Editor/Publisher: Gary Khan
Editor: Mike Castronovo
President: Mary Mazurek
V.P.: Mike Castronovo

Volume 19 Number 1
January, 2004

EARS meets at Symphony Center

67 E. Adams, Chicago
312-294-3294
Wednesday 1/21 7:30p.m.

EARS Re-Elects Mary Mazurek President!
She enters her second term handily to continue as the first woman Prez. Details in the November meeting recap below with a statement by her later in this issue. Worthy & classy challenger Jack Letourneau graciously congratulated Mary, offering support & contributing many cool ideas - Gary Khan -

EARS meets Wednesday 1/21 7:30p.m. at Symphony Center 67 E. Adams in downtown Chicago (312-294-3294). Note the date change that facilitated this is rare opportunity that is closed to the public and will be well worth it.  Along with a technical tour, currently Grammy ® nominated engineers Chris Willis and Bill Maylone will talk about their recording of Rachel Barton with the CSO.  This recording is up for an award in the Best Engineered Classical Recording category!Check in at the security desk located on Adams between Michigan and Wabash. Night parking at the Grant Park Garage South is 10 or 11 bucks. If you're taking the El, exit at Monroe/Adams. Again, there's a map on the EARS website. - Mary Mazurek -

Meeting recaps:
Last October, we fled the Halloween goblins and the incessant doorbell at Briar Street Theater. Our host, senior staff fader-banger, John Hachtel gave us full access to this cool theater and even swung private parking in that crowded yuppie turf! With the assistance of Casey Baum, he then provided an awesome; behind the scenes look at that quaint little resident show, Blue Man Group! I reminded John of the days when legendary ad jingle man, Mr. Topel, who housed his Swell Pictures Co. there in the '80's. Our host informed us he is said to haunt the theater to this day with strange noises the staff still hears in those quiet moments there!

Next, facilitated by your friendly, hairy secretary Mike Tanko, we ventured to the north suburban hinterlands on a chilly November eve to the home base of local and national S.R. legend, T.C. Furlong's Co.

Following a brief platform statement from incumbent Prez Mary Mazurek and honorable challenger, "Gentle- man" Jack Letourneau, we began the nightlong tally of votes as Jim Mingo began his presentation on line arrays. He regaled us with his large screen projection of their spiffy, 3D acoustical wave mapping software! We comparatively listened to 2 flown rigs, one of which was their new Line Array system and ogled their automated new Yamaha digital S.R. console as Secretary Tanko and Steering Committee member and past Prez Danny Leake dutifully checked and verified the vote tally.

In December, we "cockled" our hearts with a warm and friendly gathering at Turkish Cuisine & Bakery. We were treated to great food, libation and camaraderie - complete with a truly heinous display of foolishness by several esteemed peers as they joined the night's entertainer, belly dancer Jamila Sharif! Evidence, I mean picture soon on the website.  Many subsequently called and emailed with their praise of this year's food and service that held fast at last year's budget was also fully half the cost of a similar party 2 years ago! An Ears cheer to all that made this party a blast and to our Prez for the careful planning that kept the EARS coffers healthy! -GK-

Appreciation File:
A "tip of the cans" [headphones, genius!] to the following recent dues "uppers & re-uppers": Fran Allen Leake, Dwayne Barker, Mark Bell, Bill Black, John Born, Bark Brunner, Matthew Engstrom, Louise Frank, Warren Gandy, Mark Gilbert, Joan Hammel, Kerry Haps, Mark Horvat, Jerry

Hymen, Dave Jeziorski, Joe Kaso, Jack Kontney, Danny Leake, Matt Lesko, Jeff Lipp, Rich Mastela, John Mazurek, Jeremy Meyer, Michelle Moncada, Dennis Moore, Don Morris, Don Mueller, Barbara Paulsen, Moe Paulsen, Greg Riggs, Mark Rubel, Sandy Schroeder, Jeff Segota, Kevin Shaw, J.B. Skye, Chris Shepard, Dan Smith, Tom Swan, Mike Tanko, Edmund Welly, Chris Willis, Nick Wood, David Vido, and Shinwon Yoon. Special thanx to our Prez for help assembling and verifying this list.

A hearty EARS Cheer to truly Pro Rep's Moe and Barbara Paulsen of Spoiled by Technology, Dapper Don Morris of Inner Circle Marketing Group and Sandy Schroeder from Chicagah's very own Shure for their very generous donations well beyond the suggested minimum for individuals.

Please remember that your dues and donations is the lifeblood of this all-volunteer organization for over 15 years! It allows us to get this rag to you and facilitate exclusive access to facilities and venues around town who set aside time not practical for individual visits. Networking, warning peers about stolen gear or deadbeats, gathering ideas and solutions, seeing and hearing new and vintage gear in unbiased comparisons, sharing tips & tricks [not THAT kind, jeez!] are made available to all who "do what we do"! Consider throwing in few bucks anytime you have a great month, year 'round. Many of us have and do. Like buyin' the occasional round after hangin' with your peers, it's an always respected gesture that's appreciated by all members and guests who are never turned away. - GK  -                        

* And now, a word from your Prez
I'd like to sincerely thank you for your overwhelming support in my re-election last month.  When I took office last year, I thought being the first woman president might be an issue. I'm happy to report that with only a couple exceptions, it's been the non-issue it should be. It is progress to see that the industry in general, recognizes one for his or her skill and not for his or her gender. Though I am very honored to be the first, and also to join the ranks of EARS multi term presidents. It's been a great year and I'd like to foreshadow what's to come.

