Hey Hey!
This month we're meeting at Doug McBride's Gravity Studios. Gravity's always been a must see, and Doug is among my favorite meets in all of my time with EARS. In this wonderful world of recording, there's always something new, but Gravity's latest addition, a Rupert Neve Designs 5088 Console is exciting beyond the usual new mic or pre. One thing that impresses the heck out of me about Gravity is how comfortable the vibe is, so I think we're going to have an exceptional EARS night there with some cool people and hot gear. As usual, be there on time if you'd like to enjoy a drink or two and a bite before we get started.
As for directions: It's 2250 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL in the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood.
From I-94, take the North Ave. exit and head west on North Ave. go past the Damen/Milwaukee/North intersection about 4 blocks and we're at the corner of North & Oakley.
Public Transportation: Take the Blue Line on the O'Hare run and get off at the Damen L stop. Walk approx. 4 blocks west on North Ave. or... take the #72 North Ave. bus westbound from the Clybourn stop on the Red Line and get off at the Oakley stop... or, the #49 Western Ave. bus stops on North Ave.: walk 2 blocks east on North Ave.
Parking is street parking: you can park on North Ave. (in front of the building) but you will get a ticket if you park there between the hours of 4pm-6pm. Parking is good on Oakley St. or Bell St. but mind the One-Way streets. -KJH
Recap/Appreciation File
EARS meeting at planet10studios, 10/28/08
Well, as I mentioned last month, our night at Mr. Johnson's planet10studios was the first meeting I've missed in years, so all my info is second hand. It's an interesting perspective, actually. Jimmy has apparently outdone himself yet again. I hear great things. The place has quite a history and Jimmy's been trying to get into it for years. Once he had it and had it spruced up, there was nothing to do but upgrade to a console more appropriate to the space, a vintage Neve. One interesting note I heard was that it's setup for Quad! We had a nice turnout. Don Griffin was there to see the space that was once his. The usual suspects were noted as having drunk too much, said too much, and called each other names... "Platypus"? And of course the main thing I keep hearing is what great conversations I missed. Thanks much and an EARS Cheer to Jimmy and his partners for hosting a great meeting. Of course I also owe a nice EARS Cheer to my trusty sidekick (V.P.) Michael Kolar and Eric (B)Roth for covering for me.-KJH
Not really EARS, but...
There were a couple of notable events last week and one's coming up.
First, we had a nice EARS turnout at a demonstration of sE electronics microphones at Studio Chicago. It's a nice place, if you haven't been, and they've got a great vibe going. I'm usually hesitant to decide one way or another about a mic or other piece of gear until I've really heard it in an actual session, but there certainly is a lot of buzz about these mics and their Reflexion Filter(s). One thing that impressed me was their commitment to their products. It really felt like an EARS meeting, and I even heard a few people who seemed to think it was! :) Thanks to Larry Schara of Jamm Marketing for putting it together and inviting us and to Studio Chicago for their hospitality.
Second, and I really wish you all could've been there for this one... AES Chicago met at Shure for a presentation by Patrick Feaster of First Sounds. He basically detailed their search for the earliest recordings, culminating in actual playback of a phonautograph of a French woman singing "Au Clair de la Lune" in 1860, over 17 years before Thomas Edison built his first phonograph. Patrick gave a great presentation on such an amazing topic.
Third, TC Furlong sends along this invite:
We would like to extend an invitation to all E.A.R.S. members that everyone is welcome to attend a Digital Mixing Console Open House we’re hosting on Tuesday December 2nd at The Morse Theatre in Chicago. The details are as follows:
TC Furlong, Inc. invites you to attend our annual Digital Console Open House featuring the latest in mixing consoles and peripherals from Digidesign, Yamaha, Digico, Midas, Soundcraft and Roland in a casual, hands-on, open house environment staffed by knowledgeable representatives from TC Furlong, Inc. and the attending manufacturers. Join us Tuesday December 2nd at The Morse Theatre, 1328 Morse Ave, Chicago, IL 60626. One block from the Morse Street El station. Street and lot parking is also available.
While you’re at the Morse, you can a get a behind the scenes tour of the state of the art production systems where TC Furlong served as audio designer and theatre system advisor.
Complimentary Hors D’oeurves will be served and a cash bar will be available along with valuable door prizes and good swag.
