Meeting Reports

On March 10, 2012 the Central Indiana Section of the Audio Engineering Society hosted the first annual Central Indiana Audio Student Workshop. The event was hosted by Section Chair Kyle P. Snyder, as well as assistant workshop host Jeffrey Seitz and with great assistance from the Executive Board of the Central Indiana Section, in the Music Media Production and Industry studios on the campus of Ball State University.

Like other regional events, the Central Indiana Audio Student Workshop was modeled like a mini-convention. Our goal was to provide an intimate learning environment, open to anyone interested in audio, including local professionals, university students, and high school students. The Workshop provided attendees the opportunity to improve their skills with some of the best in the business, who presented on topics in recording, mixing, live sound, and acoustics.

We also wanted to provide the Workshop free of charge, to give students of all means equal access to the audio instruction we were providing. Also, not only did we want to provide high-quality instruction for free, but also we wanted to incentivize attendance with useful giveaways from sponsors. Finally, we wanted to ensure that an acceptable student to teacher ratio was achieved, so that students felt less like they were part of a crowd and more like they were in a small classroom where they could ask questions.

Our pre-registration topped out at 180, and we saw physical attendance at 150 including numerous walk-in’s, reaching a group of audio students and professionals from every corner of the state and many from neighboring territories, who were appreciative beyond words. We couldn’t have been more pleased with how the event turned out.

For additional information on the event including sponsors, posters, artwork, schedules, and much more please visit the official event site.

Additionally, the official event report is available for download (pdf).

At this, the first of our meetings scheduled for the year which was held on January 23, 2012 at 6:30pm, we were privileged to be led on a tour of the  Indiana University Auditorium.

Gene Frazier and John DeLong led the section on a tour on the critically acclaimed facility which was originally built as a Federal Works Agency Project under the Roosevelt Presidency but which has recently undergone significant upgrades to its audio system.

A key focus of the tour was the recently installed L-Acoustics KUDO system, as well as an Avid Profile and a wiring project, all undertaken amidst a busy summer production schedule.

Hearing the constraints of the project and the quality of sound within the auditorium, all members were very impressed with the work accomplished by the house staff, outside vendors, and Robert Scoville who served as a consultant.

We’d like to thank the several dozen members who made the drive to attend. As always, those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact us. To stay up to date on section activities, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

At this, the sixth of the Central Indiana AES’ meetings scheduled for the year which was held on November 10th, 2011 at 6pm, we were privileged to get a behind the scenes look at the audio recording and video production workflows utilized by the critically acclaimed Jacobs School Musical Arts Center.

The meeting was made made possible by Fallon Stillman, Coordinator of Audio Production as well as by IU’s Chair of the Department of Recording Arts, Konrad Strauss, and several wonderfully enthusiastic students from the recording crew and IU AES Student Section, all of whom the Section would like to thank for such a wonderful meeting!

The students walked the Section through their typical duties as members of the recording crew, and then provided a detailed presentation of the setup they are currently using or the opera La Bohème.

Following the comprehensive presentation, students led groups of the Section on tours of the performance hall prior to La Bohème’s first run-out, providing members the opportunity to view microphone positions as well as the video and audio production booths.

Members were provided the opportunity to watch the first act of La Bohème from the hall or the video / audio booths which allowed for ample time to ask questions of production staff.

Those interested are encouraged to view the live stream of La Bohème, November 11 & 12, 2011, at 8pm EDT.

We’d like to thank the several dozen members who made the drive to attend. As always, those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact us. To stay up to date on section activities, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

At this, the fifth of our meetings scheduled for the year which was held on September 15th, 2011 at 7pm, we were privileged to have Rick DiGiallonardo, Director of Ball State University’s Music Media Production & Industry program address a Central Indiana record crowd on the topic of what engineers and industry professionals need to understand about intellectual property.

In his presentation entitled “Are You Ready For The Music Industry?”, DiGiallonardo discussed the history of the music industry and its relation to the recording industry.

He also explained how the recording industry began and how it has changed through the years from small special interest studios to mega studios which have now essentially regressed to boutique recording studio.

Additionally, he discussed the changes in the music business caused by digital downloads and the way the industry has reacted it.

He also discussed a variety of intellectual property issues which are pertinent to everyday engineers, specifically what engineers need to be mindful of in contracts as well as “fair use”, the making of demos, and so much more

The meeting was once again brought to us courtesy of ESCO Communications. Our thanks go out to them for being such gracious hosts.

With this meeting we’ve continued our initiative of live streaming events to allow for participation from members unable to travel. We’re pleased so many members afar took advantage of this option.

Unfortunately, archival video will not be available for this meeting due to a technical issue, however Rick has provided us with his PowerPoint in PDF so all can enjoy the presentation (coming soon).

Finally, we’d like to thank all who were in attendance. As always, those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact us. To stay up to date on section activities, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

At this, the fourth of our meetings scheduled for the year which was held on August 6th, 2011 at 6pm, we were privileged to have Alan Alford speak to us about the makeup of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s sound reinforcement needs at Conner Prairie.

Alford discussed with the amply sized crowd the numerous challenges of the job, including the difficulties of respecting the neighboring living history museum while providing quality sound for the symphony.

Additionally, Alan shared with us his off-season duties, tricks he utilizes throughout a typical concert, and also gave the section a tour of the concert setup.

The meeting was once again brought to us courtesy of Conner Prairie and The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Our thanks go out to them for being such gracious hosts.

With this meeting we’ve continued our initiative of recording events for archival purposes and to allow for participation from members unable to travel.

However, being an outdoor lecture and tour, the video’s audio quality suffered severely which we do apologize. But, if you’d like to see the tour first hand, the video at left is still a great resource.

Finally, we’d like to thank all who were in attendance. As always, those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact us. To stay up to date on section activities, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter.