2008

PRESS RELEASE—October 7, 2008

PRODUCTION TEAMS FOR ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS, THE POLICE, HALO 3 AND THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM TAKE TOP HONORS AT 24TH ANNUAL TEC AWARDS

Plant and Krauss Induct T Bone Burnett to Hall of Fame; Ray Benson Receives Les Paul Award and Tribute from Billy Bob Thornton

Rupert Neve Designs, Audio-Technica, Euphonix, Earthworks and Telefunken Among Winners for Technical Achievement

October 7, 2008—San Francisco, CA—The engineers, sound mixers, producers and other audio production professionals behind Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand, The Police’s reunion tour, Microsoft video game Halo 3, and Universal Pictures’ The Bourne Ultimatum, were among the many winners at the 24th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, held Friday evening, October 3rd, at San Francisco’s Westin St. Francis Hotel.

In addition to 26 awards for Technical and Creative Achievement, a sold-out house including many of the industry's finest creative talents witnessed two riveting presentations: the induction of musician and producer T Bone Burnett into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame; and the presentation of the prestigious Les Paul Award, sponsored by the Gibson Foundation, to “King of Western Swing,” musical artist Ray Benson. The Asleep at the Wheel Founder received a surprise video tribute from his old friend, film director/musician Billy Bob Thornton.

Twenty-one-time Grammy winner Alison Krauss, and rock legend Robert Plant presented the Hall of Fame award to Burnett—together delivering a poetic appreciation of his knowledge of American musical history and dedication to the craft of recording. Both returned to the stage later in the evening with Burnett and his production team when their collaborative project, Raising Sand, won the TEC Award for Record Production/Album.

The evening’s musical highlights included Larry Batiste and the 2Cold Chili Bone TEC Band backing a crowd-pleasing performance of O Brother, Where Art Thou favorite “I’ll Fly Away” by San Francisco’s own Bonnie Hayes and Teresa Trull, with Dick Bright and Tommy Dunbar; a rousing “All Night Long” featuring former Back in the Saddle front man Frank Cefalu; and a rockin’ rendition of “Route 66” by Benson and Asleep at the Wheel.

Among the night’s winners for Creative Achievement were the production crews of James Taylor, One Man Band (Surround Sound Production) and Foo Fighter’s  “The Pretender” (Record Production/Single or Track);  the engineers and producers of NBC’s Saturday Night Live (Television Sound Production) and the 50th Annual Grammy Awards (Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast); as well as the acoustical team for Red Bull North America’s recently opened Red Bull Studio (Studio Design Project). The Award to Halo 3 for Interactive Entertainment Sound Production was sponsored by the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.).

In the Technical Achievement  categories, the 17 winners included two awards for Rupert Neve Designs, the Portico 5015 (Microphone Preamplifier Technology) and the 5088 (Large Format Console Technology); Euphonix MC Mix Controller (Small Format Technology): Audio-Technica SpectraPulse Ultra Wideband System (Wireless Technology); Royer Live Series (Microphone Technology/Sound Reinforcement; Meyer Sound UP Junior (Sound Reinforcement Loudspeaker Technology); Yamaha PM5DV2 (Sound Reinforcement Console Technology);  Universal Audio 2-LA-2 (Signal Processing Technology/Hardware); Digidesign Pro Tools 7.4 (Workstation Technology); Apogee Duet (Digital Converter Technology); and ATR Master Analog Tape (Recording Devices). In the category of Microphone Technology/Recording there was a rare tie, between Earthworks PM40 PianoMic and Telefunken USA Ela M 260.

For a complete list of the 2008 TEC Award Winners, go to http://www.mixfoundation.org/tec/08winners.html

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PRESS RELEASE—September 17, 2008

24th Annual TEC Awards Goes "Down Home!”

T Bone Burnett and Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson to be honored at pro sound industry gala, October 3 in San Francisco

Sep.17, 2008—Walnut Creek, CA—“Roots” and “boots” will definitely be the theme of the 24th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held on Friday, October 3 at San Francisco’s Westin St. Francis. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, this year’s TEC Awards will recognize outstanding achievement in 26 categories of professional audio production and product innovation. In addition, T Bone Burnett, one of the most prolific musicians and producers of American “roots” music, will be inducted to the TEC Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement; and Ray Benson, founder and leader of Western Swing stalwarts Asleep at the Wheel, will be honored with the Les Paul Award for the creative application of audio technology. The Les Paul Award is sponsored by the Gibson Foundation.

“Our lifetime achievement awards provide memorable moments every year,” said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. “But honoring two such accomplished exponents of traditional American music as T Bone and Ray—and hearing the music that will be performed that evening—will undoubtedly make this a show to remember.”

2008 TEC AWARDS: HEAVY COMPETITION

The TEC Awards’ 17 categories of Technical Achievement and 9 categories of Creative Achievement will see some fierce competition this year. In terms of numbers, on the Technical side, the UK's Solid State Logic leads the pack with a record five nominations, followed by the Bay Area's Digidesign with four, and Audio-Technica and Universal Audio with three nominations apiece. Six other companies garnered two nominations each.

Among the nominees for Creative Achievement, leading the field is Clair/Showco of Lititz, PA, with three nominations for Tour Sound Production (The Police, Justin Timberlake and Roger Waters), while the production team for rockers White Stripes is nominated twice for their album and single Icky Thump, and the sound crews behind TV phenomenon American Idol are nominated for both Remote/Broadcast Production and Television Sound. Voting for the TEC Awards by the subscribers of Mix magazine ended on August 31 and the winners’ names are held in confidence till the ceremony.

For complete list of nominees and biographies of the of the Hall of Fame and Les Paul Award honorees, visit www.mixfoundation.org.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Tickets for the 24th Annual TEC Awards are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.mixfoundation.org, by emailing KarenTEC@aol.com or calling 925-939-6149. Since half of all seating is allocated for sponsors, tickets are going fast and should be ordered as early as possible.

FIFTH ANNUAL TECnology HALL OF FAME

The Mix Foundation also presents the TECnology Hall of Fame, established in 2004 for products and innovations that have had a significant, lasting impact on the development of audio technology. This year, 15 innovations introduced between 1898 and 1990 will be inducted. The TECnology Hall of Fame ceremony, hosted by the Audio Engineering Society, will be held at 6:00 p.m., Saturday, October 4 in Room 236 of the Moscone Center.  All AES Convention attendees are welcome to attend. For the list of TECnology Hall of Fame Inductees and and other information, visit www.mixfoundation.org/hof/08techof.html.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California.Funds derived from the TEC Awards are donated to organizations working to promote safe listening practices by both professionals and music consumers, including House Ear Institute’s outreach campaign to teenagers and to numerous audio education scholarships.

