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METAlliance Certifies Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Headphones

Pictured at the 2008 AES Convention are (from left) Phil Ramone, Al Schmitt, Chuck Ainlay, Gary Boss (Audio-Technica marketing director), Greg Pinto (Audio-Technica marketing VP), Frank Filipetti and Elliot Scheiner.

Photo: David Goggin

The Music Engineering and Technology Alliance (METAlliance)—a group of award-winning audio engineers and producers involved in establishing standards that are the foundation of modern music recording—has announced certification of the ATH-M50 Studio Monitor headphones, designed and manufactured by Audio-Technica, a METAlliance Pro Partner. The alliance works closely with manufacturers to evaluate, recognize and certify products that meet the call for quality in the recording arts and science.

The METAlliance Board of Directors is Chuck Ainlay, Ed Cherney, Frank Filipetti, George Massenburg, Phil Ramone, Elliot Scheiner and Al Schmitt.

“We are extremely proud that our ATH-M50 studio monitor headphones have been recognized and certified by the MET Alliance,” says Greg Pinto, vice president of marketing at Audio-Technica. “This honor is particularly meaningful to us because it comes from a dedicated group whose mission of ensuring highest-quality music recording/delivery dovetails perfectly with our own.”

Producer/engineer Chuck Ainlay remarks, “The first thing I did when I got a pair of these Audio-Technica headphones was to hand it to the session musician that had his headphones cranked up the loudest, to see if the M50s could take it. Then I had the drummer use them to check for isolation. These are the first headphones I know of that can take whatever you throw at them, but are revealing enough to check my mixes for quality control and are comfortable enough to wear all day long.”

“I find these headphones very musical,” says Phil Ramone. “They provide a comfort zone for the performer in which to create.”

“These are the only studio headphones l’ve come to rely on,” says George Massenburg.

Producer/engineer Ed Cherney offers this anecdote: “All I can say is that every time I bring these headphones to a session, the bass player and the drummer try to steal them. I’m not saying that bass players and drummers are dishonest; I’m just saying that they can be harder to please with headphone mixes. Anything that makes it easier to please them makes me look better. I just need to bring more of these headphones with me—and put a guard by the door to check their bags when the session is over.”

Pro Partner membership is limited to companies that have shown a capacity and proclivity to manufacture and distribute products that meet the organization’s professional audio qualifications. Pro Partners include Audio-Technica, Cakewalk, GML, JBL, Lexicon, Manley Labs, Millennia Music and Media Systems, Neumann, Prism Sound, Royer Labs, Sanken Microphones, Sonnox, TC Electronic and Universal Audio.

Those interested in Pro Partner membership can contact director of business affairs Jim Pace at [email protected].

For more information on METAlliance, an LLC registered in Tennessee, visit www.metalliance.com. For more information about the ATH-M50 headphones, go to Audio-Technica’s Website.

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