Montana Audio

Montana Audio and Acoustics Society (MAAS)

Bozeman, Montana

This informal group of audio enthusiasts was founded in April, 2003, in order to foster the community of audio professionals, hobbyists, and students in Southwest Montana. The group meets approximately once per month (usually the last Wednesday evening of the month) for a lecture presentation, demonstration, venue tour, or other audio-related event. Membership is free and open to all who are interested. Members and guests are invited to attend the meetings and participate in the Bozeman-area audio community.

Coordinator:  rob daht maher at montana daht edu

Updated 28 February 2013

March 2013

Event 1:

MSU Physics Colloquium:  “Physics of the Piano,”  by Dr. Nicholas Giordano, Purdue University

Friday, March 1, 2013
4:10 – 5:00 pm, Room 108, Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) Building (7^th & Grant), MSU campus in Bozeman
(free and open to the public)

“Why does a piano sound like a piano? A similar question can be asked of virtually all musical instruments. A particular note, such as middle C, can be produced by a piano, a violin, and a clarinet. Yet, it is easy for even a musically untrained listener to distinguish between these instruments. One would like to understand why the sound of the “same” note depends greatly on the instrument. In particular, we would like to understand what aspects of the piano are most critical in producing its musical tones. The questions we will address in the talk include:

• Who invented the piano and why?

• Why does the piano have 88 keys and not more or fewer?

• How and why is the tone color of a loud note different from that of a soft note, and why is this important?

• Why are the bass strings on a piano made by wrapping a coil of wire around a central wire core?

• A piano tone is the sum of components that can be described by sine waves.  The frequencies of these sine waves deviate a small amount from a simple harmonic series. What is the source of these deviations and why are they important?

After we have addressed all of these questions, we’ll be able to understand why a piano sounds like a piano.”

Event 2:

MSU President’s Fine Art Series:  “The Science of Sound:  Decomposing Music”

Monday March 4, 2013
7:00 – 9:00 pm, Reynolds Recital Hall, Howard Hall (music building, 11^th & Grant), MSU campus in Bozeman
(free and open to the public)

A short, complimentary reception will start the evening, and the traditional “Dessert for the Spirit” will be held after the panel. 

The enjoyment of music is found in every known culture from the beginning of recorded history to the present. In contrast, the principles of scientific inquiry are a relatively recent phenomenon in human history, and many cultures have appeared and thrived throughout time without the need for science. In fact, the more than 30,000 years of musical history so greatly exceeds the barely 500 years of scientific inquiry that it may feel unseemly to mix them!

In this presentation we will learn of the first curious musicians who attempted to understand the physical principles underlying sound and music, and trace the progression of scientists who have steadily uncovered the intrinsic beauty of acoustics.

Montana State University faculty Greg Young -Director of the School of Music, Rob Maher - Department Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering, John Miller - Professor of Cell Biology & Neuroscience and Bill Clinton - Instructor in the School of Architecture collaborate to lead a fascinating and diverse tour of the science of sound and musical acoustics through a unique combination of live music performance, signal analysis, and interactive audio-visual exploration involving both the performers and the audience.  Along with an instrument petting zoo with instruments designed by MSU architecture students, the evening features live musical performances by MSU Faculty:  Ilse-Mari Lee, Steven Versaevel, Tim Dueppen, Elizabeth Croy, Gregory Young, Linda Antas and School of Music students.  

Event 3:

Screening of the film "Sound City."  A benefit for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
7:30pm, Crawford Theater in the Emerson Cultural Center (S. Grand & W. Babcock), Bozeman
(open to the public--suggested donation of 3+ non-perishable food items per person)

For the past several years Poindexter's Audio/Video has been hosting community minded events that involve a combination of music and film. Last year we screened "Almost Famous", the year before it was "Amelie". For 2013 "Sound City" is our pick because it's an interesting story of a music studio told from a musician's perspective. The fact that the talented and energetic musician Dave Grohl from Nirvana and The Foo Fighters conceived and directed this movie allows it to come from a place few others could to tap into and capture. A number of famous and diverse musicians provide telling interviews, some join Dave in his studio to record. The film gives an insider's look at the process of making sonic magic. For more info about the film visit; www.soundcitymovie.com.

Poindexter's will have the big Meyer Sound JM-1 system rigged up in the theater. A DataSat AP-20 will be sending the audio out to a total of 17 speakers all made in Berkeley, CA. by Meyer.

NOTE that the film has not been rated.  It contains strong language which may not be suitable for all audiences.

Tickets: The "Sound City" event benefits the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. Admission to the film is a suggested donation of 3+ non-perishable food items per person. Doors to the Emerson's Crawford Theater open at 7p, the film begins at 7:30p. There will be a "no-host" bar provided by the Zebra Cocktail Lounge.   If you have any questions regarding this event please send an e-mail to; [email protected] or call Poindexter's office at 406-586-4488.

February 2013

Sound System for upgraded Taylor Planetarium, Bozeman

Thursday, February 7, 2013
1:30PM

The Museum of the Rockies Taylor Planetarium is currently undergoing a $1.5M upgrade using an Evans & Sutherland Digistar Five system from Bowen Technovation.  The Planetarium is scheduled to re-open to the public early in March, but we have arranged for a special behind-the-scenes preview of the new audio system.  The installation designers and crew will be putting the finishing touches on the system this week, and they have agreed to give an audio system tour for Montana Audio and Acoustics Society members.  We will have a nice chance to see and hear the system for the first time, hosted by Eric Loberg, the Taylor Planetarium Program Manager.  

Directions:  The Museum of the Rockies is located on Kagy Blvd. just east of the MSU Bobcat Football Stadium on the MSU campus.

November 2012

Assessing the quality of acoustic environments and the costs of noise in the U.S. National Park System

Friday, November 30, 2012
3:00PM

101 Roberts Hall, MSU Bozeman campus

Kurt Fristrup will be speaking at the College of Engineering's next Research Seminar on Friday, November 30th, 2012. His discussion will be “Assessing the quality of acoustic environments and the costs of noise in the U. S. National Park system”:   Federal law and agency policy require the National Park Service to protect and restore acoustic resources, treating them as physical resources like air, water, and geologic resources. Monitoring data from more than 50 National Park Units document extraordinarily low background sound levels that can exist in many remote locations, as well as the pervasive impact of noise in these quiet environments. At many sites, noise is audible about one-third of every hour between 0800 and 2100 hours. A dominant source is transportation noise: road traffic has doubled and aircraft traffic has tripled since 1980. How flexible are biological responses to noise? Behavioral responses to noise stimuli are often conditioned by experience, but physiological responses are less malleable. For example, sleeping humans can learn to avoid waking due to a familiar noise, though they still exhibit changes in heart rate and blood pressure with each event. Diminished auditory awareness due to noise can have several causes: masking, informational clutter, “learned deafness.” Some of these are insusceptible to improvement through experience. Are biological responses to noise consequential? For park visitors, surveys in National Parks have documented the high value placed on pristine acoustical conditions, as well as the decline in visitor experience with increasing noise. Although the ubiquity of a sense of hearing and the prevalence of acoustical communication suggest noise affects wildlife, it is challenging to proceed beyond first principles to evaluate the effects of noise quantitatively. The most widely documented wildlife response to noise has been changes in bird vocalizations: shifts in frequency away from the noisy part of the spectrum and diel shifts away from the noise parts of the day. Noise may be a factor in the extensive ecological responses observed adjacent to roads; studies of energy development that contrast sites differing only in noise levels have documented ecological changes comparable to those found alongside roads. An emergent question is the extent to which wildlife responses to noise represent response to a perceived threat or the consequences of degraded auditory awareness.

Biographical Info:
Kurt Fristrup received a BA in biomedical engineering at UC San Diego, and a PhD in evolutionary biology from Harvard. He researched marine mammal biology and acoustics at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, became the Assistant Director of the Bioacoustics Research program at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, and joined the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division of the National Park Service in 2005. Since joining NPS, he has overseen collection and analysis of acoustical data from more than 300 sites in National Park units, developed noise mapping tools to support management of park resources and visitor experience, and initiated several research projects investigating the effects of noise on wildlife and park visitors.

Directions:  Roberts Hall is on east edge of the MSU Bozeman campus, north of Grant St.

October 2010

Acoustical Design of Hope Lutheran Church, Bozeman

Tuesday, October 12, 2010
7:00PM

How the space was designed with acoustics in mind.

Discover the secrets of the church's growing reputation for quality sound.

A special presentation regarding the acoustical design of Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman at 7:00PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.  Hope Lutheran’s acoustics are increasingly regarded as among the finest for music ensemble performances in the Bozeman area.  Mr. Sean Connolly, principal consultant with Big Sky Acoustics, LLC, of Helena, and architect Jim Talarico of CTA Bozeman will describe the early background of the project and the special challenges and opportunities involved in working together to create the visually and aurally stunning interior space. 

Directions:  The church is located at 2152 West Graf St., which is just west of S. 19th Av. about one mile south of W. Main St.

The meeting is free and open to the public.  Students are particularly welcome to attend!

