TEC Awards News Archive 2003-2005

PRESS RELEASE—October 8, 2005

Production Teams for Clapton’s Crossroads Festival, Ray, and Green Day Take Top Honors at 21st Annual TEC Awards

David Byrne and Arif Mardin Also Honored at Audio Industry Gala; Harman Pro Group, Mackie Garner Multiple Awards for Technical Achievement

October 8, 2005—New York, NY—The engineers, sound editors and other audio professionals behind Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, Ray Charles’s Genius Loves Company album and Universal Pictures’ Ray, were among the many winners at the 21st Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, held this evening at the New York Marriott Marquis.

In addition to 24 awards for Technical and Creative Achievement, a sell-out crowd comprising the pro audio industry's finest creative talents witnessed the induction of legendary producer/engineer Arif Marden into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, and the presentation of the prestigious Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Guitar, to David Byrne. Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Eregun presented the Hall of Fame Award to Mardin, who produced chart-topping hits for artists such as Aretha Franklin, the Bee Gees, Bette Midler and many others. Highlighting the presentation was a surprise performance of “Through the Fire,” by Chaka Khan, in tribute to Mardin. The Les Paul Award was presented by the much-loved recording innovator and guitarist Les Paul, and was accepted by Byrne’s friend and fellow Nonesuch recording artist, Laurie Anderson. Byrne, currently in Europe for another project, sent a “thank you” video which was screened at the show.

Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival came away with two TEC Awards, with the WNET/Sirius radio broadcast winning for Remote Production, and the DVD taking honors for the newly-created Surround Sound Production category. The team behind Ray Charles's "Genius Loves Company" won the TEC Award for Record Production/Album; as the film sound crew of Ray won in the category of Film Sound. Other winners for Creative Achievement were the production crew of Green Day’s “American Idiot” (Record Production/Single or Track); the sound crew for U2’s :Vertigo” tour (Tour Sound Production); 24 (Television Sound Production); as well as the design team behind New York City's Jazz at Lincoln Center Studio (Studio Design Project).

In the category of Technical Achievement, the 16 winners included the Solid State Logic AWS 900 (Large Format Consoles); Mackie Design’s Onyx 1640 (Small Format Consoles) and Big Knob (Ancillary Equipment); the Yamaha PM5D (Sound Reinforcement Consoles); Digidesign’s Pro Tools 6.7 (Workstation Technology); the Waves L3 Maximizer (Signal Processing Technology/Software); Apogee Electronics’ Rosetta 200 (Digital Converter Technology); Shure’s SLX Series Wireless (Wireless Technology); and Harman Pro Group’s Crown Commercial Audio Series (Amplifier Technology), AKG C414B-XLS/C414B-XLII (Microphone Technology/ Studio) and JBL VerTec VT4888DP (Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers).

Click here for the complete list of winners.

The TEC Awards are presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and sponsored by Mix magazine, the leading journal for the professional audio industry. Proceeds of the ceremony go to hearing conservation programs and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

PRESS RELEASE—October 3, 2005

Music and Sound Legends Highlight 21st Annual TEC Awards
Arif Mardin, David Byrne, Les Paul, Laurie Anderson Top List of Celebrities at Sound Industry Gala

October 3, 2005—Walnut Creek, CA—An array of the music and sound industry's brightest stars will gather to recognize achievements of their peers at the 21st Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held at the New York Marriott Marquis on Saturday, October 8.The charity gala will be hosted by Late Show with David Letterman bassist Will Lee, and is expected to draw close to 700 music and sound industry professionals. Highlighting the ceremony will be the presentation of the Les Paul Award (sponsored by Gibson Guitar) to musician/composer/filmmaker David Byrne, with appearances by legendary guitarist and inventor Les Paul, and avant-garde musician Laurie Anderson; as well as the induction of renowned producer, Arif Mardin, into the TEC Hall of Fame by Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Eregun.

Among those presenting the 24 awards for creative and technical achievement are many of the recording industry's top producer/engineers including Elliot Scheiner (Steely Dan, Aerosmith), Jimmy Jam (Janet Jackson, BoyzIIMen), Tony Maserati (Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas), Jimmy Douglass (Missy Elliott, LL Cool J), Frank Filipetti (James Taylor, Carly Simon), Fred Maher (Crystal Method, Fuel), Chuck Ainlay (Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins ) and Young Guru (Jay-Z). Also presenting are percussionist/composer Ralph Macdonald (Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Buffett), live sound mixer David Morgan (Paul Simon, Boz Scaggs), Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, studio executive Zoe Thrall and Dynamic Producer founder Felisha Booker. Also, a special presentation on behalf of hearing conservation will be given by famed producer Phil Ramone (Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Elton John).

Proceeds of the awards ceremony support the Sound Partnersú campaign for hearing conservation of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles, as well as Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (HEAR) of San Francisco, and numerous audio scholarship programs at leading colleges and universities. For ticket information call (510) 985-3214, e-mail KarenTEC@aol.com, or visit this page. Tickets will also be sold at the AES Convention Mix booth, no. 909, Friday (12-2 pm) and Saturday (10 am-Noon).

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly.

PRESS RELEASE—September 26, 2005

Mix Foundation to Honor 2005 TECnology Hall of Fame Inductees

Ceremony in NYC Pays Tribute To Eighty Years of Audio Innovations

September 26, 2005—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, will induct 15 innovations and products into the 2005 TECnology Hall of Fame.  The awards will be presented on Friday, October 7, at the 119th Audio Engineering Society Convention at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Established in 2004, the TECnology Hall of Fame recognizes the innovators and inventions that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of audio technology. Inductees are chosen by a panel of more than 50 recognized audio experts, including authors, educators, product designers, production professionals and others. To be considered for induction, products or innovations must be at least 10 years old. Among this year’s 15 inductees, four were introduced prior to 1950, and the rest between 1950 and 1995.

"The 2005 TECnology Hall of Fame inductees exemplify some real revolutions in the way audio has been recorded and reproduced, from the introduction of microphones and electronics into the recording process in 1925 to the first affordable digital mixing boards some 60 years later." says Mix editorial director, George Petersen. Noteworthy innovations include the RCA 44 Ribbon Microphone, the Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Recorder and Dolby Stereo Theater Surround. There is also a high number of electronic musical instruments represented, including the Minimoog synthesizer, the Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument), the Linn LM-1 drum machine and the MIDI standard.

The TECnology Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at an invitation-only reception sponsored by The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences—the Tempe, Arizona educational institution that has been preparing audio engineering professionals for more than 20 years.  The TECnology Hall of Fame ceremony will be followed on Saturday, October 8, by the 21st Annual TEC Awards, to be held at the New York Marriott Marquis.

For the complete list of 2005 TECnology Hall of Fame inductees, click here.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix, the pro audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines and Media. For ticket information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com.

PRESS RELEASE—September 16, 2005

Will Lee of Letterman's Late Show to Host 21st Annual TEC Awards

Music Industryâs Premier Session Bassist to Emcee Charity Gala

Walnut Creek, CA—September 16, 2005—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that Will Lee, longtime bassist on The Late Show with David Letterman, will host the 21st Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. The TEC Awards, to be held on Saturday, October 8 at the New York Marriott Marquis, is the worldâs foremost awards event recognizing achievements of recording and sound professionals.

Beyond his widely visible weeknight gig with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Will Lee is one of the music industryâs most in-demand performers, having toured and recorded with many of the worldâs leading pop, rock and jazz artists. He has toured with B.J. Thomas, Horace Silver, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, the Brecker Brothers and others, and recorded with hundreds of artists, from Ringo Starr, Frank Sinatra, Carly Simon, and Steely Dan to George Benson, Mariah Carey, Natalie Cole and Luther Vandross. He has one solo project, OH!, to his credit, and has also recorded a tribute to Charlie Parker called BirdHouse, with his pianist father and other jazz artists. Additionally, Lee has been the energetic vocal lead of more than a dozen commercial jingles.

ãWe are honored to have Will serving as the host of our upcoming show in New York,ä says Mix Foundation president Hillel Resner. ãNot only is he a local luminary and one of the top bass players in the world, but his sense of humor and experience in the industry make him the ideal host for the TEC Awards.ä Resner points out that Lee has recorded no less than 26 projects with renowned producer Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Norah Jones), who will be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame by Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun during the nightâs festivities. Also to be honored is Talking Heads founder David Byrne, who will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award from the legendary Les Paul, himself.

