129th AES Convention Technical Tour Co-Chairs Jessica Livingston and Jeff McKnight have announced a wide range of technical tours at the upcoming AES Convention in San Francisco. (Times and dates have yet to be finalized.)
Convention Co-Chair Valerie Tyler states, “SF’s extensive tech tour opportunities, coupled with the coincidentally close proximity of six sites, inspired Livingston and McKnight to provide visitors with a pair of two for one opportunities To the best of our knowledge this is the first time we have been able to offer package tours.”
Tickets for technical tours are only available on site at the Moscone Center, site of the 129th convention. Tickets are sold at the reception desk in the main lobby well in advance of departure. Anyone interested in participating should visit the calendar of events for dates and times.
The initial tech tour schedule includes:
Freight & Salvage – A 42-year-old coffee house which recently opened California’s largest venue for traditional music. Having hosted artists such as Country Joe and The Fish, Lightin’ Hopkins and Ricky Skaggs.
The Berkeley Repertory Theater – Site of many successful theatrical productions over the past 40 years, including Green Day’s multi Tony-Award winning “American Idiot”. The Berkeley Rep features two separate theaters which run different shows simultaneously. Situated across the street from each other in the heart of the Berkeley Arts District, Freight & Salvage and The Berkeley Rep are offered as a single tour.
Tiny Telephone – Opened by John Vanderslice in 1997 to provide affordable recording to SF’s independent music community. Situated in the Mission District in a gated, private compound The 1700 sq. ft. studio offers a Bob Hodas-tuned control room, a discrete Neve 5316 a Studer 827 and, the city’s most comfortable couch. Tiny Telephone engineers have worked with a variety of artists ranging from Modest Mouse to Death Cab For Cutie and Elvis Costello.
Women’s Audio Mission – A non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in music production and the recording arts. In a field where women are chronically under-represented,WAM seeks to “change the face of sound” by providing women with hands-on media technology training, career counseling and job placement. The tour will be highlighted by a visit to WAM’s recently redesigned studio. Mission District neighbors, Tiny Telephone and WAM encompass another “double header” tour.
Crescendo – One of SF’s premier audio post facilities, is located in the historic Barbary Coast, waterfront district. Designed by WSDG, in a European motif inspired by Old World Italy, Crescendo is a cutting-edge audio post complex and, an experience! Amenities include a Tuscan plaza and bubbling fountain, and a charming fully-functioning café with stunning Bay Bridge views. The twin Roma and Firenze Studios and 5.1 Venezia marry state-of-the-art technology with old world aesthetics.
Polarity Post – A five studio full service audio post house focused on VO & ADR Recording, Sound Design, Stereo and Surround Sound Mixing for TV, Radio, Video Games, Film, Corporate Programming and Special Projects, Polarity and Crescendo comprise the third 2-4-1 Tech Tour Package.
Dolby (SF & Brisbane) – Founded by Ray Dolby in 1965, and a benchmark of SF pro audio innovation since 1976, Dolby is synonymous with the highest quality feature film noise reduction systems. Winner of multiple Oscars and Emmys, Dolby has developed ground-breaking cinema, broadcast, game and home theater audio technology. This tour will encompass R&D labs, manufacturing and testing facilities.
Outpost Studios – SF’s largest lock-to-picture Dolby 5.1 control room/mix stage features custom-built Foley pits and recording areas. Editor Dave Nelson pioneered the art of recording Foley directly into ProTools. Outpost boasts a warehouse full of Foley props, including the Saul Zaentz Film Center collection and a huge library of sound effects. Credits include Sofia Coppola’s ‘Lost in Translation.’
Davies Symphony Hall – Opened in 1980, and is the home of the San Francisco Symphony and musical director Michael Tilson Thomas. The strikingly elegant hall is distinguished by a unique “cloud” of movable reflecting panels to adjust the acoustics to the size of the orchestra and audience. Unique fabric banners can alter reverb time from approximately one to two-and-one-half seconds. The venue has hosted such acclaimed artists as: Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Jascha Heifetz and Andre Watts.