June 2009

Open House at Recording EDGe Studio

Thursday, June 25, 2009
5:00PM - 8:00PM

Edd Gryder, producer/engineer of Recording EDGe Studio and RecEDGe Records, is hosting an open house to thank his existing clients and friends.  Edd has graciously offered to invite MAAS to visit the studio during the open house to see the facilities, ask questions, hear some great music, and mingle with the group.  Please mark your calendar and plan to join us!  Students are particularly welcome and are encouraged to attend.

Recording EDGe
615 East Cameron Bridge Road
406-388-5042
[email protected]
www.recordingedge.com

Directions:  From Bozeman, head west on Main/Huffine to Four Corners and take a right (north) on Jackrabbit.  Proceed north on Jackrabbit about five miles and take a right on Cameron Bridge Road heading East.  Go 1/2 mile and Recording EDGe is located on the left (north) side of Cameron Bridge Road.  Pull into the parking area, go up the redwood steps and you are there.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

March 2009

Delta-Sigma Conversion for Everyone

Steven R. Norsworthy, San Diego, CA
Independent Consultant

College of Engineering
Research Seminar

Friday, March 13, 2009
3:00 p.m.
101 Roberts Hall, MSU Campus, Bozeman

Without even realizing it, we all use Delta-Sigma data converters nearly every single day of our lives, sometimes for hours each day! Every time we place a telephone call, or use our CD or MP3 player, we are enjoying a modern convenience facilitated by analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog conversion, miniaturized onto a complex chip integrated with a Digital Signal Processor or a microprocessor in submicron CMOS.

Delta-Sigma conversion techniques took nearly four decades to bring into fruition, starting with research beginning in the 1950's until mass commercialization took place in the late 1980's. It is the method of choice today for nearly all analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters requiring high resolution (>;12 bits) at frequencies of less than 10 MHz. Applications include audio (speech and music) as well as intermediate-band transceivers found in wireless and wireline modems. As technology continues to advance, the trend toward higher levels of integration allow Delta-Sigma converters to meet the unending thirst for higher precision and greater conversion speed.

Biographical Summary:
Steven Norsworthy is known in the industry for his visionary leadership and innovations in mixed-signal technology applied to wireless and communications. He is particularly well known as a world authority on Delta-Sigma data conversion, having co-authored the industry’s first textbook on this important subject. He is an inventor of 16 issued patents and 4 more patents pending, and authored numerous technical publications. His experience spans R&;D, general management, and entrepreneurship. After nearly 30 years of experience in major industry laboratories, he is currently an independent consultant.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

December 2008

EVENT #1:

Gorillas in the Mix: The history and importance of natural soundscapes and soundscape conservation

Dr. Bernie Krause, Wild Sanctuary, Inc., Glen Ellen, CA

Demonstration and Workshop

Thursday, December 4, 2008, 7:00PM, Engineering and Physical Sciences Building (EPS) Room 103, MSU-Bozeman Campus

and

College of Engineering Colloquium Lecture

Friday, December 5, 5008, 3:00PM, Roberts Hall, Room 101, MSU-Bozeman Campus

Montana State University will be hosting a visit by Dr. Bernie Krause, a distinguished expert on bioacoustics and natural soundscapes, on December 4 and 5, 2008.

Dr. Krause will present an audiovisual demonstration and workshop featuring the impact of natural soundscapes on a wide range of disciplines at 7:00PM on Thursday, December 4, 2008, in the Engineering and Physical Sciences Building, Room 103, MSU-Bozeman campus.  The presentation is free and open to the public.  Aided by visuals and sound, the presentation introduces the concept of biophony and shows the ways in which living organisms in a given habitat vocalize in special relationships with one another, much like instruments in an orchestra.

Krause will also present a 50 minute lecture and demonstration for the College of Engineering Colloquium Series at 3:00PM on Friday, December 5, 2008, in Roberts Hall, Room 101.  The presentation is also free and open to the public.  The lecture, entitled “Gorillas in the Mix,” emphasizes the importance of natural soundscape conservation.

Biographical Summary:

Since 1968, Dr. Bernie Krause has traveled the world recording and archiving the sounds of creatures and environments large and small. Working at the research sites of Jane Goodall, Birute Galdikas, and Dian Fossey, he conceived The Niche Hypothesis based on the relationships of individual creatures to the total biological soundscape within a given habitat.

Krause was also a noted musician early in his career, becoming a member of the folk group The Weavers (replacing Pete Seeger) in 1963.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Krause had led bioacoustic expeditions throughout Alaska, Africa, the Amazon, Indonesia, and locations throughout North America. He authored an educational manual for the National Park Service educational staff, which resulted in his latest book, Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the Voice of Natural World (Wilderness Press, 2002).

The noted author and biologist Edward O. Wilson (who visited MSU in 2006, and will be back again in 2009), had this to say regarding Dr. Krause's work:

"Bernie Krause and his niche theory are the real thing. His originality, research, and above all basic knowledge of the sound environments in nature are impressive. The idea of music originating in the sound communication systems of wild animals (including insects) is a sound and provocative hypothesis. I admire also his attention to the preservation of ancestral-level cultures for their own value but also as a testing ground for theory on human behavioral evolution."

Please join us for these free events—and feel free to bring a friend, too!

Sponsored by:  MSU College of Engineering, Big Sky Institute, Media and Theater Arts, Electrical and Computer Engineering, MSU NSF EPSCoR, Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Education, Sigma Xi, MSU Music Technology Program, and the Montana Audio and Acoustics Society.

EVENT #2:
An announcement and invitation from Prof. Robert Rumbolz, Director of Music Technology, Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming:

"I would like the Montana Audio group to know of a discussion that will take place at Northwest College in Powell on Saturday, December 6th from 1-4PM at the Nelson Performing Arts Center, rm NPA29. Kerry Boggio (a native of Red Lodge, MT) is retiring after a distinguished career as a recording engineer and production mixer in Hollywood for over 33 years (please see his bio in brief below this message). He will lead a discussion on careers in audio as well as share with us his past experiences and insights on the future of audio production work."

For more information:

Robert Rumbolz, Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Music Technology
Northwest College
231 West 6th Street
Powell, WY 82435
[email protected]

Kerry Boggio - Bio Highlights

B.A. Degree From Eastern Wash. State University In Trumpet performance
Sound Recording Engineer in the Los Angeles Television industry for 33 years.
Recording Engineer : La Gab Recording Studios Mexico City, Mexico.
Interned with Val Valentin ,Previously Chief recording engineer with MGM and Capitol records in Los Angeles and owner of La Gab Studios.
Sound mixing credits on a variety of productions including : Sports, Variety, Musical variety, Sitcoms, Dramas, Game shows and misc. other productions
Sports: Dodger baseball, Polo , Senior golf tournament
Variety: Mike Douglas Show, John Davidson Show, Jim Nabors Show, Thicke of The Night, Joan Rivers Late Night.
Musicals: Diana Ross Special, Carpenters Christmas Special, Mac Davis Specials, Linda Lavin Special, Omnibus Music special, Bonnie Franklin Special, Steve Allen Live Special, Engelburt Humperdink Special Sitcoms : Maude , Good Times, Threes Company, Facts of Life, Different Strokes, Who's the Boss, 227, John Larroquette Show, Carol Burnett and Friends, Reba, According to Jim. Etc.
Game Shows : Concentration, Jeopardy, Truth or Consequences.
Drama : Hallmark Hall of Fame
Award Shows: Golden Globes, Soap Opera Digest, Latino Music Awards

November 2008

Tour of the Audio System of the New Procrastinator Theater
Strand Union Building, MSU Campus, Bozeman

Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 5:00PM (NOTE the special meeting time!)

Hosted by the Procrastinator Theater audio system designer, Doug Brekke, of Black Box Designs.

Well, we couldn’t procrastinate forever… ;)
Come join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of the new audio system installed in the MSU “Procrastinator Theater” located in the northeast corner of the Strand Union Building, main floor. This will be an excellent chance to see and hear the system with the designer/installer, Doug Brekke. Doug will also plan to talk about the new generation of digital signal processors (DSPs) available for use in contemporary sound systems.

October 2008

EVENT #1:

The Montana State University Department of Music is proud to present "Dreamworlds."  Visionary electronic music, live performers, video art and 3-D animation!!

The concert will be held at 7:30PM on Sunday, October 19, in Reynolds Recital Hall, Howard Hall, on the MSU campus.

This free multimedia event features music and video by MSU professors Hsiao-Lan Wang and Kristi McGarity, along with an international selection of composers and video artists.  All sound will be presented with live sound diffusion through our multichannel speaker system.  The concert is sponsored by the Music Technology program, home of the Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology.

More information is available at http://www.montana.edu/musictech , or by contacting the Music Technology program at 994-5762.

EVENT #2:

TOUR of Basecamp Recording Studio

7:00PM, Wednesday, October 29 (NOTE that we will split into two smaller groups if necessary).

