FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® Releases Updated "Recommendation for Delivery of Recorded Music Projects"
135th AES Convention, New York, NY (October 18, 2013) — The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® has announced the release of an updated version of the influential, committee-created Master Delivery Recommendations white paper. Titled "Recommendation for Delivery of Recorded Music Projects (Including Stems and Mix Naming Conventions)," this updated document (also known as Rev. 51_09_27_13) reflects current recommended best practices for master media delivery and storage, along with new guidelines for delivery of audio mix stems and recording personnel credits.
Specifying the physical deliverables that are the foundation of the creative process, the underlying objective of this document is the understanding that it is in the interest of all parties involved to make recorded music projects accessible for both the short and long term. To that end, this document recommends reliable backup, delivery and archiving methodologies for current audio technologies, which should ensure that music will be completely and reliably recoverable and protected from damage, obsolescence and loss.
The Delivery Specifications Committee, consisting of leading producers, engineers, record company executives and others working primarily in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, in conjunction with the AES Technical Committee on Studio Practices and Production and the AES Nashville Section, developed the original Delivery Recommendations. During its development, the committee met regularly at The Recording Academy® Nashville Chapter offices to discuss the issues surrounding the short- and long-term viability of the creative tools used in the recording process, and to design a specification in the interest of all parties involved in the recording process. The first iteration of the document was released in July 2002, and it was subsequently updated in 2004, 2005 and 2008, to stay current with ongoing changes in industry recording and archiving practices. The current revision was completed in September 2013.
The 2013 Delivery Specifications Committee was chaired by John Spencer, president of BMS/Chace, Inc. and engineer/producer Jeff Balding. The newly-created Stems and Mix Naming Conventions section of the document was conceived and drafted by Balding. Other members of the 2013 Committee included Chuck Ainlay, Alison Booth, Barry Cardinael, Jim Kaiser, Kyle Lehning, George Massenburg, Pat McMakin and Bil VornDick. Contributors to the Mix Stems subcommittee, chaired by Balding, also included Joe Chiccarelli, Jimmy Douglass, Alia Fahlborg, Ben Fowler, James McKinney, Nick Palladino, Dan Rudin and Eric Schilling.
The Delivery Specifications Committee intends to review the document periodically with regards to recording and storage techniques, hardware and formats to ensure its continuing relevance within commonly accepted industry practices. This Committee is open to all comment from interested parties, and notification of meetings is available by e-mailing p&ewing@grammy.com.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is 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 @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Instagram, Foursquare, GetGlue, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
Currently more than 6,000 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.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Robert Clyne/Clyne Media, Inc./615.662.1616/robert@clynemedia.com
Lisa Roy/Rock & Roy/310.463.1563/lisaroyaudio@mac.com
Louis Vazquez/The Recording Academy/310.392.3777/louis.vazquez@grammy.com
The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® will be exhibiting at booth 2749 at the 135th AES Convention in New York, NY.
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