The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix magazine, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. Other top-tier sponsors include the Gibson Foundation, Harman Pro Group, American Music and Sound (Allen & Heath and Focusrite), Guitar Center Professional, Meyer Sound, RØDE Microphones, Sennheiser Electronics and Universal Audio. For complete list of sponsors, visit www.mixfoundation.org/tec/08sponsors.html.

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PRESS RELEASE—August 21, 2008

Mix Foundation Announces 2008 TECnology Hall Of Fame Inductees

Shure Unidyne Model 55, Universal Audio/UREI 1176 peak limiter and Yamaha NS-10M speakers among 15 technical innovations being honored for shaping audio history

Induction ceremony slated for Saturday, Oct.  4, 2008, at Moscone Center in San Francisco

Aug. 21, 2008—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation has selected fifteen audio products and innovations for induction into the TECnology Hall of Fame, established in 2004 by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio to honor significant, lasting contributions to the advancement of audio technology.  The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday evening, Oct. 4, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco during the 125th convention of the Audio Engineering Society (AES).  The ceremony, hosted by AES, is open to all convention attendees. The Mix Foundation will also present the 24th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco.

The TECnology Hall of Fame,  hosted for the fourth consecutive year by AES, is sponsored by Mix magazine; the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences of Gilbert, Ariz.; and media manufacturer Disc Makers of Pennsauken, N.J.

A panel of more than 50 recognized audio experts, including authors, educators, engineers, facility owners and other industry professionals, selected the inductees. Products or innovations must be at least 10 years old to be eligible for induction. 

"The interesting thing about this year's nominees,” notes Mix  Executive Editor and TECnology Hall of Fame Director George Petersen, "is how many of these products are still in daily use decades after their introduction, such as the Neumann CMV3 Bottle mic, Shure Unidyne 55, JBL D130 woofer, Tannoy Dual Concentric monitors, Universal Audio/UREI 1176 compressor, API 550A, dbx 16O, Yamaha NS-10, Studer A800, Trident Series 80 and the Kurzweil 250. These aren't simply museum pieces; they working tools, and we're proud to be part of recognizing their significance to the industry." 

The 2008 TECnology Hall of Fame inductees:

Telegraphone Wire Recorder (1898)
Western Electric 618A Dynamic Microphone (1928)
Neumann CMV3 Condenser Microphone (1928)
Shure Unidyne Model 55 (1940)
JBL D130 Loudspeaker (1947)
Tannoy Dual Concentric Loudspeaker (1948)
Universal Audio/UREI 1176 Peak Limiter (1968)
API 550A Equalizer (1968)
dbx 160 (VU) Compressor/Limiter (1976)
Yamaha NS-10M Speakers (1977)
Studer A800 Multitrack (1978)
Trident Series 80 Console (1980)
Kurzweil 250 (1983)
Opcode Studio Vision(1990)
CEDAR—Computer Enhanced Digital Audio Restoration (1990)

The TEC Awards—sponsored by Mix magazine as well Gibson Guitar, Harman Pro Group and more than 30 other leading audio and technology companies—is the world’s most prestigious forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design. Monies derived from the TEC Awards support programs that educate audio professionals and the general public about hearing health, as well as endow scholarship funds for students of the audio arts and sciences at major colleges and universities.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, established in 2004, is a 501 (c) (3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif. Mix is the pro audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. For information about the TECnology Hall of Fame or the TEC Awards, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, karenTEC@aol.com, or visit www.mixfoundation.org.

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PRESS RELEASE—June 26, 2008

Game Audio Network Guild to Sponsor Interactive Entertainment Category at 24th Annual TEC Awards

G.A.N.G. backs award for best game sound at audio industry gala

Bio Shock, Call Of Duty 4, Halo 3, The Orange Box, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
compete for the award; winner to be announced October 3rd in San Francisco

June 26 , 2008—Walnut Creek, CA— The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, and G.A.N.G. (Game Audio Network Guild) have announced that the San Francisco-based group will sponsor the award for Creative Achievement in Interactive Entertainment Sound Production at the 24th Annual TEC Awards. Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on Friday, October 3rd at San Francisco’s Westin St. Francis Hotel.

The TEC Awards is the world’s most prestigious forum for recognizing outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product innovation. The nine categories of Creative Achievement, to which the Interactive Entertainment Sound category was added in 2007, recognize the producers, engineers, sound designers, production facilities and others behind the sound of hit recordings, tours, films, TV shows and other entertainment media.

“Since launching the Interactive Entertainment category, we have been building bridges to the game sound community,” said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. “G.A.N.G. is a highly respected organization that speaks to and for this important group of professionals, and we are honored to have their participation.” G.A.N.G. is a global non-profit organization working to advance the interactive audio industry by providing information, instruction and policy to its members and enthusiasts around the world. G.A.N.G. empowers game development communities by establishing resources and recognition for education, business and development professionals.

G.A.N.G. also supports career development for students and aspiring game audio professionals and utilizes sponsorships and partnerships to empower like-minded organizations. For more information, www.audiogang.org

"There is a natural synergy between G.A.N.G. and the Mix Foundation’s TEC Awards", says Paul Lipson, President of the Game Audio Network Guild. "Working through our Program Partnership framework, we are able to support the Awards and bring the world of audio for interactive media to a larger, shared constituency. We’re delighted to see the TEC Awards acknowledge the importance of sound for interactive media".

Nominees for this year’s award for Interactive Entertainment Sound Production are:

Bioshock, 2K Games
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision
Halo 3, Microsoft Game Studios
The Orange Box, EA Games
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, SCEA

The 24th Annual TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the Audio Engineering Society Convention (AES) at the Moscone Center Oct. 2-5. The awards ceremony is expected to draw more than 700 top sound and music professionals from around the world. Funds derived from the banquet and ceremony are donated to organizations working to promote safe listening practices in the music environment, including House Ear Institute’s outreach campaign to teenagers and various audio education scholarships. For tickets and sponsorship information, contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at 925-939-6149 or Karen@tecwards.org.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix magazine, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. Other top-tier sponsors include the Gibson Foundation (Sponsor of the Les Paul Award), Sustaining Sponsor Harman Pro Group, Guitar Center Professional, North American Music & Sound, RODE Microphones/Event Electronics, Sennheiser Electronics and Universal Audio, sponsor of Video pre- and post-production. Event sound will be provided by Meyer Sound Labs and subsequent webcast by Broadjam.com.

For a complete list of the 2008 TEC Awards Creative Achievement Nominees, please visit http://mixfoundation.org/tec/08nomineescreat.html

For more details on the 2008 TEC Awards nominees, and other information about the Mix Foundation and TEC Awards, please visit www.mixfoundation.org

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PRESS RELEASE—June 5, 2008

24th Annual TEC Awards Announces Nominees for Creative Achievement in Sound Production

Clair/Showco is triple nominee for Tour Sound; Production teams for White Stripes and American Idol garner double nominations.