When I took office, I stated I was always opened to your input and suggestions, and you took me up on that. Armed with that information, I've put together meetings that were both interesting and informative. We demonstrated stereo mic'ing techniques and discussed your ideas in January at the WFMT meeting. We watched the Grammies® and reminisced about good friend Larry Williams at Hotti Biscotti in February. We compared Shure's new line of small diaphragm condensors against the main stays at Acme in March. In April, we were paid a visit from Scott Esterson of DTS thanks to Tom Parnell of Next Generation Marketing at CRC.  In May, we met at SVI where VP Mike Castronovo brought in Matt Dempler from Mediaform told us everything we wanted to know about CD-r and DVD-r media.  In June, we met at WMBI joined by this city's specialists in live broadcast. We had an overwhelming turn out at Colossal to hear Dan Stout and Trevor Sadler speak on the subject of mastering in July. Trevor traveled hundreds of miles to do this and Dan generously analyzed attendees CD-r burns for errors with his very cool system. We ate until we couldn't move at the Airwave cookout. Mike C. da' V.P. continued his discussion on the business of recording in September at the beautiful Deaf Dog facility where we saw a their legendary console. Gary reached out to (now) member John Hachtel of Blue Man Group who gave us the ultimate backstage tour at Briar Street Theater in October. Thanks to our Secretary Mike Tanko, we had a line array demo from Jim  Mingo at T.C. Furlong's. We started off this term with a kick ass holiday party at Turkish Cuisine and Bakery. This month we recognize our own Grammy® nominated engineers Chris Willis and Bill Maylone with a meeting at Symphony Center. In the upcoming months, look for topics on hearing, acoustics, studio design and more.  Your suggestions for more topics are always welcome.

Besides setting up the meetings, I've been working with our cabinet on some of the less glamorous stuff that's so important!  I've taken steps to standardize operations including regulated dues payment in October  and implemented, with the help of Mike Castronovo. the use of attendance sheets at meeting. He facilitated door prizes, as well. Gary Khan updated our Bank account, reviewing fees and services while he continues work with cyber-genius Jim Mazurek on our more cost-effective and soon enhanced Website. I was able to work on smoother Eardrum implementation & developed numbered membership cards that, with John Mazurek's help, you'll be getting soon.

In these tough economic times, my team and I and have found was to conserve funds while still maintaining the same stands. Kathy Dunaj and myself began taking when we were Eardrum editors together. We pruned the mailing list and encouraged members to receive the EARDRUM via e-mail instead. I took on the task of Xeroxing to keep those costs down.  I've set up parties with the help of others that were fun but half the cost of those in the past, saving donations for other purposes. With a long time donor downsizing and ceasing U.S. operations, our Treasurer, Gary, sought out others. I'm happy to say, that Shure, Spoiled by Technologies, and Inner Circle Marketing have stepped up to the plate to help support our organization. He's working on other plans and we all benefit from those efforts. EARS does have recognition well beyond Chicago!

In my travels, I've taken time to alert others communities of our presence. I encouraged you to do the same and may of you have already begun.  Because of this, audio professionals in New York, California, Tennessee, Germany, England, to name a few, now receive the Eardrum.  The word is out.  Plus the EARS' web site receives a healthy amount of visitation "hits".  Regarding the web site, I'd like to thank my brother Jim, who has volunteered his time to maintain and update it.  He's worked hard to keep the site opened source, so that it is easily viewed with any browser and accessible to anyone, anywhere who'd seek it out. We are certainly not the only audio organization out there, but we are unique.  We are independent and don't to answer to any hierarchy or advertiser.  We are open to all that wish to join or attend, from the newest apprentice to the most seasoned veteran engineer. We encourage the incorporation of all audio-related specialties & disciplines to promote insight, understanding and cooperation. We share a friendship and camaraderie that is unmatched. Here's to another great year! -Mary-

I've spoken with several of you regarding the February meeting.  We often get together and watch the Grammies ®, but this year, it comes early in the month, and on a Sunday.  Many of you have indicated that you were not available in general on Sundays. Some of you will be at the telecast. A few said they would actually be working! So, I'm asking the rest of you, do you want to get together and watch the Grammy Awards ®, or would you prefer to have a meeting on the last Tue. of that same month? Please e-mail your response by Jan. 20th or seek me out at the next meeting. I'll get a decision out to you all ASAP. Thanks. - M.M.-

If you have any ideas for stories, wish to contribute an article, or want to include any upcoming events, please contact:

Gary at ears@ears-chicago.org. Or write to:
Peagasus Recording P.O Box 578903, Chicago, IL 60657.