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Audio Engineering Society
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PALA '98 - AES Seminar reported by: Dr. Roland K C Tan, Chairman (Term 1997/98)
This year's trade show saw 300 exhibiting companies and representatives from 22 countries spanning a gross area of 12,000m2 of exhibition space at the World Trade Centre. The section also held a 3-day exhibition during the show from 17 to 19 July 1998 to promote its memberships and the AES publications. The committee was generally very pleased with the many visitors that included both local as well as regional AES members such as the Indian Section, who had stopped by at the booth. They had also received many inquiries regarding AES memberships and its activities where quite a few had signed up the membership form on the spot. The chairman kicked off the seminar session by giving a 5 minutes opening address that highlighted, among other things, the objectives of the society. One of the fundamental principles upon which the local section was founded is that it has an important role to play to promote education in audio technology and its allied arts in Singapore. The Singapore Section was formed officially in December 1995 and is affiliated to the AES Inc. in New York that has more than 100 sections worldwide in more than 40 countries. With merely 20 local members when it first started, it has since grown to a current figure of 72 members. This was followed by a 10 minutes keynote address from Ms. Laurel Cash-Jones, Vice President of the AES International Region. And delivering the keynote address on behalf of Ms. Cash-Jones who was absent due to some health reasons was David Robinson who was also Vice President of the region from 1995 to 1997. Her speech was most appropriately titled, "In Search of the Last dB". In her script, she cautioned that in our rush to improve the latest and most current music delivery systems, it is crucial that we do not take a wrong turn that could affect the reproduced sound quality. Although she believes that reduced bit rate device have a place in the consumer delivery format, it is certainly not for the production/acquisition format. If we were to settle on a ratio of more storage through a bit-rate reduction technology in master tape recordings while at the expense of sound quality, we would be depriving future generations of listeners the opportunity to experience "realism" in reproduced sound. Anyone in the business of audio should always keep this in mind, she reminded the audience. Featuring 4 international speakers this year, the panelist included Professor Malcolm Omar Hawksford, Director of the Centre for Audio Research & Engineering from the University of Essex (UK); David Robinson, Senior Vice President (Technology) from Dolby Labs. Inc. (USA) and also AES President-Elect; Udo Kohaupt, General Manager for Digital Broadcasting Systems from Deutsche Telekom (Germany); and Tze-Yee Szeto, Software Engineer from Liquid Audio Inc. (USA) who presented on behalf of his Vice President, Philip Wiser. The aim of this year's seminar was to present the new developments in audio technologies that will take us through the 21st century - the new concepts & technologies. Given the amount of fundamental changes in the history of the electronic industry, and given the large forces behind newly developed technologies, it has been envisaged that new technologies will effect massive change on the audio industry in the next century. First to present during the technical session was Professor Malcolm Hawksford who gave the audience an in-depth 45 minutes discussion on the topic, "DVD-Audio: High-Resolution, Multi-Channel Digital Formats". Hawksford, who is also a Fellow Member of the AES, remarked that "audio" is to create musical experience while "movie" is for creative experience. A case was presented in favour of both extended dynamic range up to 24 bits and extended bandwidth of up to 192 kHz. The methods of implementation based on both PCM and the Sony system called DSD bitstream coding techniques were discussed. He also mentioned that he is not in favour of the SMPTE 5.1 channel format over applications in audio. He believes that the new flat-panel loudspeaker technology could act as a catalyst for the wide acceptance of multi-channel audio in the home. The DVD-audio format is currently at an advanced state of definition where the high data capacity of DVD enables a wider range of audio applications that embraces multi-channel 5.1 and 7.1 channels, as well as three-dimensional sound coding. It may take several years before the full potential of such a format is realised in terms of both sound quality and the encoding and recording of three-dimensional sound fields reaches maturity. However, DVD with both high-resolution 2-channel audio and high-resolution three-dimensional sound encoded into a linear PCM format uncompromised by present-day assumptions of perception will set a solid foundation that will carry forward the aspirations of the most discerning audio enthusiast well into the next millennium. It represents a means of giving the world an affordable storage medium that can carry forward our musical heritage in a compelling and robust manner. Hawksford concluded by saying that it remains to be seen whether there will be convergence with DSD and also the adoption of a dual-layer technology which allow cross-platform compatibility with existing red-book CD players. A factor, he pointed, that is considered by many to be a key factor for the wide adoption of DVD-audio by eliminating the need for a dual stock inventory. The discussion ended with a DVD demo on the highly acclaimed movie, "Titanic" and a music video performance by Fleetwood Mac, both on a 5.1 channel soundtrack recording in the DTS format. David Robinson, spent 45 minutes discussing on the topic, "Future Sounds in Cinema and Home Theatre Systems", did the enlightening second technical presentation. He began with a brief history of sound for movies from the early days of monophonic synchronized separate carriers to the modern 8-track digital on-the-film formats. The advances in the movie theatre have been translated into the home delivery of programmes via television, VHS pre-recorded tapes, and via the DVD - a newcomer. The most recent and dramatic changes have been in the move from analog sound-tracks to digital versions. These have been made possible