Proceeds from the TEC Awards support hearing health programs of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as numerous audio scholarship programs. For ticketÊinformation call Karen Dunn at (510) 985-3263, e-mail KarenTEC@aol.com.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by the Entertainment Technology Group of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

PRESS RELEASE—July 19, 2005

TECnology Hall of Fame 2005 Inductees Announced

Mix Foundation Honors 15 Inventions That Have Shaped Audio History
                
Walnut Creek, CA—July 19, 2005—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, has announced the 2005 inductees to the TECnology Hall of Fame. Established in 2004, the TECnology Hall of Fame recognizes products and innovations that have made a significant, lasting contribution to the advancement of audio technology. Inductees are chosen by a panel of more than 50 audio experts, including authors, educators, engineers, facility owners and other professionals. Products or innovations must be at least 10 years old to be eligible for induction.

"This year's inductees mark some real revolutions in the way audio has been recorded and reproduced," says Mix magazine’s editorial director, George Petersen. “Decades after their invention, many of the products remain in use throughout the pro audio industry.” The 2005 TECnology Hall of Fame inductees include:

1913 Edwin Armstrong—Regenerative feedback circuit; superheterodyne (1918) and FM (1933) circuits.
1925 Electrical recording process—Western Electric/Bell Labs
1931 RCA 44A ribbon microphone
1943 Altec 604 duplex speaker
1951 Pultec EQP-1 program equalizer
1966 Phantom power—Georg Neumann
1968 ITI ME-230 (first parametric EQ)—George Massenburg
1970 Minimoog synthesizer—Robert Moog
1976 Dolby Stereo—4-channel optical theater surround
1976 Ampex ATR-102 mastering recorder
1979 Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument)
1980 Linn LM-1 Drum Computer—Roger Linn
1983 MIDI specification—Dave Smith
1985 Audio Precision System One test system
1995 Yamaha 02R digital console
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The 2005 inductees will be honored at a champagne reception on Friday evening, October 7 in New York City at TEC Award-winning studio, Right Track Recording. The 21st Annual TEC Awards will be held the following night, October 8, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix, the pro audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines and Media. For more information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com.

PRESS RELEASE—July 12, 2005

Pro Audio and Technology Leaders Bring Unprecedented Support to 21st Annual TEC Awards

AMD, American Music & Sound, Digidesign, Gibson, Harman Pro Group, Mix,
P&E Wing of the Recording Academy and Shure Head Sponsor Lineup

Walnut Creek, CA—July 12, 2005—Nearly three months before the 21st Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, 34 leading companies in the professional audio and technology industries have signed on to sponsor the Mix Foundation’s flagship event, honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product innovation. The 2005 TEC Awards will be presented Saturday, October 8, 2005 at the New York Marriott Marquis, on the second night of the 119th Audio Engineering Society Convention.

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), microprocessor manufacturer and digital technology leader, will again sponsor the 16 categories of Technical awards; and Gibson Guitar Corporation, one of the world's premiere manufacturers of guitars and other instruments, is sponsoring the Les Paul Award for the seventh consecutive year. Other returning Platinum sponsors include: Harman Pro Group, encompassing many of the industry's most respected brands of high-end audio products; founding sponsor Mix magazine, the leading trade publication covering professional recording and sound production; and Shure Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers of microphones and audio electronics.

First-time Platinum sponsors include American Music and Sound, comprising console manufacturer Allen & Heath and signal processing innovator Focusrite; Digidesign, manufacturer of perhaps the best known digital audio systems including ProTools|HD; and the Producers & Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy, a group of more than 6,000 recording professionals dedicated to a range of issues concerned with the craft of recorded music and the development of its technologies.

Gold sponsors include Audio-Technica, Electro-Voice, Ex’pression College for Digital Arts, Fairlight, Guitar Center, Loud Technologies (Mackie/EAW), Meyer Sound, MOTU, RØDE Microphones, Sennheiser, Solid State Logic, TC Group, Universal Audio and Yamaha Corporation.

Completing this year's lineup are Silver sponsors Clair Brothers/Showco, Dolby Laboratories, L-Acoustics, TASCAM and Trident-Oram Pro Audio; and Bronze sponsors, Apogee Electronics, Aviom, Inc., Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (sponsor of the 2005 TECnology Hall of Fame), Garritan Libraries, PreSonus, Skywalker Sound and Telefunken North America. For more information on TEC Awards sponsorship opportunities, please contact Eric Geer at (414) 957-0104, or e-mail eg@wi.rr.com.

Proceeds from the awards ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to numerous scholarship programs for students of the audio arts and sciences. To date, the Mix Foundation has contributed more than a half-million dollars to these worthwhile causes.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

For ticket information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com.

PRESS RELEASE—June 22, 2005

Arif Mardin and David Byrne to Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 21st Annual TEC Awards

Mardin to Join the TEC Awards Hall of Fame; Byrne to Receive Les Paul Award

Emeryville, CA—June 22, 2005—Producer Arif Mardin will be inducted into TEC Awards Hall of Fame and musician/composer David Byrne will be presented with the prestigious Les Paul Award at the 21st Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Saturday, October 8, at the NY Marriott Marquis. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the TEC Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

Arif Mardin is a producer and composer/arranger credited with many of contemporary music’s most unforgettable recordings, in a career spanning more than four decades. Starting in the early days of Atlantic Records, Mardin has crafted hits for artists such as Average White Band, the Bee Gees, Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, Hall & Oates, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Patti Labelle, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Jewel and Norah Jones. He has also produced numerous movie scores and Broadway soundtrack recordings. With more than 60 platinum records, 12 Grammys, and a body of work covering the terrains of jazz, pop, soul, blues, folk, and rock, he has made an indisputable impact on the art of recording and represents the creative spirit celebrated by the TEC Awards Hall of Fame.

Musician/composer David Byrne entered the airwaves in the ’70s as the front man and co-founder of Talking Heads, a band whose syncretistic style and visual stage imagery broke new ground in popular music. His work with Talking Heads, solo albums, and other collaborative works comprise more than 40 recorded projects. Byrne has composed music for a variety of theatre productions and for numerous films including The Last Emperor, which won the 1987 Oscar for Best Original Score.  He also directed the feature True Stories, and has written and/or produced a variety of documentary films. The breadth of his work, incorporating a diversity of sonic elements and musical traditions, epitomizes the creative application of audio technology honored with the Les Paul Award. For the seventh consecutive year, the Les Paul Award is being sponsored by Gibson Guitar Corp. of Nashville, TN.

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 119th AES Convention, and is expected to attract more than 700 audio professional from around the world. Proceeds of the ceremony are donated by the Mix Foundation to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For complete information contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at 925.939.6149, or email Karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

PRESS RELEASE—June 1, 2005

2005 TEC Awards Nominees Announced By The Mix Foundation For Excellence In Audio

Pro Audio’s Premiere Awards Show Adds Surround Sound Category

Emeryville, CA—June 1, 2005—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the nominees for the 21st Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Saturday, October 8, 2005, at the New York Marriott Marquis. The TEC Awards is the foremost event honoring outstanding technical and creative achievement in professional audio production and product design.

Nominations in 16 categories of Technical Achievement (product design) and eight categories of Creative Achievement (production) were made by a select panel of more than 100 audio industry professionals for products and projects released or completed during the eligibility period of April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2005. The winners will be chosen by a ballot in the August issue of Mix magazine, mailed to more than 40,000 BPA-qualified subscribers.

New this year to the Creative Achievement categories is the TEC Award for Surround Sound Production, recognizing outstanding surround sound recordings for CD and/or DVD releases. Among the nominees for Technical Achievement, seven represent first-time TEC-nominated companies. Leading manufacturers with multiple nominations this year include Audio-Technica and Digidesign with three apiece, and Mackie with a total of four. Among the nominees for Creative Achievement, Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival was nominated twice, in the categories of Remote/Broadcast Production and Surround Sound Production, and Green Day was nominated for both Outstanding Album and Outstanding Single or Track for American Idiot.

“This year’s crop of TEC Awards nominees is especially strong,” said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. “It was a banner year for new innovations in audio hardware and software, as well as outstanding production efforts for recordings, live performance, film and television. We anticipate an exciting show in New York.”

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 119th AES convention, and is expected to draw more than 700 top audio professionals from around the world. Proceeds of the TEC Awards are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss in the music environment, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or e-mail KarenTEC@aol.com.

Click here for the complete list of nominees.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—May 2, 2005

Gibson Guitar to Sponsor Les Paul Award at 21st Annual TEC Awards in New York City

As Recording Innovator Les Paul Turns 90, His Creative Impact Commemorated

Emeryville, CA—May 2, 2005—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that Gibson Guitar will once again sponsor the prestigious Les Paul Award, to be presented at the 21st Annual TEC (Technical Excellence & Creativity) Awards on October 8, 2005, at the New York Marriott Marquis. The TEC Awards is the world’s foremost event recognizing outstanding achievement in professional sound production and product design.

The TEC Awards honors excellence in 24 categories of technical and creative achievement.  The winners are selected by the subscribers of Mix, the leading trade magazine for the music and sound production industry-. Awards are presented at a black-tie ceremony attended by 700 top producers, engineers, audio manufacturers, recording artists and others.