Winners to be announced at TEC AWARDS gala in San Francisco, October 3rd

June 5 , 2008—Walnut Creek, CA— The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the nominees in nine categories of Creative Achievement for the 24th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be presented Friday, October 3rd in San Francisco. Sponsored by Mix magazine, the TEC Awards is the world's most prestigious forum for recognizing outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

The nine awards for Creative Achievement recognize the producers, engineers, studios and others behind the sound of hit recordings, concert tours, films, TV shows, video games and other entertainment media. Leading the field of this year's nominees is Clair/Showco of Lititz, PA, with three nominations for Tour Sound Production (The Police, Justin Timberlake and Roger Waters). The production team for rockers White Stripes was nominated twice for their album and single Icky Thump. The sound crew behind TV phenomenon American Idol received nominations for both Remote/Broadcast Production and Television Sound.

In a remarkably diverse year, the nominees for Surround Sound Production included recordings by Porcupine Tree, James Taylor, Shakira, Paul McCartney and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

For the second year, The award for Interactive Entertainment Sound Production recognizes excellence in sound for video games - one of the industry's most vibrant fields. This year's award is being sponsored by the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), the interactive audio industry's leading non-profit organization.

"We're extremely pleased with this year's group of nominees," said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "The nominated projects and artists represent not only tremendous musical and cultural diversity but cover a wider spectrum of entertainment media and technical innovation than any other awards show.".

The TEC Awards will be held at the Westin St. Francis in downtown San Francisco on the second night of the Audio Engineering Society convention (first day of exhibits) and is expected to draw more than 700 top sound and music professionals from around the world. Funds derived from the banquet and ceremony are donated to organizations working to promote safe listening practices in the music environment, including House Ear Institute's outreach campaign to teenagers and various audio education scholarships.

For tickets and other information, contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or Karen@tecwards.org.

The Mix Foundation For Excellence In Audio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix magazine, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. Other top-tier sponsors include the Gibson Foundation (Sponsor of the Les Paul Award), Sustaining Sponsor Harman Pro Group, Platinum SponsorAmerican Music and Sound, Guitar Center Professional, RODE Microphones/Event Electronics, Sennheiser Electronics and Universal Audio, sponsor of video pre- and post-production. Live sound and webcast are provided by Meyer Sound Labs and Broadjam.com, respectively.

2008 Creative Achievement Nominees

For more details on the 2008 TEC Awards nominees, and other information about the Mix Foundation and TEC Awards, please visit www.mixfoundation.org

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PRESS RELEASE—May 21, 2008

Nominees for 24th Annual TEC Awards Announced by Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio

Sound Industry’s Most Prestigious Awards Show Names Nominees in 17 Categories of Hardware and Software for Audio and Music Production 

Winners to be announced at star-studded ceremony in San Francisco, October 3

May 21, 2008—Walnut Creek, CA— The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the nominees for the 24th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Friday, October 3, 2008, on the second night of the Audio Engineering Society Convention. The TEC Awards, sponsored by Mix magazine, is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

The nominees announced today, comprising 17 categories of Technical Achievement in product design, will be followed by an announcement next week of nominees in nine categories of Creative Achievement in sound production. The nominations, made by a select panel of more than 100 professionals in all areas of audio, are for products and projects released or completed during the eligibility period of April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008. Online voting begins on August 1, with ballot guides sent with the August issue of Mix magazine, mailed to more than 38,000 qualified subscribers.

"This year’s Technical Achievement nominees range from classic analog designs to the latest digital technologies," notes Mix magazine executive editor George Petersen. In terms of numbers, the UK’s Solid State Logic leads the pack this year with a record five nominations, followed by the Bay Area’s Digidesign with four, and Audio-Technica and Universal Audio with three nominations apiece. Six other companies garnered two nominations each. One new development, notes Peterson, is the re-introduction of the Power Amplifier category, with five strong nominees in a category that had been eclipsed in recent years by self-powered loudspeakers.

"We’re thrilled to be returning to San Francisco," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Not only will we be presenting the show in our home town, but presenting it at a venue as classically beautiful as the Westin St. Francis will be a treat for our out-of-town guests.”

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 23rd AES convention (first day of exhibits), and is expected to draw more than 700 top sound and music professionals from around the world. Funds derived from the banquet and ceremony are donated to organizations working to promote safe listening practices in the music environment, including House Ear Institute’s outreach campaign to teenagers, and audio education scholarships. For tickets and other information, 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. The event is sponsored by Mix magazine, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. Other top-tier sponsors as of this date include the Gibson Foundation (Sponsor of the Les Paul Award), Sustaining Sponsor Harman Pro Group, Guitar Center Professional and RODE Microphones/Event Electronics.

2008TEC Awards Technical Nominees

For a complete list of 2008 TEC Awards nominees, please visit www.mixfoundation.org

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PRESS RELEASE—March 4, 2008

Bag O’ Clubs—The 13th Annual Mix LA Open Scheduled for May 12

New Sponsor Guitar Center + new prizes and new contests at the Malibu Country Club 

March 4, 2008—Walnut Creek, CA—Yep, it's time to start making plans for more fun than should be legal with a bag o’ clubs and that maddening wee sphere known as a golf ball: the 13th Annual Mix L.A. Open golf tournament set for Monday, May 12. Honorary Chairman, Ed Cherney and his fellow industry golfers are looking for others to join them for this great day of golf that benefits a worthy cause.

Sponsored for the first time by Guitar Center Professional, Ed and his intrepid band return once again return to the scene of the crime (we kid, we kid), otherwise known as the beautiful and challenging Malibu Country Club. This year’s Best Ball tournament promises to be bigger and better than ever, with more contests and prizes and yes, more surprises.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners hearing conservation program and other programs supported by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, including Sound Art of Los Angeles.

Returning sponsors include: Absolute Music, Full Sail Real World Education, Harman Pro, The Pass Studios, Record Plant, Shure, Inc., Sound Design Corporation, Yamaha Commercial Audio, and Sennheiser among others.
For more information about the tournament or to register, please go to www.mixfoundation.org/la_open/la_open.html.
Since space is limited to 144 golfers, it’s a good idea to make reservations early. A limited number of sponsorships are also available.

Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, please take the time to join us on May 12th. Says Ed: “I guarantee you'll have a great time!”

