Surround Music Makes Big Splash At CES

Herbie Hancock And Peter DiStefano Punctuate Exciting Roundtable Supersession

15-Jan-01

Attendees to the 2001 International CES were treated to a demonstration of the latest developments in surround music during the Surround Music Roundtable Supersession, held at the Alexis Park Hotel and Resort, the CES headquarters of high end audio. During the standing room-only session, industry experts Tomlinson Holman, President of TMH Labs, Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer of Gateway Mastering and DVD, and Bjorn Dybdahl, founder of Bjorn's Audio Video Retail presented various perspectives regarding the effects of surround music on the audio industry. Five-time GrammyÆ jazz icon Herbie Hancock and guitarist Peter DiStefano of the bands Porno for Pyros and Venice Underground discussed surround sound from the artist's perspective. Both musicians brought demonstration samples of their own surround tracks. Holman began the discussion by giving a brief history of surround music, and describing how movies and the home theatre industry have been a driving factor for consumers' adoption of the technology. Ludwig then outlined the various high resolution audio formats, and explained the mastering process for DVD-Audio. Dybdahl gave the retailer's perspective, commenting that ""we're the end of the chain, and if we don't do a good job, then it doesn't matter what you do in the studio."" After the initial presentations, DiStefano and Hancock entertained the audience with samples of their work in recorded in surround formats. DiStefano played a track from his new band, Venice Underground, applauding the ease of recording in surround by using today's computer technology. ""You could spend $5000 in three days in a studio,"" he said, ""you can spend the same amount and be able to do this in your home."" Hancock closed the session with a brief question and answer period with the audience, before playing several tracks from his album, ""Dis Is Da Drum,"" including a version of ""Butterfly,"" recorded in 10.2-channel surround. For more news on CES before, during and after the show, visit www.CESweb.org.

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