32nd NAMM TEC Awards nominees

32nd NAMM TEC Awards nominees

by | Dec 3, 2016

December 2016, NAMM – The 32nd NAMM TEC Awards nominees for upcoming Winter NAMM were announced. The celebration of the winners in 23 categories of Outstanding Technical and 8 categories of Outstanding Creative Achievements will take place during the in Anaheim on Saturday, January 21, 2017. The TEC Awards are recognition of the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind sound recordings, live performances, films, television and video games. More info at www.tecawards.org and congratulation for the nominees.

Outstanding Technical Achievement

Amplification Hardware – Studio & Sound Reinforcement: Crown – XLS DriveCore 2, d&b Audiotechnik – 30D, dbx – DriveRack VENU360 Series, JBL – M-Patch, Lab.gruppen – E Series, Powersoft – Deva HD

Ancillary Equipment: Antelope Audio – OCX HD, Antelope Audio – 10MX, Dangerous Music – 2-BUS+, Little Labs – Monotor, Radial Engineering – DiNET TX & RX Dante direct boxes, Rupert Neve Designs – RNHP: Precision Headphone Amplifer

Audio Apps & Hardware/Peripherals for Smartphones/Tablets: Antelope Audio – Satori Remote, Avid – Pro Tools | Dock, iConnectivity – iConnectAUDIO2+, Moog Music – Model 15 App, Radial Engineering – BT-Pro, Sennheiser – Wireless System Remote

Audio Education Technology: EarMaster – Pro 6, Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group – Recording Unhinged, iZotope – Pro Audio Essentials , JBL – SpeakerPro, Neumann – Neumann in the Home Studio, NYU Music Experience Design Lab – Groove Pizza

Computer Audio Hardware: Antelope Audio – Orion32+, Apogee – Symphony I/O Mk II, Prism Sound – Callia, Focusrite – Red 4Pre, PreSonus – Studio 192 26×32 USB Interface, Universal Audio – Apollo Twin USB Interface

DJ Production Technology – Hardware/Software: American Audio – VM55 Controller, Denon – DJ MCX8000, Native Instruments – TRAKTOR Kontrol S5 controller, Numark – CDmix USB, Rane – MP2014 mixer, Reloop – Mixtour 2 mixer/controller

Headphone / Earpiece Technology: AKG – K182, Audio-Technica – ATH-M50xMG, Sennheiser – HD 25 Plus, Shure – KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System, Ultimate Ears Pro – UE Pro Reference Remastered, Waves – Nx Virtual Mix Room Plugin

Large Format Console Technology: Allen & Heath – dLive Series, AMS Neve – Neve 88RS, Avid – S6L, DiGiCo – Stealth Core2 , Solid State Logic – System T, Yamaha – Rivage PM10

Microphone Preamplifiers: AMS Neve – Neve 1073DPX, Antelope Audio – MP8D, Chandler Limited – TG Microphone Cassette, Grace, Design – m108 remote mic preamp / ADC, Kush Audio – Omega, Radial Engineering – Jensen Twin-Servo 500

Microphones – Recording: Aston – Spirit, Blue Microphones – Bottle Mic Locker, Bock Audio – U195, Lauten Audio – LA-320, Luke Audio – AL-X767, Mojave Audio – MA-1000 Signature Series, Schoeps – ORTF-3D

Microphones – Sound Reinforcement: AKG – C7, Audio-Technica – ATM230, Countryman – A3 podium mic, DPA Microphones – d:facto 4018VL, Electro-Voice – ND Series, Shure – KSM8 Dualdyne

Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects: Antelope Audio – Zen Tour, Blackstar – Artist Series, Line 6 – Firehawk 1500, Radial Engineering – JDX Direct-Drive, Softube – Marshall JMP 2203, Tech 21 – Bass Fly Rig