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PRESS RELEASE—March 4, 2008

2008 TEC Awards to be held Friday October 3 at the Westin St. Francis 

“When I Come Home to You, San Francisco…”

March 4, 2008—Walnut Creek, CA—After a stint on Broadway in 2007, the TEC Awards comes home in 2008 to the city by the Bay, on Friday, October 3, 2008. The last time the TEC Awards graced the Westin St. Francis was in 1994, when Beatles’ producer Sir George Martin presented a posthumous TEC Hall of Fame Award to the family of musician and composer Frank Zappa.

Mix Foundation president Hillel Resner is excited because, “Not only is it a classically beautiful venue, but its location on Union Square is super convenient for AES attendees.”

As always, the TEC Awards will be held during the 125th Audio Engineering Society Convention, scheduled for the Moscone Convention Center October 2-5.

For tickets or general information, contact Karen Dunn at 925-939-6149 or email KarenTEC@aol.com. For sponsorship information, contact Eric Geer at 925-287-1657 or email eric@mixfoundation.org.

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PRESS RELEASE—February 24, 2008

Mix Foundation Announces TEC Scholarship Winners

February 24, 2008—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio announced the following recipients of its 2007 TEC Awards Scholarship Grants:

Carson Ritz is in his third year studying Audio Production at Webster University in St. Louis, MO. Ritz’s first foray into the audio world began as a kindergartener as he recorded raps into a two-track recorder and he hasn’t stopped since! With a GPA of 3.89, Ritz has excelled at his studies while completing a large-scale recording/producing project for a local St. Louis artist, handling the audio responsibilities for a local video company and other extracurricular activities. Ritz’s dream? To become a successful music producer. But as long as he can work in audio for the rest of his life, he’ll be satisfied.

Golda McCormack is a student in the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music in the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She is pursuing her degree in Recorded Music with an emphasis on audio engineering and music production. When McCormack isn't working on studio projects, she keeps herself busy as the Co-President of the new Clive Davis Department student-run record label, 194 Recordings. A long-term goal of hers is to be able to work with musicians interested in making a difference by creating music that will educate and inspire people throughout the world. Applications for the 2008 TEC Awards Scholarship Grant are currently being accepted. The scholarship grant(s) is offered to students currently enrolled in audio education programs. For more information, go to mixfoundation.org/hearing.html or call Karen Dunn at 925/939-6149.

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2007

PRESS RELEASE—October 6, 2007

Sound Industry Honors Finest at 2007 TEC Awards

Apogee, Digidesign and Solid State Logic lead Technical Category with two wins each; Tomb Raider: Legend snags Interactive Entertainment Sound

Production teams for John Mayer’s Continuum win in three categories; Al Kooper & Friends bring down the house on “Season of the Witch”

October 6, 2007—New York, NY—Winners in 25 categories of Technical and Creative Achievement including a new category – Creative Achievement in Sound Production for Interactive Entertainment – were presented with Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards on Saturday, October 6, at the New York Marriott Marquis, on the second night of the 123rd Audio Engineering Society Convention. Hosted by Late Night with David Letterman’s Will Lee, the show brought together almost 700 of the pro sound industry’s elite, as well as numerous renowned musical artists. The TEC Awards, sponsored by Mix magazine, is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

Legendary guitarist and inventor Les Paul, who will be 93 next year, co-presented his eponymous Les Paul award with actor Peter Riegert to musician, producer and composer Al Kooper. Sponsored by Gibson Guitar Corporation, past winners include Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Brian Wilson, among others. Acclaimed broadcast mixer Ed Greene (Oscars®, Grammys®, Kennedy Center, Olympics) was officially inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame (sponsored by Dolby Laboratories), by last year’s inductee, Remote Recording’s David Hewitt.

Highlights of the evening included the producers and engineers of John Mayer’s Continuum tour and album, as well as the single “Waiting for the World to Change,” trooping to the stage three times; a TEC Award for Outstanding Television Sound for The Sopranos; and the award for Studio Design Project to Los Angeles’s famed Record Plant Studios. Musical performances that brought the crowd to its feet included a surprise appearance by Gary Lewis (Garry Lewis and the Playboys), who opened the show with his hit “This Diamond Ring,” written by Al Kooper. He was followed later by an electrifying rendition of “Season of the Witch,” with Kooper himself on vocals and Hammond B-3, backed by fellow Late Show veterans Jimmy Vivino on guitar, Anton Figg on drums and Will Lee on bass.

“The evening was a resounding success,” said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation and executive producer of the TEC Awards. “We are proud to recognize the work of the audio professionals behind so much of today’s entertainment, and grateful that so many leading musicians and audio professionals helped present the awards. This is an event that brings our industry together to honor its own for a good cause.”

Presenters included platinum producer/engineers Phil Ramone, Jimmy Douglass, George Massenburg, and Tony Maserati, guitarists Vernon Reid and Felicia Collins (Letterman) and many other celebrities of sound production.
In addition to the awards and special honors, fifteen historic audio products and innovations were inducted to the TECnology Hall of Fame, established in 2004 by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio to honor significant, lasting contributions to the advancement of audio technology. The induction ceremony took place on Friday evening, October 5 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York.

The 2007 winners in Technical Achievement are:
ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT: Apogee Electronics Symphony
DIGITAL CONVERTER TECHNOLOGY: Apogee Electronics Ensemble
MIC PREAMPLIFIER TECHNOLOGY: SSL XLogic Alpha Channel
MIC TECHNOLOGY/SOUND REINFORCEMENT: Neumann KMS 104
MIC TECHNOLOGY/RECORDING: Royer R122-V
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY: Sennheiser NET1
SOUND REINFORCEMENT LOUDSPEAKER TECHNOLOGY: JBL Professional VP Series
STUDIO MONITOR TECHNOLOGY: Genelec 8200/7200 DSP Series
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNOLOGY: Moog Little Phatty
SIGNAL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY/HARDWARE: Focusrite Liquid Mix
SIGNAL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY/SOFTWARE: Universal Audio Neve Classic Console Bundle
WORKSTATION TECHNOLOGY: Digidesign 003
RECORDING DEVICES: Tascam DV-RA1000HD
SOUND REINFORCEMENT CONSOLE TECHNOLOGY: Digidesign D-Show Profile
SMALL FORMAT CONSOLE TECHNOLOGY: Trident Series 8T-8
LARGE FORMAT CONSOLE TECHNOLOGY: SSL Duality

The 2007 winners in Outstanding Creative Technology are:
TOUR SOUND PRODUCTION: John Mayer Continuum Tour
REMOTE PRODUCTION/RECORDING OR BROADCAST: 49th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS
TELEVISION SOUND PRODUCTION: The Sopranos, HBO
FILM SOUND PRODUCTION: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Jerry Bruckheimer, Walt Disney
STUDIO DESIGN PROJECT: Record Plant/SSL 1, Hollywood, CA
INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT SOUND PRODUCTION: Tomb Raider: Legend, Eidos Interactive
SURROUND SOUND PRODUCTION: Love, Beatles (DVD-A)
RECORD PRODUCTION/SINGLE OR TRACK: “Waiting On The World to Change,” Continuum, John Mayer
RECORD PRODUCTION/ALBUM: Continuum, John Mayer

