Editors:
Mary (ISDN queen) Mazurek
and
Kathy (Splice Girl) Dunaj

Volume 17 Number 1
Janurary, 2002

EARS meets at Paragon Recording Studio

820 W. Fulton, Chicago, IL
312-942-0075
Tuesday January 29, 7:30 pm

Join us at Paragon, the studio of legendary engineer and EARS's co-founder, Marty Feldman and newly appointed Vice-President, engineer Jack LeTourneau' s. Located at 820 W. Fulton Chicago (1 block west of Halsted and 1 block North of Lake) 312-942-0075 Tuesday January 29, at 7:30pm. Don't miss this one, it's a chance to tell your new Pres. and Officers what you're thinkin'! It's your organization, and a new year, so get involved folks.

In the words of your newly elected President..."A quick note from underground: At our first meeting of the year, I'd like to make a few basic suggestions and - pose a few simple questions about our organization and the environs in which we operate. Thereupon, a discussion [will] ensue. Greetings & Felicitations," David Moss.
-Kathy Dunaj-

EARS New Officers

David Moss, of the Crib, in Skokie has been elected our new President for 2002. David will lead EARS in selecting meetings for our usual monthly gear talking, beer drinking, and schmoozing gala's. So if you haven't already congratulated him, do so and don't be shy about suggestions...he's not! Way to go David!

Jack LeTourneau of Paragon Recording Studios, has taken on the task of Vice-President. He may be filling in for the Pres occasionally, and helping out with meetings when David's absent. Congratulations to Jack, For Duty and Humanity!!!

Mike Tanko, freelance engineer/live sound guy, has been appointed to a new position of Secretary. No Mike, you don't have to wear a skirt, but a handy notepad may help out at meetings for some swift note taking. Mike will be assisting David and Jack with various duties for EARS. Go get em' Mike!

Harry Brotman will stay on as our chief party planner, the Minister of Entertainment. Over the years, Harry has thrown some great parties for EARS at really cool locations. He's even been known to play chef himself, sitting behind the grill at our bbq's, dishing out some delicious eats. Thanks Harry for signing on for another year, and for keeping the party goin'!

Gary Khan has filled in this past year as Treasurer as well as President, cashin' the checks and countin' the coins. He may just be persuaded to keep up that task, since he loves bankin' so much...we'll see! Thanks Gary for making sure the books balance and that we have the dough for the Eardrum!
-KD-

EARS APPRECIATION FILE/RECAPS

The Jeff Hamilton Memorial Holiday party was held at Reza's restaurant. There was some mix up with the reservation (ask Harry), but we were seated, had good food and great company. We spent the night toasting EARS and the memory of our "EARS Angel" Jeff. Again, special thanks to our benefactors: Don Morris of BASF/EMTEC and Greg Groeper of Wavnet.

On October 30th, the company founded by Ray Kurzweil, born out of A.I. (Geek speak for Artificial Intelligence) and known for some of the best keyboard synths ever, unveiled it's contribution to the Chicago pro audio world. To introduce the new KSP8, Kurzweil took their new product to various studios around the country including our own CRC. Executive Vice President/General Manager and long time EARS supporter, Hank Neuberger opened his doors a day before the scheduled demo to let us check it out.

The KSP8 features the patent pending KDFX processor which can process up to 8 channels of 44.1 or 48KHz, 24 bit audio, perfect for 5.1 mixing. The unit boasts an impressive list of customizable presets including: reverbs, flangers, chorus, delays, distortion, EQ, dynamics, rotary speakers, LazerVerb® etc. One can store up to 999 "studios", the highest level of architecture for the KSP8. Work can also be stored on Smart MediaT cards. Listing for $2995, its price is well below current surround processors . In the coming months, the optional RSP8 remote control will be available for around $600-$700. If you weren't able to attend this EARS meeting, you can check out the KSP8 in action on Dream Theater's album Bear Tracks. Thanks again to Hank Neuberger of Chicago Recording Company for use of his facility, to Jeff Dumire (National Sales Manager) and Mike Martin (District Sales Manager) of Kurzweil for the special preview, and to tech guru Bruce Breckenfeld for helping with the set up. For more info on CRC, call Hank at 312-822-9333, or visit www.chicagorecording.com. For more info on the Kurzweil KSP8, call 253-589-3200 or check out their web site www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com
-Mary Mazurek-

