Penteo Surround introduces the Penteo PostPro Desktop and Rackmount units, which it will demonstrate at the NAB 2010 show in Las Vegas. Penteo creates 5.1 audio by "panorama slicing" the stereo mix into its original left-to-right components, and then re-maps those components into their respective positions in a 5.1 field.

SIA Acoustics, a leading acoustical design and facility-planning firm with offices in New York City and Hollywood, Calif., announces that it is opening an office in Mumbai, India. Operating locally and offering the advantage of shared resources from three offices, SIA Acoustics now also serves Indian customers in all aspects of acoustics, technical systems and facility design.

SoundCon LLC announces the addition of Seattle to its list of 2010 locations for GameSoundCon, conference on videogame music composition and sound design. GameSoundCon 2010 Seattle will be held on May 10, 2010 at the Experience Music Project in Seattle.

E-mu Systems is now shipping its LONGboard 61 ($399) and SHORTboard 49 ($349.99). These new 61-note or 49-note USB/MIDI controller keyboards offer a world-class sound set with 128-voice polyphony and high-quality effects, offering a great sounding live keyboard and a USB/MIDI controller with aftertouch in one instrument.

For the first time in 23 years, the Audio Engineering Society returns to London for its European convention slated for May 22 to 25, 2010.Deliberately placed in a more intimate and centrally located smaller venue, the 128th AES convention takes place at the Novotel London West Convention Centre, near the Hammersmith underground station.

At Sunday's 82nd annual Academy Awards ceremony, 'The Hurt Locker,' in addition to winning in the Best Picture and Best Director categories (for Kathryn Bigelow's direction), also swept the Academy's sound categories by winning for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing. Paul N.J. Ottosson claimed the Academy Award for Sound Editing, and Ottosson and Ray Beckett won for Sound Mixing.

Production music library Megatrax, based in North Hollywood, Calif., announces a strategic partnership with Radium Sound, a leader in radio imaging elements, becoming its exclusive distributor in both North and Latin America. Megatrax will distribute Radium Sound via Megatrax? custom division, Aircast Production.

Shure Incorporated in Niles, Ill., and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) have released the results of recent hearing tests performed at the 2009 Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention in New York City. Shure sponsored the free hearing screenings, which the NHCA conducted for several hundred AES attendees, many of whom work in the professional audio industry.

AMS Neve describes scoring mixer Simon Rhodes' and scoring engineer Denis St. Amand's work at Fox Studios? Newman Scoring Stage on James Horner's score for James Cameron's epic 3-D film 'Avatar,' using a Neve 88RS console.

Shure Incorporated in Niles, Ill., reports that a broad array of wireless microphone users have inundated the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with comments, urging them to expand eligibility for wireless microphone licenses. Shure states that the FCC received more than 300 letters from houses of worship, theaters, education institutions, musicians, producers, sound engineers, AV rental and production companies, hotels and convention centers during the comment period, which ended on March 1, 2010.

The METAlliance is presenting the first METAlliance Academy event, titled "In Session with The Guys," on March 20 and 21 in Hollywood at the historic studios in the Capitol Records tower. For "In Session with The Guys," attendees will record and mix Lalah Hathaway and Trev Lukather with their bands and the METAlliance founders in live sessions.

Whigs In the Dark CD Mix CD Review

Meyer Sound in Berkeley, Calif., announces the first installations of a Meyer Sound Cinema Experience system in two U.S.-based commercial theatres, located in Gulf Breeze and Pace, Fla. Both systems, at The Breeze and The Ridge Cinemas, will be used for the first time during the opening of Alice in Wonderland on March 5.

Audio-Technica in Stow, Ohio, announces a new five-year warranty on its entire line of Artist Elite wired microphones, wireless microphone systems and wireless microphone system components. Effective immediately, all Artist Elite products purchased after January 1, 2010, through an authorized U.S. A-T dealer, now come standard with this warranty.

Music In Schools Today (MUST) announces that the 4th Annual Music In Schools Today Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, April 5, 2010 at Sequoyah Country Club in the Oakland Hills in Oakland, Calif. Tré Cool will host the event. The event is a fundraiser for the Music Integrated Learning Environment program in the Oakland Unified School District.

