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If you are a member of SPARS, we invite you to submit your news to SPARS for publication by clicking on the SUBMIT NEWS button on the left. If you are not a member, you can join on-line by clicking the JOIN button on the left. SPARS newsletter titled, SPARS Sound Bytes is one of the best ways to keep up with what's going on in the industry. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter please register here.
SPARS Member Shure has two more winning mics. Beta 27 and SM27 are versatile tools for stage and studio...
SPARS Member Village Studios set to host 2nd Annual Recording Industry Poker Tournament. SPARS Member KMD Productions will produce the event benefitting Sound Art LA...
SPARS and Source Elements to host live multi-site production demo. Source Connect software to link remote Pro Tools systems...
SPARS Member Shure continues to receive rave reviews on PG recording mics. PG27 and PG42 have XLR or USB output for easy recording...
SPARS announces new "SPARS Beat" blog. Site to be part of SPARS new on-line news and content presence coming in September 2010...
Mix Nashville 2010 announces added speakers, new activities - discounts for SPARS members extended...
SPARS Member TEC Foundation announces 15th Annual TEC L.A. Open slated for May 17 at Malibu Country Club. SPARS Member KMD Productions is producing; SPARS Members GCPro and Shure are providing sponsorship...
SPARS announces sponsorship and participation in Mix Nashville 2010... SPARS Members receive 30% discount with pre-registration through SPARS...
SPARS Member Webster University announces the Fourth Annual Central Region AES Student Summit, scheduled for Friday, March 26, 2010 through Sunday, March 28, 2010...
METAlliance Academy set to rock SPARS Member Capitol Studios in Hollywood. March program details set with seven top Producers & Engineers...
SPARS Members P & E Wing and The Village Studios honor Chris Blackwell during Grammy Week. SPARS Members West LA Music, Shure International, PMC Ltd. and Prism Sound lend sponsorship support...
SPARS Member Capitol Studios and Mastering announces the first METAlliance Academy, March 20 – 21, 2010 at Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood...
SPARS announces SPARS Sessions@ the H.O.T. Zone success. Attendance tops 350 for six sessions...
SPARS sells out Sessions @ the H.O.T. Zone. SRO crowd expected. More sessions added for NAMM Convention in Anaheim, January 14-17, 2010...
SPARS Member West LA Music presents Sonnox Restore clinic and Pro Tools Eleven seminar, January 7th & 12th, 2010...
SPARS Sessions @ the H.O.T. Zone partners PMC, Prism Sound, Studio Suite 9 and Waves join Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, CD Baby, Disc Makers, G.A.N.G., Shure, and Dave & Lisa Hampton for NAMM seminar. New participants announced...
SPARS welcomes SPARS Sessions partners, Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, CD Baby, Disc Makers, G.A.N.G., Dave & Lisa Hampton, PMC, Shure, Altermedia - Studio Suite 9 and Waves. SPARS releases schedule...
SPARS Member West L.A. Music presents Recording Expo 2009...
SPARS to partner with NAMM to produce the SPARS Sessions @ the H.O.T. Zone series...
SPARS Member West L. A. Music sponsors FREEDOM OF BEATS...
SPARS elects new officers, adds new board members…
SPARS recent AES Activities include SRO reception and APRS Sound Fellowship Award for Rupert Neve…
25TH Annual TEC Awards announces presenters, sponsors and ticket information for October 10th Gala at AES...
Students of SPARS Education Member Schools are encouraged to visit the SPARS Booth, 546...
Kirk Imamura and Tony van Veen elected to the SPARS Board of Directors...
SPARS Member Blazing Music+Sound Expands with New Audio Suite...
SPARS to hold Mix @ AES reception with P&E Wing and APRS at 2009 AES Convention...
SPARS Members can register for a FREE VIP Exhibits Badge for the 127th AES Convention...
SPARS Member West LA Music presents Ableton Live 8 & Akai APC 40 clinic with Thavius Beck, Thayod Ausar and Gold Chain Military...
SPARS Member Studio at the Palms records session with Dave Matthews and Producer Rob Cavallo...
SPARS TEC Awards voting is underway. Registration ends August 21st. Voting ends August 31, 2009 - Register Now...
SPARS Member and Past President, Joe Tarsia discusses the history of the recording industry, his participation in the making of the "Philly Sound" and the digital recording revolution...
SPARS new Web Site offers Members and other professionals new feaures...
TEC Awards voting starts August 10, 2009 - Register Now...