Musical Instrument Hardware: Casio – GP-400, Dave Smith Instruments – OB-6 Synthesizer, Korg – Minilogue, Line 6 – Helix / Helix Rack, Moog Music – Mother-32, Novation – Circuit Synthesizer / Drum Machine

Musical Instrument Software: IK Multimedia – Miroslav Philharmonik 2, Output – Exhale, PPG – Phonem, PreSonus – Notion 6 Music Notation Software, Softube – Marshall Bluesbreaker 1962, Tracktion – BioTek Organic Synthesizer

Signal Processing Hardware: A Designs – Hammer 2, Antelope Audio – Goliath, Chandler Limited – RS124 Compressor, Manley – Nu Mu, Warm Audio – WA-2A Tube Opto Compressor, CEDAR Audio Ltd – CEDAR DNS 2 Dialogue Noise Suppressor

Signal Processing Hardware (500 Series Modules): API – 512V, BAE – 1066DL, Bettermaker – C502V, dbx – 555, elysia – karacter 500, Phoenix Audio – Tilt Tone Channel/500

Signal Processing Software (Dynamics / EQ / Utilities): Empirical Labs – Arousor, iZotope – Ozone 7 Advanced, iZotope – RX 5 Audio Editor, McDSP – 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip, SPL – Transient Designer Plus, Waves – Greg Wells Signature Series

Signal Processing Software (Effects): Eventide – Tverb, iZotope – VocalSynth, Melodyne – Studio 4, Softube – Fix Flanger and Doubler, Soundtoys – 5, Universal Audio – Fender ’55 Tweed Deluxe Plug-In

Small Format Console Technology: Allen & Heath – Chrome Qu Series, Lawo – Sapphire Compact, Mackie – AXIS Mixing System, Solid State Logic – Sigma Delta, Waves – LV1 Live Mixer, Yamaha – CL/QL V4.0
Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers: Bose Professional – F1 Flexible Array, EAW – Anna, JBL – EON ONE, Meyer Sound – MJF-208 Stage Monitor, PreSonus – ULT Series , VUE Audiotechnik – al-12

Studio Monitors: Augspurger – Solo12MF, Dynaudio – LYD Series, Focal – Trio6 Be, Genelec – 8340A IP SAM, JBL – LSR7 Series, Ocean Way Audio – HR4

Wireless Technology: Audio-Technica – ATW-T1006 Boundary Mic Transmitter , Lectrosonics – Venue 2 Receiver System, MIPRO – ACT 2400 Series, Neutrik – Xirium Pro, Sennheiser – Evolution Wireless G3 A-1 Band, Line 6 – Relay G10

Workstation Technology / Recording Devices: Avid – Pro Tools 12.3, Celemony – Melodyne Studio 4, MOTU – Digital Performer 9.1, PreSonus – Studio One 3.2 Professional , Steinberg – Cubase 8.5, Tracktion – T7

Outstanding Creative Achievement

Film Sound Production: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Bridge of Spies, Star Trek Beyond, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Martian

Interactive Entertainment Sound Production: Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Fallout 4, Star Wars: Battlefront, Uncharted 4 A Thief’s End, World of Warcraft: Legion

Record Production – Album: Blackstar, David Bowie, A Head Full of Dreams, Coldplay, Culcha Vulcha, Snarky Puppy, Crosseyed Heart, Keith Richards, Hamilton, An American Musical, various artists

Record Production – Single: Blackstar, David Bowie, Can’t Stop the Feeling! Justin Timberlake, Empty, Garbage, Hello, Adele, Stare, Prince

Remote Production – Recording or Broadcast: 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, 58th GRAMMY Awards, 70th Annual Tony Awards, 88th Academy Awards, Superbowl halftime with Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars

Studio Design Project: Boston Symphony Orchestra Control Room, Deadmau5 Mau5trap, Man Made Music, Valenzo Studios, VSL Synchron Stage

Television Sound Production: Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Mr. Robot, The Walking Dead, Vikings

