JBL Smaart
program to validate installations and troubleshoot problematic rooms.
We want to thank them for their continuing support of RPG® products
and research.
SIA
Software Technical Document Archives Submitted by Sam Berkow,
SIA Software, Inc. (link to external site, opens in new window)
This is a great resource for information relating to the measurement
of audio systems. It mainly deals with applications of the Smaart
Pro FFT software (published by SIA), but the principles and applications
provide an excellent reference for measurement information in general.
Subtle
Magic - By Sam Berkow - Sound & Video Contractor, Apr.
1, 2002 - Electronic enhancement systems are designed to electronically
alter the acoustics of a space by providing extra sound energy in
the form of reverberation or reflections to improve sound quality.
These systems can work with traditional sound systems or in natural
acoustic environments. It is important to note that enhancement
systems do not generate audio signals on their own, rather they
pick up sounds already within a space, process them and feed them
back into the acoustic environment.
SIA-Smaart®
Pro CASE STUDY #9: Interaction of Low Frequency Drivers and Subwoofers
in Dance Systems - By Sam Berkow, SIA Software Company, Inc.
Digidesign.com
users - Walters-Storyk Design Group - The State of World-Class Studio
Design - By Randy Alberts
The recent refitting of the sound system at
Philadelphia's venerable Mann Music Center for the Performing Arts
is a case in point as to how judicious technical choices can not
only improve the sound of a venue but also increase its earning
power, as well.
The original system configuration was tuned by Sam Berkow, a consultant
to JBL and the co-developer with the company of the SMAART acoustical
analysis program, a laptop-usable software system which takes venue
analysis extremely simple yet accurate. Berkow's analysis helped
determine the precise delay times for the cabinets, and the result,
said Conner, "filled the room perfectly."
Audio
Engineering Society Boston Chapter, Newsletter October 2000 - Sound
System Optimization - Q: How do you equalize a room? - A: With a
hammer.
NYTimes.com
Article: Religion Finds Technology - "There's clearly a
trend toward better production," said Sam Berkow, a consultant
for the Walters-Storyk Design Group who oversaw the integration
of sophisticated sound and video systems into Central Synagogue,
home to a Reform Jewish congregation on the East Side of Manhattan.
"Once people can buy a reasonable sound reproduction system
for home, like a CD player and a pair of speakers for $500, their
expectations for sound quality increase exponentially."
Government
Video Online: EDUCATION - Schoolhouse rocks ... Acoustical Challenges
With a $1.5 million budget, Storyk and design partner Sam Berkow
gutted walls, moved doors, designed and built a completely new stage...
Look even the French love him: «On s'oriente clairement vers
de meilleures productions», déclare Sam Berkow, le
consultant du groupe de design Walters-Storyk qui a coordonné
l'intégration des systèmes audio et vidéo à
la Central Synagogue, temple d'une communauté juive réformée
dans le quartier East Side de Manhattan. «Dès que les
gens achètent un système audio raisonnable, comme
un lecteur de CD et une paire de haut-parleurs pour 500$, leurs
attentes sur le plan de la qualité sonore augmentent exponentiellement.»
From Le
lundi 17 juin 2002 Les technos au service de la Bonne Nouvelle
JBL
White Paper - Measuring and Optimizing Sound Systems: An introduction
to JBL Smaart™ by Sam Berkow & Alexander Yuill-Thornton
II
LARES
featured system Central Synagogue, New York, NY - According
to WSDG's Sam Berkow, "The two biggest challenges were the
need to hide loudspeakers and the diametrically opposed goals of
intelligibility and support for a large (4600 pipe) organ in a 700
seat room. To help reduce the aesthetic impact of the loudspeaker
system, a highly distributed loudspeaker system was designed. This
is practical with the use of DSP based processing, which can provide
many channels of delays and equalization cost effectively."
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