Voting for 25th annual TEC Awards goes industry wide - Members of AES, P&E Wing, SPARS, G.A.N.G. and others will participate in balloting...
SPARS appoints new Executive Director; launches new web site and recruitment program...
Red Truck Films teams with SPARS Member, Blazing Music+Sound, on Award-Winning Spot for Wake Enterprises...
SPARS Member Blazing Music+Sound hires sound engineer Michel Marrano...
SPARS Member Turning Point Ministries takes delivery of new HD television truck with SSL and Pro tools digital fiber audio system...
SPARS Member Full Sail University announces 15 graduates worked on four Oscar-winning films at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, which aired live on ABC...
SPARS Member Webster University Student Section of the Audio Engineering Society presents the Third Annual Central Region AES Student Summit...
SPARS Member Full Sail University announces Full Sail Graduate 2009 GRAMMY® Award results...
SPARS LA Luncheon sponsored by West LA Music & SSL...
SPARS Member Shure has two more winning mics...
Beta 27 and SM27 are versatile tools for stage and studio...
Large diaphragm, side-address condenser microphones have long been known for their exceptional sound quality and frequency response. Shure has expanded the portfolio to provide large diaphragm, side-address condenser microphones for the stage as well as the studio. Each microphone is manufactured at exacting quality
standards to provide consistent sound and legendary Shure durability.
The precision-engineered Beta 27 is the only large diaphragm side-address supercardioid condenser microphone suitable for demanding acoustic environments.
Rugged and reliable, the SM27 builds on the legacy of the SM line as virtually indestructible professional gear. With low self-noise and an extended frequency response that picks up vocal and instrument nuances with clarity, the SM27 is the essential choice for the stage or the studio.
For more information regarding these and other new product from Shure, visit Shure's New Products site.
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SPARS Member Village Studios set to host 2nd Annual Recording Industry Poker Tournament...
SPARS Member KMD Productions will produce the event benefitting Sound Art LA...
The second annual Recording Industry Poker Tournament is scheduled to be held at Los Angeles' legendary Village Studios on Sunday, August 1, 2010. Hosted by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer David Reitzas, this Texas Hold 'Em charity poker tournament brings together more than 100 of the  music industry's top producers, engineers, musicians and audio manufacturers with proceeds benefiting Sound Art L.A. David Reitzas created this event one year ago as a way of bringing the recording industry community and manufacturers together, while supporting and raising money for a charity that focuses on kids and music. "The generosity of the sponsors, the enthusiasm of the players, and the caliber of the prizes are just amazing!" stated Dave Reitzas, host of the event. "My goal of creating a fun day where the people of our industry get to see each other face to face has far exceeded my expectations and I am humbled by the support for this event. Thanks everybody!"
Players of all skill levels are invited to register for the tournament and will be competing for an impressive assortment of recording-related prizes donated by leading companies in the professional audio and music industry. Confirmed sponsors include: Bricasti, Antares Audio Technologies, Audio-Technica, Blue Microphones, Brainworx, EastWest Sounds and Studios, FXpansion USA, Focusrite Novation, KRK, Millennia Media, Mojave Audio, RealTraps, SPL, Summit Audio, Telefunken Elektroakustik and Tonehunter.
Check-in begins on Sunday, August 1st; at 12:15 p.m. Food and beverages will be provided. Additionally, an instruction table will be available 30 minutes prior to start time for players in need of a little brush-up. The Recording Industry Poker Tournament is a KMD Productions event. For more information please contact Karen Dunn Tel: (925) 708-0307 Email: karen@kmdpro.com
Sound Art L.A provides a musical outlet for children desperate for self-expression. They engage children of all ages in music education, giving them access to the tools of popular music and the guidance of professional musicians as instructors. With Sound Art, students awaken creativity, discover their voices and experience success. Sound Art is unique in that it does not have a fixed location. The instructors travel to the sites they serve and engage neighborhoods instead of requiring students to come to them. The result is a program that is mobile, flexible and part of the community. The organization offers programs at all grade levels, during and after school, at community centers, juvenile detention centers and camps.
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SPARS and Source Elements to host live multi-site production demo...
Source Connect software to link remote Pro Tools  systems...
SPARS and Source Elements, LLC will host a live multi-site production demo linking a studio at NYU Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music in NY with one at Full Sail University in Orlando. The live link between Pro Tools systems in each location will take place on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 7:30 PM EDT and is open to SPARS members, students, engineers and producers.
Rob ert Marshall, founder of Source Elements will be on hand in NY and Source Elements' Director of Technology, Rebekah Wilson, will be at Full Sail to jointly conduct the demo and answer any questions about their Source Connect product to attendees at both sites.
