AES 2008

October 8, 2008

In my career I participated in AES infrequently but for the last three years now I’ve found myself at the shows. This year the show took place in San Francisco. I’ve seen the transformation from a big show with large format consoles and rack mounted devices to a smaller show with DAW’s and plug in’s. The price of everything is coming down and it seems to be less about the commercial studio and more about the project studio. Microphones, pre-amps, speakers, and other recording gear targets new and up coming producers and engineers and those on a budget. (Isn’t that everyone now a day’s.) I didn’t see anything that said, “You must buy me now”, but I’ll keep my eye on PT 8.

This year I was the moderator for the Grammy Sound Table, YOU Inc.! New Strategies For A New Economy. The Panel included Phil Ramone, Carmen Rizzo, Keith Olsen, Sylvia Massy, James McKinney and John Vanderslice. It was interesting for me to listen to others about how they keep moving forward in these complicated times. If you were there I hope you learned something as well.

Seeing the gear at AES is fun and interesting but the benefit for me is the ability to see old friends, make new ones, and keep my eye on business opportunities I wouldn’t have come in contact with.