The TEC Awards nominees are selected by a panel of more than 100 audio industry professionals. Subscribers to Mix magazine voted online in August for this year’s winners. Members of the Steering Committee for the Interactive Entertainment Sound Production category can be found at www.mixfoundation.org/interactive.html

Top sponsors of the TEC Awards, besides Mix, Dolby and Gibson Guitar, include Intel Corporation, Harman Pro Group, Shure, American Music and Sound, Rode/Event Electronics, and 30 other leading audio and technology companies. Monies raised by the TEC Awards support programs that educate audio professionals and the general public about the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss in the music environment, and also endow scholarship funds for students of the audio arts and sciences at major colleges and universities.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501 (c)(3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix, the pro audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. For information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com or visit www.mixfoundation.org.

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PRESS RELEASE—September 11, 2007

TEC AWARDS MUSIC AND SOUND AUCTION TO LAUNCH ON eBAY October 4th, 2007

Auction to Benefit Hearing Awareness and Audio Education Programs

September 11, 2007—Walnut Creek, CA— The fourth annual TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction will launch on eBay on October 4. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the charity auction will coincide with the 23rd Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held at the New York Marriott Marquis October 6 during the 123rd AES Convention in New York City.

The TEC Music & Sound eBay Auction store, www.tecmusicandsoundauction.com, will feature pro audio equipment, musical instruments, software, and various items for audio enthusiasts. Proceeds will benefit outreach programs of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles, including "It's How you Listen that Counts," a media campaign to educate young music listeners about hearing health, and H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers), a San Francisco-based nonprofit serving musicians and the general public. Funds will also support scholarship programs for students of the audio arts and sciences.

“We encourage manufacturers, studio owners, software developers, musical instrument companies and anyone else affiliated with professional audio to consider donating to the auction,” notes Julie Clark, Insight Media Group. “It’s an extremely worthwhile cause and the online donation form on the TEC Awards website – www.mixfoundation.org – makes the process very simple.” This is the second year that Insight Media Group, an online marketing services agency, is managing the auction for the Mix Foundation. 

To donate musical instruments or audio equipment you can use the online form at www.insight-media-group.com/TECmusicandsoundauction/tecmsaform.php or contact Julie Clark at 269.687.8848 or jclark@insight-media-group.com. To donate music memorabilia, artwork, gift packages or money, contact Karen Dunn at 925.939.6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com. To purchase TEC Awards tickets, call the ticket hotline at 510.985.3214, or order online via the TEC Awards links on www.mixfoundation.org.

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. In addition to the presentation of awards in 25 categories of Technical and Creative Achievement, musician, producer and composer Al Kooper will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award, and acclaimed broadcast mixer Ed Greene will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame.
Funds derived from the TEC Awards support programs that educate 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 Mix Foundation has contributed more than a half-million dollars to these worthwhile causes.

ABOUT HEI

House Ear Institute (HEI) has provided free hearing screenings and hearing health education to well over 10,000 music and sound industry professionals around the country. Last year, This year, HEI launched It’s How You Listen That Counts, a mass media campaign educating young music consumers about the effects of sustained exposure to loud music and video. For more information visit www.earbud.org.

ABOUT H.E.A.R.

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. For more information visit www.hearnet.com. 

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PRESS RELEASE—August 29, 2007

LEADING AUDIO AND TECHNOLOGY FIRMS TO SPONSOR 2007 TEC AWARDS

Top-line sponsors of sound industry gala include, Intel, Gibson, Dolby, Harman Pro and Mix

August 28, 2007—Walnut Creek, CA—Thirty seven professional audio and technology companies are lending their support for the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio by sponsoring the 23rd Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. The TEC Awards, the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design, will be presented Saturday, October 6, 2007, at the New York Marriott Marquis, on the second night of the 123rd Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention.

In addition to the presentation of awards in 25 categories of Technical and Creative Achievement, musician, producer and composer Al Kooper will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award, and acclaimed broadcast mixer Ed Greene will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame.

Intel, the world’s leading microprocessor manufacturer and digital technology leader, is sponsoring the Technical Awards category. Gibson Guitar Corporation, one of the world's premiere manufacturers of guitars and other instruments, is sponsoring the Les Paul Award for the ninth consecutive year, and Dolby Laboratories, a leader for over 40 years in providing innovative audio technologies for professional products, is sponsoring the TEC Awards Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Joining them in Front of House sponsorships are Harman Pro Group, encompassing many of the industry's most respected brands including JBL, AKG Acoustics and Crown International, and Mix magazine, the leading trade publication covering professional recording and sound production.

Platinum sponsors this year include American Music and Sound, presenting respected brands Allen & Heath, Focusrite and others, RØDE & Event Electronics, committed to quality assurance, product innovation, and design in microphones and studio electronics, and Shure Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones and audio electronics.

Gold sponsors include Audio-Technica, Webcast Sponsor Broadjam.com, Digidesign, Audio Sponsor Meyer Sound Labs, the Producers & Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy, Sennheiser USA; Solid State Logic, TC Group and Video Pre-production Sponsor, Universal Audio. The line-up for the Silver sponsors include AMP Alliance at Microsoft (sponsoring the TECnology Hall of Fame), Cakewalk, Clair/Showco, Trident-Oram Pro Audio, TASCAM, and Yamaha Corporation Audio Systems, Inc. Bronze sponsors include ADAM Audio, Apogee Electronics, Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences and Disc Makers (co-sponsors of the TECnology Hall of Fame), DPA Microphones, Eventide, McDSP, Roland Corporation, Skywalker Sound, Telefunken USA., and Ultrasone. For more information and links to TEC Awards sponsors, please visit www.mixfoundation.org/tec/07sponsors.html.

"We are supremely grateful to all the companies that have stepped up to sponsor this year’s TEC Awards," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation and executive producer of the event. "In a time when many corporations are tightening their belts, it speaks volumes that virtually all the top pro audio manufacturers—as well as world technology leaders like Intel and Dolby—remain committed to supporting education in our field and the critical cause of safe hearing practices."

The TEC Awards will be preceded on Friday, October 5 by an induction ceremony for 15 audio products and innovations into the TECnology Hall of Fame, which honors significant, lasting contributions to the advancement of audio technology. 

Funds derived from the TEC Awards support programs that educate 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 Mix Foundation has contributed more than a half-million dollars to these worthwhile causes.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c)(3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. Mix is the pro audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. For more information about the TEC Awards or TECnology Hall of Fame, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, KarenTEC@aol.com.