To RSVP, send an email to rsvp@source-elements.com or log into http://source-elements.com/events
Attendees will also be eligible to join SPARS at the SPARS Special Event rate. For more information please go to the Join SPARS Special Events Page.
Schedule:
7:00 – 7:30 PM: Mixer
7:30 – 9:00 PM: Source Connect Demo
New York City:
New York University
Tisch School of the Arts
The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music
194 Mercer Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10012
Orlando, Florida:
Full Sail University
Full Sail Audio Temple
121 University Park Drive
Winter Park, FL 32792
You can also call the SPARS 800 number, 800.771.7727 for assistance and to ask further questions.
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SPARS Member Shure continues to receive rave reviews on PG recording mics...
PG27 and PG42 have XLR or USB output for easy recording...
Practice, perform and record like a pro with these four new side-address condenser microphones. When you are ready to record, Shure makes it simple.
PG42 Side Address Vocal Mic
- Large diaphragm capsule to provide wider dynamic range for clear highs and strong lows.
- Voice-tailored frequency response is specifically engineered to reproduce the subtle nuances of lead vocal performances.
PG27 Side Address Multi-Purpose Mic
- Natural reproduction of many sound sources.
- High SPL allows for easy handling of acoustic, amplified and vocal sound sources.
PG42 and PG27 are also available in USB models for Plug and Play connectivity.
- Integrated pre-amp with microphone gain control for control of input signal strength.
- Zero latency monitoring for real time playback and multi-tracking without distortion.
For more information regarding PG Recording Microphones, visit www.shure.com/pgrecording.
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SPARS announces new SPARS Beat blog...
Site to be part of SPARS new on-line news and content presence coming in September 2010...
SPARS recently announced the launch of SPARS Beat, a blog which will cover interesting stories about studios and the recording industry in general. The articles are written by Kirk Imamura, President of Avatar Studios, New York and a Board Member of SPARS
The first article from SPARS Beat covers a little reported event in the U.S. press that took place nationwide in New Zealand on May 29, 2010 called National Recording Studios Open Day. It was part of the activities associated with NZ Music Month, an annual event coordinated by New Zealand Musician Magazine (a bi-monthly, free publication for the last 22 years). It was the first national event of its kind in New Zealand or any country for that matter.
Follow SPARS Beat to get more information on National Recording Studios Open Day...
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SPARS Member TEC Foundation announces 15th Annual TEC L.A. Open slated for May 17 at Malibu Country Club...
SPARS Member KMD Productions is producing; SPARS Members GCPro and Shure are providing sponsorship...
LA Open Key Sponsor: Guitar Center Professional
Hat Sponsorship: Shure Incorporated
Hole Sponsorships: Record Plant Studios
Monday, May 17, 2010
Malibu Country Club
901 Encinal Canyon Road
Malibu, California
(818) 889-6680
Registration/Breakfast: 10-11:30 a.m.
Shotgun Start: Noon
Dinner/Awards/Silent Auction/Raffle: 4:30 p.m.
Download Registration Form...
Some of the world's most renowned music producers and engineers, along with professionals from the pro audio industry's leading production facilities, manufacturers and distributors will converge for the 15th Annual TEC L.A. Open, to be held Monday, May 17, at the Malibu Country Club. Returning
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From last year's event: GC Pro Director Rick Plushner, Honorary Chairman Al Schmitt, Closest to the Pin winner Alex Brown, and TEC Foundation president Hillel Resner.
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as Honorary Chairman is famed recording engineer Al Schmitt, a member of the TEC Awards© Hall of Fame and recipient of 21 Grammys ®, as well as the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award. Grammy and TEC award-winning producer/engineer Ed Cherney will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
"Over the past fourteen years the TEC L.A. Open has established a tradition of friendly competition and generous support for the TEC Foundation's programs," says tournament director Karen Dunn, KMD Productions. "We are excited to be celebrating our 15th anniversary and especially grateful to our many sponsors and loyal golfers." KMD Productions will produce the TEC LA Open following their recent outing producing the successful Music In Schools Today 4th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, hosted by Tre Cool, of Green Day.
Presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the popular charity event will be sponsored for the third consecutive year by Guitar Center Professional. Proceeds of the tournament support the House Ear Institute's hearing health outreach services for audio professionals and the TEC Foundation's TECnology Hall of Fame, recognizing the most historically significant audio innovations and inventors, held annually at the AES Convention.
