AES 2020 Virtual: Audio Engineering Month
The Audio Engineering Society has declared October “Audio Engineering Month” as it expands its traditional Fall Convention into the virtual realm. Consisting of four weeks packed with audio presentations and activities—from October 6 – 30—the AES Show Fall 2020 offers full Technical Program access featuring live and on-demand content, student and career activities, engagement with peers and audio luminaries, the audio hardware and software product showcase and special events throughout the month.
“Expanding the Convention offerings across a full month answers one of the biggest questions raised by Convention attendees in the past when faced with hundreds of compelling sessions packed into just four days: ‘How do I choose?’” says AES Show Fall 2020 Convention co-chair Jonathan Wyner. “Applying lessons learned from AES’s first online Convention experience with the highly successful AES Virtual Vienna, we are extending the timeline to provide our attendees the opportunity to dive deeper into the program and explore new topics. A virtual event allows us to take attendees places they have never been.”
The first two weeks will feature interviews, webinars on timely topics, and an online AoIP Summit. Week three will be Student Week, along with the exhibition Showcase. Week Four will bring the balance of the traditional AES Convention Tech Program: Workshops, Papers, Engineering Briefs, Keynotes and other Special Events.
New to the Audio Engineering Month lineup is the AES Show ProductLaunch, where attendees can see the latest gear from leading companies through video-based product launches and live engagement with product specialists and company personnel. Taking advantage of the virtual platform, the AES Show TechTours will feature “The Seven Wonders of the Audio World,” a series of in-depth tours of legendary studios across the globe.
Student & Career offerings have been expanded into the AES Show Student Week, which will feature seven days of activities including Workshops, Recording Critique Sessions, Recording and Design Competitions, a Career & Education Fair, Mentoring Sessions and more.
NAMM 2021: “Believe in Music Week” Begins January 18
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAMM 2021 will take place virtually with the theme “Believe in Music: The global gathering to unify and support the people who bring music to the world.”
To be held over the week of January 18, 2021, “Believe in Music” will feature a mix of comprehensive programming and professional education at BelieveinMusic.tv, as well as an interactive marketplace to connect buyers and sellers. While not billed as The NAMM Show or a virtual tradeshow, the initiative will meet the immediate business needs of NAMM member companies through thought-leader led education for all segments of the industry, networking and AI matchmaking, and business-to-business-focused opportunities to launch new products, share brand initiatives and engage with customers in real-time.
Joe Lamond, NAMM President and CEO, says, “While it remains unsafe for us to gather in person in January, Believe in Music week will use new, intuitive technology to connect us all to harness the incredible energy that happens when we come together. With a robust marketplace to launch new products and share your brand story, Believe in Music will also feature networking and matchmaking for our buyers and our sellers, education for all segments of the industry, and live music and concerts.”
The weeklong celebration will also feature participants from GenNext (college music students and faculty), Music Education Days (school music administrators) and Nonprofit Institute (NAMM Foundation grantees and nonprofit affiliates). Performances by emerging and established musicians, as always, will be a part of the week’s events.
The industry’s much-loved annual events will now take place during Believe in Music week, as well. The 36th TEC Awards will recognize the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and multimedia. The Top 100 Dealer Awards will also be celebrated during the week.
“If there’s any one common vision, it’s that as a global community, we believe in music, Lamond says in summary. “We believe in the future of music and in the future of our industry, and in this moment, we will unite and support music makers around the world.”
Sound Credit Initiative Put Forth by CAS, MPSE, & AMPS
The Cinema Audio Society recently joined with the Motion Picture Sound Editors and The Association of Motion Picture Sound in sending an open letter to the entertainment industry regarding the grouping together key sound professionals and positioning them in the credits in proximity with other key roles.
“This is a multi-organizational effort by the overall sound community to change the culture of recognition toward the art and craft of sound for picture,” said CAS President Karol Urban. “It also complements the new Academy Awards structure of honoring sound editorial and mix under than same designation by presenting the key members of the sound team in solidarity to the viewer.”