Named for the legendary musician and inventor who will celebrate his 90th birthday in June, the Les Paul Award was established in 1991 to honor the lifetime achievements of those whose work has exemplified the creative use of recording technology. Past recipients include: Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Steely Dan, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, and other innovative artists and producers. This year’s award recipient will be announced in July.

“Les Paul has had a profound influence on the way records are made, with his pioneering use of multi-tracking. Moreover, as the leading proponent of the solid body electric guitar, he has had an equally profound influence on the sound of modern music,” says Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp. “No other artist approaches Les Paul’s contributions to our musical culture, and the Les Paul Award is one of the most coveted honors in the music business.”

Gibson Guitar Corporation has sponsored the Les Paul Award since 1999, and presents the honoree with a custom-built, signature Gibson Les Paul guitar. The awards ceremony will feature a video tribute, and presentation of the award by Les Paul and a celebrity presenter, followed by presentation of the guitar by Gibson’s Henry Juskiewicz. Also, at a VIP reception preceding the dinner, Gibson Audio, a division of the musical giant, will display the new Wurlitzer Digital Jukebox, the world’s most comprehensive digital music solution to date.

“We are immensely proud of our continuing association with Gibson and are honored to present an award named for one of the past century’s greatest innovators in sound and music,” says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. “Everyone attending the TEC Awards has been inspired by Les Paul, and will be looking forward to joining him as he presents this award in his 90th year.”

As June 9, 2005, marks Les Paul’s birthday, he will be honored by the National Academy of Popular Music with a Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Award, and will also be paid tribute by celebrated music producers on June 19 at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Gibson Guitar Corporation will be participating in both events.

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Proceeds from the TEC Awards support the Sound Partners hearing conservation program of the House Ear Institute (Los Angeles), Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, and numerous audio scholarship programs for students of the audio arts and sciences. For ticket or sponsorship information click here or call (925) 939-6149 or e-mail karenTEC@aol.com.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibson’s digital guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland,  Maestro, Baldwin, Hamilton and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com or www.gibson.com/press/.

PRESS RELEASE—April 7, 2005

Tenth Annnual Mix LA Open Slated for June 13th in Malibu

Audio Pros Celebrate Charity Golf Tournament’s 10-Year Anniversary

Emeryville, CA—April 7, 2005—Some 144 music and audio professionals will golf for charity at the 10th Annual Mix LA Open, to be held on Monday, June 13, 2005, at the beautiful Malibu Country Club. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and Mix magazine, the tournament benefits the hearing conservation efforts of the House Ear Institute’s Sound Partners program, music education programs of L.A.’s Sound Art, and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

The “best ball” tournament, which has long attracted world-renowned record producers, engineers and recording artists, will this year feature more contests and sponsorship opportunities. Following the tournament will be a raffle, and a silent auction featuring musical instruments, audio gear, sports memorabilia, wine/food baskets and audio industry mementos. The day will conclude with a “19th hole” barbecue dinner and awards presentation.

"We’ve had a lot of fun over the years,” says Tournament Director Karen Dunn. “Through their participation and goodwill, the pro audio and music industries have continually shown their willingness to step up and support hearing and audio education. We’re looking forward to another great day in Malibu.”

Sponsors who have confirmed to date include Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, C.E. Pickup Co/IAC, Design FX, Harman Pro Group, KRK, Panasonic, Record Plant, Shure, Inc., Warner Bros. Studio Facilities and Yamaha Corp. Remaining sponsorship slots can be checked online at www.mixfoundation.org/LAopen/LAopen.html, or by contacting Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karenTEC@aol.com.

PRESS RELEASE—February 14, 2005

Technology and Pro Audio Companies Spearhead Fundraising for Hearing Awareness

AMD, Dolby, Gibson, Harman Pro, Shure and Others Help 20th Annual TEC Awards Raise $67,000 for Hearing & Education

February 14, 2005—Walnut Creek, CA—With appreciation for the donations and sponsorships of more than 40 companies in the information technology and professional audio industries, the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that $45,000 in net proceeds of the 20th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards has been contributed to hearing organizations and audio education scholarships. The monies were distributed in addition to the $22,000 donated from the TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction proceeds. The TEC Awards ceremony was held in San Francisco on October 30, 2004, and the auction ran on eBay during the weeks before and after the show.

“Without question, last year’s TEC Awards was the most successful in the history of this event,” said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. “And it would not have been so without the generous support of the numerous companies who came forward as sponsors. First, of course, we have to thank our founding sponsor, Mix magazine, and its parent, Primedia Business Magazines & Media. But the depth of support from the industry was as impressive as it was critical. We are deeply grateful to everyone who sponsored the TEC Awards.”

Slightly more than half the TEC Awards proceeds went to the Sound Partners program of the House Ear Institute and to H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers), both of which educate audio and music professionals, as well as the listening public, about the causes and prevention of hearing loss in the music environment. The balance was donated to scholarships and student assistance programs of the AES Educational Foundation, SPARS, six existing endowment funds at colleges and universities, and to three individual TEC Awards Scholarships—one of which was made possible by a $1,000 gift from George Lucas, who was inducted last year into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame.

For a complete wrap-up of the 20th Annual TEC Awards, including photos of the event, click here. For a full list of TEC Awards sponsors, click here.

The 21st Annual TEC Awards will be held on Saturday, October 8, in New York City. For information on tickets and sponsorships, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or email KarenTEC@aol.com. The MFEA is a nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California.

PRESS RELEASE—February 1, 2005

TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction Raises Thousands for Hearing Conservation

Industry Donors and Music Enthusiasts Bring Success to Charity Fundraiser

February 1, 2005÷Walnut Creek, CA÷Wrapping up its first online auction, The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that the TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction raised more than $22,000 for hearing health awareness programs. Proceeds were distributed to H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers) and the House Ear Instituteâs Sound Partners campaign, and will also benefit other audio educational and scholarship programs supported by the Mix Foundation.

Held in conjunction with the 20th Annual TEC Awards, the auction ran on eBay from October 21 through November 7, 2004, and featured donated audio gear and musical instruments from 38 leading manufacturers, studio time and services from top audio facilities, and art, photos and tour paraphernalia from celebrated rockers÷bringing an overwhelming response from audio enthusiasts and music fans. Among the many quick-to-go items were Mackie audio software, Meyer Sound UPA-1P loudspeakers signed by John Meyer, microphones from Audio-Technica, Audix and Shure, a Robert Moog-signed Moogerfooger, a Gibson guitar signed by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, artwork by Jerry Garcia, Aerosmith-autographed Zildjian symbols, and a CD collection signed by Willie Nelson. Over 200 items were sold, many of them shipped to bidders directly from donating organizations.

ãBesides excitement over the cool stuff, many of the bidders expressed enthusiasm for the chance to support the cause of hearing conservation,ä said auction manager and H.E.A.R. founder, Kathy Peck. ãThey repeatedly remarked that they were gratified to know that the money spent would help solve a problem they care something about.ä

ãWeâre thrilled with the results of our first-ever online auction,ä says Mix Foundation president, Hillel Resner. ãWe exceeded what we expected to bring in and it's largely due to the generosity of numerous companies in the pro audio industry who donated equipment and software. Our thanks to them, and also to all the bidders who help make the TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction such a huge success.ä

The auction was presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and managed by H.E.A.R., a nonprofit organization dedicated to informing musicians and the public about the prevention of hearing impairment in the music environment. For more information about H.E.A.R., please visit www.hearnet.com. Information about the House Ear Institute and its Sound Partners program can be found at www.hei.org/soundpartners/soundparts.htm.

PRESS RELEASE—January 12, 2005

2005 TEC Awards Set for October 8 in New York City

Show Enters Third Decade of Honoring Achievements in Sound and Music

January 12, 2005—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that the 21st Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards will be held on Saturday, October 8 at the New York Marriott Marquis on the second night of the 119th AES Convention. The TEC Awards, founded in 1985 by Mix magazine, honors outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

The Mix Foundation will also hold its second annual TECnology Hall of Fame ceremony in the vicinity of the AES Convention to honor its 2005 inductees. Established last year, the TECnology Hall of Fame honors innovators and products that have made significant contributions to the development of audio and music technology.

“We’re excited to return to New York City,” says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. “It was here that the first TEC Awards ceremony was held over two decades ago, with the goal of establishing a forum for recognizing excellence in the audio arts and sciences. Along with rest of the industry, we look forward to another impressive night of honoring our finest with the 21st TEC Awards presentation."