Sponsorships are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. This year the TEC Foundation is offering several new and
exciting sponsorship opportunities, as well as a brand new "Custom Sponsorship", a unique sponsorship designed to offer companies maximum exposure, while staying within budget. To get more information or to reserve sponsorship, download the registration form, and email it to Karen Dunn at Karen@kmdpro.com, or fax to 925-939-4022, or call (925) 708-0307.
Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 10 a.m., with the shotgun start at noon. The dinner and awards presentation are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The TEC Foundation will also present a Silent Auction as part of the LA Open, featuring audio hardware and software, vintage wine, memorabilia and other items.
For more information contact Karen Dunn, Tournament Director, at (925) 708-0307 or via email at Karen@kmdpro.com.
Highlights of last year's TEC LA Open
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SPARS announces sponsorship and participation in Mix Nashville 2010...
SPARS Members receive 30% discount with pre-registration through SPARS...
Presented by Mix Magazine, Mix Nashville is a two-day professional audio event, at Soundcheck Nashville, that includes intensive panels, master classes and new product demos, and features Nashville's top engineers, producers, artists and music business insiders. In addition to Mix-produced industry panels, attendees get hands-on interaction with leading audio manufacturers and new products in specially-themed production spaces like "Analog Alley," "Plug-In Pavilion" and "Live Sound Showcase." Mix Nashville has become one the industry's premier events of the year!
SPARS Members can qualify for a $69 pre-registration rate by registering through SPARS by clicking RegisterMixNashville.
2010 Panel Topics include:
- "Selling Your Music in an Online World"
- "Recording Guitar"
- "Advanced Plug-in Techniques"
- "Boosting Revenue"
- "The Power Of Collaboration"
- "Analog Techniques"
- and the ever-popular "The Anatomy of a Hit."
Among the 2010 Panelists:
- Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift, Sara Evans)
- Joe Palmaccio (Eric Clapton, AC/DC)
- Vance Powell (The Raconteurs, Kings Of Leon)
- Michael Wagener (Metallica, Motley Crue)
- Steve Marcantonio (Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts)
- Neilson Hubbard (Glen Phillips, Kim Richey)
- Lou Bradley (George Jones, Merle Haggard)
- Bil VornDick (Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss)
- Jerry McPherson (Faith Hill, Neville Brothers)
- Robert Venable (Megadeth, INXS)
- Chris Mara (Kirk Whalum, Ronnie Milsap)
- Russ Long (Dolly Parton, Alison Moorer)
- Gary Burnette (Etta James, Taylor Swift)
- F. Reid Shippen (Robert Randolph, John Hiatt)
- Chris Grainger (Wilco, Switchfoot)
- Brent Milligan (Grammy-nominated bassist)
- Kevin Hill (Studio Unknown)
- Lisa Horan (Studio Unknown)
- Sean O'Connell (Music Allies)
- Kevin Becka (Mix magazine Technical Editor)
Mix Nashville website:
http://mixonline.com/ms/nashville/
Mix Nashville registration:
http://nashville.mixonline.com/
SPARS members select the $69 Association Pass. Be sure to ALSO register with SPARS, so we can send you proof of SPARS membership.
Note: SPARS members - You can register directly from the above link and check the special SPARS $69 Association rate. However, you will be asked to show your proof of SPARS membership when you pick up your registration materials. Be sure to register through the SPARS interface, so we can send you your proof of SPARS membership.
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SPARS Member Webster University announces the Fourth Annual Central Region AES Student Summit...
Friday, March 26, 2010 through Sunday, March 28, 2010...
This year's Summit will feature some of the top names in audio such as Phil Ramone; panel discussions and tutorials  with the best in the business; exhibitors displaying the latest gear, music, food and a mixing competition.
- Panels and tutorials on such topics as Internships and Entry Level Positions, the Future of Analog, Aesthetics, Studio Ownership, Did the Internet Kill the CD Star, Women in Audio, Sound Reinforcement, Signal Processing and Restoring Vintage Gear, to name a few.
- A mixing Competition with great prizes!
- Lodgings as cheap as $10 per night while they last!
All activities are included in the $25 registration fee, including lunch on Saturday and breakfast both mornings.
The Webster Summit offers the opportunity for students from the Central Region, many of which cannot attend the conventions in New York or California, to mingle with other students as well as professionals.
For more information and/or registration.
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METAlliance Academy set to rock SPARS Member Capitol Studios in Hollywood...
March program details set with seven top Producers & Engineers...