Tour/Event Sound Production: Adele Live 2016, Dave Matthews Band 2016 Summer Tour, One on One Tour – Paul McCartney, Radiohead 2016 World Tour, Rock Paper Scissors North American Tour – Sting and Peter Gabriel

Holiday Spectacular with Pepcom

Holiday Spectacular with Pepcom

by | Nov 21, 2016

Pepcom, October – On Thursday, October 27 Pepcom hosted its Holiday Spectacular press only event at Metreon City View in San Francisco. Over 50 companies were showing the season’s hottest new products and services. Last week Holiday Gift Guide produced by Roadway Media www.roadway.media was on the air on Comcast channel 27 and AT&T Uverse channel 99. Now is available at:

http://roadway.media/bright-blue-innovation/episode-5-pepcom-sf-holiday-spectactular-2016/

Spectral Similarity Index presents at SMPTE 2016

Spectral Similarity Index presents at SMPTE 2016

by | Nov 21, 2016

October, SMPTE – At the first day of Centennial SMPTE ATC conference three speakers: Paul Debevec, Co-Chairman of Science and Technology Council,  George Joblove, Co-Chairman and Jack Holm, Co-Author of Science and Technology Council SSL Project Committee presented the challenges and issues in color rendering using the solid state lighting (SSL) along with a solution – a Cinematographic Spectral Similarity Index. The new color index is based upon the similarity of a luminaire’s spectrum to a reference spectrum that eliminates the need for any assumption of the specific observer or camera spectral sensitivity.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Science and Technology Council has investigated the issue the last few years. The AMPAS project was presented at SMPTE Tech Conference in 2009 (“State of Solid State Lighting”), at NAB conference in 2011 (“Chromatic Chaos: Implications of Newly Introduced Forms of Stagelight”) and again at SMPTE in 2013 (“Color Predictor Tool”). “The Experiment” conducted in 2010 showed that luminaire spectral power distribution affects skin tone, makeup, costumes, props, and sets. It showed differences in color for 4 different sources despite all of them being at the same color temperature.

The characteristics of Spectral Similarity Index (SSI) that is a solution for that issue are following:

  • it defines how close a test spectrum is to a reference spectrum (e.g. tungsten),
  • does not assume a spectral sensitivity for the camera/film/eye,
  • single value representing quality of curve fit,
  • index is easy to understand
  • easy to include on luminaire/lamp packaging and literature.

The presenters explained the technical aspects of SSI but the final message is that the index yields a confidence factor, where a high score implies predictable color rendition for cinematography, and a moderate score implies possible color rendition challenges. The look of the image and the color of the things on the large screen for cinema, and now with the addition of HDR (high dynamic range) and WCG (wide color gamut) being available on home television screens, means color rendition for projects is once again at the forefront of the content creators vision.

Fathom Presents Young Frankenstein

Fathom Presents Young Frankenstein

by | Oct 12, 2016

Fathom events, October – Offered for a single-evening engagement at select US theaters on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, Fathom Events presented Mel Brooks’ 1974 horror movie parody Young Frankenstein, starring Gene Wilder in the title role. The wonderful supporting cast included Teri Garr as the doctor’s fetching (very) personal Inga, Cloris Leachman as the evil Frau Blucher (at the very mention of her name, horses become hysterical), Marty Feldman as the devious bug-eyed hunchback, Peter Boyle as the Creature (IT’S ALIVE!!), Madeline Kahn as the horny up-tight socialite, and Kenneth Mars as the one-eyed, one-armed police inspector. Gene Hackman makes a brief cameo appearance as Harold, the blind old recluse.

This delightful film is a hilarious parody of the flood of classic horror film adaptations of Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein that were produced by Universal in the 1930’s. Shot in black and white to evoke the proper atmosphere, Brooks even employs the original lab equipment props used in the 1931 Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and features 1930’s style opening credits and period scene transitions such as iris outs, wipes, and fades to black. Young Frankenstein was a box-office smash and critically considered be one of the greatest film comedies of all time, ranking number 13 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 funniest American movies.