The TEC Awards comprises seven categories of Creative Achievement for outstanding audio projects (record production, tour sound, film sound, etc.) and 16 categories of Technical Achievement for excellence in product design. Highlights of the event are the presentation of the Hall of Fame Award for lifetime achievement and the Les Paul Award for the creative application of audio technology. Past recipients of these awards have included such luminaries as George Lucas, Sir George Martin, Quincy Jones, Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson and Sting.

Proceeds of the TEC Awards ceremony support programs to educate both audio professionals and the general public about hearing health, and also endow scholarship funds for students of the audio arts and sciences at major colleges and universities. To date, the TEC Awards has raised more than a half-million dollars for these causes.

PRESS RELEASE—November 1, 2004

Production Teams for Radiohead and Lord Of The Rings
Collect Top Honors at 20th Annual TEC Awards

Janet Jackson Presents Les Paul Award to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis;
George Lucas and Elliot Scheiner Also Honored at Gala Event

November 1, 2004—San Francisco, CA—The engineers, mixers, sound editors and other talented audio professionals delivering sound for The Lord of the Rings, and Radiohead's most recent album and tour were among the many winners at the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, held Saturday, October 30 at the San Francisco Marriott.

In addition to 23 awards for Technical and Creative Achievement, the gathering of the pro audio industry's finest creative talents witnessed the induction into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame of visionary filmmaker George Lucas and venerated producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner. Multiple-Oscar-winning film editor and sound designer Walter Murch presented the Hall of Fame Award to Lucas, and Scheiner was awarded by Steely Dan's Walter Becker. In a surprise appearance, multi-talented recording artist Janet Jackson presented The Les Paul Award to platinum producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. For a complete list of winners click here.

The engineers and mixers behind Radiohead's Hail to the Thief won in the category of Album Production, as the sound company and engineers orchestrating the band's most recent tour won the award for Tour Sound Production. The sound editors and mixers of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King took home the award for Film Sound Production making this the 3rd win for the film trilogy. Other winners for Creative Achievement were the sound crews of Outkast's "Hey, Ya" (Record Production/Single or Track); Alison Krauss + Union Station Live (Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast); and Late Show with David Letterman (Television Sound Production); as well as the design team behind New York City's Sterling Sound Chelsea Phase III (Studio Design Project).

In the category of Technical Achievement, the 16 winners included the Solid State Logic C200 (Large Format Consoles); both the Yamaha 01V96 (Small Format Consoles) and the PM5000 (Sound Reinforcement Consoles), the Digidesign Accel (Workstation Technology); the Sennheiser Evolution Wireless G2 (Wireless Technology); Waves IR-1 (Signal Processing Technology/Software); the RØDE S1 (Sound Reinforcement Microphones); and the Meyer Sound MILO (Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers).

For the second time in three years, the ceremony was hosted by actor/comedian Harry Shearer. Larry Batiste and 2Cold Chile Bone TEC Band opened the show, and featured a guitar solo by Dweezil Zappa who thrilled the audience with his rousing rendition of Van Halen's "Eruption."

The TEC Awards are presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and sponsored by Mix magazine, the leading journal for the professional audio industry. Proceeds of the ceremony go to hearing conservation programs and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

PRESS RELEASE—October 25, 2004

Stars of Sound and Music Turn Out For TEC Awards
George Lucas, Elliot Scheiner, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to be Honored by Peers at 20th Annual Awards Show

October 25, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA—Dozens of leading figures from the music and sound industries will grace the stage at the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held at the San Francisco Marriott on Saturday, October 30. The charity event will be hosted by actor and comedian Harry Shearer, and is expected to draw close to 700 audio industry professionals.

Filmmaker extraordinaire George Lucas will be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame by his friend and longtime associate, sound designer Walter Murch, and renowned engineer/producer Elliot Scheiner (Steely Dan, Toto, Eagles, Aerosmith), will be inducted by Steely Dan guitarist and composer Walter Becker. Platinum producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will be presented with the Les Paul Award by Henry Juskiewicz, CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp., and a "surprize" presenter to be announced soon. The Les Paul Award is given to artists and others whose body of work exemplifies the creative application of audio technology.

Numerous artists, producers, engineers and audio pros are lined up to present awards in 23 categories of technical and creative achievement, including famed producer/engineer Phil Ramone (Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles), former Talking Heads member and producer Jerry Harrison (No Doubt, Fine Young Cannibals, Violent Femmes), legendary jazz producer Orrin Keepnews (Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins), Asleep at the Wheel guitarist and engineer/producer, Ray Benson (George Strait, Dwight Yoakum, The Mavericks) and engineer/producer and technologist George Massenburg (Carly Simon, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt); as well as Fantasy Studios manager Nina Bombardier, Plant Studios ceo Arne Frager and The Village's Jeff Greenberg, current president of SPARS. Additional presenters will be announced soon.

Proceeds from the awards ceremony support the Sound Partners™ hearing conservation program of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles, as well as Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (HEAR) of San Francisco, and numerous audio scholarship programs around the U.S. For ticket information call (510) 985-3263 or e-mail karenTEC@aol.com, or visit this page.

The TEC Awards are presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

PRESS RELEASE—September 16, 2004

TEC Awards to Present Music and Sound Auction
eBay Auction Will Benefit H.E.A.R.® and HEI's Sound Partners™

September 22, 2004—San Francisco, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that it will present the TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction on eBay, set to begin on October 21 and continue through November 2, 2004. The online auction will coincide with the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held on Saturday, October 30 at the San Francisco Marriott.

The online auction will be managed by H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers) a nonprofit organization dedicated to informing musicians and the public about the prevention of hearing impairment in the music environment. Proceeds from the auction will benefit H.E.A.R.®, as well as the Sound Partners™ campaign of the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, a hearing conservation program co-founded by the Mix Foundation in 1997.

Auction items will include pro audio equipment (recording devices, microphones, loudspeakers, mixing consoles, amplifiers, etc.), guitars and other musical instruments, music memorabilia, photographic art, and a variety of special gift items, including hotel and spa packages. Previews of the items will be posted on the auction homepage—members.ebay.com/aboutme/hear—as they become available.

The TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction organizers are currently accepting donations of music and pro sound equipment, music memorabilia and other items, as well as cash gifts. For donation information, and information about TEC Awards tickets or sponsorships, please visit the auction homepage.

About the TEC Awards

Presented by the Mix Foundation and sponsored by Mix magazine, The TEC Awards is the world's foremost event recognizing the achievements of technical professionals in recording and sound. Nominees in 23 categories are voted on by subscribers of Mix magazine, while the Hall of Fame and Les Paul lifetime achievement awards honor individuals who have set the highest standards of creative excellence in music and audio. This year, the TEC Awards will induct filmmaker George Lucas and engineer/producer Elliot Scheiner into the Hall of Fame, and present the Les Paul Award to famed producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Actor and comedian Harry Shearer will host the ceremony.

About HEI

Since 1997, House Ear Institute (HEI) has provided free hearing screenings to well over 5,000 music and sound industry professionals at industry trade events around the country. HEI offers this outreach service for industry professionals through its Sound Partners™ hearing conservation program. In addition to hearing screenings, industry pros also receive literature, online information and conference presentations on the scientific facts that matter most surrounding the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss as well as free consultations with our non-profit research audiologists. HEI is proud to share its world-renowned scientific research and decades of knowledge with the audio and music pros who depend on sound advice when it comes to their hearing health. Established since 1946, House Ear Institute is dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve quality of life. For more information please visit www.hei.org.

About H.E.A.R.

Founded in 1988, H.E.A.R.® (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of hearing loss and tinnitus among musicians and music fans through education and grassroots advocacy. With support from the music industry, musicians, audiologists, physicians, hearing health organizations, health manufacturers and individual donors, H.E.A.R. is helping to raise awareness of the real dangers of repeated exposure to excessive noise levels from music. The H.E.A.R. Partners™ program is a national network of certified hearing professionals who support H.E.A.R.'s mission. H.E.A.R. delivers information on hearing loss and tinnitus to over 1 million people worldwide via HEARNET.COM, mailings, and educational programs and distributes hearing protection to thousands of people at events annually. For more information please visit www.hearnet.com.

About the Mix Foundation

The TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

Contact: Kathy Peck / 415.409.3277 / info@hearrecords.com

PRESS RELEASE—September 16, 2004

Comedian Harry Shearer to Host 20th Annual TEC Awards
George Lucas, Elliot Scheiner, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis To Be Honored

Emeryville, CA—September 16, 2004 Actor, comedian, author, musician, radio personality, and endlessly prolific entertainer, Harry Shearer is set to host the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held Saturday, October 30, at the San Francisco Marriott. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the charitable event is the world's highest-profile awards show recognizing the creative achievements of audio professionals and the technological innovations employed in their work.

