The Future Recording Industry Looks SoundProfessional Sound Magazine
By Jim Anderson
Summer 2007
The Exhibition floor of the AES Convention may be the best place in the world to get a handle on new technical directions for the recording industry. The evolution from analog to digital began at an AES show. The introduction of innovative technology can be documented year-to-year by thumbing through the exhibitor lists. Sharing new techniques and applications is the primary purpose for AES Convention papers, panels, and workshops. Industry leaders graciously share their hard-won expertise with peers and newbies alike.
In May of this year, the first NYU Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music graduating class doffed their caps and gowns and boogied off to make their way in the pro audio world. We intentionally indoctrinated these talented young people in traditional recording techniques. They worked with large format API and SSL analog consoles, because we are convinced that the only way to gain a true (and indispensable) understanding of the audio flow is to learn it in analog. That being said, these students also had ample opporturuty to work with Pro Tools, Reason, Logic, and other digital gear because the industry has clearly made a permanent shift to the digital camp. Permanent at least until the next revolutionary new format makes itself heard.
Where is the recording industry headed? Well, it's shrinking inexorably, but also growing dramatically. The extinction of the traditional large scale studio is virtually a fait accompli. Major New York facilities like Columbia, RCA, The Hit Factory and, just recently, Sony Studios have disappeared in a mist of condo construction. This sad but perhaps inevitable situation echoes around the country with studio closings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Nashville.
There will always be a place for the glamorous, high end destination studio, and those showplaces continue to produce outstanding work for superstar artists. In fact, I write this article from behind the desk at Avatar Studios where I'm working on a major label project. But, with fewer of these grand rooms remaining, opportunities for young people to break into the business and learn their trade from the ground are evaporating. Hence, the proliferation of recording schools and the continuing importance of the AES.
Education in fact, is a primary concern of the AES, and the Education Program at the 123rd Convention in New York this year will be one of the largest ever. Dozens of schools from around the country will participate in the AES Education Fair, and hundreds of students will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Platinum producers and engineers, and to network with the many manufacturers and exhibitors. It's a great place for entry level people to start making their way in the industry.
In terms of growth, there is mind boggling expansion on the home front. Laptops, small format consoles, and plug-ins have replaced million-dollar consoles for many engineers. Thanks to this compact, powerful, and affordable gear, studios are springing up like dandelions in bedrooms, living rooms, and garages. Driven by both established veterans and entrepreneurial newcomers, they're capable of producing totally professional work. It is interesting to note, however, that large format console manufacturers continue to book the largest booths in the AES Exhibition Hall.
Compression continues to take a toll on sound quality. Developed by a highly respected AES member, Karl Heinz Brandenberg, MP3 technology can be used for good or ...not so good. People have always wanted portability and flexibility for their music; from transistor radios to boom boxes, we want to take it with us. The generation weaned on iPods and CDs is often astounded by the warmth, clarity, and heart of LPs played on traditional turntables.
Just as digital imaging has managed to duplicate the "film look, " we are making strides in improving compressed sound quality. That is one issue I expect to hear resolved at some future AES Convention. Also on the plus side, the market for music has never been more diverse. Video games and ring tones have grown into a major revenues for composers and engineers alike, and new applications are being introduced constantly;
As AES Executive Director Roger Furness said to me, "the most accurate prediction you can make about the recording industry of the future is, it will be different, but it will be here."