ADDRESS:  7781 Nez Perce Drive, Bozeman, MT  59715

DIRECTIONS:

From Bozeman, take S. 19th south towards Hyalite Canyon

Turn left on Nez Perce -- the last green street sign before reaching the big bend to the west (just prior to the big white Kirk Hill Barn)

Go to 3rd residence on the left – look for 7781 address on the mail box.

It's a red colored house with a bank of south facing windows.

The studio entrance is a large door in what would appear as the garage at the top of the driveway.

Studio owner/producer and tour host:  Chris Cunningham

http://www.myspace.com/basecamprecording

Chris says:

“Basecamp has been a 7 year effort in the making ...  It's still a work in progress.  The studio is located 10 minutes south of town in a scenic and quiet residential setting near the base of the Gallatin National Forest.  The owner, Chris Cunningham, has been singing, writing and making recordings for 20 years.  As a natural evolution of his performance career he delved in to the art of recording and producing records for other artists.  The studio is housed in a remodeled 3 bay garage, detached from the home on 2 acres.  The three rooms are fully isolated with clear sight lines, acoustic treatments, and sound proofing.  An outside studio architect (Steven Klein, based in L.A.) was hired to assist with the design, along with local former studio owner/producer Michael Blessing for consulting on fundamentals such as room treatments, audio cable pathways, insulation and over all construction.  The first 3 rooms -- main room, vocal booth, and control room were a year and a half to construct.  The guest lounge (upstairs) is currently under construction and near finished.  There is also a vision for an additional 600 sq foot new Main room underway with separate driveway and private access -- ideal for ensembles, bands, a grand piano, and other uses.

Basecamp studio was built with the intention of being a relaxed and cooperative working environment, with the ability to allow outside engineers/producers to rent and bring their own projects and gear in to create music.  Several local engineers/producers along with both local, regional and out of state artists have done projects here.

In the course of the past 12 months Basecamp has completed around 12 - 15 recordings and is currently working on 6 more for 2008.

The current collection of mic's and pre's, although modest, includes top names such as Neumann, Sound Delux, AKG, Universal Audio, PreSonus and more.  The current in-house digital audio workstation (DAW) is the latest version of Digital Performer using a Mac G5 with Mackie HR824's for monitoring, and two screens for editing.

The electrical wiring is completely shielded and conditioned with plenty of room for expansion (two 220 lines).

All doors and windows are doubled as well as the walls have separation airspace between them.

The overall vision for Basecamp is to be a fully functional, multi use studio with common appeal and application.  Basecamp maintains an active network of qualified/experienced engineers and producers as well as a list of proficient and reliable studio session players and extra gear and instruments for doing projects.”

February 2008

Sound for Film:  Scoring the award-winning short film “Certain Green”

Presented by Ilse-Mari Lee, Theo Lipfert, and Gil Stober

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 5:00PM
Visual Communications Building, small screening room, MSU-Bozeman

Directions: The Visual Communications Building is located at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grant Street in Bozeman. NOTE that MSU requires a parking permit to use campus lots 6AM-6PM on weekdays.  Permits are available for $2.50 from the Information Booth at 7th and Grant. Some free on-street parking may be available on 11th Avenue south of Lincoln Road.

This month, Filmmaker Theo Lipfert, composer Ilse-Mari Lee and recording engineer Gil Stober will present "Certain Green" and selections from "Forced into Comfort, Fighting for Apology," two recent films directed by Lipfert, scored by Lee, and mixed by Stober. The trio will discuss the process of creating temporary film scores using Reason software's midi capabilities, and will outline the workflow of strategically replacing midi elements with "real" performances and recordings.

"Certain Green," a short film that is a collaboration between MSU professors Ilse-Mari Lee (composer), and Theo Lipfert (filmmaker), won both a Gold Medal and a Director's Choice award at the Park City Film Music Festival, which celebrates the role of music in film.  http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5565

The event is free and open to the public. Students are particularly welcome to attend.

NOTE:  starting time is 5:00PM

ILSE-MARI LEE is a Professor of Music and Assistant Director of the Honors Program at Montana State University.  THEO LIPFERT is an Assistant Professor of Media and Theater Arts at Montana State University.  GIL STOBER is the proprietor of Peak Recording in Bozeman.

November 2007 Meeting

Two special events this month on November 28:
a Bose demo at 5PM, then a tour of Peak Recording at 7PM!!

Both events are free and open to the public. Students are particularly welcome to attend.

Event #1: Live demo of BOSE concert sound systems Presented by Stephen Payton, Bose Corporation, and Jay Bridgewater, Bridgewater Acoustics

Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 5:00-6:00PM
Shroyer Gym and Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, MSU-Bozeman

Directions: Shroyer Gym is located at the southeast corner of 11^th and Grant in Bozeman. Please enter the doors by the Bobcat Ticket Office.  NOTE that MSU requires a parking permit to use campus lots 6AM-6PM on weekdays.  Permits are available for $2.50 from the Information Booth at 7^th and Grant.  Some free on-street parking may be available.

Bose Corporation, in cooperation with Bridgewater Acoustics, will be in Bozeman to demonstrate two new technologies for live sound.  The first technology will be a line array loudspeaker system in Shroyer Gym which uses twelve 2 1/4 inch cones. The line array features virtually no feedback even with a microphone placed directly in front of it.  The second technology will be demonstrated in Brick Breeden Field house: application of the Bose Bass Steering Array. This bass array will be flown above the stadium floor and directed to a particular section of the seating area, allowing attendees to hear the low frequency with and without the electronic processing of Bass Steering in place.

The demonstrations will be presented by Stephen Payton who is a Sr. Design Engineer with Bose and recently completed work on the new Bose system at the New Orleans Super Dome, and Jay Bridgewater, Principal, Bridgewater Acoustics.

Bose Corporation will host our group for pizza at the conclusion of the demonstration.  Thank you!

*           *           *

Event #2:  Peak Recording &; Sound:  STUDIO TOUR

Presented by Gil and Deb Stober, Owners

Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 7:00PM
395 N. Valley Drive (between Babcock and Durston in northwest Bozeman)

Directions: Peak Recording is located in a northwest Bozeman residential area on N. Valley Drive between Babcock and Durston.  N. Valley Drive is a north-south street several blocks west of 19th Avenue, just west of Michael Grove Ave.  Please drive 15mph on the gravel road!  You may park in the driveway or park on the road.

For more than 25 years, Peak Recording &; Sound has been a notable destination for professional recording services in the Gallatin Valley.  Talent recorded in the studio includes George Winston, Don Edwards, Stephanie Davis, Dave Grusin, Backburner, Rob Ickes, Montana Rose, Meg Ryan, Peter Fonda, Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams, Michael Keaton, Jim Gray, Andie McDowell, Margot Kidder, Dennis Quaid, and Brent Musburger – to name but a few. Please join us for a tour of the facilities and see all the services Peak has to offer.

October 2007 Meeting

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
7:00PM
Strand Union Building, Room 274, MSU Bozeman

Putting the 'Bang' into Acoustics: Gunshot Analysis
Presented by Rob Maher

Directions: Room 274 is a meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Strand Union Building (7th and Grant). Inquire at the Ask Us reception desk if you need directions once you are in the building.

It's almost hunting season: ever hear a gunshot?
Audio recordings of gunshots can provide information about the gun location with respect to the microphone(s), the speed and trajectory of the projectile, and in some cases the type of firearm and ammunition. Gunshot analysis applications include forensic studies of audio evidence in criminal and civil cases, acoustic impulse response behavior, and real time gunshot detection and localization for use by the military and law enforcement agencies. This presentation will cover the distinctive features and limitations of acoustic gunshot analysis techniques.

Note that the meeting is on the next-to-last Wednesday this month because Halloween is the last Wednesday.

ROB MAHER is the Department Head, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Montana State University-Bozeman.

August 2007 Meeting

Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Noon-4PM or so.
Montana PBS Studios, 11th &; Grant, MSU Campus, Bozeman

Back by popular demand... "A TASTE OF NAB"
The Road Show - Hosted by the Montana Chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers

Presented by Larry Bloomfield

Directions: The PBS studios are located in the Visual Communications Building at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grant Street in Bozeman.

The Montana chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers once again sponsors Larry Bloomfield's Taste of NAB:  great information from the National Association of Broadcasters convention, the world's largest electronic media show!

The event will begin at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, August 28^th, with a sponsored lunch (RSVP required!), followed immediately with the show.

July 2007 Meeting

TUESDAY, July 24, 2007
7:00-8:30PM
Community Room, Bozeman Public Library, 626 E. Main, Bozeman.

Yellowstone Public Radio Open House

Directions: The new Bozeman Public Library is located on the south side of East Main Street, just west of Lindley Park. Parking is available south of the building.

For our July 2007 meeting we will take advantage of Yellowstone Public Radio’;s informal Bozeman gathering.  Meet the YPR station staff and friends, see the Bozeman studio (housed in the library), and enjoy discussion of our regional public radio station.
www.ypradio.org

Note that the meeting is on TUESDAY rather than our usual Wednesday slot.