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PRESS RELEASE—August 21, 2007

Mix Foundation Announces 2007 TECnology Hall of Fame Inductees

Theremin, AKG C-414 Condenser Microphone, Eventide Harmonizer and Sony PCM-F1 Recorder among 15 technical innovations being honored for shaping audio history

Induction ceremony slated for Friday, October 5 at Jacob Javits Convention Center

August 21, 2007—Walnut Creek, CA—Fifteen audio products and innovations have been selected for induction to the TECnology Hall of Fame, established in 2004 by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio to honor significant, lasting contributions to the advancement of audio technology. The induction ceremony will take place on Friday evening, October 5 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, during the 123rd convention of the Audio Engineering Society. The ceremony is open to all AES attendees. The Mix Foundation also presents the 23rd Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held the following evening at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The TECnology Hall of Fame will be hosted for the third consecutive year by the AES, and sponsored by The AMP Alliance at Microsoft, as well as Disc Makers, and the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences. A new sponsor in 2007, The Audio Music Partner ('AMP') Alliance, is a group of partners and organizations that develop, support, and promote the creative application of audio & music technology in and around the Microsoft platforms.

Inductees are chosen by a panel of more than 50 recognized 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. 

"The interesting thing about this year's nominees is despite their age, many of these–such as the Theremin, Fairchild compressor, Crown DC300, Neve 1073, AKG C-414, EMT 250 reverb and Eventide Harmonizer–are not only still in use today, but are highly sought-after audio tools for professional production," notes Mix magazine Executive Editor and TECnology Hall of Fame director George Petersen. "Even the Cannon XLR, some 50 years after its introduction, remains the world standard in professional audio connections. Each of these are true audio classics-by any standard."

The 2007 TECnology Hall of Fame inductees include:

• 1919 Leon Theremin -- The Theremin
• 1940 Dr. Walter Weber -- AC Tape Bias
• 1925 Chester Rice & Edward Kellogg, General Electric Co. -- Modern Dynamic Loudspeaker
• 1956 Neumann -- Neumann Stereo Disk Lathe
• 1958 Cannon -- XLR Connector
• 1957 Stefan Kudelski -- Nagra III Tape Recorder
• 1959 Reina Narma -- Fairchild 670 Compressor Limiter
• 1967 Crown International -- DC 300 Power Amplifier
• 1971 AKG -- C-414 Condenser Microphone
• 1972 Rupert Neve -- Neve 1073 Console Module
• 1972 MCI -- JH-400 Series Inline Console
• 1976 EMT -- 250 Digital Reverb
• 1975 Eventide -- H910 Harmonizer
• 1978 3M -- Digital Audio Mastering System
• 1981 Sony -- PCM-F1 Digital Recording Processor

The TEC Awards, sponsored by Mix magazine—as well as Intel, Gibson Guitar, Dolby Laboratories, Harman Pro Group, Shure and 30 other leading audio and technology companies—is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design. Monies raised by the TEC Awards support programs that educate 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.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501 (c) (3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. Mix is the pro audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by Penton Media. For information about the TECnology Hall of Fame or the TEC Awards, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, KarenTEC@aol.com.

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PRESS RELEASE—August 8, 2007

Recording Innovator and Blues, Rock, Jazz and Pop Virtuoso Al Kooper Honored with Les Paul Award

Prestigious award sponsored by Gibson Guitar recognizes creativity in the use of recording technology

August 8, 2007—Walnut Creek, CA—Musician, producer and composer Al Kooper will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award, presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio. Sponsored by Gibson Guitar, the presentation will take place at the 23rd Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held on October 6, 2007, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Named for the legendary musician and inventor, 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. Al Kooper joins illustrious former honorees Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Steely Dan, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson and other innovative artists and producers.

The 2007 recipient is being hailed as a musical innovator for over 40 years in blues, rock, jazz and pop. According to Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, “Al Kooper has been a trailblazer in recording techniques. His work is always fresh and inventive and especially deserving of this year's Les Paul Award."

"Gibson Guitar is honored to present this year's Les Paul award to Al Kooper, a musician who epitomizes the spirit of rock 'n' roll," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "We celebrate his role in modern music and applaud him on his many talents which have entertained millions of fans for years."

Often referred to as the “Zelig” or “Forrest Gump” of Rock, Al Kooper has managed to turn up – and play a pivotal role– in some of rock’s most historical moments. Kooper, who recently released a critically acclaimed solo album, “Black Coffee,” shows no sign of slowing down after 49 years in the business. Well known for founding Blood, Sweat and Tears in the mid-sixties, Kooper’s work as a producer and musician has made a lasting impact on the soundtrack of some of rock’s greatest hits.

As a producer he is best known for discovering Lynyrd Skynyrd and producing their first three albums. He went on to play sessions with Jimi Hendrix, The Who and George Harrison, and teamed with guitarists Michael Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to record the top ten album “Super Session.” He has produced albums for clients including The Tubes, Nils Lofgren, Ray Charles, B.B. King, The Staple Singers, Bob Dylan, Joe Ely, Green on Red and many others.

Author of Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards, Kooper also scored Hal Ashby’s first film “The Landlord,” John Waters’s film “Cry Baby,” Michael Mann’s TV series “Crime Story” and Peter Riegert’s recent directorial debut “King of the Corner.”

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 Chairman and CEO Henry Juskiewicz.

The TEC Awards, sponsored by Mix magazine—as well as Intel, Gibson Guitar, Dolby Laboratories, Harman Pro Group and numerous leading professional audio companies—is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design. Monies raised by the TEC Awards support programs that educate 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.

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

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PRESS RELEASE—July 10, 2007

Acclaimed Broadcast Mixer Ed Greene Inducted into TEC Hall of Fame

From Sinatra and Streisand to the Grammys® and West Wing Live, career of legendary Recording Engineer to be recognized for work spanning high-end studio productionto cutting-edge television sound

Induction Ceremony—Sponsored by Dolby—to take place at the 23rd Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards, October 6

June 10, 2007—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that acclaimed broadcast mixer Ed Greene will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame at the 23rd Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards. Sponsored by Dolby Laboratories, the induction will take place Saturday, October 6, at the New York Marriott Marquis, on the second night of the 123rd AES Convention. The TEC Awards, Hall of Fame was created in 1988 to recognize those individuals, living or deceased, whose careers have best exemplified the spirit of creative and technical excellence in professional audio.

An industry veteran with 19 Primetime Emmy Awards, Ed Greene has been mixing sound for over 50 years. His credits include work on multiple Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, Academy Awards, Live from Lincoln Center specials, and Carnegie Hall, Live at 100. He mixed on all 29 years of The Kennedy Center Honors as well as numerous AFI events. Greene was instrumental in bringing the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City to more than 3 billion viewers and listeners around the world. He also mixed the closing ceremonies, providing audio feed to all of the radio and television networks broadcasting this event globally.

