The Verband Deutscher Tonmeister e.V. (VDT) is a registered association for audio industry professionals. The VDT has evolved from the Deutsche Filmtonmeister-Vereinigung (which focused on film sound professionals) that was founded in Munich in 1950.
19-428: The Audio Engineering Society ( AES ) is a professional body for engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or products for audio, and persons working in audio content production. It also includes acousticians , audiologists , academics, and those in other disciplines related to audio. The AES
38-695: A Board of Governors and officers, who jointly set policies and procedures for the Society. The AES is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation headquartered in New York. The AES publishes a peer-reviewed journal, the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society ( JAES ). The AES produces two conventions each year as well as a number of topic-specific conferences. The fall convention is in North America and
57-497: A charge to both members and non-members. The AES Gold Medal is the Society's highest honor, and given in recognition of outstanding achievements, sustained over a period of years, in the field of Audio Engineering. The award was established in 1971; it was formerly known as the John H. Potts Memorial Award. The AES British Section, which was the first and is also the largest outside the US, issues
76-518: A consensus system open to anyone materially affected by such standards, develops and publishes a number of standards on the subject of analog and digital audio recording, transmission, and/or reproduction. Notable standards include: AESSC also provides input to IEC for development and revision of international standards in audio engineering. AES does not charge for participation in the standards process, but does charge non-members for online copies of published standards. Printed copies are available for
95-546: A monthly newsletter and holds regular lectures, usually in London, with occasional visits to studios and other places of interest. Lectures, which are often on topics of topical interest to audio enthusiasts are usually recorded, with past lectures available to all as free MP3 downloads, sometimes with accompanying slides in PDF format. Although there are several German sections of the AES and there
114-400: A thing, and that they were interested in holding an organizational meeting. He asked interested persons to contact him for details. The response was enthusiastic and encouraging. Fellow engineer Norman C. Pickering published the date for an organizational meeting, and announced the appointment of LeBel as acting chairman, and himself as acting secretary. The organizational meeting was held at
133-452: Is a fixed part of the name of the association its members carry many other job titles like audio engineer , sound director , music director , sound designer , producer, record producer and music supervisor . The occupational title Tonmeister, although created in the 1930s, is not protected in Germany and does not describe a clearly defined occupation. Thematically the goals and activities of
152-510: Is analogous to the AES-conferences. The Tonmeister Academy as initiated by the VDT offers educational classes and advanced training sessions. The VDT award Golden Bobby is awarded in seven categories for outstanding performance in sound recording and mixing. Since 2002 the VDT also bestows a medal of honour on members who have rendered outstanding services to the profession of sound engineers and
171-464: Is commonly used in live audio settings (e.g., business presentations and conventions). Some pro audio stores also sell and/or rent DJ gear ( record turntables , DJ mixers ) and the stage lighting equipment used in rock concerts, dance clubs , raves and theater / musical theater shows. Verband Deutscher Tonmeister There are currently more than 1900 members in the VDT that are either freelancers or employed in various institutions; e.g. in
190-529: Is differentiated from consumer- or home-oriented audio, which are typically geared toward listening in a non-commercial environment. Professional audio can include, but is not limited to broadcast radio , audio mastering in a recording studio , television studio , and sound reinforcement such as a live concert, DJ performances, audio sampling , public address system set up, sound reinforcement in movie theatres , and design and setup of piped music in hotels and restaurants. Professional audio equipment
209-917: Is no formal connection to the Verband Deutscher Tonmeister , the goals and activities of both organizations are closely related and there are several instances of double memberships, e.g. in the persons of Benjamin Bernfeld, Gerhard Steinke and Günther Theile. Professional audio Professional audio , abbreviated as pro audio , refers to both an activity and a category of high-quality, studio-grade audio equipment. Typically it encompasses sound recording , sound reinforcement system setup and audio mixing , and studio music production by trained sound engineers , audio engineers , record producers , and audio technicians who work in live event support and recording using mixing consoles , recording equipment and sound reinforcement systems. Professional audio
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#1733085611765228-709: Is sold at professional audio stores and music stores . The term professional audio has no precise definition, but it typically includes: A professional audio store is a retail establishment that sells, and in many cases rents, expensive, high-end sound recording equipment ( microphones , audio mixers , digital audio recorders , speakers and surround sound speakers, monitor speakers ) and sound reinforcement system gear (e.g., speaker enclosure cabinets, stage monitor speakers , power amplifiers , subwoofer cabinets) and accessories used in both settings, such as microphone stands . Some pro audio stores also sell video equipment, such as video projectors , as this equipment
247-486: Is the only worldwide professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology. Established in 1948, the Society develops, reviews and publishes engineering standards for the audio and related media industries, and produces the AES Conventions , which are held twice a year alternating between Europe and the US. The AES and individual regional or national sections also hold AES Conferences on different topics during
266-543: The RCA Victor Studios in New York City on February 17, 1948. Acting chairman LeBel spoke first, emphasizing the professional, non-commercial, independent nature of the proposed organization. Acting Secretary Norman Pickering then discussed the need for a professional organization that could foster an exchange of knowledge in this quickly-growing field. The group agreed to form the Audio Engineering Society, and confirmed
285-587: The VDT are related to those of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), even if there is no formal connection. The biennial Tonmeistertagung (VDT International convention) combines an international scientific conference and workshop program with a trade fair, focusing on applied research and technical excellence. It has been in existence since 1949. Similarly the International Tonmeister Symposium, dedicated to one thematic complex,
304-485: The acting executive committee, which consisted of John D. Colvin, C. J. LeBel, C. G. McProud, Norman C. Pickering and Chester O. Rackey. The first AES technical membership meeting followed on March 11, with about 3500 attendees. The guest speaker at the first meeting was Harry F. Olson , a prominent engineer and scientist at RCA and author of Acoustical Engineering , who spoke on Problems of High-Fidelity Reproduction . As of 2020 has over 12,000 members. Members elect
323-398: The film business, radio broadcasting, television, recording studios, record labels, theaters and performance venues, the audio equipment producing industry, research and development, multimedia education and other audio related areas of occupation. Students preparing for a job in the audio industry are also members of the VDT, making up roughly 10%. Even though the designation of Tonmeister
342-653: The spring convention is in Europe. The first convention was in 1949. 23 Technical Committees advise the AES Technical Council on emerging trends and areas of interest in the audio engineering community. The Committee meetings, held at Conventions, are open to participation by members and non-members alike, and are the venue for planning workshops, seminars and conferences in specific technical areas. The AES has been involved in setting technical standards for audio since 1977. The AES Standards Committee ( AESSC ), through
361-499: The year. The idea of a society dedicated solely to audio engineering had been discussed for some time before the first meeting, but was first proposed in print in a letter by Frank E. Sherry, of Victoria, Texas, in the December 1947 issue of the magazine Audio Engineering . A New York engineer and audio consultant, C.J. LeBel, then published a letter agreeing, and saying that a group of audio professionals had already been discussing such
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