In addition to the presentation of 23 awards for outstanding projects and products of the past year, attendees will witness the induction into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame of filmmaker extraordinaire, George Lucas, and celebrated engineer/producer, Elliot Scheiner. Being honored as well will be the renowned production and writing team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who will receive the coveted Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Guitar Corp.

Though Shearer may be best known for his work as co-creator and co-star of the mock-rockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap, he has also appeared in such diverse films as A Mighty Wind, The Truman Show, Godzilla, My Best Friend's Wedding and Ed TV, as well as guest-starred on numerous television programs, including Friends, ER, Just Shoot Me, Chicago Hope and Murphy Brown. Entering his sixteenth season of The Simpsons, Shearer remains one of the most versatile voices in the business, providing laugh lines for Mr. Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders and dozens of other "friends" of the Simpson family.

For many years, Shearer has hosted a weekly radio program for NPR (National Public Radio) "LeShow," an eclectic mix of music, scripted skits, political commentary and readings of inadvertently funny public documents and articles. The recipient of two Cable Ace Awards--one for his rap video, Shredding Party, and another for his comedic game show, News Hole--Shearer continues to reveal his multi-faceted talent as he delves into the unexpected, proving an apt facility for any genre.

"We're looking forward to an exciting 20th anniversary," says executive producer Hillel Resner. "Every year we come away convinced that the latest show has surpassed all others, but with Harry Shearer as our ringmaster and the creative giants we are honoring, we're fully expecting that this will be a TEC Awards for the ages."

Proceeds from the awards ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss in the music environment, including House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as to numerous scholarship programs for students of the audio arts and sciences. To date, the Mix Foundation has contributed more than a half-million dollars to these worthwhile causes.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media. For ticket information, please visit this page or call (510) 985-3263. For information on program book advertising and sponsorships, contact Eric Geer at (414) 967-0104, or e-mail eg@wi.rr.com.

Audio & Technology Leaders to Sponsor 20th Annual Tec Awards

AMD, Dolby, Gibson, Harman Pro Group, Mix & Shure Head Roster of 33 Companies

Walnut Creek, CA—August 26, 2004 The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that as of today, 33 leading companies in the professional audio and technology industries are lending their support as sponsors of the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. The awards, which will be presented October 30, 2004, at the San Francisco Marriott, honor outstanding technical and creative achievement in professional audio production and product design. The ceremony is being held on the third night of the 117th Audio Engineering Society Convention.

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), microprocessor manufacturer and digital technology leader, will again sponsor the 16 categories of Technical awards; and Gibson Guitar Corp., one of the world's premiere manufacturers of guitars and other instruments, is sponsoring the Les Paul Award for the eighth consecutive year. Other Platinum Sponsors include: Dolby Laboratories, the leader in both noise reduction and surround sound technology; Harman Pro Group, encompassing many of the industry's most respected brands of high-end audio products; founding sponsor Mix magazine, the leading trade publication covering professional recording and sound production; and Shure, one of the world's largest manufacturers of microphones and audio electronics.

Gold Sponsors include Allen & Heath, Audio-Technica, The Burst Collective, Digidesign, Ex'pression College for Digital Arts, Guitar Center, Mackie/EAW, MOTU, Meyer Sound, the Recording Academy, Remote Recording, RØDE Microphones, Solid State Logic, TC Group and Yamaha Corporation. Twelve Silver and Bronze sponsors complete this year's line up.

Detailed information about the Platinum and Gold sponsors is available here.

"We are enormously gratified that so many prominent companies are stepping forward to support the TEC Awards on this milestone anniversary," said Hillel Resner, president and general manager of the Mix Foundation. "Not only does it demonstrate a widespread recognition of the importance of this event, but it insures that funding will continue for causes important to all of us."

Besides the presentation of TEC Awards in 23 categories of Technical and Creative Achievement, filmmaker George Lucas and producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, and the production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will receive the Les Paul Award, presented annually for the creative application of audio technology. Proceeds from the awards ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, including House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as to numerous scholarship programs for students of the audio arts and sciences. To date, the Mix Foundation has contributed more than a half-million dollars to these worthwhile causes.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, websites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors. For ticket information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or karen@mixfoundation.org. For sponsorship information, contact Eric Geer at (414) 957-0104, or e-mail eg@wi.rr.com.

PRESS RELEASE—August 6, 2004

Mix Foundation Announces TECnology Hall Of Fame Inductees

More than a Century of Audio Innovations Honored by The TEC Awards

Walnut Creek, CA—August 6, 2004 The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, has announced the first 25 inductees into the TECnology Hall of Fame, an honor established this year for those products and innovations that have had an enduring impact on the development of audio technology. The awards will be formally presented on October 29 in San Francisco, during the 117th Audio Engineering Society Convention.

Chosen by a panel of more than 50 highly respected audio veterans and scholars, the honorees include 10 innovations introduced prior to 1950, and 15 that were introduced from 1950 through 1994. Celebrated among the TECnology HOF inductees are technological pioneers such as Thomas Edison and Emile Berliner, who laid the foundations for disk recording formats that remained in use for nearly a century; a wide range of groundbreaking products such as Lee de Forest's triode amplifier tube, the Ampex 200A tape recorder, the Dolby A-Type noise reduction system, the Shure SM57 dynamic microphone and the SSL 4000 console; as well as the advent of computerized audio production systems and Digidesign's Pro Tools. The complete list of inductees can be found here.

"The foresight of several of this year's honorees is truly amazing," remarks George Petersen, editorial director of Mix Magazine. "Physicist Harry Nyquist set the basis for digital audio sampling in 1929, and Alan Blumlein's stereo recording patent dates back to 1931! And what is unique in the audio industry, is that while tools may change over time, certain products-such as the Neumann U47 and AKG C-12 studio microphones or Altec's Voice of the Theatre A7 cinema speakers-are used everyday by thousands, more than 50 years after their introductions."

Says Mix Foundation president Hillel Resner, "With the TEC Awards' 20-year tradition of recognizing stellar achievements in audio technology, we think it is fitting to honor these outstanding forerunners whose creativity and commitment to excellence have laid the scientific foundations, provided the means, and set the standards for the sound arts as we know them today."

The TECnology Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a champagne reception to be held on the second day of the AES Convention. The 20th Annual TEC Awards will be held at the San Francisco Marriott on October 30. The inductees will also be featured in a special TEC Awards anniversary edition of Mix, to be published in October.

PRESS RELEASE—July 6, 2004

George Lucas, Elliot Scheiner, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis To Be Honored at 20th Annual TEC Awards

Lucas and Scheiner to Enter Hall of Fame, J. Jam and T. Lewis to Receive Les Paul Award

Emeryville, CA—July 6, 2004 Filmmaker George Lucas and engineer/producer Elliot Scheiner will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, and producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will be awarded the prestigious Les Paul Award at the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Saturday, October 30, at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco.

George Lucas, celebrated around the world as producer/director of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones adventure films, and the force behind the creation of Industrial Light and Magic, might be less widely known for his singular impact on film sound. His revival of the symphonic film score, and improvements to theater sound with the development of THX have changed the way we hear movies. He has also championed new technologies behind film sound creation by financing SoundDroid, an advanced touch-screen digital audio workstation; building Skywalker Sound; and pioneering long-distance ADR sessions over T1 lines.

Multiple Grammy-winner Elliot Scheiner is an engineer/producer whose musical sensibilities and attention to detail have produced some of best-loved recordings spanning the early seventies to the present day. Working with such artists as Steely Dan, Van Morrison, Jimmy Buffett, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Natalie Cole, and many more, Scheiner has continually embraced new and groundbreaking recording technologies, and helped keep the sound and recording industries moving progressively forward. His expertise in 5.1 surround sound mixing is widely respected, and his work to develop the first automotive 5.1-channel, DVD-Audio System for Panasonic Automotive Systems has resulted in the "ELS Surround" system for Acura's 2004 TL. Both Elliot Scheiner and George Lucas exemplify the spirit of technical innovation and creative excellence in professional audio recognized by the TEC Awards Hall of Fame.