by a variety of bit-rate reduction systems which allows a basic bit rate of around 3.5 Mb/s for five channels to be carried in only 350 kb/s. Ideally, such move is to achieve where hopefully one cannot tell whether it is a "live" or "recorded" sound. Robinson who is also a Fellow Member of the AES added that while there has been little actual practical use of more than 5.1 channels so far, the potential is there, either by adding more discrete tracks or by adding them via matrix technology. However, he felt that the needs of the large entertainment auditorium are quite different from those of the domestic environment. Many of the effects such extra side surround channels, loudspeakers above and below the audience, or even some form of special effects which need not be audio (eg. sensory effects like smells), are totally inappropriate in the home. This is not to mention the extra cost issues that would be passed on to the consumers. Nevertheless, he concluded that the consumer sound format would nearly always follow the professional format although the environment is totally different. There will be some similarities and differences. Robinson ended his talk with a DVD demo on the movie, "Air Force One" with 5.1 channel soundtrack in the Dolby AC-3 format before the audience paused for a 15 minutes coffee break. The audience returned "refreshed" after coffee to listen to Udo Kohaupt discussed for the next 45 minutes on "Digital Radio - Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)". DAB is the most fundamental advance in radio technology since the introduction of FM stereo radio. FM broadcasting technology have matured and frequency bands available for broadcasting are either rapidly saturating or already saturated, resulting in degradation of audio and service quality. Hence, there is very little or no prospect for further expansion of the radio programmes. He said that with DAB, listeners would benefit from consistent high audio quality, robust mobile reception, ease of tuning and a greater choice of stations. Broadcasters will benefit from high spectrum efficiency, transmitter power saving, the ability to enhance programmes with creative use of text, graphics and to provides new types of services such as "Multimedia Radio". Some conceivable examples are traffic and travel information, business information, paging, data to assist navigation and position determinations, remote teaching, electronic newspapers, games, electronically stored music and various kind of moving-picture services. With digital technologies making their mark in many sectors world-wide, Kohaupt concluded by saying that the changeover from analogue transmission systems to digital systems is a consistent and logical process. Throughout the whole world a change is taking place whereby the Industrial Age is turning into the Information Age. The future of radio will be defined by multimedia applications and DAB is the first step in this direction, said Kohaupt. The final technical presentation on the topic, "Internet Audio - Music Distribution through Digital Audio Network", was presented by Tze-Yee Szeto. According to Szeto, recorded music is a US$40 billion industry with 70 million "active" music buyers in the United States and 10 million of which are on the Internet. Currently, there are well over 70,000 Internet Music Sites and within the next 5 years, Internet Music Delivery could take away 15% of record store business. On-line music purchases have been projected to grow to US$1.5 billion by the year 2000. On-line music distribution promises to provide a more direct link between artists and their audience. It will lower the entry barriers for smaller artists and labels. Currently, artists and small labels are forced to rely on big label distribution networks to get their music heard. The Internet gives these entrepreneurs the opportunity to reach a large audience. It can provide a highly effective collaboration environment for advertising and music production and when used in this manner, the "turn-around" time can be significantly reduced. This new distribution channel can also become a significant source of revenue for larger music companies. The 4 main issues concerning Internet Music are its usability, sound quality, access methods and copyright protection. Szeto addressed the myriad of technical, political, and legal issues that impact online music distribution. He also focused on the technical solutions to these problems that incorporate encryption, watermarking, compression, and other technologies. After almost 45 minutes, Szeto wrapped up his talk by concluding that on-line music distribution is both a unique and complex solution. It plays a part in leveraging new technology to extend the scope of music as an entertainment medium and as a result, it will move the music industry forward! Once again, the AES Singapore Section would like to take this opportunity to thank the AES Head Office in New York for their continuous support, in particular, Mr. Subir Pramanik, AES President, Ms. Helen Chambers and Ms. Patricia MacDonald. And also to Mr. Anthony Chan, Managing Director, Fast East of IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd, Singapore, Ms. Rosalind Ng-Seah, Project Director, and Ms. Tham Ruoh Yi, Marketing Manager.
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The
Audio Engineering Society (AES) Singapore Section organized a seminar, "Audio
in the 21st Century - New Concepts & Technologies" on Friday, 17 July
1998 at the Expo Hall 3, World Trade Centre, Singapore. The seminar
was held in conjunction with the 10th annual Pro-Audio & Light Asia (PALA'98)
and the 2nd Music Asia '98 exhibitions. It was well attended by a total
of 65 participants that comprised of 26 members and 39 non-members
from as far away as Australia and the USA besides Singapore, just to name a few.
As a general observation, a large number of decision-makers from the audio and
broadcast industries were represented at the seminar which again confirmed the
growing interest in these areas of technology among the regional audio
professionals. Other participants included audio R&D scientists and engineers
from the industries, academic institutions, research centres, government bodies,
as well as audio consultants.
(Picture - AES Singapore Section exhibition booth at PALA'98
held at the World Trade Centre. Professor Malcolm Hawksford at right -
photograph by Ms. Leena Goh)