November's meeting was rescheduled for December 4th and held at Dam! Recording in Chicago. Partners Brad Kopplin, Doug Hardy, Ryan Locke, and Trey Fratt welcomed EARS members into their spacious studio for an evening of education and fun. The room started as a private facility, and through word of mouth, grew into a commercial recording studio featuring Pro Tools and a vintage, newly refurbished 3M-M79 2" 24 track. Thanks guys for hosting the meeting. Special thanks to Jen "Blaze" Klingberg for co-ordinating the meeting location. For more information contact Brad at 312-559-2990 or visit www.damrecording.com

Gary then reviewed his two year term and the role of the President of EARS, informing the new candidates of all their duties. Gary then asked if there were any other nominations for President and then closed the floor leaving David Moss and Mike Castronovo as the only candidates. An election proceeded later on in the meeting and David Moss was elected President.

Next, guest speaker Audiologist, Michael Santucci, President of Sensaphonics intrigued members with a fascinating presentation on hearing loss. He discussed how not only level can cause loss, but proximity, duration, and lifestyle to name a few can all contribute. Michael also gave us a detailed description of the inner ear and how easily it can be damaged. In-ear monitors can save musicians hearing because of the ability to bring the overall monitor mix down, as well as feed individual mixes, while creating an optimum signal-to-noise ratio. For those of us who attend loud concerts, ride on the noisy "el train", or ride motorcycles, earplugs are recommended to help save your hearing. For more information on custom made plugs such as the Elacin ER-9/15/25, in-ear monitors, and hearing tests contact Michael at 312-432-1714. He recommends testing often, to detect and note the progression of hearing loss. Thanks Michael for coming out to EARS and sharing vital information on our livelihood...our ears!
-KD-

So Long, Farewell...
Special thanks to our 2000-2001 President Gary Khan. Gary faithfully led each meeting 24 in all, with new locations, great topics, and exciting guest speakers. He even kicked in (a ton!) to help with writing recaps and meeting locations. Thanks Gary for all your hard work and dedication to EARS.
-Kathy and Mary-

Beyond the Call of Due-ty!

We would like to thank Todd Busteed of GAP Digital, and Craig Harding of September Audio, who have contributed to EARS, writing a nice big check to help keep us going. Thanks guys! Kathy Dunaj also donated the funds for this past August Eardrum.

Bill Holtane of Sound/Video Impressions continues to donate label stock and the computer to print the Eardrum on. Thanks Bill for your generosity!

Ken Paul of Kengineering has donated the funds for 2000-2001 to keep the website up and running. Mike Muniak has been updating and maintaining our website. The archival section has proven to be a useful tool for members. Thanks Ken and Mike for supporting and creating a much needed site. Ken and Mike sign off in 2002, kudos guys!

Thanks to the following members who have paid their dues recently Mark Blas, David Moss, Harry Brotman, William Curtis, Thaddeus Burzynski, Don Griffin, Luke Dunbar, Jack LeTourneau, Gordon Rinda, David Vido, George Low, Paul Charles Fischer, Cathie Alford, Greg Groeper, Craig Harding, Todd Busteed, Rodney Gipson, Charles Kim, Jerry Hymen, Matthew Sohn, Mike Rizzo, Danny Leake, Fran Allen-Leake, the Music Industry Workshop, Evan Smith, Janice Pantazelos, Eli Kelly, and Mary & Gary Khan.
-KD-

Good wishes from Yer first Millennium Prez.

As a memorable 2001 came to a close, so too did my second term as President of this organization that has been a meaningful part of my life from it's very beginnings in the mid-80's. Tho receiving much appreciated support to continue, I felt it best to keep my word and step aside to let others contribute and be recognized - as the best of our past Prez's have done. Having hung and worked with the many in our richly diverse Engineering community, I tried to provide you with monthly experiences culled from the best meetings I attended.