While playing with Prince, Minneapolis musicians Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis started producing music for the S.O.S. Band, and rose with meteoric brilliance to become a production team extraordinaire, shaping R&B musical stylings for the past 20 years. Credited with every Janet Jackson record made, they've also crafted hits for Patti Austin, Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, TLC, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Klymaxx and a host of other artists. Starting two record companies, Perspective Records and Flyte Tyme Records, their own music publishing companies, several recording facilities, and scoring numerous film and television projects, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are well deserving of the Les Paul Award. Sponsored by Gibson Guitar Corp., the award recognizes musical artists whose work has epitomized the creative application of audio technology.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

Proceeds of the TEC Awards are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For general information as well as sponsorship and ticket information please visit www.mixfoundation.org, or contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

For the complete 2004 TEC Awards nominees lists, please visit:
TEC Awards Technical Achievement Nominees for 2004
TEC Awards Creative Achievement Nominees for 2004

PRESS RELEASE—May 25, 2004

Pro Audio's Heavy Hitters Assemble for 9th Annual Mix LA Open
Malibu Golf Tournament Draws Generous Support for Industry Causes

Emeryville, CA—May 25, 2004 The audio industry's leading manufacturers, production facilities and merchandisers have come forward to support the 2004 Mix LA Open, scheduled for Monday, June 14, at the Malibu Country Club. The charity golf tournament is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, and benefits the hearing conservation efforts of the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners program, music education programs of Sound Art, and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

Top manufacturers and retailers sponsoring holes and tournament contests include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, CE Pickup/IAC, Design FX, Harman Pro/JBL Professional, KRK, Shure and Yamaha. Production facilities such as Moonlight Mastering, Record Plant, and Warner Brothers Studios, as well as Mix Magazine, are also contributing generously with sponsorships.

"This event is truly a group effort," says tournament director Karen Dunn, "and we're gratified that so many of our friends and audio industry pros have gotten involved. Their participation allows us to continue supporting the causes of hearing conservation and audio education, and also makes for a great day of golf and camaraderie."

The lucky golfer who hits a hole-in-one will win an Acura TL provided by South Bay Acura of Torrance, featuring a 5.1 sound system designed by engineer Elliot Scheiner. Other contest prizes include a Cobra 400 driver, a Ping Craz-e putter, a Titleist Vokey SW, and a Tour Edge "Code Red" Series putter.

Following the tournament, there will be a barbecue dinner and a silent auction featuring a wide assortment of donated audio equipment and other items. Audio gear includes: a Lexicon MPX-550; microphones from Audio-Technica, BLUE and Shure; an Apogee Electronics MINI-MP and JBL- LSR25P monitors. Studio time at Royaltone Studios, accommodations at the SF Marriott, club green fees at the Malibu Country Club and dinner at NY Marriott Marquis restaurants will also be up for grabs, along with a Gibson "Les Paul" and Taylor "Big Baby," DVDs from Village Roadshow Pictures, a BOSE Wave radio, fine wines, gourmet food and gift collections from Scentabilities and www.essentialspirit.net.

Sponsorships, foursomes and individual tickets are still available. For more information about these and the silent auction, please contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or send email to KarenTEC@aol.com. The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—April 14 , 2004

Ninth Annual Mix LA Open Set for June 14 at Malibu CC
Charity Golf Tournament Brings Out Pro Audio Industry Leaders and Celebrities

April 14, 2004—Emeryville, CA—An estimated 144 golfers from the music and pro audio industries will gather Monday, June 14, 2004, at the Malibu Country Club to tee off for charity in the Ninth Annual Mix LA Open. The tournament, presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and Mix magazine, benefits the hearing conservation efforts of the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners program, music education programs of Sound Art in Los Angeles, and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

World-renowned record producers, engineers and recording artists are regular attendees of the tournament. This year's hole-in-one prize will be an Acura TL provided by South Bay Acura of Torrance, and featuring a 5.1 sound system designed by engineer Elliot Scheiner. Following the tournament a silent auction will feature a Gibson guitar, assorted audio gear, sports memorabilia, wine/food baskets and audio industry mementos. The tournament concludes with a "19th Hole" barbecue dinner and awards presentation.

"Every year the tournament brings together a wider group of participants from the pro audio and recording industries," says Tournament Director Karen Dunn, "and we all have such a good time. It's a great way for folks to get out of the studio or office, have fun together, and contribute to these causes that concern so many of us, and which continue to need our support." 

Top pro audio companies, manufacturers and recording studios have once again come forward to support the benefiting charities by sponsoring one of the holes or contests (including longest drive, longest putt and closest-to-the-pin). At press time, sponsoring companies include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, Design FX, Gibson Guitar Corp., KRK, Moonlight Mastering, Record Plant, Shure, Inc. and Yamaha Corporation.

Remaining sponsorship slots can be checked online at www.mixfoundation.org, or by contacting Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or e-mailing KarenTEC@aol.com. 

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—March 1, 2004

Mix Foundation Launches The TECnology Hall of Fame
TEC Awards to Honor Historic Innovations in Audio Technology

March 1, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, has announced the creation of the TECnology Hall of Fame, honoring products and innovations that have had a lasting impact on the development of audio technology. The first 25 inductees will be chosen by a blue ribbon panel of more than 40 respected audio veterans and scholars, and announced prior to the 20th Annual TEC Awards, to be held October 30 in San Francisco.

"The TECnology Hall of Fame is something that we have contemplated for a long time," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Since 1988, through the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, we have honored important individuals in the history of audio--pioneers ranging from Les Paul and George Martin to Tom Dowd and Sam Phillips. We think that a hall of fame for significant advances in technology is long overdue, and who better to establish this than the TEC Awards?"

Members of the panel will be asked to select 10 innovations/products introduced prior to 1950, and 15 that were introduced between 1950 and 1995. To be eligible, a product must be at least 10 years old. The inductees will be featured in a special 20th anniversary TEC Awards edition of Mix, to be published in October, as well as in a DVD celebrating the first 20 years of the TEC Awards.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix, the pro audio industry's leading international monthly, published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines and Media.

PRESS RELEASE—February 9, 2004

2003 TEC Awards Provides $42,000 for Hearing Conservation Programs and Audio Scholarships
Outreach Efforts Target Audio Pros, Musicians and Students

February 9, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the distribution of proceeds from the 19th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, held last October in New York. The charity event raised $42,000 in support of ongoing efforts to inform audio professionals, musicians and the greater community about noise-induced hearing loss, and provide financial aid for deserving students of the audio arts and sciences.

Over half the proceeds were donated to the Sound Partners outreach program of the House Ear Institute (Los Angeles). Monies were also given to Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.), based in San Francisco. Both nonprofit organizations work to educate audio professionals, musicians and the wider community about the prevention of hearing impairment from overexposure to high sound levels in recording and live performance environments.

The remaining proceeds will benefit scholarship endowments for students of the audio arts and sciences at Berklee College of Music, Ex'pression Center for New Media, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Miami and University of Southern California, as well as the AES Educational Foundation, and the student assistance program of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS).

"We are proud to again contribute to programs of great importance to both the present and the future of the audio industry," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Hearing conservation remains a critical issue to both consumers and professionals, and the number of young people seeking to enter the industry is at an all-time high. That we can help, even in a small way, is very gratifying."

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, and sponsored by Mix magazine, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by Primedia Business Magazines and Media. The MFEA is a nonprofit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California.

PRESS RELEASE—January 20, 2004

20th Annual TEC Awards Slated for San Francisco, October 30, 2004
Pro Audio Industry Gala Celebrates Milestone

January 20, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that the 20th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards will be held on Saturday, October 30 at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco, on the third night of the 117th AES Convention. The TEC Awards, founded in 1985 by Mix magazine, honors outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

"It’s a special thrill for us to be holding the 20th Annual TEC Awards in San Francisco, since the Bay Area is the home of Mix," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "When we started this event, we never dreamed that it would grow to become the most important forum in the world for recognizing the achievements of recording and sound professionals. This year’s show will celebrate 20 years of rewarding excellence."

The TEC Awards comprises seven categories of Creative Achievement for outstanding audio projects (record production, tour sound, film sound, etc.) and 17 categories of Technical Achievement for excellence in product design. Highlights of the event are the presentation of the Hall of Fame Award for lifetime achievement and the Les Paul Award for the creative application of audio technology. Past recipients of these awards have included such luminaries as Sir George Martin, Phil Spector, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson and Sting.

Proceeds of the TEC Awards ceremony support programs to educate both audio professionals and consumers about noise-induced hearing loss, and endow scholarship funds for students of the audio arts and sciences.

PRESS RELEASE—October 12, 2003

Production Teams for Sheryl Crow, Lord Of The Rings Take Top Honors At 19th Annual TEC Awards
Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer Also Honored at Audio Industry Gala, Scholarship Winners Announced

October 12, 2003—New York, NY The engineers, sound editors and other audio professionals behind Sheryl Crow's hit record, C'mon, C'mon and the blockbuster film Lord of the Rings were among the many winners at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, held Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

In addition to 24 awards for Technical and Creative Achievement, a sell-out crowd composed of the pro audio industry's finest creative talents witnessed the induction of legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, and the presentation of the prestigious Les Paul Award to superstar Bruce Springsteen. Janie Hendrix, sister of Jimi Hendrix, and John Storyk, award-winning studio designer, presented the Hall of Fame Award to Kramer, famed not only for his work with Jimi Hendrix, but also for Led Zeppelin, Kiss and numerous others. Beloved recording innovator and guitarist Les Paul and 15-time TEC-winning mastering engineer Bob Ludwig co-presented the Les Paul Award, which they also accepted on behalf of Springsteen, whose touring schedule prevented him from attending the event.

