The CALM Act – New Loudness Rules – The FCC has adopted new rules for the CALM act (Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act). It regulates the audio on TV commercials from being broadcast at louder sound volumes than the program material they accompany. Viewer complaints to the FCC for years have prompted the new law. It is now mandatory that all commercial advertising transmitted by TV broadcasters adhere to the ATSC A/85 recommended practices, and provide a “safe harbor” for commercials passed thru by stations. Under the order, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau will notify stations of non-compliance if it receives a pattern or trend of consumer complaints.
France to Ban Silver Screens – France’s Film Board has ruled that all silver screens must be phased out no later than 2017, except for theaters projecting exclusively 3D content. The problem is the hotspotting with silver screens due to their high directivity. France has 2519 3D screens, 1200 of which are silver, and about 850 of those use the RealD system, which has become the standard in North America.
Music-Induced Hearing Disorders – An AES Conference will be held at Columbia College in Chicago June 20-22 on New Technologies for Measurement and Protection of Music-Induced Hearing Disorders. With the omnipresence of portable listening devices and louder sound systems for live sound reproduction, the interest in music-induced hearing disorders and their measurement and prevention has become global.
Vinyl Pressing Plants – There are now about 20 plants pressing vinyl LPs in the U.S. The now-owner of Gotta Groove Records in Cleveland was intrigued that his college-age daughter had begun buying vinyl records. He bought the equipment of a Newark, NJ plant that was going out of business, and how turns out 20,000 vinyl pressings every two weeks. They have 11 fulltime employees and do colored or etched swirly finishes on discs if asked. In 2011 2.8 million vinyl records were sold in the U.S.
Connected Home Research – Parks Associates in Dallas is holding their 16th annual Connections Digital Living Conference and Showcase June 5-7. At the end of 2011 U.S. broadband households with at least one Internet-connectable CE product (excluding PCs and mobile devices) reached nearly 40%. 40% of smartTV households access online movie and TV content from sources such as Netflix, Amazon and Best Buys’ CinemaNow, on at least a monthly basis. Connections focuses on solutions for the connected consumer and strategies to monetize digital content, mobile applications and services, value-added services, connected consumer electronics, and home systems.
Wayne Shorter – In Memoriam
Rememberance of the artist
