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I’m on my way to AES once again, flying on a United Airlines
767, final destination JFK…presumably. Okay everybody, take
your seats, take a deep breath and wipe your sweaty palms. Ah yes,
the annual migration to AES involves a bit more, uh, “cardiac
stimulation” than it did last year.
For me, this is AES show number seventeen. It’s a familiar
routine by now, though this year introduces a few twists for the
troubled times. For example, I briefly considered packing a particle
mask and some leftover antibiotics. (Just how are those old ladies
getting the deadly bug, anyway?) But no. Going to AES this year
involves a certain devil-may-care commitment, perhaps even bravado.
It’s an act of faith.
I confess there were moments when I was on the verge of chucking
it in and staying home. Why worry, be safe! But it wouldn’t
feel right. I’d drop out of sync for a whole year, like a flock
of Canadian geese that somehow forgot to go south for the season.
So off I go, ready to pull off my belt as often as necessary. Uh,
for security reasons, honey.
Let’s face it, this year’s AES convention will be greeted
with muted, if not lowered, expectations. Several major audio companies—Yamaha,
Digidesign, Roland, Meyer Sound among them—will not be present.
One smaller company, Z-Systems, announced a last-minute cancellation,
and we can expect a few other unannounced no-shows. However, early
rumors that the Harman International group would pull out proved
false, or perhaps an earlier low-level decision was reversed from
on high. Could it be that a certain California congresswoman (and
ex-gubernatorial candidate) was nervous about apparent lack of support
for a Democratic stronghold city? Hmmm. Whatever the case, Harman
will be there.
And so will the majority of other companies, particularly those
focused on high-end recording and post-production. The AES lists
roughly 275 exhibitors, though some are essentially duplications:
e.g. Mix Magazine and Intertec are listed separately but share a
booth. Still, it’s an impressive showing under the circumstances.
Despite the economic downturn, the industry remains relatively healthy—and
highly competitive. The AES show is still the best place to feel
the pulse of the industry, to meet eyeball-to-eyeball with the trendsetters,
to actually (in some cases) hear with your own ears what others
claim to be the be-all, end-all in their particular niche of professional
audio.
So, when we walk into the Javits this year, what should we expect?
Here are some forecasts and observations.
It’s Not Cheap
Getting to New York by air may be a bargain, cash-wise if not hassle-wise.
But if you didn’t re-book your hotel in the bargain days of
October, you’ll be paying pretty much the usual exorbitant
rates. Apparently the season crowds for Broadway openings and holiday
shopping are back at least close to full force.
Peculiar and Ironic
Back in my days with Studer, analog ruled the world. Now it’s
a digital universe…or is it? I noticed that, in the latest
Pro Sound News “Tracks” section, every project on the
list had used analog at some stage. (Somebody needs to tell the
PSN editor in charge, however, that the ATR-124s at Cello are by
Ampex, not Tascam.) It’s ironic then, that Ampex is represented
only by cottage-industry rebuilder ATR Service Company, Quantegy
won’t even be there, and both Otari and Studer continue to
struggle in their efforts to reinvent themselves for the (mostly)
digital era.
Notable Trends
These are the days of conglomerates and corporate behemoths. Sony.
Harman Yamaha. The Avid/Digidesign cartel. What’s a small company
gonna do to compete? Fifteen smaller companies have found one answer:
the Underground Audio Coalition. They have banded together to get
a break on exhibit space and to pool their promotion efforts. Let’s
hope it works, because these “little guys” are crucial
to the health of the industry.
One member of the Coalition is the Transamerica Audio Group (TAG),
which represents a further development of the same concept. In this
case, TAG has assumed responsibility for all marketing activities
for a number of smaller companies, which otherwise retain their
unique identities. TAG’s president, industry veteran Brad Lunde,
has assembled an impressive—and growing--list of mostly high-end
companies. Looks like a winning concept, except to perhaps a few
mid-level marketing people no longer needed by the respective firms.
Long Overdue?
New at AES this year (unless carefully hidden before) is an ongoing
Songwriter’s Showcase. It all starts with a song, and I hope
this experiment garners enough support to become an AES staple.
A Must See
For me, the Most Pleasant Surprise at last year’s AES was the
“When Vinyl Ruled” exhibit. It proved so popular that
they’re doing it again in New York. It’s a unique chance
to casually chat with industry legends, who seem particularly inspired
when surrounded by the gear they used during recording’s earlier
“glory days.” Check the posted schedule to find out when
the likes of Eddie Kramer, Walter Sear, Bob Ludwig and Joe Tarsia
will be there. (Last year’s easy banter with Al Schmitt was
a show highlight for me.)
Who Needs the Javits?
You might skip it altogether and just do the Technical Tours. It’s
really an all-star lineup this year, featuring New York’s top
line studios plus an intriguing visit to something called the Ambiophonics
Institute. Sign up early, as many of these are sold out the first
day.
Regrets
The frantic schedule of the Recording Content Editor will likely
keep me from attending both the Grammy Recording Roundtable and
the Platinum Producers forum in their entirety—though I plan
to squeeze in a portion of both. These sessions are not only informative,
but often inspiring. Last year it was worth going just to help give
a long overdue standing ovation to Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick.
For more details on all of this, go to the official show web site
at www.aes.org.
That’s it for my advance tips, observations and expectations.
Check Monday: Goodbye
to a Triumph for my first report on what’s actually going
down at the show.
Check Out The Rest of Bruce's AES Coverage:
Monday: Goodbye to a
Triumph
Sunday: Even Mo' Bettah
Saturday: We’re
Here, We’re Happenin’
Tell
us what you think! - Join the AES discussion on the RecPit!
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