AES Show 2024 NY: Personal Highlights

Notes from the AES Convention in New York. After three days of the annual flagship event of the Audio Engineering Society, there was an evening haze settling along the city skyline, with starlight behind the Javits Center and the Hudson River. Yet the last night in Manhattan turned into a clear one. Registrations were reportedly up this year for the AES Show, with the opening ceremony on Day 1 at full capacity, occupying all 300 theater seats, and upwards of 6,000 visitors to the convention during the three days.

Wild theories about level normalization "destroying sound" continue to reappear, as if decades of loudness normalization efforts have been for nothing. This article hopes to set the facts straight regarding loudness concepts, standards, and implementation. Loudness normalization not only tremendously improves the listening experience for consumers, but it is also an element in control of sound exposure and prevention of hearing loss.