June 2007 Meeting

Wednesday, June 27, 2007
7:00PM
Reynolds Recital Hall, MSU Bozeman

Beyond 5-Channel Surround:  Sound D i f f u s i o n

Directions: Reynolds Recital Hall is in Howard Hall (music building) on S. 11th Avenue. Howard Hall is located just north of 11th and Grant (across 11th Avenue from the Duck Pond). Enter Howard Hall from 11th street and take the first left into the Reynolds Recital Hall lobby.

Kristi McGarity, Director of Music Technology in the Department of Music at MSU, will demonstrate MSU's multichannel sound diffusion system, designed in  the fall of 2006 for the Sunday Night Multimedia Series.  She will present an overview of the theory and practice of sound diffusion for performance of electroacoustic music, and we will hear and view selected multimedia pieces by McGarity and other electroacoustic composers.  Please feel free to bring a CD or DVD of your own to practice sound diffusion with familiar music!

May 2007 Meeting

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
7:00PM
Stonnell residence, 119 Bennett Drive, Bozeman, MT

"Edison's Phonograph: A Tour of the Stonnell Media Museum"

Presented by Jack Stonnell
Retired; MSU Professor emeritus and co-founder of the MSU Media and Theater Arts (MTA) program

Caption: Jack Stonnell (left) plays a cylinder on an original Edison Maroon Gem phonograph (ca. 1908).

 

For our May 2007 meeting we are fortunate to have a special event planned: an evening devoted to the origins of sound recording.

The presentation will begin with a documentary movie in the Stonnell Magic Lantern Theatre about Edison's invention of the phonograph and then proceed to the Stonnell Media Museum to view and hear a variety of antique phonographs and other early sound recording devices. This is a unique and unusual opportunity you don't want to miss!!

JACK STONNELL is a noted Montana filmmaker and cinematographer. In the early 1960's, working with Paul Jesswein and Fred Gerber, Jack was a founding member the academic program at Montana State College in photography, film, and television that has now become MSU's world-renowned MTA Department.

March 2007 Meeting

Wednesday, March 28, 2007
7:00PM
Bozeman Public Library Meeting Room, 626 East Main Street, Bozeman, MT

"SONAR: Hearing and Navigating Underwater!"

Presented by Christopher M. Colson
U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former U.S. Navy submarine officer

Directions: The new Bozeman Public Library is located on the south side of Main Street just west of Lindley Park. We will meet in the small meeting room, which is located on the east side of the main floor entryway, just south of the coffee shop in the library's lobby.

The ocean environment presents a unique acoustic environment that challenges our ability to utilize sound for the safe and effective employment of surface and subsurface vehicles. Submarines rely almost exclusively on sonar (SOund Navigation And Ranging) technology to "see" the operational and tactical picture beneath the waves.  Chris Colson, a former US submarine warfare officer, will describe ocean acoustic principles and drawing upon his first-hand experience with sonar utilization, will present how modern ocean vessels use sound in their day-to-day operations.

CHRIS COLSON received his bachelor's degree in Control Systems Engineering from the US Naval Academy in 1999, after which he served in the US Navy operational forces as a nuclear submarine officer for seven years. He received his Masters degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University in 2006 and soon thereafter began his graduate work at Montana State University, in August 2006.

February 2007 Meeting

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
7:00PM
All About Pianos showroom, 2304 N. 7th Ave, Unit J, Bozeman, MT

"Pianos:  The Piano Technician's Role"

Presented by Elizabeth and Aaron Heppler
Registered Piano Technicians, Manhattan, MT

Directions: All About Pianos is located in Bozeman on the east side of N. 7^th Avenue in the shopping area across from Murdoch's (about three blocks north of I-90).

Ever wonder what happens to create the beautiful sound when you press a key on the piano?  Are you curious about how a piano technician adjusts the strings and hammers so that the 88 keys all sound properly in tune?  The Montana Audio and Acoustics Society will have a unique opportunity to learn about the acoustical principles of pianos, the process of piano tuning, and the important role of Registered Piano Technicians in proper regulation and repair of pianos.  Elizabeth and Aaron Heppler, Registered Piano Technicians, will host our meeting at the All About Pianos showroom in Bozeman.  Please join us for an informative and sonorous evening seeing and hearing what goes on inside a piano!

ELIZABETH and AARON HEPPLER are Registered Piano Technicians and members of the Piano Technicians Guild.

February 2007 Special Meeting

Thursday, February 22, 2007
3:00-4:00PM
Room 312, Roberts Hall, MSU Campus, Bozeman

"Simulated Free Field Measurements"

Presented by Christopher J. Struck, San Francisco, CA

Directions: Roberts Hall is located at 6^th Ave. and Garfield St. on the MSU campus.  Public pay parking is available at 7th and Grant.

Various techniques are presented for performing acoustical measurements without the need for an anechoic chamber. The low frequency room size limitations of both time selective techniques and anechoic measures are discussed. A technique is presented enabling measurements of the complex free field response of loudspeaker to be performed, throughout the entire audio frequency range. With an appropriate choice of stimulus and analysis, it is shown that this technique can also be used for measurements of harmonic distortion.

CHRISTOPHER STRUCK graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. His studies also included electronic music composition. From 1986 through 1993, Mr. Struck was employed by Brüel &; Kjær - Denmark, as an Application Specialist in Electroacoustics. From 1994 through 1995, he was a Principal Consultant for Charles M. Salter Associates, in San Francisco. From 1996 to 2001, he was Manager of Electroacoustics in the Research Group at GN ReSound in Redwood City, California. From 2001 to 2005, he was Director of Engineering - Licensing at Dolby Laboratories in San Francisco. In 2006, he was Vice President of Engineering for Tymphany Corporation in Cupertino, California. He is currently an independent consultant.

Mr. Struck is the author of many technical papers, application notes and articles. He is a Fellow of the AES, a Member of the ASA, and a Senior Member of the IEEE. He is on the ANSI S3-48 Working Group on Hearing Aid Measurements, the IEEE Subcommittee on Telephone Instrument Testing, and the AES SC-04-03 Working Group on Loudspeaker Modeling and Measurement. He was the Workshops Co-Chair for the AES 117th Convention and the Papers Co-Chair for the AES 121st Convention in San Francisco, 6-9 October 2006.

Mr. Struck's visit is sponsored by a travel grant from the Montana Space Grant Consortium.

January 2007 Meeting

Wednesday, January 31, 2007
6:30PM
Room 108 EPS (Engineering and Physical Science Building), MSU Campus, Bozeman

"High Definition Television:  Past, Present, and Future"

Hosted by Doug Brekke, Black Box Design

Directions: EPS is located at 7^th Ave. and Grant St. on the MSU campus.  Enter the main doors and follow the left (north) hallway to Room 108.

This month MAAS is joining forces with the local IEEE section for a special meeting on HDTV, presented by our very own Doug Brekke.

What is high definition television? How are products developed and how do they get to the consumer?
When was high def first developed? Why did it take so long to get to market? What has been the role of standards?
What is BluRay? What about HD-DVD?
When should I buy a high def system? How can I receive it?

Come and hear the answers to these questions and more !!!

Free pizza &; pop! NOTE: To help plan the proper quantity of pizza and beverages, please sign up via the IEEE Section website:
http://ewh.ieee.org/r6/montana/MTCalendar.htm , OR notify Richard Wolff at 994-7172 (or e-mail: [email protected] ), to make reservations by noon, January 30.

DOUG BREKKE is owner of Black Box Design, a specialized audio and electronics consulting firm located in Big Timber.

October 2006 Special Event

Sunday, October 29, 2006
7:30PM
Reynolds Recital Hall, Howard Hall (music building), MSU Bozeman

MULTIMEDIA CONCERT featuring KRISTI MCGARITY

Directions: Reynolds Recital Hall is in Howard Hall (music building) on S. 11th Avenue. Howard Hall is located just north of 11th and Grant (across 11th Avenue from the Duck Pond). Enter Howard Hall from 11th street and take the first left into the Reynolds Recital Hall lobby.

The MSU Department of Music is proud to announce the new Sunday Night Multimedia Series this Sunday, October 29th at 7:30 PM in Reynolds Recital Hall, Howard Hall.  Admission is free.

Please join us for the first multimedia event sponsored by the new Music Technology program, and experience the debut of our brand-new multispeaker sound diffusion system.  The program will include an international selection of electronic music and video works by some of today's most exciting composer/filmmaker collaborations.  Animated digital art, hand-drawn film, and transformed photography will be featured along with electronic music by MSU faculty member Kristi McGarity and others.  Music will be projected throughout the hall, as sounds zoom around the audience space in real-time surround sound.  Works on the program cover subject material from quantum mechanics and the mystery of time to early-'90s techno, jazz in 4D, and the cartoon adventures of Nipper the RCA mascot.

