The Recording Academy® Memphis Chapter and Producers & Engineers Wing® Hold GRAMMY Pro® Studio Summit New Orleans
Event Drew Over 130 Audio Professionals
Santa Monica, Memphis & New Orleans. (May 23, 2017) — On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, The Recording Academy® Memphis Chapter and the P&E Wing presented the latest GRAMMY Pro® Studio Summit at Esplanade Studios in New Orleans. This third annual event was attended by over 130 audio professionals and was hailed as a success by all who participated. Sponsors included ELS Studio Premium Audio, Esplanade Studios, JBL® Professional by HARMAN, PreSonus, Rupert Neve Designs, sE Microphones, MusiCares® and Sync Up.
The day’s program began with opening remarks from honorary event chair and eight-time GRAMMY® winning engineer Elliot Scheiner, followed by a candid keynote conversation between 20+-time GRAMMY-winning engineer/producer Al Schmitt and Maureen Droney, Managing Director, P&E Wing and Recording Technology (Schmitt was also able to share tracks from the new album from Diana Krall, which he engineered). Next was the panel “Exploring the Producer/Engineer Relationship,” featuring GRAMMY winners Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell (Al Green, Solomon Burke, John Mayer, “Uptown Funk”) and Tracey Freeman (Harry Connick, Jr., Rebirth Brass Band).
Next came two breakout sessions: a surround-sound demonstration with Elliot Scheiner and “In the Mastering Studio” with John Fischbach and Brad Blackwood, along with presentations from several of the event’s gear sponsors including ELS Studio Premium Audio, JBL® Professional by HARMAN, PreSonus, Rupert Neve Designs and sE Microphones. Following those sessions, Droney, along with P&E Wing co-chairs Gebre Waddell and Chris Finney, offered an update on P&E Wing activities, including the status of high-res audio and metadata initiatives.
Following the success of last year’s evening panel “Studio Magic of Allen Toussaint,” this year featured Al Schmitt, Chris Finney and longtime Dr. John collaborator John Fohl in the panel “Making Records with Mac (Dr. John).” To the attendees’ delight, the legendary Dr. John himself showed up and participated in the panel. At the end of the panels, sE Electronics gave away four new microphones to attendees whose names were selected in a drawing. Closing remarks were offered by Scheiner, followed by a closing reception sponsored by ELS Studio. Additionally, MusiCares arranged for ACS Custom to fit approximately 70 attendees with custom ear plugs at the event.
“The New Orleans Summit has become a yearly tradition and one of the highlights of our annual itinerary,” said Maureen Droney. “This year’s panelists have garnered a collective total of 42 GRAMMY Awards, which represents a set of accomplishments and talent that speaks for itself. And to have Dr. John participate in the panel on his music was truly monumental. We thank our panelists and sponsors and all who participated.”
About The Recording Academy:
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @RecordingAcad on Twitter, like “Recording Academy / GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The Recording Academy’s social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.
About The Producers & Engineers Wing:
Currently more than 6,500 professionals comprise The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, which was established for producers, engineers, remixers, manufacturers, technologists, and other related creative and technical professionals in the recording field. This organized voice for the recording community addresses issues that affect the craft of recorded music, including the development and implementation of new technologies, technical guidelines and recommendations, and archiving and preservation initiatives. For more information, please visit www.producersandengineers.com.
SOURCE: The Recording Academy