The METAlliance is presenting the first METAlliance Academy event on March 20 & 21 in Hollywood at historic Capitol Studios in the Capitol Records tower. "In Session with The Guys," attendees will record and mix with the METAlliance founders in live sessions. By special arrangement, The METAlliance Academy will occupy Capitol Studios for the entire weekend. Video commentaries are now available on the METAlliance website.
"Phil Ramone and I will be in Studio A, where Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole recorded," commented Al Schmitt. "It's such an exciting place to be and always has such an impact on the players." Phil Ramone added, "The attendees will be intimately involved over the weekend as an essential part of our record making process."
"Chuck Ainlay and I will be in Studio B," said Ed Cherney. "We're going to show you how to get a great tracking session going, how to get a drum sound; you'll learn about microphone technique and how to get a great headphone balance." "I'll be in Studio C mixing analog on a great large format Neve console," added Elliot Scheiner.
"Each of the METAlliance founders has mentored in recording workshops, but this is the first time we have all been together for an immersive two-day event," remarked co-founder George Massenburg. "Space is limited because we want each attendee to be able to work and interact closely with each of the founders in four different types of sessions."
Recording:
- Phil Ramone and Al Schmitt in Studio A, Musicians TBA
- Chuck Ainlay and Ed Cherney in Studio B, Musicians TBA
Mixing:
- Elliot Scheiner in Studio C
- "In the Box" home studio mixing with Frank Filipetti and George Massenburg in the Studio A lounge.
Amenities include catered lunches and a special dinner provided by renowned Marino Ristorante.
For more information and registration forms visit: www.metalliance.com.
The METAlliance is comprised of a group of globally-recognized, award-winning audio engineers and producers who have been deeply involved in establishing techniques and technical standards that are the foundation of modern music recording. The METAlliance founders are Chuck Ainlay, Ed Cherney, Frank Filipetti, George Massenburg, Phil Ramone, Elliot Scheiner and Al Schmitt.
The METAlliance is a collaborative community that allows producers, engineers and audio technology manufacturers to work together to ensure the highest standards of audio production. Recognizing the industry's success in bringing products offering convenience and low cost, the METAlliance is dedicated to the passionate commitment of securing the art of music through recording technologies that best deliver the music in all its many modern forms. To accomplish this goal, quality requires recognition and support.
Alongside platforms for research and development, standardization and education, METAlliance also works closely with manufacturers to evaluate and certify products that offer the highest levels of quality in the recording chain. To date, only a handful of products have achieved this accolade.
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SPARS Members P & E Wing and The Village Studios honor Chris Blackwell during Grammy Week. SPARS Members West LA Music, Shure International, PMC Ltd. and Prism Sound lend sponsorship support...
"Catch A Fire" party held at historic Village Studios, West Los Angeles...
On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® honored Island Records founder and legendary record producer Chris Blackwell, who received the P&E Wing's Commitment to Excellence Award. The event, entitled "Catch a Fire," was held at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles and was the third annual gathering during GRAMMY® Week that seeks to recognize the achievements and contributions of the music industry's technical creative community.
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Multiple GRAMMY®-winning producer Quincy Jones, Island Records founder and Island Records founder and event honoree Chris Blackwell, and multiple GRAMMY-winning producer Phil Ramone.
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Seven-time GRAMMY®-winning producer Daniel Lanois, Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, Island Def Jam Records Chairman L.A. Reid, five-time GRAMMY-winning producer Jimmy Jam, event honoree Chris Blackwell, Island Def Jam COO/President Steve Bartels (back), and Recording Academy P&E Wing Sr. Executive Director Maureen Droney.
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Daniel Lanois, Recording Academy P&E Wing Sr.Executive Director Maureen Droney, and event honoree Chris Blackwell.
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This year's event, held as part of the run-up to the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, was co-hosted by Honorary Event Chairs (and multiple GRAMMY winners) Jimmy Jam and Daniel Lanois.
SPARS members West L.A. Music and The Village Studios served as presenting sponsors for the event. Co-sponsors included such leading professional audio manufacturers/institutions as Avid®; SPARS members Shure Incorporated, PMC Ltd. and Prism Sound; Harman International brands AKG Acoustics, JBL, and Lexicon; Monster Cable® Products; Melodyne®; Korg; Native Instruments; MXL; KRK Systems; and Sennheiser. Eco-friendly cocktails were provided courtesy of Anheuser-Busch, VeeV and Fiji Water. Producer/remixer and KCRW music director Jason Bentley was the DJ for the evening.