KRISTI MCGARITY, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music, directs the new Music Technology program and teaches music technology, composition, and oboe at Montana State University. She earned a degree in oboe performance from the University of Michigan and a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Texas, where she is currently completing her doctoral dissertation. She has studied composition at UT with Russell Pinkston, Donald Grantham, Dan Welcher, and Kevin Puts, and she served as oboist with the New Music Ensemble directed by Dan Welcher. In addition to her work at UT, she has taught electronic music at Austin Community College and oboe at Austin Lyric Opera's Armstrong Community Music School. Her background in acoustic and electronic media includes theatrical composition and sound design, songwriting and production, and collaborative works for film/video and dance. Awards and honors include first prize in the 2001 ASCAP/SEAMUS Commission Competition, a prize in the Athena 2001 Festival Competition, and recordings on the Summit Records label, the Murray State University Concert Choir CD A Choral Tour of Italy, and the SEAMUS CD series.

October 2006 Meeting

NOTE:  special time and date this month.

FRIDAY, October 20, 2006
3:00-4:00PM
Room 101 Roberts Hall, MSU Campus, Bozeman

PSYCHOACOUSTIC RESEARCH and REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS

Presented by Durand Begault, Ph.D., NASA Ames Research Center

Directions: Roberts Hall is the 4-story brick building located at the east end of Centennial Mall, 6th and Garfield. Take the stairs to the lower level; Room 101 is at the east end of the hallway.

Dr. Begault will review the basic and applied research context of his work over the last 18 years at NASA Ames Research Center, focusing on acoustic engineering and applied psychoacoustics for aerospace communications and avionics displays. Research into optimizing the design of auralization systems for simulating acoustic environments and the advantages of including haptic (vibratory) information within simulations will also be discussed. The use of an iterative approach to research and development for advanced acoustic displays will be emphasized.

DURAND BEGAULT (AES Fellow, 2002) is recognized worldwide within the acoustic and psychoacoustic community as an important figure in the field of virtual acoustic "3-D audio" systems and displays. He has been associated with the Human Information Processing Research Branch of NASA Ames Research Center, located at Moffett Field in the Silicon Valley, since 1988. His peer-reviewed journal publications, patents, and books are cited in 57 US patents, and over one hundred scientific and engineering journal publications. His 1994 book "3-D sound for virtual reality and multimedia" sold over 3000 copies; he is also author of an interactive CD-ROM on computer audio production published by Academic Press, and of chapters in several acoustic and virtual environment reference books. Dr. Begault's research activities include development and evaluation of new audio and multi-modal technologies for aeronautic and space applications. These technologies involve psychophysical evaluation of spatial hearing, speech intelligibility, and performance in virtual environment systems; room acoustic analysis and simulation; and improvement of communications and warning systems. He is also active as an expert witness and acoustical consultant, and serves as Director of the Audio Forensic Center, Charles M. Salter Associates, San Francisco. He is a member of the Acoustical Society of America, the Audio Engineering Society, and the Institute of Noise Control Engineering. His activities at AES include the organization of many workshops and paper sessions, chairing of the Technical Committee on Perception and Subjective Evaluation of Audio Signals, and membership on the AES Journal's review board since 1993.

September 2006 Meeting

Wednesday, September 27, 2006
7:00PM
HeadRoom, 2020 Gilkerson Dr., Bozeman

"Headphones, Amps, and Accessories: What's New at HeadRoom"

Presented by Tyll Hertsens and the staff of HeadRoom

Directions: HeadRoom is located at 2020 Gilkerson Dr. in the same building as Marathon seat covers. Heading north on N. 7th you will cross the interstate and take a right on Griffin. Gilkerson is then the first right turn and HeadRoom is in the first building. You should be able to park anywhere that's available in the lot or on the street.

A lot has changed at HeadRoom (www.headphone.com) since the last MAAS visit (spring 2004), so we will be showing you our newest lineup of amplifiers which now have the option for internal digital to analog converters. We will have our high end room set up with the Wadia 861 SE and some balanced amplifiers so you can hear for yourself the advantage of balanced drive. We will also give you a sneak peak at what's coming down the line for HeadRoom as well.

Bring your favorite discs, portable sources and digital sources, or even some of your headphones if you want to hear them at their best or compare them to some of the newer models out as there are a lot of really good new headphones. Most importantly, enjoy!

August 2006 Meeting

Monday, August 28, 2006
Noon-4PM or so.
Montana PBS Studios, 11th &; Grant, MSU Campus, Bozeman

"A TASTE OF NAB"
The Road Show - Hosted by the Montana Chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers

Presented by Larry Bloomfield

Directions: The PBS studios are located in the Visual Communications Building at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grant Street in Bozeman.

As promised, the Montana chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers is proud to again sponsor Larry Bloomfield's Taste of NAB:  hot information from the National Association of Broadcasters convention, the world's largest electronic media show!

The event will begin at 12:00 noon on Monday, August 28^th, with a sponsored lunch (RSVP required!), followed immediately with the show. We'll have you out by 4:00pm, in time to return home and claim a modest amount of overtime, in the name of continuing education, peer networking, and whatever else it takes to drag you out of the office.

Larry's show is an expertly delivered overview of some of the technological highlights of this past NAB show. The information is great, the lunch is free, and the door prizes... ohhh the door prizes!

The show is appropriate for television engineers, radio engineers, production personnel, general managers (checkbook required ;).  Students are particularly invited to attend.

More information, as well as directions to the venue are available at: 
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2006/46-Bozeman.htm

Don't forget, please RSVP (for a lunch count) to [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

LARRY BLOOMFIELD is  a noted broadcast engineer, publisher, writer, and consultant.

May 2006 Meeting

Wednesday, May 31, 2006
7:00PM
32A Shawnee Way, Bozeman, MT

A Peek at What's New in Home Theater Equipment: Poindexters.com
Hosted by Bill Costigan

Directions: Poindexters ( http://www.poindexters.com/ ) is located just east of Bozeman. Heading east on Main Street, continue under the I-90 overpass and onto the East Frontage Road. Go two streets past Dick Walter VW. Turn Right (south) on Shawnee Way (Culligan Water on the corner) and head straight into the warehouse village. Poindexters is on the right at 32A: look for the big white van.

Caption: Bill Constigan (far left) explains his High Definition video projection demonstration.

For our May meeting, Bill Costigan will open the Poindexters.com facility to demonstrate a variety of what's new and innovative in home theater projects this year. Billy will show a state-of-the-art Sony Qualia video projector with HD input, a surround sound setup, and review some of the cool new gadgetry Poindexters is using in home theater installations.

This presentation will be informal and fun with plenty of time for Q&;A. The meeting is free and open to the public. Students are particularly welcome to attend.

BILL COSTIGAN is the Director and Founder of Poindexters.com .

April 2006 Meeting

Wednesday, April 26, 2006
7:00PM
Strand Union Building, Room 106E, MSU Bozeman

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR IN RECORDED MUSIC
From the Perspective of the Recording Engineer
Presented by Phil Dawson

Directions: The Strand Union Building is located at the northwest corner of 7th Avenue and Grant Street in Bozeman. Room 106E is on the lower level, north side, at the foot of the north entrance stairs (through the doors from the Bobcat Grill area). Inquire at the Ask Us reception desk if you need directions once you are in the building.

For our April meeting, Phil Dawson will host a short presentation (under one hour) of musical examples for critical listening. The examples will introduce the sound and music elements commonly present in music recording, and help illustrate how these elements can be altered creatively in the recording and mix down process. A checklist of musical elements will be provided and explored.

This presentation will help explain how to listen to any kind of musical recording (or live performance) more critically. All types of ears-from golden, to tin, to silicon-are invited to attend!

The meeting is free and open to the public. Students are particularly welcome to attend: take a short break from your last week of studying!

PHIL DAWSON is a Montana-based audio engineer.

March 2006 Meeting

REAL TIME MUSIC SYNTHESIS: An Introduction and Performance Demonstration of SUPERCOLLIDER 3
Presented by Chad Langford
Bozeman-based composer and bassist for the Jeni Fleming Trio!

Wednesday, March 29, 2006
7:00PM
KUSM Studio, Visual Communications Building, MSU Campus, Bozeman

Directions: The Visual Communications Building is located at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grant Street in Bozeman.

Caption: Chad Langford (far left) presents a real time music synthesis patch using Supercollider 3.
 

Greetings MAAS members,
My name is Chad Langford, Montana composer and bassist for the Jeni Fleming Trio. It is my pleasure to cordially invite you to a unique performance lecture which I'll be giving on Wednesday, March 29th in the Visual Communications Building at 7:00 p.m.

The lecture will be an introduction and performance demonstration of SuperCollider 3, a realtime audio synthesis environment created by Apple developer James McCartney for Mac OS X. Attendees will receive a whirlwind tour of the basic features of the language, and will experience it directly through several pieces which I've composed utilizing its do-it-yourself flexibility.

SuperCollider has become, along with its predecessors Max/MSP and CSound, an increasingly popular tool in advanced computer music creation, with universities and conservatories such as Peabody, Princeton, BYU, and the University of Colorado now offering courses in the language.

Mac laptop users are welcome to download the software (which is now free and open source) in advance and bring their machines to the lecture. You can obtain SuperCollider via the link below; download "SuperCollider Server" for Mac OSX (the other posted versions are out of date).

http://www.audiosynth.com

I'll look forward to seeing you there!