Crow's production team won twice in the evening, taking the TEC Award for Outstanding Record Production/Single for Soak Up the Sun and another for Record Production/Album for C'mon, C'mon. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers won in the category of Film Sound Production, duplicating the achievement of Fellowship of the Ring in 2002. Other winners for Creative Achievement were the sound crews of Standing in the Shadows of Motown (Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast); Peter Gabriel's "Growing Up" Tour (Tour Sound Production); and Austin City Limits (Television Sound Production); as well as the design team behind New York City's Hit Factory Studio 6 (Studio Design Project).

In the category of Technical Achievement, the 17 winners included the Solid State Logic XL 9000K Series (Large Format Consoles); both the Yamaha 02R96 (Small Format Consoles) and the DM2000 (Sound Reinforcement Consoles), the Digidesign Digi 002 (Workstation Technology); the Mackie SDR24/96 (Recording/Storage Devices); Waves Platinum TDM (Signal Processing Technology/Software); the Shure SM86 (Microphone Technology/Sound Reinforcement); the Sennheiser SKM5000-N/KK105s (Wireless Technology); and the JBL VerTec VT4887 (Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers). For a complete list of winners, click here.

Two students were awarded the 2003 TEC Awards Scholarship Grant: April Cech of the Master’s program in Sound Recording at McGill University in Montreal, Canada; and Laurie Covarrubias at the Los Angeles Recording Workshop. More information about the TEC Awards scholarships and the recipients is here.

The TEC Awards are presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and sponsored by Mix magazine, the leading journal for the professional audio industry. Proceeds of the ceremony go to hearing conservation programs and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

PRESS RELEASE—October 2, 2003

Top Music Producers/Engineers
Gather to Bestow Honors at the 19th Annual TEC Awards
Production Teams of Eminem, Sheryl Crow Join Presenter Line-up
Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer to Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

October 2, 2003—Emeryville, CA An array of top audio producer/engineers and musicians are lining up to recognize the creative achievements of their peers and innovations in product design, at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis. The charity event will be hosted by NY comedian and actor, Brad Zimmerman, and is expected to draw close to 750 audio industry professionals.

Capping the ceremony, guitarist and inventor Les Paul and mastering wizard Bob Ludwig will present the Les Paul Award to famed rocker Bruce Springsteen. The Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Musical Instruments, is presented to artists and others whose body of work exemplifies the creative application of audio technology. On hand to induct legendary engineer/producer Eddie Kramer into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame will be Janie Hendrix, sister of the late Jimi Hendrix and CEO of Experience Hendrix, and John Storyk, designer of Electric Lady Studios, and President/CEO of the award-winning Walters/Storyk Design Group.

Presenting the awards in 24 categories of technical and creative achievement, is an all-star lineup of accomplished artists, composers, arrangers, producers and engineers, including: Steve Baughman and Veto Iragorri (Eminem), Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler), Phil Ramone (Elton John, Paul Simon), Tony Brown (Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle), Russ Titelman (James Taylor, Randy Newman), Will Lee ("The Late Show," Marc Antoine), "Eddie F" Ferrell (Mary J. Blige, TLC), Fred Maher (Korn, Lou Reed), Elliot Mazer (Neil Young, Michael Hedges) and T.M. Stevens (Billy Joel, Joe Cocker). Sponsoring the technical and creative awards, respectively, are AMD and Microsoft Corporation.

Proceeds from the awards ceremony support hearing conservation programs of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as numerous audio scholarship programs. For ticket information contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—October 2, 2003

Top Music Producers/Engineers
Gather to Bestow Honors at the 19th Annual TEC Awards
Production Teams of Eminem, Sheryl Crow Join Presenter Line-up
Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer to Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

October 2, 2003—Emeryville, CA An array of top audio producer/engineers and musicians are lining up to recognize the creative achievements of their peers and innovations in product design, at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis. The charity event will be hosted by NY comedian and actor Brad Zimmerman, and is expected to draw close to 750 audio industry professionals.

Capping the ceremony, guitarist and inventor Les Paul and mastering wizard Bob Ludwig will present the Les Paul Award to famed rocker Bruce Springsteen. The Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Musical Instruments, is presented to artists and others whose body of work exemplifies the creative application of audio technology. On hand to induct legendary engineer/producer Eddie Kramer into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame will be Janie Hendrix, sister of the late Jimi Hendrix and CEO of Experience Hendrix, and John Storyk, designer of Electric Lady Studios, and President/CEO of the award-winning Walters/Storyk Design Group.

Presenting the awards in 24 categories of technical and creative achievement, is an all-star lineup of accomplished artists, composers, arrangers, producers and engineers, including: Steve Baughman and Veto Iragorri (Eminem), Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler), Phil Ramone (Elton John, Paul Simon), Tony Brown (Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle), Russ Titelman (James Taylor, Randy Newman), Will Lee ("The Late Show," Marc Antoine), "Eddie F" Ferrell (Mary J. Blige, TLC), Fred Maher (Korn, Lou Reed), Elliot Mazer (Neil Young, Michael Hedges) and T.M. Stevens (Billy Joel, Joe Cocker). Sponsoring the technical and creative awards, respectively, are AMD and Microsoft Corporation.

Proceeds from the awards ceremony support hearing conservation programs of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as numerous audio scholarship programs. For ticket information contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—September 23, 2003

19th Annual TEC Awards To Honor Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer
Ceremony Celebrating Achievement in Recording and Sound Set for October 11 in NYC

September 23, 2003 - Emeryville, CA Legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer, who recorded seminal albums by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Kiss and others, will be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame, and renowned rocker Bruce Springsteen will be honored with the Les Paul Award at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards on Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

In addition to the lifetime achievement honors, awards will be presented in 24 categories of Creative and Technical achievement, as voted by the readers of Mix, the leading trade magazine of the audio industry, which sponsors the event.

Creative Awards will be presented in 7 categories, including record production, tour sound production and film and television sound production, among others. This year's nominees for Record Production/Album include: "C'mon C'mon" (Sheryl Crow), "Home" (Dixie Chicks), "Live in Paris" (Diana Krall), "The Eminem Show" (Eminem) and "The Rising" (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.) Springsteen projects were also nominated for Tour Sound Production and Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast. Seventeen categories of excellence in audio product design round out the ceremony, the largest annual gathering recognizing achievements of recording and sound professionals.

The TEC Awards are sponsored by more than 40 leading companies involved in pro audio manufacturing and production, including Platinum sponsors Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Gibson Musical Instruments (official sponsor of the Les Paul Award), Harman Pro (consisting of JBL and associated brands), Microsoft Corporation, Mix magazine, and Shure, Inc. PRIMEDIA, publishers of Mix, is also a leading sponsor.

As in past years, The Hall of Fame and Les Paul Award are expected to be the highlights of the ceremony, with master guitarist and inventor Les Paul on hand to bestow the honors. The 88-year-old legend will be joined on stage by a soon-to-be-announced celebrity to present the award to Bruce Springsteen.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA. Proceeds of the awards ceremony are distributed to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, including Sound Partners, established by the Mix Foundation and the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles, and to H.E.A.R., a grassroots organization in San Francisco. Proceeds also fund numerous scholarships for college-level students of the audio arts and sciences.

For ticket information contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

PRESS RELEASE—August 20, 2003

Technology Leaders Come Forward to Sponsor 2003 TEC Awards
AMD & Microsoft Join Pro Audio Industry to Honor Technical & Creative Excellence

August 20, 2003--Emeryville, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that more than 40 leading companies in the professional audio and technology industries are lending their support as sponsors of the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. The awards, which will be held October 11, 2003 at the New York Marriott Marquis, honor outstanding technical and creative achievement in professional audio production and product design.

Highlighting the convergence of the pro audio and computer industries, two of the world's leading digital technology companies, AMD and Microsoft will sponsor, respectively, the Technical and Creative categories of this year's show. For the 7th straight year Gibson Musical Instruments, one of the one of the world's premiere manufacturers of guitars and other instruments, will sponsor the Les Paul Award. Other Platinum Sponsors include: Harman Pro Group, encompassing many of the industry's most respected brands of high-end audio products; founding sponsor Mix magazine, the leading magazine covering professional recording and sound production; and Shure, one of the world's largest manufacturers of microphones and audio electronics.

Gold Sponsors include AKG Acoustics, Audio-Technica, Digidesign, Ex'pression Center for New Media, Guitar Center, Meyer Sound, PRIMEDIA, Remote Recording, Sennheiser, Solid State Logic, Steinberg, TC Electronics and Yamaha Corporation. For a complete list of sponsors click here.