"Catch a Fire" – named for the title of Bob Marley's first album – honored Island Records' and Blackwell's consistent excellence in music and records over five decades, during which Blackwell discovered, produced and/or released seminal albums by artists who have become part of the canon of pop and world music. They include Desmond Dekker and the Aces, Nick Drake, Melissa Etheridge, Grace Jones, Bob Marley, Roxy Music, Cat Stevens, Toots and the Maytals, U2 and Steve Winwood, among many others. In front of a projected backdrop that streamed images of classic Island album covers, such as Winwood's Arc of a Diver, Traffic's John Barleycorn Must Die and Roxy Music's famed cover for Country Life, Maureen Droney, Senior Executive Director of the P&E Wing, and five-time GRAMMY-winning producer Jimmy Jam, spoke to the audience and seven-time GRAMMY-winning producer Daniel Lanois led a trio in "Surely You Were Meant to Be Mine," a song dedicated to Blackwell. For his part, Island's founder thanked the many producers, engineers and musicians he's worked with over the years, noting that, throughout a many-storied career, "My favorite times were in the studio."
"We're proud that this event has taken on such importance to our community," commented Droney. "The Producers & Engineers Wing represents the people who work behind the scenes to create music, and this annual GRAMMY Week highlights their importance to the music industry and provides inspiration by honoring the best in the field."
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SPARS Member Capitol Studios and Mastering announces the first METAlliance Academy, March 20 – 21, Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood...
Schedule & Registration...
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SPARS announces SPARS Sessions@ the H.O.T. Zone success...
Attendance tops 350 for six sessions...
"Thank you so much for offering a great class today at the NAMM Show! The panel was great. I'm looking forward to more excellent content over the next few days!" This email received from a participant following the opening day of the SPARS Sessions @ the H.O.T. Zone, sums up the response.
SPARS first HOT Zone Sessions were well received by those who attended the seminars as well as the NAMM Show.
SPARS wishes to thank our sponsoring partners, the seminar speakers and panel members, as well as the management and staff of NAMM for a very successful outing. SPARS will be planning additional SPARS Sessions for the future. Stay tuned for more details.
Thanks to all who participated:
Bob Baker, The Buzz Factor
Robert Brock, Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences
Lisa Chamblee-Hampton, Making Music HerStory
Dave Earl, Pyramind
Dave Hampton, The business of Audio Engineering
Ariel Hyatt, Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR
Michael Laskow, Taxi
Paul Lipson, Pyramind, G.A.N.G.
Chandra Lynn, Glow Marketing
Brian Mazzaferri, I Fight Dragons
Gino Sigismondi, Shure Inc.
Tony van Veen, Disc Makers, CD Baby
The response to the SPARS Sessions is indicative of the growth of the independent music market. The SPARS Sessions is a new initiative created by SPARS to assist its members in taking advantage of this expanding market.
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SPARS Sessions @ the H.O.T. Zone partners PMC, Studio Suite 9 and Waves join Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, CD Baby, Disc Makers, G.A.N.G., Shure, and Dave & Lisa Hampton for NAMM seminars....
SPARS announces more sessions, January 14-17, 2010...
The SPARS Sessions @ the H.O.T. Zone are taking shape with new ones being added as sponsors show interest in participating in reaching the growing independent music and recording market.
Some of the noted industry professionals who will appear include:
Bob Baker, The Buzz Factor
Robert Brock, Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences
Lisa Chamblee-Hampton, Making Music HerStory
Dave Earl, Pyramind
Dave Hampton, The business of Audio Engineering
Ariel Hyatt, Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR
Michael Laskow, Taxi
Paul Lipson, Pyramind, G.A.N.G.
Chandra Lynn, Glow Marketing
Brian Mazzaferri, I Fight Dragons
Gino Sigismondi, Shure Inc.
Tony van Veen, Disc Makers, CD Baby
The SPARS Sessions @ the H.O.T. Zone area will be accessible to recording professionals, studio owners, musicians, engineers and producers who register with SPARS prior to the NAMM show. All registered attendees will receive an e-mail confirmation, which will allow entrance to the seminar area.
SPARS Members and companies that fit the NAMM Membership criteria will additionally be allowed complimentary entrance to the NAMM show. Companies must register prior to December 31, 2009. More info...
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West L.A. Music Expo 2009
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25TH Annual TEC Awards announces presenters, sponsors and ticket information for October 10th Gala at AES...