Warmest regards,

chad langford.

http://www.chadlangford.com

CHAD LANGFORD is a Bozeman-based composer, teacher, and bassist for the Jeni Fleming Trio

January 2006 Meeting

MEDIA and THEATER ARTS: The MSU Sound Track
Hosted by Theo Lipfert

Wednesday, January 25, 2006
7:00PM
Visual Communications Building, MSU Campus, Bozeman

Directions: The Visual Communications Building is located at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grant Street in Bozeman.

For our first meeting of 2006, Prof. Theo Lipfert will give a tour of the audio facilities and present a brief overview of the Media &; Theater Arts sound curriculum. We will also have a chance to see and hear examples of student work, see a demo of the new Pro Tools 7 software, and tour the Non Linear Lab.

Please meet in the 2nd floor lobby area of the Visual Communications Building…and bring a friend!

THEO LIPFERT is an Assistant Professor with the MSU Department of Media and Theater Arts, Bozeman, Montana.

December 2005 Meeting

Wednesday, December 21, 2005
7:00PM
Reynolds Recital Hall, Howard Hall (music building), MSU Bozeman

MAAS HOLIDAY GET-TOGETHER

Directions: The meeting will be held in Reynolds Recital Hall, which is in Howard Hall (music building) on S. 11th Avenue. Howard Hall is located just north of 11th and Grant (across 11th Avenue from the Duck Pond). Enter Howard Hall from 11th street and take the first left into the Reynolds Recital Hall lobby. The door to the upstairs recording booth will be propped open.

Phil Dawson of the MSU Music Department has graciously offered to host an informal social get-together for the Montana Audio and Acoustics Society this month. Please stop by and share some pleasant company, good conversation, and partake in some holiday goodies.

You are invited to bring an edible treat to share--if you are so inclined--and please feel free to attend in any case. Students and guests are particularly welcome to attend.

Phil Dawson will demonstrate the new Tannoy Ellipse 10 monitors in the Reynolds Hall control room, so bring your favorite holiday CDs, too.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a sonorous 2006.

October 2005 Meeting

Wednesday, October 26, 2005
7:00PM
Music Villa, 539 East Main Street, Bozeman
Phone: 587-4761

AUDIO: THE LOCAL SCENE AND THE LOCAL STORE
Hosted by Geno Kreis, Manager, Music Villa

Directions: Music Villa is located on the north side of Main Street between Wallace St. and Church St.
Parking is available in the Music Villa lot and on surrounding streets. Please do NOT park in the D.A. Davidson lot or the Ale Works lot.

Join us to hear how the audio and music needs of the Bozeman area are being met by the folks at Music Villa. What does it take to run a successful audio/music retail business in the internet age? Geno Kreis will give an overview of the "local scene" in the music business and explain the current and future prospects for the industry here in the Gallatin Valley and beyond.

Plan to attend this informal and informative meeting...and bring a friend!

Students are particularly welcome to attend. The meeting is free and open to the public.

GENO KREIS is the manager of Music Villa, Bozeman, Montana.

August 2005 Meeting

Wednesday, August 31, 2005
7:00PM
Strand Union Building, Room 273, MSU Bozeman

TUTORIAL: A PRIMER ON MICROPHONES AND LOUDSPEAKERS
Presented by Rob Maher

Directions: Room 273 is a meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Strand Union Building (7th and Grant). Inquire at the Ask Us reception desk if you need directions once you are in the building.

How do microphones and loudspeakers convert between electrical and acoustical energy? In this presentation I will describe the basic principles and features of common microphone types including condenser, dynamic, and piezoelectric, and the basic features of closed-box and vented box dynamic loudspeakers. The presentation will be a tutorial: I will emphasize the basics and not assume everyone is already an expert! There will be time for discussion among the attendees, too.

ROB MAHER is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Montana State University-Bozeman.

July 2005 Meeting

Wednesday, July 27, 2005
1:00PM (NOTE afternoon meeting time!)
Brick Breeden Field House, Montana State University campus, Bozeman, MT. Southeast entrance door.

BOB DYLAN SHOW: BEHIND THE SCENES
Hosted by Doug Brekke, Black Box Design

Directions: The Brick Breeden Field House is located just east of the intersection of South 11th Avenue and Lincoln Road. Walk around the south side to the southeast entrance door. Visitor pay parking is available at the information booth on 7th Avenue at Grant Street. From there you can walk around the tennis courts to reach the Field House. Look for Doug Brekke at the southeast door.

What does it take to put on a touring rock and roll road show? Come find out at a backstage tour of the audio setup for the Bob Dylan concert! Please note that the meeting will start at 1:00PM to accommodate the load-in and the concert preparations. MAAS member and concert sound expert Doug Brekke will be the host for this unique tour. If we are lucky we may also get to meet some of the touring sound crew.

And, you DO NOT need a ticket to the concert to attend this tour!

DOUG BREKKE is owner of Black Box Design, a specialized audio and electronics consulting firm located in Big Timber.

May 2005 Meeting

Wednesday, May 25, 2005
7:00PM
Todd the Vinyl &; Headphone Junkie, 405 2nd Ave East, Three Forks, MT (phone: 406-285-3910)

HIGH-END: ANALOG AND VINYL LIVES--AND SOUNDS BETTER THAN EVER
Hosted by Todd "The Vinyl Junkie" Green

Directions: Take the Three Forks exit (exit 278) from I-90 and head south into town. Go through downtown on Main Street to Fir Street and take a left. Go 2 blocks and take another left. Your destination is on the right hand side of the street between Fir and Elm - 405 2nd Ave East. Call 285-3910 for directions if you get lost!

www.toddthevinyljunkie.com

Come out to Three Forks and hear some of the current high end analog rigs and hear why vinyl has risen like the Phoenix and become very popular once again. There will also be digital sources available to hear. Feel free to bring your favorite piece of vinyl (or two) to hear on a VPI HRX with a Lyra Titan cartridge or the Transrotor Fat Bob with a Lyra Argo.

TODD F. GREEN is President and Gofer of Todd the Vinyl &; Headphone Junkie, Three Forks.

April 2005 Meeting

This meeting marks the second anniversary of the Montana Audio group. Thanks to everyone for your help and support!

Wednesday, April 27, 2005
7:00PM
Jereco Studios, 611 N. Wallace #4, Bozeman, MT (phone: 406-586-5262)

STEREO MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES AND MONO COMPATIBILITY
Hosted by Jeremiah Slovarp

Directions: Take Wallace Ave. north from East Main Street. The studio is on the northwest corner of Wallace and Peach in the historic Bon-Ton Flour Mills building. Here is a map.

Continuing our recent series of meetings on microphones, please join us for a special presentation on stereo microphone techniques presented by Jeremiah Slovarp. Jeremiah will explain the M/S, Spaced Pair, ORTF, and X-Y microphone techniques and how each is assembled and properly mixed. We will utilize a two track recorder with screen display so we can examine the phase relationships. There will be a discussion on the importance of mono compatibility in broadcast TV and radio and the challenges presented working in surround sound, stereo, and mono mixdowns.

JEREMIAH SLOVARP is the owner of Jereco Studios, Bozeman.

March 2005 Meeting

Wednesday, March 30, 2005
7:00PM
KUSM-TV Studio A, Visual Communications Building, MSU Campus, Bozeman

MICROPHONE MEASUREMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS
Presented by Jeremiah Slovarp, Doug Brekke, and Phil Dawson

(Thank you to Eric Hyyppa and the MontanaPBS staff for hosting us)

Caption: Rob Maher recites a Robert Frost poem in front of the microphone array from the March 30, 2005 MAAS meeting.
 (photo by Dana Hinckley)

Directions: The Visual Communications Building is located at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grant Street in Bozeman.

Please join us for an objective microphone comparison and analysis session at KUSM's Studio A. Using Real Time Analyzer tools we will look at the actual frequency response of a number of microphones. Following the tests we will discuss the characteristics and consider the tradeoffs in performance and price. Microphone brands will include Neumann, AKG, DPA, Sennheiser, Oktava, Audio-Technica, Shure, BLUE, and others.

JEREMIAH SLOVARP is the owner of Jereco Studios, Bozeman. DOUG BREKKE is the owner of Black Box Design, Big Timber. PHIL DAWSON is an adjunct instructor with the MSU Music Department..

"February" 2005 Meeting

THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2005 (NOTE: THURSDAY meeting date)
7:00PM
Reynolds Recital Hall, Howard Hall (music building), MSU Bozeman

DEVELOPMENTS IN AUDIO RECORDING AND PRODUCTION at MSU
Presented by Phil Dawson

Please join us for a special opportunity to see and hear about the MSU Music Department's new initiative in audio recording and production. The first part of the presentation will consist of a tour of the recording booth and the gear that the music department has recently purchased. The present set-up is a good example of a high-quality project studio that could be duplicated by anyone for a reasonable cost. A discussion will follow about the conceptual considerations and types of gear most applicable to the project studio environment.

