Bob Moses, Chair of the AES SC-10-3 Information Working Group of the AES SC-10 subcommittee on Sound System Control, and Senior Digital Audio Engineer at RANE Corporation, gave his presentation about computer control of sound systems, and explained just what SC-10 is.

Packing the Jack Straw Productions studio (30+ attendance), Bob had his color laptop computer projecting onto a big wall screen so everyone could see the computer "slides" for the lecture, and the computer displays for the hardware demonstrations.

Bob began with the history of computer control of sound systems, starting with the IED system at Columbus Airport in 1981. MIDI came in 1982, Richmond Sound Design had a system in 1986, and Crown introduced their IQ system in 1987. The AES brought out the PA-422 standard in 1988, Lone Wolf's MediaLink came in 1989, and 1990 brought Crest's NexSys and Intellix's MindNet. Now, in 1993, we hope to have a new AES standard for the industry.

Then, Bob explained just what SC-10 is. The AES SC-10 subcommittee on Sound System Control is working to create open hardware and software standards for computerized sound system control. It has four working groups, SC-10-1, which works on hardware Local Area Network (LAN) standards; SC-10-2, which works on defining the application protocols; SC-10-3 (Bob's group) which compiles and disseminates all SC-10 information, and SC-10-4, which works on a MIDI to PA-422 bridge. PA-422 is an earlier AES standard addressing computer control which needs updating.

Why have computer control? Bob went over some benefits:

• Improved human interface - easy remote control, repeatability and accuracy of control settings.
• Easy automation of systems
• Security - keeps knob twiddlers in check
• Easy feature upgrades through software
• Easy Integration with other media

Evident from the closing questions and comments was that the future potential of computer control of sound systems is big.