4 minute read
Back Page Blog: The Trade Show
from MIX 524 - Aug 2020
by publications
Tech // back page blog
The Trade Show Conundrum; The Arts Get No Respect
Mike Levine: Mix Technology Editor, Studio Must the Show Go On?: NAMM made a smart decision to cancel this year’s Summer show in Nashville because of the risk of COVID-19 transmission. But as of today, the organization has decided to proceed with its winter 2021 show in Anaheim. I think they’re making a big mistake. (Of course, tracking the virus is a moving target, and NAMM’s decision could shift to Plan B at any point.)
AES, on the other hand, made a wise choice to turn its Fall 2020 Show to an entirely virtual affair, where they’re turning the convention into a month-long celebration called “Audio Engineering Month.” Anyone with an Internet connection and the bucks to buy a badge can log into the full convention content.
But from January 21-24 in Anaheim, the NAMM show is going ahead as scheduled at the Anaheim Convention Center. To its credit, NAMM is making a big effort to make the show experience safer. But trying to mitigate the spread of the virus indoors is a tall order, no matter what measures are put in place.
And what about the large contingent of exhibitors from Europe and Asia? Are they going to want to come to a country with such a huge COVID problem? As of this writing, the U.S. is restricting travelers from both the EU (Schengen-area countries) and China.
Odds are very good that some of the attendees walking around whatever hall you’re in will be from areas of the country that are virus hotspots. Do you want to pick up a guitar or a saxophone or play a keyboard at a booth after who knows who has been playing it? Do you really want to touch the controls on that new compressor?
C’mon NAMM. Why roll the dice when you have alternatives? Do the right thing and go virtual. It’s the only option that makes sense.
Product of the Month: PreSonus Studio One 5 Professional. The top-line addition is called Show Page, a live-performance environment that joins Song (recording, arranging, mixing) and Project (mastering) as separate-butintegrated sections of Studio One. You can create setlists that include mixer channels for live musicians to play through, backing tracks and effects, as well as extensive real-time controls for easy viewing onstage. If you mix in Studio One, you’ll love the new Scenes feature, which allows you to save and recall mixer snapshots. The update also brings a revamp of the application’s Native Effects plug-ins. PreSonus also announced a subscription plan called Sphere, which, for a monthly fee, provides full access to all the company’s software, including Studio One Professional and Notion. Steve La Cerra: Mix Technology Editor, Live The Real Numbers: A few days ago, my friend Leslie, who works as an actress and producer in theater, made me aware of some sobering facts gathered from an international survey taken during the pandemic. When asked which types of workers are most and least valued to them, respondents indicated that health care workers are the most valued, and artists are the least valued.
While the value of health care workers cannot be disputed (now or ever), the perceived value of art and artists among those who do not create is appalling—and has been for a long time. And yet what is everyone doing while they’re stuck at home, unable to safely venture out into the world? Streaming movies, listening to music, playing video games, watching theater performances on TV, reading books, and scratching for any kind of amusement they can get their hands on. Oh, yeah…they’re consuming art.
When unemployment statistics for June were released, the report was that unemployment dropped to 11.1 percent. That’s a bunch of baloney. A June poll surveying independent contractors working in the pro sound and lighting industry showed that 97 percent had lost their jobs due to the pandemic; 92 percent do not believe that they will be recalled; 57 percent filed for unemployment; 47 percent have only enough money to pay their rent or mortgage for the next 30 to 60 days; 6 percent have lost their health care; another 21 percent expect to lose their health care in the near-future.
When I read these numbers, and I see scores of my friends and colleagues unemployed and hurting, and then I see people ignoring social distancing guidelines, I am furious. Every time I witness someone in a social setting without a mask, I think, “Thanks, you moron. You’re preventing me from getting back to work.”
Sure, everyone is suffering, but entertainment industry workers are the last in line because by its very nature our work requires large gatherings of people. And that simply won’t be happening safely any time soon on a consistent basis.
Product of the Month: API 312 Mic Pre. API has reissued its famous 312 mic pre, this time in 500 Series format (the original 312 was the first API mic preamp and was designed by company founder Saul Walker). It features a vintage-style VU meter and a distinctive API-style Gain control knob, as well as API’s traditional fully discrete circuit design, a 2520 Op Amp, and a proprietary AP2516 Input Transformer. The 312 Mic Pre also sports a Peak LED, a 20dB pad switch, switchable 48V phantom power, a polarity reverse switch and a 3:1 Output Transformer Tap Selector. The latter changes the output gain ratio from 3:1 to 1:1. n