The meeting will be held in Reynolds Recital Hall, located in Howard Hall (music building) on S. 11th Avenue. Howard Hall (music building) is located just north of 11th and Grant (across 11th Avenue from the Duck Pond). Enter Howard Hall from 11th street and take the first left into the Reynolds Recital Hall lobby. The door to the upstairs recording booth will be propped open.

PHIL DAWSON is an adjunct instructor with the MSU Music Department..

January 2005 Meeting

Wednesday, January 26, 2005
7:00PM
Cobleigh Hall, Room 632, MSU Bozeman

SOUND EVENT DETECTION USING PATTERN RECOGNITION
Presented by Jerry Gregoire

Directions: Cobleigh Hall is the 6-story red brick building located at 6th and Hayes (just east of the Strand Union Building). Take the elevator to the 6th floor; Room 632 is on the west hallway.

Although pattern recognition is an extremely old problem with numerous intertwined research threads over the years, there remains a need for innovation in this field. David Arathorn (2002) has recently proposed a new algorithm for pattern detection in images. The method, inspired by the neurobiology of the human visual system, performs an interactive comparison between a target pattern and a systematic set of allowable transformations applied to the observed image.

We have found that the unique features of this pattern detection algorithm for image processing show important promise in auditory scene analysis as well. Could this be the dramatic breakthrough that is needed in computational auditory scene analysis? Come hear about the current status of this research.

JERRY GREGOIRE is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

December 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, December 8, 2004
7:00PM
Strand Union Building, Room 275, MSU Bozeman

ON-LOCATION SOUND RECORDING TECHNIQUES
Hosted by Eric Burge

Directions: Room 275 is a meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Strand Union Building (7th and Grant). Inquire at the Ask Us reception desk if you need directions once you are in the building.

This meeting will be the first in a series (providing interest is sufficient), which focuses on field sound gathering techniques for the broadcast industry.

Sound-for-picture recording presents a variety of challenges or opportunities for the location audio technician. We will examine a typical "run-and-gun" style ENG/EFP (Electronic News Gathering/Electronic Field Production) sound package and discuss the setup and use of individual components, mic selection, gain structuring, mixing tricks, and common field repairs.

If time permits, we will also attempt to strate the time delay or latency associated with the new digital-hybrid wireless technology and how the sound tech can take advantage of this phenomenon during field production.

ERIC BURGE is a graduate student with the Science and Natural History Filmmaking program here at MSU. When not procrastinating on his thesis project, Eric works as a freelance production audio recordist and mixer. His professional background with various adventure sports and technical safety rigging for TV and feature films offers a fresh approach to creative problem solving and new uses for duct tape. Clients include A&E TV, History Channel, ESPN, Voom HD, Outdoor Life Network, and others.

October 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, October 27, 2004
7:00PM
Strand Union Building, Room 275 (main floor near Ask Us desk), MSU Bozeman

A MODERN PERSPECTIVE ON HEARING AIDS
Presented by Dr. Darrell Micken of Micken Hearing Services, Bozeman

An important aspect of audio and acoustics is an understanding of human hearing. Many individuals in our community--and perhaps even members of our audio interest group--suffer from some degree of hearing loss and can benefit from hearing aids. Dr. Micken will present information on the human ear, hearing conservation, hearing impairments, and the role of audiologists in assessing hearing and fitting hearing aids.

September 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, September 29, 2004
7:00PM
Strand Union Building, Room 325 (3rd Floor), MSU Bozeman

TOUR OF KGLT-FM STUDIOS
Hosted by Craig "Nous" Clark, Production Director

Directions: KGLT is located on the 3rd floor of the Strand Union Building (7th and Grant). Take the stairs on the NORTH side of the building (near Avogadro's Number restaurant and Leigh Lounge) to the 3rd floor, turn left, and meet in the hallway outside the studio.

KGLT 91.9 FM provides 24 hour alternative public radio broadcasting from Montana State University in Bozeman, with translators in Helena (98.1) and Livingston (89.5). KGLT is a non-commercial, listener supported radio station with diverse music programming: jazz, classical, rock, soul, and in between. KGLT has been awarded the 'Best Radio Station in Bozeman' by the Tributary Magazine - surpassing 10 other local stations.

The tour will include an overview of the facilities, a description of operations, tour of the music library, and a stration of audio editing software.

September Special Event

Thursday, September 16, 2004
Reynolds Recital Hall, Howard Hall, MSU Bozeman

Two Special Presentations by JOHN NIX
National Center for Voice and Speech in Denver

Session I: Spectrographic Software in the Music Studio (2:30-4:00 pm)
Session II: Vocal Master Class (7:00-8:30 pm)

Directions: Reynolds Recital Hall is located in Howard Hall (Music Building), just northwest of the corner of 11th and Grant, MSU campus, Bozeman

Advancements in technology are changing the way musicians are trained in the studio. Spectrographic software for personal computers that illustrates the acoustic spectrum of musical tones in real time can be a great teaching tool for music teachers. For singers, it can provide instantaneous visual feedback on whether the "ring" is present, whether or not vowels are clipped or consonants are anticipated. This visual feedback complements kinesthetic feedback, thereby offering a valuable comparison for learning.

In Session I, John Nix will strate how spectrographic software can be used as a teaching tool in music studio. The evening session will offer students and teachers an opportunity to observe Mr. Nix as a master teacher of singing.

Both events are free and open to the public: no registration required.

This visit is sponsored by:

• MSU Music Department
• MSU Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
• and NSF-EPSCoR - Invited Speakers Program

Biography:
John Nix, Tenor, is Associate Director of Education and Special Projects and Coordinator of the Summer Vocology Institute for the National Center for Voice and Speech in Denver, where he works with internationally known voice scientist and educator Dr. Ingo Titze. Prior to his current position, Mr. Nix served on the music faculties of The University of Colorado at Denver and Eastern New Mexico University. Mr. Nix holds a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from The University of Colorado at Boulder, Certification in Vocology from The University of Iowa, and has pursued additional coursework towards the DMA degree. At Colorado, he studied voice and vocal pedagogy with the late Barbara Doscher and the Alexander Technique with James Brody. Mr. Nix was also a participant in the 1994 NATS Intern Program, where he worked with Thomas Houser and Barbara Honn. Prior to his studies at Colorado, he received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from The University of Georgia and a Master of Music Degree in Arts Administration from The Florida State University. His published articles have appeared in The NATS Journal, The New York Opera Newsletter, The Journal of Singing, Vocalease and The Opera Journal. Mr. Nix is the editor and annotator of From Studio to Stage: Repertoire for the Voice, compiled by Barbara Doscher (Scarecrow Press, published June 2002.)

August 2004 Meeting

Thursday, August 26, 2004
2:15PM (NOTE afternoon starting time)
1894 Orville Way, Bozeman

A TOUR AT THE GIBSON GUITAR FACTORY
Hosted by LaVonne Limpus, Product Specialist

Directions: The factory is located in northwest Bozeman off Simmental Road and Orville Way, which is between North 19th Avenue and I-90, north of Rawhide Rd., and south of Man's Gulch.

Instead of our usual Wednesday evening meeting, Gibson Guitars will host our group for a tour of the acoustic guitar factory on Thursday, August 26, at 2:15PM. The guitars are built almost entirely by hand and we will be able to see the various stages of production. The Bozeman factory is the only place Gibson makes acoustic guitars so this is a unique opportunity.

August Special Event

Society of Broadcast Engineers Event (MAAS folks are invited to attend):

Wednesday, August 11th
12:00pm - 3:00pm

TASTE OF NAB ROADSHOW
(National Association of Broadcasters)

Hosted at the studios of MontanaPBS at Montana State University - Bozeman.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Back again for a second year by popular demand, the Taste of NAB! Larry Bloomfield, who you may be familiar with from his work in Broadcast Engineering Magazine has put together a "Taste of NAB" Roadshow. And, he's taking it out to his fellow engineers who didn't make it to Vegas this year.

Larry will present products from 12 companies with demo units on display. No sales pitch, just information. Companies include; ESE clocks, Quartz routers, Cobalt Digital video converters, Sundance Digital automation, Reidel intercoms, InPhase Technologies mass storage, and more.

There will also be about $1000 in door prizes including; ADS DVD XPress device that will take either S-video (y/c) or composite and two channels of audio and provides a USB output, an AJA SDI to NTSC/PAL or y/c converter with power supply, a Sennheiser headset (model HD280 Pro), shirts from ESE / ASACA / Sundance Digital, and more. There will also be about $10,000 in door prizes drawn at the end of the series of road shows.

This event is hosted by your Montana Chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, but you need not be a member to attend.

Directions to MontanaPBS:
Take the 19th Street exit from I-90 and follow 19th street to College, hang a left and go east until 11th, hang a right and continue south until Grant Ave. The KUSM studios are located in the Visual Communications Building on the corner of Grant and 11th. Ample parking is available, and free parking hang-tags will be provided for attendees.

