Past Events and Meetings - Audio Engineering Society - Melbourne Section

Meeting Report: 11 August 2025 – Paul Messick on Low Noise Amplifier Design

2025/08/212025/08/21Paolo Menolotto

On Monday 11^th August, the Section held its AGM via Zoom.
(full details at https://aesmelbourne.org.au/2025-agm/).

Following the brief AGM, audio hardware designer Paul Messick presented on the topic of:

Low Noise Design – a How To

A photo of Paul Messick presenting via Zoom — Paul Messick presenting via Zoom
– Photo Rodney Staples

In his introduction, Section Chairman Graeme Huon outlined Paul’s wide experience in his field, names like Dallas Semiconductor, JPL, M Audio/Digidesign, where he was head of engineering. We heard how he later founded Avermetrics (production line and benchtop audio analysers), and since moving to Australia, has founded Glassworks Audio which specialises in high-end professional audio equipment. Paul started his presentation with an apology and a warning that “there will be mathematics”.

AES June 2025 Meeting: it was a change of pace

2025/06/282025/06/28Secretary

Melbourne AES social events are a new initiative to foster ‘off-agenda’ discussions amidst good company and good food. These events are open to all members and interested guests. The second of our socialisations this year was at Patterson Lakes on Monday 23rd June, and had a distinctly Indian flavour – just the thing for a cold Melbourne evening.

There were many interesting discussions on a wide range of topics, with all contributing. The diversity of knowledge and experience exposed those attending to new disciplines, concepts, and ideas in the diverse fields of audio engineering. All this accompanied by a ‘succulent Indian meal’.

It was the general opinion that these events should become more regular, so keep a lookout for the next opportunity.
Our next meeting includes the AGM, and will be on Monday, 11^th August via Zoom.

Further details will be available in the next few weeks.

Meeting Report: 5th May 2025 – Tour of Zenith Records

2025/05/092025/05/10Paolo Menolotto

The colourful foyer display of coloured vinyl records — *The colourful foyer display (photo – Rod Staples)*

On Monday 5th May 2025, AES Melbourne Section members were treated to a tour of what is arguably the world’s leading end-to-end vinyl record production facility, and certainly the most knowledgeable on the subject.

Meeting Report: 10th February 2025 – Ross Cockle – The Armstrong Studio & AAV Years

2025/02/202025/02/21Paolo Menolotto

Members and guests of the AES Melbourne Section connected via Zoom to hear Ross Cockle recount his days at the Bill Armstrong and Armstrong AAV Studios in the seventies and eighties.

Following an introduction by Section Chair, Graeme Huon, Ross started by recounting how he had started at Armstrong Studios in Albert Road, South Melbourne in 1973 as part of the workforce needed for the transition to the new Armstrongs Studios in Bank Street.

A photo of Ross Cockle presenting via Zoom — Ross Cockle presenting via Zoom

This was just after they had taken delivery of the first Australian-built Optro 16-Track recorder. Ross joined as Armstrongs was bolstering staff numbers to handle the move into the “old butter factory” premises that Bill Armstrong had just purchased in Bank Street. He told of how he started as a “gofer” fetching cigarettes and “recording fluid” (alcohol) for the producers and engineers – not an issue at all in those days, despite being only 15-16 years old. We then got a rundown of the microphones being used at that time, lots of EV RE20s, Neumann U67s and some FET U47s, as well as a classic valve U47 that was kept for special sessions. He went on to tell us how he graduated to dubbing duties, where he had to make multiple copies of radio commercials for distribution to stations, and how recording radio commercials and jingles was the money-making enterprise that subsidised the music recording operation, and how jingles were being recorded during the day, and bands being recorded at night at a lower studio rate. He described the Ampex 351 and Rola 77 tape recorders used for dubbing.