The story involves the respectable Dr. Frankenstein, a physician played by Wilder, who inherits his infamous mad-scientist great-grandfather’s castle in Transylvania and of course that’s where the fun begins. Dr. Frankenstein decides to follow in his mad great-grandfather’s footsteps and re-animate the dead. He ultimately succeeds. “IT’S ALIVE!!”

Arriving at the Transylvania train station, Dr. Frankenstein is met by a hunchbacked, bug-eyed servant named Igor (Marty Feldman). Frankenstein insists his name be pronounced “Fronken-steen,” so Igor insists his name be pronounced “Eye-gor.” A beautiful young assistant by the name of Inga (Teri Garr) is assigned to Frankenstein and when they arrive at the castle, the doctor comments favorably about the size of the door knockers and Inga thanks him, thinking he’s complimenting her anatomy. The movie is full of visual and word gags like this. When Igor asks the Doctor to follow him, he says “Walk this way,” and Frankenstein obediently limps along behind him. The doctor at one point suggests to Igor he can do something about his hump to which Igor replies “What hump.” And much to the doctor’s astonishment, Igor’s hump also seems to inexplicably switch from one side of back to the other. More hilarious moments include the top hat and tails song and dance routine performed to “Puttin on the Ritz” reminiscent of Fred Astaire with Dr. Frankenstein and the Creature singing and dancing in perfectly synchronized vaudeville style.

“Dressed up like a million dollar trouper

Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper

Super-duper.”

Mel Brooks addressed the Fathom Event audience at the conclusion of the screening and it was a delight to listen to him share aspects of his professional career with us. He considered Young Frankenstein to be his finest (though not his funniest) film as a writer-director. Interestingly, he felt his funniest film was Blazing Saddles (1974), followed by The Producers (1968) and then Young Frankenstein. However, as far as most audiences are concerned, they are all equally hilarious and our lives are richer because of them. We may have personal favorites, but thankfully we have a rich comic heritage from which to choose.

Aristotle wrote much in an attempt to define tragedy, but claimed he didn’t write about comedy because no one took it seriously. (Drum roll please: da da bum). Without realizing it, he was our first stand-up comic!

If someone tells us they don’t take us seriously, we should consider it a compliment. Mel Brooks would.

by Lidia Paulinska and Hugh McMahon

John Legend – musician and philanthropist

John Legend – musician and philanthropist

by | Oct 4, 2016

September, CTIA – The last day of CTIA 2016 conference brought a very special guest as keynote speaker – Academy Award winner, Golden Globe winner and 10-time Grammy Award winner, singer and songwriter – John Legend. His fireside chat discussion with Chris Hercik, senior vice president of Creative + Content, The Foundry@ Time Inc. the musician talked about how he and his wife Chrissy Teigen are for the technology and how they fully embrace it. He loves to be connected. He gave insightful overview on a topic how mobile technology continues to impact music industry.

Hercik also brought the information that not many know about the musician. John Legend is also a philanthropist. He volunteered to help the survivors after the Hurricane Katrina and Haiti. Recently he was ranked number 6 on the “World’s Greatest Leaders” list for the most influential figures from around the world in business, philanthropy and arts. On that list are people like Bono and Pope Francis. Legend was awarded for his effort to reform United States school and prison systems. Musician established the Show Me Campaign, a non-profit organization, to break the poverty trough education. He is also involved in some other charity organizations such millennium Promise Alliance to help African villages.

He spoke about his personal life with wife Chrissy and shared what makes him up. My daughter Luna –answered Legend with laugh. Luna is just few month old. I love music, I love doing what I am doing, and hopefully it makes the world more interesting and more beautiful place – stated Legend – I am lucky that I can do it every day.