For more information contact:

Montana SBE Chapter 137
Eric Hyyppa, Chairman
(406)994-3437
[email protected]

July Special Event

Saturday, July 31, 2004

INFORMAL AUDIO TOUR prior to BSO PERFORMANCE IN BIG SKY

Jereco Studios will be providing 5.1 Surround Sound live for the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra on July 31st in Big Sky. MAAS members are welcome to check out the setup in the afternoon before the concert begins at 6pm. This is the third time the orchestra will be featured live in surround sound. Last year there were 2000 people at the Pavilion in Big Sky for the performance, and a similar crowd is expected this year!

July 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, July 28, 2004
7:00PM
Strand Union Building (SUB), Room 271, MSU Campus, Bozeman

LISTENING SESSION: EAR TRAINING, AUDIO ILLUSIONS, AND PSYCHOACOUSTICS
Hosted by Rob Maher

Audio engineering's ultimate goal is to provide good sound: pleasing, realistic, and accurate when the sound arrives at the listeners' ears. Therefore, it helps to understand how the human hearing apparatus (ears and brain) work together when listening. This meeting will be devoted to listening to a variety of audio signals that strate various aspects of how we hear sounds under various conditions. You are also invited to bring along any CDs you have that strate particular audio illusions or sonic effects.

May 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, May 26, 2004
6:00PM (NOTE early starting time)
Visual Communications Building, MSU Campus, Bozeman

KUSM-TV Studio and Transmitter Site Tour
Hosted by Eric Hyyppa and Dana Hinckley

Directions: The Visual Communications Building is located at the northeast corner of 11th and Grant.

The Montana Audio and Acoustics Society May meeting will be a tour of KUSM-TV. The tour will begin at the studios on the MSU campus. The studio tour will include: Studio A, Production Control, Audio Control, Master Control, and the Satellite Uplink Facility. Following the studio tour there will be an optional trip to the new analog and DIGITAL transmitter site on Green Mountain east of Bozeman.

FOR THOSE WISHING TO VISIT THE TRANSMITTER SITE ON GREEN MOUNTAIN: The road to the transmitter is rough and not appropriate for passenger cars, and there is limited parking at the site. Therefore, we will need to share SUV transportation to/from the transmitter. PLEASE RSVP to [email protected] BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY ON Monday, May 24, indicating if you are planning to go to the transmitter site, and if so, whether you can offer any seats in your high clearance vehicle. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!

April 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, April 28, 2004
7:00PM
Room 632 Cobleigh Hall, MSU Campus, Bozeman

AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION: Why Isn't It On Every Desktop?
Presented by Prof. Ross Snider, MSU ECE Department

Directions: Cobleigh Hall is the 6-story red brick building located at 6th and Hayes (just east of the Strand Union Building). Take the elevator to the 6th floor; Room 632 is on the west hallway.

Compared to human beings, the current crop of commercial "speech recognition" products perform quite poorly. Humans can understand speech even when it has been corrupted by noise, distorted or bandlimited, while automatic systems may fail due to something as simple as replacing the input microphone with another one. Dr. Ross Snider of the MSU ECE Department will critique the popular methods for automatic speech recognition and examine what is known about the brain that could greatly improved performance and robustness. Audio examples will also be presented.

March 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, March 31, 2004
7:00PM

HEADPHONE LISTENING EVENT at HeadRoom Corporation

Directions: Head north on 7th Avenue over I-90. Turn right on Griffin Drive then turn right on Gilkerson (2020 Gilkerson Drive). HeadRoom shares a parking lot with Marathon Seat Covers. If there's parking available in the lot use it, otherwise just park on the street.

Please join us for an active listening session with a variety of products from Bozeman's own HeadRoom Corporation (http://headroom.headphone.com), hosted by Tyll Hertsens and Jamey Warren. We'll be listening to some of the best headphone setups in the world. We'll discuss the differences between amplifier design and headphones and why they sound different. Please bring some CD's you are familiar with. There will be plenty of setups for multiple people to be listening.

February 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, February 25, 2004
7:00PM

AN EVENING WITH LARRY DIMARZIO

Directions: Meet in the lobby of the Baxter Hotel, 105 W. Main, at 7PM. We will walk to Larry DiMarzio's studio from there.

You may already be familiar with the famous "DiMarzio pickup" used by top guitar performers since the mid-1970's. Now here is a chance to meet the inventor and entrepreneur behind it all. Mr. DiMarzio will speak about the history of his business (www.dimarzio.com), his past and present inventions, and the nature of his current work. He will also give us a stration featuring DiMarzio cable and the custom speakers he's crafting.

January 2004 Meeting

Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Visual Communications Building Studio B (room 233)
7:00PM

A REPORT ON SOME DO-IT-YOURSELF DIGITAL AUDIO PROJECTS

Directions: The Visual Communications Building is located on the MSU-Bozeman campus, northeast corner of 11th and Grant

For our first meeting of 2004, Dave Koester will describe a combination microphone pre-amp and analog to digital converter he is building for portable recording. Then Rob Maher will give a nuts and bolts stration of real time audio effects implemented on a microprocessor board. There will also be time for discussion and comments.

November 2003 Meetings

Wednesday, November 19, 2003
7:00PM

TOUR OF PEAK RECORDING
Hosted by Gil Stober and staff
395 Valley Drive, Bozeman. Phone: 586-1650

Directions: Valley Drive (gravel) runs north-south between W. Babcock and W. Durston, several blocks west of 19th Avenue.

Please plan to attend a tour of Peak Recording, one of the oldest and most respected recording studios in Bozeman.

Friday, November 7, 2003
7:00PM
Room 273 Strand Union Bldg. (SUB), MSU Campus, Bozeman

Topic #1:

mLAN: Audio and MIDI over FireWire
Presented by Dr. John Strawn, S Systems/Yamaha, Larkspur, CA

IEEE-1394, also known as FireWire, is an advanced serial bus offering high-speed asynchronous and isochronous data transfer. As such it is ideally suited for real-time multimedia applications, and has been widely adopted, especially for consumer video applications. Yamaha has helped establish a protocol known as mLan for carrying audio samples and MIDI data over FireWire. This presentation will cover the potential of FireWire for the audio and music industries, the basic components of FireWire, the technical fundamentals of mLan, and hardware implementations.

Biography: Originally trained as a performing musician, John Strawn is now an independent consultant specializing in DSP for audio and music (www.s-systems-inc.com). He graduated with the Ph.D. from Stanford in 1985. A Fellow of the AES, he chairs the AES standards committee SC-06-02 on audio and music over 1394, and will be Convention Chairman for the October 2004 San Francisco convention. Having led an R&D group for Yamaha for several years, he continues to consult for Yamaha, especially relating to 1394.

Topic #2:

Bozeman Symphony Sound Reinforcement: Multichannel Surround
Presented by Jeremiah Slovarp, Jereco Studios, Bozeman, MT

Following Dr. Strawn's presentation, we are invited to visit the SUB Ballroom to tour the surround sound setup for the Bozeman Symphony performance on Saturday night. Jeremiah Slovarp will show us his gear and system configuration while the symphony rehearses for the performance.

October 2003 Meeting

Wednesday, October 15, 2003
7:00PM
Room 272 Strand Union Bldg. (SUB), MSU Campus, Bozeman

HOT FROM THE BIG APPLE: REPORT ON THE AUDIO ENGINEERING SOCIETY CONVENTION
Presented by Rob Maher, ECE Department, MSU

The 115th AES Convention was held in New York City last week (Oct. 10-13). The meeting included dozens of technical papers, workshops, tutorial sessions, demonstrations, and a massive audio trade show at the Jacob Javits convention center.

In this presentation Rob Maher will summarize what was "hot" in the audio business this year, and give a few comments on where the industry is heading in the future. There will also be a drawing for a modest door prize!

Bobcat Stadium Audio Tour

Saturday, September 27, 2003 (15 minutes after the game)

Doug Brekke will host a tour of the new audio facilities at Bobcat Stadium on the MSU campus in Bozeman. Please meet about 15 minutes after the game near the last row of outdoor seats below the press box. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free tour.

September 2003 Meeting:

Wednesday, September 24, 2003
7:00PM

DEMONSTRATION OF ACOUSTICAL MEASUREMENTS USING THE TEF ANALYZER
Presented by Doug Brekke of Black Box Design

The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday September 24, in the Gallatin County Courthouse Community Room, 311 West Main, in Bozeman. Please enter through the Side Door (Faces East, On 3rd Avenue). The Community Room is on the Third Floor.

Doug will demonstrate the GoldLine TEF audio analysis and test equipment. Measurement capabilities include Energy Time Curve (ETC), Time Delay Spectrometry (TDS), Real Time Analysis (RTA), and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The Community Room sound system contains a Shure P4800 Digital Signal Processor. The P4800 will be used to demonstrate several TEF features. Following the TEF demonstration, Doug will also give a tour of the Community Room audio/video equipment.

Other meetings have included a surround sound seminar (Mike Sokol), a demo of Nuendo Software (Dave Koester), Jereco Studio Tour (Jeremiah Slovarp), Bozeman Food Coop sound installation tour (Bill Costigan), perceptual audio coding (Rob Maher), and sound development for gaming machines (Chris McGary).