Genesis at the Pacific Audio Fest - Jul 29 - 31, 2022

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
We are proud and excited to announce that we are showing at the inaugural Pacific Audio Fest with Merrill Audio and VPI Industries. As this is our home town, we've managed to snag one of the largest exhibitor rooms, Cascade 9, at the show venue - the DoubleTree Sea-Tac. Come join us! July 29 - 31, 2022.

We hope to see you there and will be updating this thread with the events we have planned, the new gear we will be showing and the music we will be bringing.

Remember to get your tickets at: https://www.pacificaudiofest.com/
 
  • Like
Reactions: sujay and Alrainbow

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
We love the big band sound and Gary demos often with big band music. Together with Merril Audio, we are pleased to sponsor our local big band - The Kings of Swing - to play for the attendees at the Pacific Audio Fest.

The Kings of Swing have performed at the Space Needle, 5th Ave Theatre, Bothell Landing, North West Folklife Festival, Seattle Trade Center, Seattle Museum of Flight, and the Crossroads Mall Stage. Now, they will perform for us at the Pacific Audio Fest on Friday July 29th.

The Kings of Swing is a 17-piece dance band that originated in 1944 at Seattle’s Cleveland High School. The young members loved playing and, after graduating, they decided to stick together. The group soon became known as the Kings of Swing; a tip of the hat to the King of Swing, Benny Goodman. They played through the war years until 1949 at service clubs, YMCA and USO dances, high school proms, and various other functions.

In 1987 the seven original members decided to revive the band. In 1993 The band was part of a Cultural Exchange and traveled to St Petersburg, Russia to play as part of the White Nights Festival. In 1998 the Kings laid down a track for the movie The Trouble with Boys and Girls. The last of the original members have retired, but their legacy is still part of the Kings of Swing tradition of excellent music.

Kings of Swing 1e.jpg

Led by band leader Paul Sawtelle for the past 25+ years, the Kings of Swing are coming to the Pacific Audio Fest Friday evening, July 29th at Doubletree's Maxis Lounge and Nightclub
 

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Gary is picking components, listening to and picking music, frantic about finishing the speakers on time so I get to post about our plans.

We will have the world-wide debut of several components in our music system(s) including *drum roll please* a phono-cartridge that Gary has been developing for years (it sounds amazing!). It will be played on the Genesis Record Player that we are bringing to the show. By the way. That tone-arm? *points at the photo below* Also Gary's design. I am so proud of my big brother, I could bust! (Who'd ever thought?? - sorry, had to get the little sister dig in.)

Record Player 1.jpg
 

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
We are doing something really special at the show. :)

tape_tease.jpg

Per Gary:
"Hot off the press..... it was even warm to the touch. Does recording a studio master tape really put THAT much energy into it that it warms the tape?
Apparently, it does! Recording the Masters SM900."

We'll be in Cascade 9. See you there!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alrainbow

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Gary is picking components, listening to and picking music, frantic about finishing the speakers on time so I get to post about our plans.

We will have the world-wide debut of several components in our music system(s) including *drum roll please* a phono-cartridge that Gary has been developing for years (it sounds amazing!). It will be played on the Genesis Record Player that we are bringing to the show. By the way. That tone-arm? *points at the photo below* Also Gary's design. I am so proud of my big brother, I could bust! (Who'd ever thought?? - sorry, had to get the little sister dig in.)

View attachment 95045

LoL. I can't claim that I designed that tonearm. It's Simon Brown of Design/Build/Listen. I just added my 2 bits worth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sujay and Alrainbow

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Tape Talk by Ki @ Pacific Audio Fest

Cascade 9,
Saturday 30th July, 12 noon

With the great interest in music on reel-to-reel tape among audiophiles, we help de-mystify the technology with tape enthusiast Ki Choi.

A long time enthusiast, Ki was refurbishing and rebuilding tape machines before tape became popular again. At one time he had over 120 machines in perfect working condition in his home (to the chagrin of his wife).

