Consumer Electronics Show Opens Tuesday – The 2009 International CES opens with the Official Press sneak peeks this Tuesday January 6. Starting at 2 PM the early attendees will hear the State of the Industry Address, followed by a session on Global CE Market Trends, and then CES Unveiled. Plus plenty of hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Wednesday is the actual Press Day, when 90% of the registered media attendees bounce from one presentation room to another at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas to hear all the major corporate, product and news presentations. There’s also free breakfasts and discount show tickets for many of the press. Many of the high end audio exhibitors are now at the Venetian, though major manufacturers which include a high end line are still at the packed-to-the-gills Convention Center, if you can find them. The Alexis Park Hotel, off the Strip – formerly the CES high end headquarters – is now the home of the alternate simultaneous high end show, T.H.E.
SRS Labs’ TruVolume – Many television viewers have complaints about the large fluctuations in volume level between channels and when the programming goes in and out of commercial breaks. The problem is primarily the huge compression and EQ imposed on commercials and promotional announcement soundtracks, compared to the lighter compression on actual programming. In a recent survey 93% of TV watchers complained of this problem. TruVolume is SRS Labs’ solution, which has advantages over competing automatic gain controls. TruVolume measures, analyzes and controls levels using principles determined by extensive study of psychoacoustics. It uses 20 frequency bands modeling the human hearing mechanism, and monitors and adjusts the signal level continuously regardless of fluctuations in the audio source. The technology can be used in many consumer electronic devices, including set-top boxes, AV receivers, computers, mobile phones, auto audio systems and portable media devices. Vizio is the first firm to ship products with TruVolume. Their new 55-inch 1080p LCD HDTV as well as their new HD Sound Bar will both have the technology.
Jazz Legend Freddie Hubbard Dies – Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard passed away December 29 at age 70 from complications of a heart attack. His longtime manager, arranger and producer David Weiss said “He played faster, longer, higher and with more energy than any other trumpeter of his era.” Hubbard recorded over 300 albums as leader and sideman. His biggest success was the album Red Clay, and his final album was On the Real Side, released in June 2008.
SRS Labs’ TruVolume – Many television viewers have complaints about the large fluctuations in volume level between channels and when the programming goes in and out of commercial breaks. The problem is primarily the huge compression and EQ imposed on commercials and promotional announcement soundtracks, compared to the lighter compression on actual programming. In a recent survey 93% of TV watchers complained of this problem. TruVolume is SRS Labs’ solution, which has advantages over competing automatic gain controls. TruVolume measures, analyzes and controls levels using principles determined by extensive study of psychoacoustics. It uses 20 frequency bands modeling the human hearing mechanism, and monitors and adjusts the signal level continuously regardless of fluctuations in the audio source. The technology can be used in many consumer electronic devices, including set-top boxes, AV receivers, computers, mobile phones, auto audio systems and portable media devices. Vizio is the first firm to ship products with TruVolume. Their new 55-inch 1080p LCD HDTV as well as their new HD Sound Bar will both have the technology.
Jazz Legend Freddie Hubbard Dies – Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard passed away December 29 at age 70 from complications of a heart attack. His longtime manager, arranger and producer David Weiss said “He played faster, longer, higher and with more energy than any other trumpeter of his era.” Hubbard recorded over 300 albums as leader and sideman. His biggest success was the album Red Clay, and his final album was On the Real Side, released in June 2008.
