AGENDA & PRESENTATION:
In Ear Monitoring - Strategies, Devices, and New Developments

Presented by Michael Santucci – Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation Inc. with Ian Kuhn – Dave Matthews Band and Bob Schulein – RBS Consultants

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:
This presentation will cover technical and creative issues unique to mixing for In-Ear Monitors (IEM). The presentation will focus on how the common use of IEM technology has altered the performance and listening experience for both artist and audience as well as how the use of IEMs affects live sound production. Additional topics will include ways in which IEMs may alter the way Monitor Engineers approach a mix, how the relationship between Front-Of-House and Monitor mixers is affected, and the use of IEMs as a tool for hearing conservation. The presentation will conclude with a presentation and demonstration of a new technology designed to add stage ambience to the IEM experience.

Presentation Outline:
1. The History of In-Ear Monitors
2. The Effect of In-Ear monitors use on the Role of the Monitor Engineer
3. Mixing for In-Ear Monitors -Technical and Creative Differences vs.
4. Conventional Monitor Mixing
5. In-Ear Monitors and Hearing Conservation
6. New developments in In-Ear Monitoring Technology

ABOUT THIS MONTH'S SPEAKERS: MICHAEL SANTUCCI, M.S., F-AAA, received a Bachelors degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Iowa (1975) and a Master of Science degree in Audiology from Illinois State University (1979). In 1985, he founded Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation, Inc, a research and development company devoted to controlling the damaging effects of loud sound during live musical performances. Today, Michael designs, develops and manufactures products for a variety of hearing conservation applications such as the Indy Racing League, Chicago Board of Trade and NASA. Besides serving as a consultant to these organizations and today's top musician's, Michael is a guest lecturer at three college music departments, at the American Academy of Audiology, the Audio Engineering Society, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Michael is the current vice-Chairman of the AES Technical Committee on Hearing and Hearing Loss Prevention for the Audio Engineering Society. Michael's articles on musician's hearing conservation have appeared in over 40 publications. In 1999, he was the first recipient of the prestigious Larry Mauldin Award.

IAN KUHN has been mixing sound for over 15 years. He learned early on that while many of his peers strived to fill a seat at F.O.H., few managed to end up mixing monitors. That's where he found his niche. Before long, he found himself on World Class tours with bands including the Smashing Pumpkins among others. While working as a stage manager on a 1995 Beastie Boys tour, he received a call from an emerging band in need of a monitor engineer. He took that gig and is now celebrating his 10th year with that band, the Dave Matthews Band. In 1997 the introduced a couple members of the band to in-ear-worn monitors, and they immediately took to the concept. Over the next few years one by one each of the other members of the band expressed interest in trying In-Ear Monitors, and by 2000, there wasn't a wedge left to be seen on stage.

The band and crew realized the importance of hearing conservation and now the use of ear-worn monitors can help in increasing the longevity of their careers. An interesting note, the results of a hearing test taken by a band member in 2005 compared to a test he took in 1997 indicated no change in his hearing, after 8 years of heavy touring using ear worn monitors. As a member of the AES Technical Committee on hearing and Hearing Loss Prevention, Ian is committed to spreading awareness of this important topic.

In addition to his focus on live audio, Ian has applied his touring experiences over the years writing tour management software that is widely used in the industry today. He continues to tour extensively, devoting his off-days to the software business, and show days to helping push the technology envelope of live audio.

BOB SCHULEIN has been involved with the design, development, manufacturing, and marketing of electroacoustical products for over 35 years. His areas of specialization include: professional and consumer audio products and applications, telecommunications, and the hearing health industry. He is the owner of RBS Consultants, an international consulting firm in Schaumburg Illinois, which provides consulting services in areas of Acoustics, Product Research, Product Design and Development and Project Management. He is also a Founding Partner of HIP Systems LLC, a new company dedicated to providing technology, products and services to the hearing impaired, business and service markets to enable clearer speech communications.

Bob received BSEE and MSEE degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he did research on Piezoresistive semiconductor transducers. Prior to forming his own consulting firm and founding HIP Systems, Bob held positions within Shure Electronics, Inc. and Etymotic Research, Inc. in design, development, engineering management, corporate division management, and senior corporate management. During this period his focus was in areas of consumer electronics, professional audio, telecommunications systems, audiology, and hearing aid component development.

Bob has been granted 9 patents in the fields of acoustics and electroacoustics and has 11 patents pending. He has been active in a number of professional organizations within the audio and hearing industries. He is a Fellow and Past President of the International Audio Engineering Society, where he received the Publications award in 1977 and the Board of Governors Award in 1990. He currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Chair of the AES Technical Council, and is Chair of the AES Technical Committee on Hearing and Hearing Loss Prevention. Bob is a member of the American Auditory Society as well as an active member of the American National Standards Institute S3WG48 working group on Hearing Aid Measurements.

RSVP:
Please RSVP to ears@ears-chicago.org. or leave a message at
773-880-5000.

DUES:
If you haven't already done so, please send your $25 dues check made payable to E.A.R.S. to: E.A.R.S. c/o Pegasus Recording, P.O. Box 578903, Chicago, IL 60657.