“Ed’s humble character would shy away from such a depiction, but he is a true legend in television audio,” said Rocky Graham, director of broadcast products at Dolby Laboratories. “We first had the opportunity to work with him during the pioneering 5.1 channel surround sound broadcasts of the Grammys and Oscars, but Ed has been setting the standard for broadcast audio mixing for much longer than that. We’re honored today to take part in celebrating his achievements that have changed the face of this industry.”

Greene joins an impressive list of former recipients, including George Lucas, Sir George Martin, engineer Tom Dowd, producer Arif Mardin and Sun Records founder Sam Philips.

In 1970 Ed came to California as chief engineer for MGM records and worked with Sammy Davis Jr., the Osmonds, Lou Rawls and other prominent artists of that time. When many of these artists started doing television projects, he was asked to participate. Seeing a need for music engineers that also understood production, he gradually made the transition to television.

Greene has mixed some of the most highly regarded music, awards and dramatic programs, including specials with Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, and Bette Midler. Recognized with a Cinema Audio Society’s Career Achievement Award, Greene has also received a CAS Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for Television - Non-Fiction, Variety or Music Series or Specials in 2003 for the XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.

"If you have ever watched the Grammy, Oscar, or Emmy awards, or popular shows like “ER”, and “West Wing Live,” you’ve probably listened to Ed’s work,” says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. “His storied career—which includes mixing many legendary recordings—epitomizes the spirit of the Hall of Fame award.”

The TEC Awards, sponsored by Mix magazine— as well as Intel, Gibson Guitar and Harman ProGroup—is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design. Monies raised by the TEC Awards support programs that educate 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.

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

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PRESS RELEASE—June 5, 2007

Nominees for 2007 Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards Announced by Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio >Click here for the full list...

Video Game Sound makes long-awaited debut in same year as Recording Devices category returns in wake of advances in portable technology—Audio-Technica, Digidesign, PreSonus, and Sennheiser/Neumann lead the way with most nominations

Winners to be announced at sound industry gala, Saturday October 6 in NYC

June 5, 2007—Emeryville, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio announces the nominees for the 23nd Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Saturday, October 6, 2007, at the New York Marriott Marquis, on the second night of the AES Convention. The TEC Awards, sponsored by Mix magazine, is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

Nominations in the 16 categories of Technical Achievement (product design) and 9 categories of Creative Achievement (sound 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, 2005, to March 31, 2007. Online voting opens on August 1, with ballot guides sent with the August issue of Mix magazine, mailed to more than 42,000 BPA-qualified subscribers.

"There's a lot of excitement about the 2007 nominees, which range from classic analog designs to the latest digital technologies," notes Mix magazine executive editor George Petersen. In terms of numbers, Audio-Technica leads the pack this year with four nominations in different categories, followed by Digidesign, PreSonus and Sennheiser/Neumann-all with three technical entries. “One new development,” says Peterson, “is the return of the Recording Devices category, which had been discontinued with the demise of tape. The high-quality disk and solid-state audio recorders debuting over the past year have been well-received by the pro community, and these products deserve recognition on their own."

This year’s nominations also recognize the increasing importance of Interactive Entertainment Sound Production with Activision’s Call of Duty 3, Microsoft’s Gears of War, SCEA’s God of War II, Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, and Eidos Interactive’s Tomb Raider: Legend.

Projects by John Mayer and the Dixie Chicks received three nominations each in the category of Creative Achievement. The John Mayer production teams received a Record Production/Single or Track nomination for Waiting on the World to Change, a nomination for Record Production/Album for Continuum and a nomination for Tour Sound Production. The Dixie Chicks’ Taking the Long Way garnered nominations in both the Single or Track and Album Record Production categories and Tour Sound Production.

"We are very excited about the upcoming show in New York," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "As professional audio exerts a growing influence on the wider technology environment, we look forward to not only greater attendance but more attention paid to the people and products behind the sound of entertainment media."

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 23rd AES convention, and is expected to draw more than 700 top audio professionals from around the world. Proceeds from the TEC Awards are donated to organizations working to promote safe listening practices in the music environment, including House Ear Institute’s outreach campaign to teenagers, and audio education scholarships.

For tickets and other information, 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. In addition to Mix magazine, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly, sponsors include Intel; Gibson Guitars; Harman Pro Group; Shure Inc; American Music and Sound; and RØDE Microphones.

Click here for the complete list of 2007 TEC Awards Creative Nominees.

Click here for the complete list of 2007 TEC Awards Technical Nominees.

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PRESS RELEASE—April 26, 2007

Audio Pros Team Up for 12th Annual Mix LA Open May 14

Leading Manufacturers, Retailers, Production Facilities and Mix magazine to support this charity golf tournament

Proceeds to benefit House Ear Institute and Sound Art L.A.

April 26, 2007—Emeryville, CA—The professional audio industry’s leading production facilities, manufacturers and distributors have signed on to support the 12th Annual Mix LA Open to be held Monday, May 14 at the Malibu Country Club. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the charity golf tournament draws many of the Southern California sound community’s most avid golfers. Proceeds benefit the House Ear Institute’s Sound Partners Program and LA-based Sound Art’s educational programs for disadvantaged youth.

This year promises to be bigger and better than ever, thanks to the generous sponsorship of holes and tournament contests. These sponsorships include:

• Longest Drive: Audio-Technica
• Holes: Record Plant and Sennheiser Electronics Corporation
• Longest Putt: Mix magazine
• 19th Hole: Full Sail
• Photo: Harman Pro Group
• Hat: Shure Incorporated
• Box Lunch: The Pass Studios
• Golf Ball: Yamaha Corporation
• Golf Cart: P&E Wing/Recording Academy
• Closest to the Pin: Absolute Music
• Beverage Carts: Sound Design Corporation and Design FX Audio
• Sound: Acme Studio

Besides the traditional Longest Drive, Closest-to-the Pin and Putting contests, there will be a chipping contest alongside the various competitions managed by the ever-popular Pin-Up Golf Girls, who will also supply a Pin-Up Golf Lady Pro driver for the Long Drive ‘Eagle Hole’ par 5 contest. The day concludes with a barbecue dinner and awards presentation, along with a raffle and silent auction. Ed Cherney is back as Honorary Chairman for the event.

Some highlights of the silent auction items include: Studio Time from Sonikwire Studios; headphones from Audio-Technica, Bose and Sennheiser; microphones from BLUE and Shure; Sennheiser Audiophile Headphones; Digital Audio Eyewear from Oakley; and an EXO Studio Monitoring Solution from Blue Sky International. Also up for grabs is a Hagstrom Electric Guitar F200P provided by American Music & Sound; a Lakland bass; a baby Taylor Guitar; a three-month tuition scholarship to the Hollywood School of Rock; a two-night stay at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada; an assortment of fine wines and more.