I worked hard to welcome new professionals, apprentices and veterans alike to our monthly gatherings as co-founder Timothy Powell stressed from the beginning and take you on a tour of some 2 dozen different locations across Chicagoland. We ran the gamut from inspired project studios like Up On The Roof to Michigan Ave.'s finest including Audio Recording Unlimited and Chicago Recording Company. Beautiful "classical" operations in my hoped-for annual new year tribute to the "2-mic'ers" in our midst like WFMT and Symphony Center, hip [hoppin'], renown Chicago Trax and Steve Albini's amazingly analog Electrical Audio. We reached out our S.R. comrades at House of Blues and those lovable eggheads at Audio Engineering Society - Chicago, who foster of so much insight and new technologies for our craft. We saw relevant, new, professional tools first-grubby-hand with appreciated support from our local rep's, manufacturers and retailers and met our future competitors out of Columbia College and Music Industry Workshop. We gained needed skoolin' of our community's heritage from fellow Ears Charter member Marty Feldman, most ethical Don Arbuckle, successful veteran studio owner Bill Holtane, Broadcast Guru Gordon Carter and Chief Engineer Brett Johnson in a rare and final look at one of Chicago's great, old, BIG room's !

EARS continued to serve as the conduit for successfully warning each other of dangerous, roaming rip-off artists in our community and discussions of security issues in our inherently vulnerable (i.e. private AND acoustically isolated) work environment. We learned how to evaluate and preserve our hearing from accomplished specialist, Mike Santucci and enjoyed truly unique "shootouts" like, apparently, the LARGEST gathering of new and old ribbon mic's in anyone's memory. Countless minutes of valuable hang time typically ensued at each meeting - as has always been the EARS way.

This is not a pat on my own back. I don't bend that way and NEVER could've pulled this off without the consistent feedback and support of so many of you. I honored this gig as a privilege and always performed the specifically-mandated Presidential duties of arranging where we met and what we did with respect, often "polling" you for yer opinions and desires.

PLEASE take this as a challenge to get involved and support YOUR community 's EARS - still unique in all our world. If you can't attend, experience and learn vicariously thru our way-cool EARDRUM and remember that your dues keep EARS alive and INDEPENDENT! I'll never forget our fallen EARS stalwarts like Larry Williams, Jeff Hamilton, George Minol and Mike Toklarz but know that they, and many of us, knew or saw each other more regularly because of EARS.

Finally, to whomever "wins" [?!] the next Prez's duties, Sincere Best Wishes. Remember to always serve EARS, and in that service, only the highest values, respecting diverse specialties and tenures of our craft, fostering the comraderie and professionalism that will keep us ALL workin'in the long run ![way] Nuff 'said ! [ 11/01]
- Gary Khan-

NEOTEK LIVES !!!

I've been in contact with a nation-wide NEOTEK user's group but have GREAT news for them and fellow EARS stalwarts RaxTrax, Star Trax, Metromobile, Electrical Audio, Pegasus, Gatlin's, WFMT, etc, etc.! Neotek is now alive and well, thanks to respected peer, Mike Stoica who's SYTEK AUDIO has created some truly unique professional products right here in Chi-town. He's the real deal, having been Production Manager and crack technical problem solver/innovator since we first met in '85 behind the workbenches of the legendary Neotek facility on Belmont & Racine! A summary of typically "stoic Stioca's" email is below. Let's all wish this EARS stalwart success on this new venture !
- GK-

"As of December 4th, 2001 Sytek Audio Systems Corp. purchased Neotek from MartinSound. Ownership of all Neotek's assets, inventory, the "Neotek," "Elite," "Élan," "Essence," "Encore," "Esprit" and "The Future is Clear" Tradenames, Trademarks, rights to build console or module products using these names, and related intellectual property rights has transferred from MartinSound to Sytek Audio Systems. All parts will be shipped here to Sytek, Palatine IL. and we will service all Neotek Console, stock parts. Sytek will continue to manufacture Elite, Elan and Essence console and modules for service. If sufficent interst arises, we may manufacture other consoles and modules. Technical support for all Neotek owners and service technicians will be provided by Sytek Audio Systems Corp. Please send any requests for service or orders to Mike Stoica's attention. Call 847-277-7710 or email him at: Sytek@worldnet.att.net"

Who have you been working with lately? We want to know! If you have any ideas for stories, wish to contribute an article, want to include any upcoming events, or have a tech tip, please contact:

Mary at pegasusrecording@ameritech.net. Or write to:
Peagasus Recording P.O Box 578903, Chicago, IL 60657.

Kathy can be reached at SVI, or
kathy@soundvideoimpressions.com.