Organised by the Institute of Acoustics (IOA), the main event in Manchester will be preceded by visits to the BBC's R&D facility and the University of Salford's acoustics research unit, both at the nearby MediaCityUK site on Salford Quays.
Taking a lead form this, the conference theme will be based around broadcast audio, with a focus on the art, science and engineering of the route from the imagination of the director and producer to the ears of the radio and TV audiences.
The MediaCityUK visits will take place on the afternoon and evening of 12 November, with the conference itself being staged at the Renaissance Hotel, Manchester, on 13-14 November. On the morning of the 15th, delegates will also have the opportunity to visit the highly regarded Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, where there will be a demonstration of the sound facilities.
Paul Malpas, event chairman, said, "Since opening in 2011, the BBC at MediaCityUK has been engaged in a new era of R&D in broadcast. Over the 29 years of our history, RS delegates have followed closely its work in studio design, building acoustics, critical-listening rooms and equipment and virtual studios
"RS has also had historically strong connections with the University of Salford, where I studied electro-acoustics in the late 80s alongside students who are now senior staff, including Professor Trevor Cox, the IOA's immediate past-president who has presented regularly at RS. So it was an obvious draw and an exciting prospect to take RS to MediaCityUK and to pick up on the central theme of the technology and environments needed for driving forward the aural part of the experience of TV and radio audiences."
Since its inception, Reproduced Sound has become renowned for bringing together some of the friendliest and most knowledgeable sound specialists in the world.
Highlights this year will include the keynote speech by Dennis Baxter, sound designer of the 2012 Olympics and a five-time Emmy Award winner, who will speak on The Sound of Entertainment. In addition to the London games, Dennis was the sound designer for the Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake, Athens, Torino, Beijing and Vancouver Olympic Games and he has engineered the sound for the Commonwealth Games, World Cup, NASCAR and hundreds of other sporting events around the world.
Paul Malpas commented, "We are thrilled that Dennis will be joining us to share his unassailable understanding of practical sound design for TV and to help us cement the merging of theory and practice in entertainment sound, which is at the heart of this year's conference.
"Reproduced Sound conferences have always represented the cutting edge of modern audio and acoustics in an informal environment where attendees freely mingle and welcome the sharing of insight and information.
"Over the years they've become firmly established as a 'must attend' event for many people from a wide background in acoustics and audio sectors, from acoustic scientists to audio system designers, and from consulting engineers to venue operators, to name just a few, and this year's conference promises to be one of the best yet.
"Once bitten, most of us come back year after year, to refresh our friendships and inspire our minds."
(Jim Evans)