Space is limited so we’re asking for RSVP’s by November 25th which can emailed to me at boconnell@tcfurlong.com or michael@tcfurlong.com or by calling 847-367-9588
December/Holiday Party
Stay tuned for details and keep that last Tuesday, the 30th, penciled for EARS' annual Jeff Hamilton Memorial Holiday Party! (Yes, it's the night before New Years Eve. Consider it a dress rehearsal. :) Do remember, though, that it's members-only, so be sure to pay up on your dues! - KJH
Suggestions Welcome!
There are endless good reasons to band together here as EARS. It can be whatever we want it to be. If you have any ideas for the EARdrum, our website, or future meetings, please email me. We still have a lot of great meeting plans lining up for the year, some website plans, and a lot of good fresh energy and hopes for a more vibrant, participatory EARS, so of course we're very interested in your input on everything EARS. Please! :) - KJH
Archives
Our Archives are again up to date. Check out the website for that and more EARS info. Also, I'd like to complete our files with the pre-2001 EARdrums. By my calculations we're missing the first 16 years! (Now minus that first one.) I know Timothy Powell has a year or so on his Metro-Mobile website but that still leaves a lot missing. If you happen to have your old paper copies or files you could get to me, I would love to get them online for posterity. Let me know. - KJH
A note about our Website
I've noticed that it doesn't automatically update in some web browsers. If you're looking for something (such as the latest EARdrum) and it looks like old info, try reloading the page. -KJH
Election
Obama. Wow. What a moment in history!
Oh... We're just talking EARS politics? Yep. It's that time again. According to the Bylaws, nominations for president of EARS were to be held at the September meeting, but of course we had to cancel September's meeting so we're going to have to go with the spirit of the law instead of the letter. In communicating about the cancellation we've talked to just about every member and many very kindly expressed their support for the current administration. (Another way to put it is no one's really interested in taking over at this point.) As noted last month, our V.P. Michael Kolar was technically and officially first to formally nominate me and former President and EARdrum editor Gary Khan was quick to second it. No one else has done anything more than suggest that they might try a last minute coup at Gravity on Tuesday, but clearly that just wouldn't fly with the bylaws so it's looking like the current team will roll right on into next year. In many ways, it still feels like we’ve only just begun and we still have high hopes for the future, so of course I’d be happy to have the chance to continue for another year, hoping to realize more of our dreams for EARS. Besides lots of great meetings, I can tell you that we're talking very seriously about some new blood in the cabinet, dividing up some of the responsibilities, and of course we still hope to revamp the website. Additionally, I've asked our V.P., Michael Kolar, to go ahead and form a committee to take a good, hard look at updating and clarifying some of our bylaws. -KJH
Dues!
Thanks to all who support EARS through paying their dues. Just as a reminder, they're due yearly by the October meeting and this is a prerequisite for voting and joining us for the Holiday Party and BBQ in August (and occasionally things like the Grammy Party), but they're always welcome. Dues checks (or cash, but no credit cards) for $25.00 can be made out to EARS and given to any of our officers or sent to the following address:
Engineering and Recording Society of Chicago, C/O Eric Roth, Treasurer, PO Box 98, Highland Park, IL 60035-0098 - KJH
A (few) (more) word(s) from the Prez...
or “At the Tree Line”
While I didn't make the meeting last month, I had about as good an excuse as I can imagine. While I didn't summit the 14er I'd hoped to, I did absolutely hike my feet off and got up there where the air was thin and I could almost taste the goal. We'll try again when the season's more cooperative, but meanwhile I've at least come away with a good catch phrase. "At the Tree Line" is now my official way of saying I'm over 40. I asked one of my students what he thought it meant and he responded, "Uh, you're half-way there, but everything ahead is cold, dry, and barren?"... And I was afraid he'd think I was referring to my thinning hair. :) In any case, it's not all negative up here. It has a beauty of it's own, for sure, and there are things you just can't imagine from back at the trailhead. But beyond that, man... you can see for MILES... I guess that applies to the album I'm working on. I don't know what I would've done with it 20 years ago. I guess it applies to EARS. Having done a couple of years, I feel like we've got the hang of it and can dig in and take on a couple of more difficult challenges now. In fact, it seems like we've gained enough ground in reviving EARS' image around town (and further afield) to move forward a little easier. There was a time when we were begging people to host us, now the tables have turned. It's a nice feeling. It's also nice to see some folks coming back into the fold who were gone for a number of years and of course it's always great to see new, young talent getting serious about their careers. Things are going well and it's time to expand on our successes.
I'll see you at Gravity and I really appreciate your vote!
At your service,
Kerry J Haps