“We’re thrilled with the pro sound community’s enthusiastic support for this event," says tournament director, Karen Dunn. “Golfers of all levels enjoy the chance to connect with industry colleagues in a beautiful setting, and raise thousands for hearing health and education.”

Sponsorships, foursomes and individual tickets are still available. For more information about these and the silent auction or raffle, please visit www.mixfoundation.org, or contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or via e-mail at 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 Penton Media.

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PRESS RELEASE—April 1, 2007

TEC Awards Announces Three Scholarship Winners

Supporting producers of tomorrow part of Mix Foundation mission

Annual grants to endowment funds, scholarships and student assistance programs at major university audio programs include Berklee College of Music, University of Massachusetts at Lowell, University of Miami, USC and more

April 1, 2007—San Francisco, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the winners of its 2007 TEC Awards Scholarship Grant. Now in its 15th year of giving scholarships, the foundation chooses deserving students enrolled in audio arts and science programs. This year’s recipients are Richard Chilcott, Michael Lunoe and Georgios Pesios.

Richard Chilcott is pursuing a degree in Music Production at Ohio University where he is working to bring together the School of Music and the School of Telecommunications in order to create a digital archive of performances from the past 30 years. The project allows audio students to gain experience with the basics of audio restoration and mastering while creating an historic collection of performances.

Michael Lunoe is working on a dual degree at the University of Hartford: a B.S.E. in Acoustics and Music as well as a Music degree in Percussion Performance. Lunoe plans to work as both an acoustician designing musical instruments and pro audio equipment while maintaining a profile as a performing musician.

A junior at the City College of New York, Georgios Pesios is finishing a degree in Music and Audio Technology. The Bulgarian native is certain that recording, mixing and mastering is his vocation. Future goals include “winning the AES International Student Recording Competition 2007, a TEC Award and a Grammy.”

Also receiving annual grants from the Mix Foundation were endowment funds for audio and music students at a number of the country’s most prestigious colleges and universities, including Berklee College of Music, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Miami and University of Southern California.

In addition, grants for scholarships and student assistance programs were made to the AES Educational Foundation, Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) and Sound Art L.A., which provide programs in music and sound production to inner-city youth.

All the contributions were made possible through monies raised by the TEC Awards and the annual Mix L.A. Open Golf Tournament. For more information on the TEC Awards Scholarship and other educational activities of the Mix Foundation, call Karen Dunn, Executive Director, at (925) 939-6149, or email karen@mixfoundation.org.

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 Penton Media.

Press Contacts:
Liam Passmore - 415-865-0860- liam@shaveandahaircut.biz
Nina Lesowitz - 510-547-8632 - nina@spinergygroup.com

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PRESS RELEASE—March 5, 2007

Video Game Sound Category to Debut at 2007 TEC Awards

Finalists for Creative Achievement in Sound Production for Interactive Entertainment to be announced in June 2007

March 5, 2007—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the debut of a new category: Creatrdin, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and many more.

"Interactive entertainment is no longer simply about fun and games,” points out game sound veteran Gene Semel of High Moon Studios (Carlsbad, CA), chair of the steering committee for the category. “Sound in interactive entertainment is both a legitimate big business and a huge part of the video game experience. This new award validates all of the hard work audio professionals put into bringing new worlds to life through sound, and we commend the TEC Awards for helping to give it wider recognition.”

Composed of respected professionals in the field, the steering committee has taken the lead in soliciting entries for this year’s awards. Entries will then be submitted to theive Achievement in Sound Production for Interactive Entertainment. The new category will debut at their 23rd Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards to be held on Saturday, October 6, at the Marriott Marquis, on the second night of the 123rd AES Convention. Inclusion in the TEC awards is further proof that the science and creativity behind video game sound has come of age. Finalists for the award will be announced in June 2007. The TEC Awards, sponsored by Mix magazine, is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

“The recognition of sound production for the video game genre is overdue,” says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation and executive producer of the TEC Awards. “The immense popularity of interactive entertainment and the increasing sophistication of both the sound and music components of games demand that interactive sound be accorded the same respect that other genres in the world of professional audio receive.”

Past winners of TEC Award for Lifetime Achievement include George Martin, George Lucas, Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Steve Wonder, Arif Ma TEC Awards Nominating Panel, consisting of nearly 200 audio professionals. Nominations occur in April with finalists announced in June. Subscribers to Mix magazine will vote to decide the winners in 24 categories of Technical and Creative Achievement in August.

A list of the members of the Steering Committee for the Interactive Entertainment category, go to www.mixfoundation.org/interactive.html

Monies raised by the TEC Awards support programs that educate 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.

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

Press Contacts:
Liam Passmore, 415-865-0860, liam@shaveandahaircut.biz
Nina Lesowitz, 510-547-8632, nina@spinergygroup.com

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PRESS RELEASE—January 8, 2007

23rd Annual TEC Awards Set for October 6 in New York City

Video Game Production Joins Creative Achievement Categories

January 8, 2007—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that the 23rd Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards will be held on Saturday, October 6 at the New York Marriott Marquis, on the second night of the 123rd AES Convention. The TEC Awards, founded in 1985 by Mix magazine, is the world’s most prominent forum honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

The Mix Foundation will also present its fourth-annual TECnology Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on the first night of the AES Convention. Established in 2004, the TECnology Hall of Fame recognizes innovators, inventions and products that have made significant contributions to the development of audio and music technology.

“As always, we are looking forward to holding the TEC Awards in New York, where so much of the country’s media production takes place,” says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "We are also happy to return to the Marriott Marquis, which has been a wonderful venue for the TEC Awards for thirteen years."

The 2007 TEC Awards will comprise nine categories of Creative Achievement for outstanding audio projects and 15 categories of Technical Achievement for excellence in product design. Attesting to the widespread popularity and increasing sophistication of the video game field, this year will see the debut of a new category for Creative Achievement in Sound Production for Interactive Entertainment. Other highlights of the ceremony include the presentation of the Hall of Fame Award for lifetime achievement by an audio engineer or producer, and the Les Paul Award for the creative application of audio technology by a musical artist.

Entries for projects or products to be considered for nominations for Creative and Technical Achievement will be accepted through Wednesday, February 28th. For more information on submission procedures, visit www.mixfoundation.org/tec/07callforentries.html.

Proceeds of the TEC Awards ceremony support programs that 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 close to a million dollars for these causes.

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. Mix is published by Prism Business Media. For information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com or visit www.mixfoundation.org.

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