At AES Germany, we’ve been reflecting on recent developments in AES Europe. The event in Warsaw sparked not just thoughts about that particular gathering, but wider discussions about the future direction of AES in Europe.
To provide a firsthand perspective, we asked a fellow member of the AES Germany Section to share his personal impressions. You can read his report below:
Audio engineering is a wide topic, ranging from studio music recording and production through reproduction hard- and software, all the way to (psycho)acoustic research. Conferences / conventions are ideal venues to take the pulse of the industry, (re)establish business contacts and hopefully come away with many new insights.
This year’s Warsaw conference had no particular theme and while that excluded no one, it also didn’t pique anyone’s focused interest.
It hit me that the more areas of recording, mastering and research were well represented. What was sorely missing, is the industry: you know, the people who make the products that actually play back these wonderfully captured mixed and mastered signals, and in doing so, generate the revenue that makes all that work possible.
Music reproduced in a (very small) room with a 7.1.4 sound system was mesmerizing, the one time I managed to nab a seat. Am I getting old though, noticing great active loudspeakers are just accepted as a given, now that there’s 12 of them? Wouldn’t it be great to have three such systems, by different vendors, playing in separate rooms, and experience the differences? Knowing all to well how painful the birth of such a product line can be, it surprises me to see these products be taken for granted as de facto done.
Happy to see students there. Lots of them. All so motivated and hopeful. But where are the companies to hire these students? This is your chance to engage the brightest and snap them up even before graduation.
Delighted to see veterans there. John Vanderkooy, Bob Stuart, Peter Craven… thank you for your service, until well into retirement! And still dropping knowledge bombs, even when relegated to an (conflicting!) Saturday morning time slot. But where are the next generations of industry leaders?
Audioscenic presented their sound bar with cross talk cancellation and head tracking. Great stuff. This is innovative audio engineering, what we came to see.
But it was the exception.
Has everything been invented and perfected? Is the amplifier perfect with just 13 kinds of discovered distortion? Is the loudspeaker done? Are there no new measurement methods? Did no one come up with a fancy algorithm to sort of but not really cheat the laws of physics? Is there no one out there using AI to generate the absolute optimal bass reflex enclosure (I say, it doesn’t exist. Challenge me!).
If I were still designing data converters, I’d rather present them at the AES than JSSCC. Only here can one have a meaningful discussion about noise figures versus subjective perception, and actually get somewhere, because of the unique blend of engineers and musicians in attendance. I know at least two industry leaders that have introduced revolutionary designs just this year. I’d like to hear from their designers. Heck, I’d love a good old feud like in the early DSD days. That was fun!
The exhibition floor mirrored the situation, consisting mostly just of sponsors. Ten years ago, one could barely walk the show floor in one day. The organic contacts that yielded often paid back later in the form of co-operations, engagements, and purchases. I guess there is a chicken/egg situation going on here, one that may be difficult to revert.
As to the amenities, the lack of noise isolation was the main discussion. Separating the speakers by curtains only, with the podia facing each other, insinuates an assumption of perfect cardioid response of the PA installation. If only there were some folks with general acoustic knowledge around to set the record straight! At the least putting the speakers on the far ends of the room would have been better.
I for one however (as someone who makes a living off of noise control) didn’t mind that so much as the cold. It wasn’t warm this May, and setting the AC to 13 degrees was brutal. When people come into the lecture halls wearing jackets and scarves, surely someone should take action, no?
It took me half an hour in the car to come back to life.
The AES, especially the European editions, have been fighting a less than stellar reputation for a long time. But when they visit ones home town one feels an obligation to attend. I’m glad I did, but I can imagine those coming from overseas, paying for travel and lodging on top of a steep 500 euros attendance fee, will think twice next time.
Remco Stoutjesdijk
Quo Vadis, AES Europe? Join the Conversation
Many of us have long memories with AES Europe: attending inspiring conferences, exchanging ideas with international peers, even sponsoring events. We want to make sure the AES Europe experience continues to be meaningful and future-focused. That’s why we want to keep this conversation going, openly and constructively.
We’ve set up an independent email discussion reflector where members and participants can continue to exchange ideas.
Join the mailing list here: https://aesgermany.org/quo-vadis-aes-europe
Were You at AES Europe in Warsaw?
If you attended AES Europe in Warsaw and would like to share your experience publicly on our website, we invite you to contribute your statement. Contact us via info@aesgermany.org
Let’s shape the future of AES Europe together!