Broadcast Legends Gather To Celebrate Half-Century Milestone

NEW YORK: Radio’s first four decades were strictly monophonic. Despite some early experimentation by FM inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong, even “high-fidelity” FM remained mono until 1961, when the FCC chose among competing systems to declare a standard for FM stereo broadcasting. On Friday evening, Oct. 21 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, a panel of legendary FM Radio engineers will gather at the Clear Channel Studios in the PC Richards & Sons Theater 32 Avenue of the Americas in lower Manhattan to celebrate a half century of FM Stereo. The event is a highlight of the 131st AES Convention set for Oct. 20-23 at NY’s Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Developed by the New York Section of the AES and by AES Convention Broadcast/ Streaming Events Co-Chair David Bialik, the panel will be Co-chaired by
Bialik and Scott Fybush of Fybush.com / Inside Radio. Participants represent a gathering of iconic broadcast figures including: Richard Burden, an original member of the FM Stereo Committee; Frank Foti, Omnia Audio; Richard Mertz, Cavell and Mertz; Arno Meyer, Belar; Robert Orban, Orban; Skip Pizzi, NAB; Bill Sacks, Orban; Eric Small, Modulation Sciences; Jeff Smith, Clear Channel; and former WQXR Radio Chief Engineer, Herb Squire.

Topics to be addressed include: FM stereo’s birth; the merits of the competing systems that sought FCC approval; the initial technical challenges faced by the new medium; the development of high-density FM audio processing; and, the future of analog FM stereo in an increasingly digital world.

Seating is limited and tickets are available at the Tech Tour Desk in the Registration Area. Bus transportation to and from the event will be available from the Javits Center

The Audio Engineering Society thanks Clear Channel Communications for providing the theater for this event. For details on live streaming of this event please visit www.aes.org

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For details on AES Convention events visit: http://www.aes.org/events/131/calendar/calendar.cfm

The Audio Engineering Society was formed in 1948 by a group of concerned audio engineers. The AES counts over 14,000 members throughout the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Japan and the Far East. The organization serves as the pivotal force in the exchange and dissemination of technical information for the industry. For additional information visit http://www.aes.org