Date: 9/25/2012

On June 20 – 22, 2012 Columbia College Chicago’s  Department of Audio Arts & Acoustics hosted the 47th International Conference of the Audio Engineering Society, Music Induced Hearing Disorders – New Technologies for Measurement and Prevention.

The committee organizers included associate professor Benjamin Kanters, who gave the keynote address, Michael Santucci (chair) and Linda Pink of Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation, and Bob Schulein (past-president of the AES) of RBS Consultants.

Eighteen presenters and a total of fifty attendees from the US, Europe and New Zealand came to share their expertise and perspectives. Paper topics included the latest research toward better understanding and measurement of noise-induced loss, tinnitus, addressing volume regulation in the music industry, reliable measurement of personal music players, and dietary supplements that can protect ears from noise exposure.

Jan Peterson, president of the AES also attended and said it was among the very best he has ever attended. Jan was particularly impressed with the Department’s facilities and curriculum during the opening night reception, which was held in the Department’s studios and labs.

The conference concluded with a tour of the Pritzker Pavillion sound system, conducted by assistant professor David McNutt and AA&A colleague Jonathan Laney of Threshold Acoustics.

AA&A students who worked as conference volunteers: Nealle DiPaolo, Kelsey Lynch, Evan Wallace, Zac Bruin, Robert Almeida, Nathan Sibon and Steve Emling.

AA&A students who helped host the opening reception “demo rooms”: Eric McGowan, Chet Rainey, Rob Drauden, Michael Craig, and Jon Blazek

Voluminous thanks to these students for making our guests feel welcome and insure a technically flawless conference.

Finally, thanks to the AA&A tech staff for their help designing the audio, video and data systems.

All in all, it was a wonderful showing for the Department in the eyes of the AES and all attendees.