"We are enormously gratified that so many prominent companies are stepping forward to support the TEC Awards," said Hillel Resner, president and general manager of the Mix Foundation. "Not only does it demonstrate a widespread recognition of the importance of this event, but it insures that funding will continue for causes important to all of us."

Besides the presentation of TEC Awards in 24 categories of technical and creative achievement, Bruce Springsteen will receive the Les Paul Award, presented annually to a musical artist for the creative application of recording technology, and recording engineer/producer, Eddie Kramer will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the awards ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss including House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, and to scholarship programs for students of the audio art and sciences. To date, the Mix Foundation has contributed more than $500,000 to these worthwhile causes.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors. For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or karen@mixfoundation.org.

2003 TEC Awards to Honor Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer
Hendrix Engineer Eddie Kramer To Be Inducted Into TEC Awards Hall of Fame
Bruce Springsteen To Receive Les Paul Award

June 24, 2003-Emeryville, CA -Renowned recording artist Bruce Springsteen will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award, and groundbreaking producer/engineer Eddie Kramer will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards on Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the TEC Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product innovation.

Eddie Kramer, best known for his engineering work with Jimi Hendrix and the founding of Electric Lady Studios, will be celebrated for a prolific career that spans over three decades, and boasts production work on a stunning array of hard rock, jazz and live concert recordings for such artists as Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Peter Frampton, Joe Cocker, Santana, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Buddy Guy. Established in 1988, the TEC Awards Hall of Fame honors those whose careers have best exemplified the spirit of technical and creative excellence in professional audio. Past Hall of Fame inductees include Geoff Emerick, Roy Halee, Sam Phillips, Tom Dowd, Quincy Jones, Phil Ramone, Phil Spector and Frank Zappa, among others.

Rock 'n' roll icon Bruce Springsteen, whose large body of work gives a distinctive voice for the American soul and captures the finest nuances of visceral expression, will receive the Les Paul Award. The award, sponsored by Gibson Musical Instruments, recognizes artists and others whose body of work has uniquely incorporated the creative application of audio technology. It has previously been presented to such artists as Stevie Wonder, Sting, Neil Young, Steely Dan, Robbie Robertson, Brian Wilson and Peter Gabriel.

"In terms of both their recorded output and the influence of their work, Eddie Kramer and Bruce Springsteen are one of the most deserving pairs of honorees to grace the stage at the TEC Awards," says Hillel Resner, Mix Foundation President. "Mr. Kramer has set a standard of excellence for engineers and producers everywhere, and for the sheer aural and emotional power of his recordings, no artist alive can touch 'The Boss.'"

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 115th AES Convention, and is expected to attract more than 700 audio professionals from around the world. Proceeds of the ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For complete information about the TEC Awards, click here or contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—June 4, 2003

2003 TEC Awards Nominees Announced by the Mix Foundation For Excellence in Audio

June 4, 2003 - Emeryville, CA - The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the nominees for the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, honoring outstanding technical and creative achievement in professional audio recording and sound production. The awards ceremony will be held Saturday evening, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Nominations in 24 categories comprising 17 areas of technical achievement in product design and seven categories of creative achievement in audio production were made by a select panel of 140 audio industry professionals who reviewed the products, facilities and recording or broadcast projects completed between March 1, 2002 and April 1, 2003. Winners will be chosen by the 41,000 BPA-qualified Mix subscribers who cast the ballots bound in the August issue of the magazine.

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 115th AES Convention, and is expected to attract more than 700 audio professionals from around the world. Proceeds of the ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For complete information, please visit www.mixfoundation.org or contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—May 16, 2003

Audio Industry's "Top Players" Back 8th Annual Mix LA Open
Sponsors Line Up for Charity Tournament at Malibu Country Club

Walnut Creek, CA - May 16, 2003 -The pro audio industry's top equipment manufacturers, distributors and production facilities Ghave come forward to support the 2003 Mix LA Open, scheduled for Monday, June 9, at the Malibu Country Club. The tournament, presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, benefits the ongoing efforts of the House Ear Institute's "Sound Partners" program for hearing conservation and provides scholarship funds for students of the audio arts and sciences.

Audio manufacturers and retailers sponsoring holes and tournament contests include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, CE Pickup, Design FX, KRK, Quantegy, Shure, Steinberg, tc electronic, and Yamaha. Production facilities such as Firehouse Recording Studios, Moonlight Mastering, Record Plant, Royaltone Studios, and Warner Brothers Studios have also generously lent their support in a variety of sponsorship levels. This year's hole-in-one contest prize is a pre-paid 2-year lease on a BMW 2003 Z4 Roadster provided by Steve Thomas BMW of Camarillo, CA.

"It's great that so many in the audio industry continue to support this tournament with their sponsorships and donations," says tournament director, Karen Dunn. "They have become the mainstays of an event which directly benefits the causes of hearing conservation and audio education. The day promises to be a great time for all, while providing funding for some worthy causes."

A wide assortment of audio gear, instruments and gift packages have also been furnished for the silent auction, held immediately following the game and barbecue dinner. Donated equipment includes an Audio-Technica A-T 3060 48V tube microphone, a BLUE Baby Bottle microphone, a set of JBL LR 25P studio monitors and Steinberg's Nuendo 2.0 production software suite. A Gibson Les Paul Special will also be auctioned, as well as a Big Baby Taylor. Other coveted items include Ray-Ban sunglasses, Athleta sportwear, an 8-DVD collection from Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment, a Skywalker Sound portable CD player case, body-care gift baskets from Scentsabilities, Davelly Cellars cabernet, wine from the Wine Source, pre-paid fees for the Malibu Country Club and dinner for two at Genghis Cohen of Hollywood. 

Remaining sponsorship slots can be checked online at www.mixfoundation.org. In addition to sponsorships, foursomes and individual tickets are still available. For more information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or send email to karen@mixfoundation.org. 

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—April 10, 2003

Eighth Annual Mix LA Open Set for June 9th
Charity Golf Tournament a Favorite of Pro Audio Industry

Walnut Creek, CA - April 10, 2003 - More than 140 golfers from the music and pro audio industry will gather Monday, June 9, 2003 at the Malibu Country Club to swing for charity in the Eighth Annual Mix LA Open. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the tournament benefits hearing conservation efforts of the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners program, as well as scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

"The Mix LA Open draws the best of the recording industry, and this year is no exception," says tournament director Karen Dunn. "This cause is important to audio professionals who understand the need to protect their own hearing and that of everyone who enjoys recorded and live music. The game is a great chance to support hearing conservation education efforts and have a great time all at once."

Besides competing for trophies in the "best ball" tournament, golfers will have a shot at this year's hole-in-one contest prize of a pre-paid 2-year lease on a BMW 2003 Z4 Roadster provided by Steve Thomas BMW of Camarillo, CA. Following the tournament a silent auction will feature items such as audio gear and production software, wine, sunglasses, custom-made ear plugs and free hearing tests. The tournament concludes with a "19th Hole" barbecue dinner and awards presentation.

Top pro audio companies, manufacturers and recording studios have once again rallied to support the benefiting charities by sponsoring one of the holes or contests (including longest drive, longest putt and closest to the pin). At press time, sponsoring companies include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, CE Pickup, Design FX, KRK, Moonlight Mastering, QSC, Record Plant, Royaltone Studios, Shure, Steve Thomas BMW, tc electronic and Warner Brothers Studios.

Remaining sponsorship slots can be checked online at www.mixfoundation.org.
In addition to sponsorships, foursomes and individual tickets are still available. For more information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or send email to karen@mixfoundation.org. 

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

2002 TEC Awards Contributes Over $41,000 to Hearing Conservation Programs and Audio Scholarships

February 5, 2003—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the distribution of proceeds from the 18th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, held last October in Los Angeles. The charity event raised more than $41,000 in support of ongoing efforts to inform audio professionals, musicians and the greater community about noise-induced hearing loss, and provide financial aid for deserving students of the audio arts and sciences.

Over half the proceeds were donated to the Sound Partners program of the House Ear Institute (Los Angeles) and Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.), based in San Francisco—non-profit organizations whose programs educate audio professionals, musicians and the general public about the prevention of hearing impairment from over-exposure to high sound levels in recording and live performance environments.

The remaining proceeds will benefit scholarship endowments for students of the audio arts and sciences at Berklee College of Music, Ex’pression Center for New Media, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Miami and University of Southern California, as well as the AES Educational Foundation, and the student assistance program of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS).

"We are proud to share the vision of these valuable organizations and to help sustain their continued efforts to serve the audio industry," said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Though this industry has not been immune to the effects of the recent economic downturn, its members have continued to respond generously to the needs of the extended audio community."

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