Chris Stone to host awards and Tribute to Les Paul ; Hall-of-Famers Massenburg, Ramone, Kramer and Hewitt head all-star presenters roster
Gibson Guitar, Gibson Foundation, GC Pro and AES are presenting sponsors—27 companies support event's Silver Anniversary
A limited number of tickets remain available and may be purchased at www.mixfoundation.org/tec/tecawards.html
The 25th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards has announced the presenters, sponsors and schedule of the show, to be held on Saturday, October 10 at the Audio Engineering Society Convention in New York. The festivities will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception outside the South Concourse Special Events Room followed by the awards ceremony at 6:00.
The ceremony will be hosted by industry veteran and Record Plant founder, Chris Stone, who will preside over the presentation of awards in 25 categories of achievement in audio technology and production. Confirmed presenters include four members of the TEC Awards Hall of Fame: platinum producers George Massenburg, Phil Ramone and Eddie Kramer, and remote recording engineer par excellence, David Hewitt. Joining them will be TEC Awards co-founder David Schwartz, world-class studio designer John Storyk, Mix magazine executive editor George Petersen, G.A.N.G. (Game Audio Network Guild) president Paul Lipson, SPARS executive director Paul Christensen and Guitar Center Professional's Rick Plushner. GC Pro is Sponsor of the Technical Awards categories.
"We are grateful beyond words for the participation of so many key figures in our industry's history," said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenter of the awards. "This year in particular, with the economic pressures everyone is facing, the value of the moral support of these old friends, as well as the material support of the AES in hosting the event, cannot be overstated."
Resner also pointed to the generous support of the sponsors as indispensable. Besides presenting sponsors Gibson and the nonprofit Gibson Foundation, GG Pro and AES, other Front House Sponsors include Broadjam, Inc., which contributed IT assistance for the TEC Awards voting, RODE/Event, Shure, Inc. and Sterling Audio. Legacy Sponsors include G.A.N.G., Meyer Sound, the Producers/Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy and Universal Audio. Fifteen Supporting Sponsors complete the sponsorship lineup.
All sponsors and links to their websites, as well as TEC Awards ticket and event information, can be found at www.mixfoundation.org.
The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The Foundation's primary mission is to further understanding of and excellence in professional audio through educational programs, including the TEC Awards and the TECnology Hall of Fame, as well as scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.The Foundation has also been a leader in promoting hearing health in the music environment by supporting programs of the House Ear Institute and H.E.A.R.
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Students of SPARS Education Member Schools are encouraged to visit the SPARS Booth, 546...
The theme of the 127th AES Convention, which runs from Friday, October 9, 2000 to Monday, October 12, 2000, is Make the Right Connections. In keeping with that theme, students from SPARS member schools who are attending the convention, are encouraged to stop by the SPARS booth (546) and meet Paul Christensen, the new Executive Director. Paul will be available to answer questions and offer advice, as will other members of the SPARS Board of Directors.
Students who have not registered, can register and learn more about this year's conference, tutorials, workshops, paper sessions and events, including a VIP floor badge, by logging on to AES Registration.
For over 60 years, the AES has been the largest gathering of audio professionals and enthusiasts on the globe, attracting delegates from over 100 countries worldwide.
SPARS is the 30 year old non profit association representing professionals in the Recording Industry. The organization is dedicated to providing networking, education and community to its members and the industry as a whole.
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Kirk Imamura and Tony van Veen elected to the SPARS Board of Directors...
SPARS President, Leslie Ann Jones, Director of Music and Scoring at Skywalker Sound, has announced the appointment of two new members to the Board of Directors of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS). The new Directors are Kirk Imamura, Avatar Studios and Tony van Veen, Disc Makers.
Kirk Imamura is the Owner and President of Avatar Studios, New York, an award winning, highly respected four room, world class facility, which has played host to many artists over the years, including Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Donald Fagen and Norah Jones. Under Kirk's leadership, the studio has received numerous awards, including five TEC Awards for Outstanding Creative Achievement and is recognized as one of the premier recording destinations in the world.
Mr. Imamura has over 18 years experience in the consumer electronics industry working for Sony Corporation. Kirk has a Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from San Diego State University. He has engineering and management experience in equipment design, software development, large scale manufacturing operations, product development and strategic & business planning, all which have contributed to Avatar's success.
Tony van Veen is CEO and President of Audio and Video Labs, Inc., the parent company of Disc Makers and CD Baby. Having performed and toured with several bands and run a small independent label, Mr. van  Veen joined Disc Makers in 1987. As president of Disc Makers, Tony has been at the forefront of empowering independent artists to release, distribute, and promote their own music. In the process, Mr. van Veen oversaw the company's growth from a small regional vinyl pressing plant with less than 40 employees, to the undisputed leader in CD and DVD manufacturing for independent artists in the US, with over 400 employees, producing over 20,000 new independent titles a year.
