---

(Click to download full text file in Microsoft Word DOC format)
• Recording Academy Press Release Index

---

INDUSTRY SUPERSTARS TURN OUT FOR
6TH ANNUAL PACIFIC NORTHWEST STUDIO SUMMIT

— The Producers & Engineers Wing,
the Pacific Northwest Chapter of The Recording Academy® and GC Pro Presented
the 6th Annual PNW Studio Summit at Seattle's Experience Music Project —

— Producers/Engineers Joe Chiccarelli and Mike Clink Joined
Mastering Legend Bernie Grundman at EMP to Examine the Art and Craft of Audio and Explore Digital Delivery and Archiving Standards —

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 22, 2006) — The Pacific Northwest recording community gathered for a day of panels, gear demonstrations and networking at The Recording Academy®'s 6th Annual Pacific Northwest Studio Summit. The Summit, which took place on March 4 in the JBL Theatre at Seattle's Experience Music Project, was co-sponsored by EMP and GC Pro — the professional audio division of Guitar Center, Inc. — which provided attendees the chance to become familiar with several new pieces of pro audio equipment.

Kicking off the day was a keynote interview with producer/engineer Joe Chiccarelli (Café Tacuba, Beck, Melissa Etheridge) by Seattle studio owner and P&E Wing Co-Chairman Glenn Lorbecki, that ranged from Chiccarelli's production techniques and experiences recording Elton John and Beck to the changing role of the producer in a more consolidated music industry.

Following Chiccarelli, mastering legend Bernie Grundman took center stage for an in-depth presentation on the history of mastering. Grundman used material by Michael Jackson and Jack Johnson to illustrate some of his personal techniques, and participated in a lively Q&A with the audience on everything from his preferred signal chain to the inherent problems of digital audio.

Between presentations, the audience networked and sampled equipment in EMP's Learning Labs from event sponsors GC Pro, Gibson Guitar and Ultrasone Headphones. Prizes of a Mackie ONYX-1620 Premium Analog Mixer and DrumCore software were awarded to Steve Mack, Larry Crane, and Doug Dubrow, the winner of a recording trivia quiz.

The panel "Better Safe than Sorry: Managing Your Masters," moderated by P&E Wing Executive Director Maureen Droney, featured Steve Smith (Avastor, Inc.), Rick Senechal (Microsoft Studios), Chiccarelli and Lorbecki and dug deep into the current state of digital storage. Smith held the audience rapt describing the proper care of hard drives, and the panel also enumerated current challenges of master delivery, highlighting recommendations put forward by the P&E Wing.

"Great Perfomances," an interview with producer/engineer Mike Clink (Guns n' Roses, Megadeth, Metallica) by PNW Chapter Executive Director Ben London, rounded out the day. Clink spoke eloquently about everything from choosing material, to making singers comfortable while cutting vocals, to how he helped Guns n' Roses forge their signature sound.

"The Studio Summits bring people together in a really meaningful way, reflecting that creativity is an interactive process," commented Droney. "This event focused on some of today's leading edge professional audio issues such as delivery and archiving standards. It was a terrific day, and we look forward to continuing this series of events coast to coast throughout The Recording Academy's 12 Chapters."

 

Photo File: PNWSummit_1.JPG
Photo Caption: (Shown L-R) Rick Senechal, Microsoft Studios; producer/engineer Joe Chiccarelli; Glenn Lorbecki, P&E Wing Co-Chairman and owner of Seattle's Glenn Sound; Maureen Droney, P&E Wing Executive Director; Ben London, PNW Chapter Executive Director ; Mastering legend Bernie Grundman; and Steve Smith, Avastor, Inc.

Photo File: PNWSummit_2.JPG
Photo Caption: (Shown L-R) Maureen Droney, P&E Wing Executive Director; Glenn Lorbecki, P&E Wing Co-Chairman and owner of Seattle's Glenn Sound; PNW Chapter Executive Director Ben London; and producer/engineer Mike Clink.

Photos courtesy of The Recording Academy®
Photos by Kevin Casey/WireImage ©2006

Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as 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 Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs — including the creation of the national public education campaign What's The Download® (www.WhatsTheDownload.com). For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

Currently, 6,000 professionals comprise the Producers & Engineers Wing, which was established for producers, engineers, remixers, manufacturers, technologists, and other related creative and technical professionals in the recording community. This organized voice for the creative and technical recording community addresses issues that affect the craft of recorded music, while ensuring its role in the development of new technologies, recording and mastering recommendations, and archiving and preservation initiatives. The Wing builds on the existing regional professional development activities of The Recording Academy, which include workshops, forums and panel discussions, and other recording technology-related events, all occurring locally and nationally throughout the year. For more information, please visit www.grammy.com.

Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Robbie Clyne Neilson/Clyne, Inc. 615.662.1616 rclyne@neilsonclyne.com

Barb Dehgan The Recording Academy 310.392.3777

Lisa Roy 626.395.0163 lisaroyaudio@mac.com

 

Copyright ©2006, Neilson/Clyne, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Contact: info@neilsonclyne.com