Confessions of a Studio Unknown Column About Getting Audio Work for Video Game Sound

Chris Plunkett, the Audio Engineering Society's director of convention management, has announced that the 129th Audio Engineering Society Convention Exhibitor Application has been posted. Conferences begin November 4, 2010, and exhibits open November 5-7, 2010, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

?Mission for Music? is the theme of Musikmesse 2010, which takes place in Frankfurt, Germany, from March 24 to 27, 2010. As in past years, Musikmesse will be held in conjunction with the Pro Light + Sound convention, and admission to either show allows visitors access to both expos.

Antares Audio Technologies in Scotts Valley, Calif., announces its selection by Fast Company magazine as one of Fast Company's 10 Most Innovative Companies in the music industry. Joining companies like Spotify, Apple Corps, Vevo and more, Antares was honored for being among "companies across the economy and around the globe that define business innovation for 2010."

Blue Microphones in Westlake Village, Calif., announces that it has reinvested in its pro audio reseller channel by implementing a unique hybrid of factory representatives and independent rep firms to manage its sales in the field. Blue states that it is expanding its sales organization to support recent and projected new growth of its product lines in professional audio, live sound and consumer electronics.

Six months ago, it looked as though The Hurt Locker, though critically acclaimed, would go down in history as yet another Iraq war film that didn?t perform at the box office and be forgotten. But then something extraordinary happened. Critic after critic put it on their year-end ?Best of 2009? lists and the film started to gain new momentum. Everyone, it seemed, loved that film and it just wouldn?t go away.

The new Music Production Technology program at the Mike Curb College of Art, Music and Science at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, Florida, recently worked with Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro)?the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users?to equip its Music Production Technology program.

IK Multimedia in Modena, Italy, announces that it is now shipping AmpliTube 3, a massive upgrade of its guitar and bass equipment-modeling software, in VST, RTAS and Audio Unit plug-in formats, and also as stand-alone software for Mac OS X and Windows. AmpliTube 3 offers more than 160 precisely modeled pieces of vintage and modern hardware, including 51 stomp-box effects, 31 amps, 46 cabinets, 15 studio mics, 17 rack effects and 30 brand-new models.

L-Acoustics announces the release of Version 1.6 of its SoundVision 3-D acoustical simulation program. The V. 1.6 software release includes air absorption as a function of humidity and temperature, affecting target SPL calculation.

Vampire Weekend Contra Reviewed by Mix magazine's Blair Jackson

Chung King Studios has ceased operations at 170 Varick St. (New York City), its home since 1993

Ryan Ulyate Personal Recording Studio in Los Angeles profiled in Mix magazine

Read Mix News For the Concert Touring Professional In the March 2010 Issue of Mix

Canadian production company Solotech has opened a new facility in Las Vegas, where the technology providers can more effectively support client venues such as the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and the Cirque du Soleil K theater at MGM Grand.

Mix magazine interview with audio engineers and live sound crew on mixing audio for Porcupine Tree 2010 tour. Tips, techniques and equipment applications from Alice Cooper's front of house (FOH) engineer. Mix magazine March 2010

Post-production sound company CSS Studios announces that it has reached an agreement to renew the lease for its Sound One facility at the celebrated Brill Building in Midtown Manhattan. Additionally, the company announces an extension of its relationship with re-recording mixer Lee Dichter.

Alan Parsons? Art and Science of Sound Recording, an instructional series covering all aspects of sound recording, announces that it has released a series of new sections. Following the initial scenes released last month, which cover MIDI, EQ, Delays, Drums, Noise Gates and Recording a Choir, the new sections individually examine the recording topics of Studio Acoustics, Consoles and Controllers, Digital Audio and Computers, Monitoring, Microphones, Keyboards and Bass.

Boutique audio equipment manufacturer Shadow Hills Industries, formed in 2001 by Peter Reardon, has launched a new company Website. Additionally, Vintage King Audio, a leading dealer of high-end new and vintage recording equipment, is now shipping Shadow Hills? Dual Vandergraph fully discrete stereo compressor.

The Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo 2010 announces that early bird rates will remain on its registration page through Thursday, February 25, 2010. Rates for the workshop and gear expo that takes place March 5 and 6?including lunch both days, a reception on the evening of March 5, and free parking?are as low as $39 for students and $59 for attendees who are a member of one of several industry organizations: AES, AFM, NSAI, the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, SPARS and RMA.