In August of 2008, the company acquired CD Baby, the largest independent music store in the world with 250,000 independent album titles and over 2.2 million songs in its catalog, which it sells on its own cdbaby.com store and distributes to dozens of the largest download stores in the world, including iTunes, Amazon MP3, Rhapsody, and eMusic. Tony continues to be actively engaged with independent artists while splitting his duties between Disc Makers and CD Baby.
"I am very pleased to welcome Kirk and Tony to the Board of Directors," stated Paul Christensen, SPARS' new Executive Director. "I look forward to their contribution and support with regard to SPARS new education initiatives as well as our new outreach to independent engineers and producers."
More information...
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SPARS Member Blazing Music+Sound Expands with New Audio Suite...
RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2009) – Blazing Music+Sound, the audio division of Trailblazer Studios, recently added a fourth audio suite to its growing facility in Raleigh, N.C.
Audio D, featuring a Digidesign Pro Tools HD 2 workstation, was designed with a home theater viewing experience in mind to handle mixing and final review. The new audio studio was introduced in response to Blazing's audio post work on an increasing number of television shows.
"We've been blessed with a significant increase in our long form broadcast work," says Eric Johnson, executive producer of Blazing Music+Sound. "We feel extremely fortunate to be in the position of adding staff and rooms, especially given the current economic climate. We want to ensure that we can handle the increase in television work without negatively impacting our other clients."
Blazing is also seeing a pick-up in work from advertising agencies and video game companies, according to Johnson, necessitating renovations to two existing audio suites and one recording booth. In addition to cosmetic enhancements, new Grace microphone preamps were added for all the suites and a new Digidesign Pro Tools 003 system was purchased to help with dialog editing and preliminary mixing of television, film and game projects.
Blazing Music+Sound is providing on-going audio post production for TLC's hit series Jon & Kate Plus 8 and 18 Kids and Counting, along with working on shows for Animal Planet, Discovery, and other networks. The studio also provides music, sound design, recording and mixing for commercials, films and video games.
"When Eric joined Trailblazer back in 2003 to help build our audio division, we shared a common vision," said Tom Waring, Trailblazer Studios' CEO. "Under his leadership, Blazing Music+Sound is well on its way to realizing that vision. I couldn't be more proud of how Eric has significantly grown all facets of our audio business, and I am excited with his plans for the future."
Blazing Music+Sound, a division of Trailblazer Studios, provides all aspects of music and sound production, including original music composition, voice-over recording and sound design.
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SPARS plans joint Mix @ AES reception with P&E Wing and APRS at the 127th AES Convention...
Make plans now - Friday, October 9th at Avatar Studios...
The Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) has released it's plans for various activities in conjunction with the upcoming 127th AES convention to be held at the Javits Center in New York beginning on Friday, October 9, 2009 and ending on Monday October 12, 2009.
As part of those activities, SPARS will hold their joint Mix @ AES Cocktail Reception with the Producers & Engineers Wing® of the Recording Academy® and the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS). The event will be held at SPARS Member facility, Avatar Studios, in Avatar's Studio A, 441 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019, (between 9th & 10th Avenue) from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Part of the festivities will include the presentation of the APRS Sound Fellowship Award to Mr. Rupert Neve.
The SPARS, P&E Wing, APRS Mix @ AES Cocktail Reception is made possible through the support of SPARS Members West LA Music, Westlake Professional Sales and Avatar Studios, as well as the UK Trade and Investment Office. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by September 25, 2009 to P&EWing@grammy.com.
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SPARS Members can register for a FREE VIP Exhibits Pass for the 127th AES Convention...
As a member of SPARS, a FREE VIP Exhibits Badge has been reserved for you for the upcoming 127th AES Convention in New York, October 9-12, 2009. To register and learn more about this year's conference, including tutorials, workshops, paper sessions and events, log on to http://www.aes.org/events/127/vip.cfm?299.
If you are not a member of SPARS, please be our guest at the convention. Stay tuned for more news about our upcoming Mix @ AES reception with the P&E Wing of the Recording Academy and APRS to be held Friday, October 9th at Avatar Studios.
For over 60 years, the AES has been the largest gathering of audio professionals and enthusiasts on the globe, attracting delegates from over 100 countries worldwide.
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