INDUSTRY UPDATE
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UK: CAMBRIDGE
Jason Victor Serinus
Cambridge-based digital audio specialist dCS (Data Conversion Systems Ltd.) is in the midst of its Legends Award program. Conceived to honor 12 Grammy Award–winning recording, mixing, and mastering engineers whose work supports “studio quality” high-resolution downloads and streams, the yearlong campaign was launched on October 16, 2019, at the 147th Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention in New York City. Each award recipient receives a limited-edition, commemorative version of dCS’s Bartók digital-to-analog converter.
The first award, presented by dCS and the Producers & Engineers wing of the Recording Academy (the organization that presents the annual Grammy Awards) went to mastering engineer Bob Ludwig. Ludwig, who has run Gateway Mastering Studios in Portland, Maine, since 1994, has mastered hundreds of albums and won a dozen Grammys for recordings including Mumford & Sons’ Babel (Album of the Year), the surround mix of Beyoncé’s Beyoncé, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, and recordings by Derek and the Dominos and Beck. An interview with Ludwig, interspersed with clips of his work, is the first in a series of 12 podcasts available from the dCS Legends microsite (dcslegends.com) and via services including Apple Music and Spotify.
THE OTHER 11 DCS LEGENDS AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE:
G Al Schmitt, the longest-serving engineer at Capitol Studios, who worked under Phil Ramone, has received Grammy Awards for his work on recordings by Henry Mancini, George Benson, Steely Dan (Aja), Diana Krall (Live in Paris), and George Benson (Breezin’).
G Tony Faulkner, a classical specialist recording engineer, has produced recordings for several labels.
G Chuck Ainlay, a Nashville-based producer and engineer, counts the 20th anniversary surround mix of Dire (with Bob Ludwig) among his three Grammy Awards.