Steinberg North America announces that the prices for the MR816X and MR816CSX Advanced Integration DSP Studio FireWire Interfaces have been lowered by $300 on each model. While the products have experienced remarkable success since their introduction in 2008, an increase in efficiency of production allows Steinberg now to adjust the pricing accordingly and pass the benefit on to its valued customers.

Women?s Audio Mission, a San-Francisco-based non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the recording arts, inaugurates its newly-renovated facility with a Spring Workshop Series. The series starts on March 11 with ?Introduction to Sound for Film,? which describes the elements of sound for film and video, using examples from major motion pictures to illustrate techniques, technology and workflow.

Renowned record producer Elliot Mazer has joined the faculty at UNC Asheville this spring to teach an upper-level course on record production. Some 21 students are currently enrolled in the course, which is examining musical creativity, musicianship, musical expression and recording engineering and producing.

Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, Ind., announces the development of a new music technology program at Indiana University?Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). Students enrolled in the music technology program will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Music with a specialty in Music Technology.

ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento announces that the company is expanding its Nashville operations, which will be elevated to a Regional Office serving all genres of music. Effective immediately, the newly established ASCAP Nashville Regional Office will be overseen by Nashville-based industry veteran Tim DuBois, who has been appointed vice president and managing executive of the operations, reporting to ASCAP senior vice president and head of domestic membership, Randy Grimmett.

A weekend fire, termed as ?suspicious? in origin by fire officials, swept through the headquarters of legendary producer songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the seminal R&B songwriting team and co-architects of ?The Sound of Philadelphia? and founders and partners of Philadelphia International Records (PIR).

The 57th annual Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards were held Saturday, February 20, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, to celebrate the success of leading proponents of the art of sound editing, music editing and sound design from around the world. The 2010 MPSE Filmmaker Recipient was film director Steven Spielberg, while the 2010 MPSE Career Achievement Recipient was Larry Singer, MPSE.

Solid State Logic in Oxford, UK, announces that its Director of Commercial Applications, Chris Jenkins (pictured), has won the Music Producers Guild Unsung Hero Award. The Unsung Hero Award puts the spotlight on those individuals who have quietly yet dramatically contributed to the music industry at large.

According to BBC 6 Music News: "The struggling record label EMI has issued a statement about the future of its Abbey Road recording studios in West London, saying it does not intend to sell the site. After days of speculation about the fate of the iconic locale, the label released the statement saying it believes the studios should remain under its ownership.

On February 4, QSC Audio donated all audio support, while West Coast Sound provided supplemental equipment and crew, to the "Haiti Food Project: A Second Aid Benefit Concert" for sustainable food programs that feed and nourish the Haitian children and the communities they live in. This star-studded charity event raised more than $200,000 in much-needed funds to assist the people of this earthquake-ravaged nation in obtaining food, water, shelter and medicine.

The Federal Communications Commission has extended the deadline for public comments relating to proposed changes in wireless microphone licensing rules. The comment period, which would have expired on February 22, now closes on March 1, 2010.

CEntrance Inc., Chicago-based manufacturer of low-latency audio drivers and portable USB audio products MicPort Pro, AxePort Pro and DACport (pictured), is celebrating its 10th year in business. CEntrance started in 2000 by offering design services to audio manufacturers and since then has developed a client list that ranges from Alesis to Zoom.

Mix CD Review of Tito Gonzalez Y Su Son De Cuba Album

CEDAR Audio announces DNS One, the company's first software-based dialog noise suppression plug-in in RTAS format for Pro Tools HD and LE systems that run on Mac OS X and Windows. DNS One is designed for all studio environments, and particularly for post-production for film, TV and video.

WhisperRoom Inc. in Morristown, Tenn., is celebrating 20 years of manufacturing portable/modular sound-isolation booths for a variety of applications, both commercial and residential. WhisperRooms are designed for applications including vocal recording, voice-overs, Foley recording, audiology testing, audio mixing, instrument recording and practice, and vibration/sound testing in a manufacturing setting.

The METAlliance is presenting the first METAlliance Academy event, titled "In Session with The Guys," on March 20 and 21, 2010, in Hollywood at the historic studios in the Capitol Records tower. Attendees will record and mix with the METAlliance founders in live sessions.