In 2015, Ki built a reproduction studio and made one of the first modern commercially available 100% analog tape titles - Bach Goldberg Variations by Ito Ema on the MA Recordings label. The limited run was sold out before it could even be offered to the public!

Bank of A820's.jpg

In this session, Ki will talk about the challenges of making tape copies. As part of the session, we will demonstrate the transparency of tape copies.

Two identically set-up Studer A810's will be used in this demo. One will be set at 30ips and will play a master tape direct from Bernie Grundman Mastering Studios. The second A810 will be set at 15ips and will play a reproduction of that master tape.

Chorus line.jpg
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Bonus!

We will be playing a reference lacquer from Bernie Grundman Studios on the Turntable after the tape talk by Ki Choi.

View attachment 95309

It's a rare chance to compare apples to apples - the master tape and the reference lacquer from the same source.
 

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Continuing with events / sessions we've arranged for the show...

Behind The Scenes of a Rock Recording
Cascade 9, Saturday 30th July, 2pm

How do rock bands record their music? We've invited not one, but two local Seattle rock bands to help demystify the process. Two Seattle-area bands will come in and play their music videos, geek out on recording methods, and take questions and answer them from their own experience.

Grieve the Astronaut is a band influenced by Pink Floyd and Muse, and an International Singer-Songwriters Association Award nominee. Their new multi-media show, Signs, is a journey of hope and rekindling of dreams after the pandemic. They make music that is thought provoking, entertaining and emotionally stimulating; showing how music is interwoven throughout the fabric of our lives.

Strangely Alright are time travelers meshing psychedelia and pop. Under the influence of bands like the Beatles, David Bowie and Cheap Trick, they are the perfect blend of past and present. Crafting rock music with danceable tunes that provide a soundtrack on your journey of life, they have been added to Sub Pop's Best of the Northwest on Spotify.

The mantra of "Be Kind. It Matters. Love Always Wins, So Don't Be A Dick" infuse the spirit of both.
Rockbands.jpg
 

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
What a Difference a Pellet Makes
Cascade 9, Sunday, 31st July, 12noon

Some of the best recordings ever made are Direct-to-Disc. That is because there are many intermediate steps that were eliminated between the musicians and the final product. The more steps eliminated the closer to the music you get. Among the very best are are the M&K Realtime Direct-to-Disc albums from the 1970’s. Albums like Flamenco Fever, For Duke and Earl “Fatha” Hines are treasured in our collections.

In this session, we invite Steve McCormack, one of the engineers of these albums and the designer of McCormack Audio and SMcAudio, to play test pressings of some of the more fun, obscure and sonically amazing albums for us, and talk to us about the challenges of recording Direct-to-Disc.

Steve was a big part of our inspiration to produce the Direct-to-Disc album Four Seasons in Jazz – Live at Bernie’s. Having the best musicians, the engineers, the gear and the best printing and pressing plant though, wasn’t enough.

When the first test pressing came back from RTI, we still were not satisfied. Having been in the studio when the album was recorded, we felt that there was more that was not coming through on the pressing.

What followed was many more test pressings each using a different formulation of vinyl: the chemistry of the vinyl pellet used to make the puck to press the record. In this session, you will get to experience what we went through. We will play some of the different test pressings – using the same stamper, and even the same press at RTI. You will hear the difference when the vinyl hardness, coefficient of friction, and dyes are changed.

We will also play a One Step version (eliminating 2 steps in the pressing process), and finally, the direct-to-lacquer that came off Bernie Grundman’s lathe.

Anne_Bisson_Trio.jpg
For_Duke.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alrainbow

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Live Vs. Recorded
Cascade 9, Friday July 29 at 3pm

We are pleased to announce that we are hosting the August Pacific Northwest Audio Society "Live vs Recorded" meeting. This time, we will do it in our room at the Pacific Audio Fest - Cascade 9, Friday July 29 at 3pm - and instead of a digital recorder, we will be recording to reel-to-reel tape!!

Some of the club's most popular and well-received meetings have been the "Live vs Recorded" series. The next meeting will be will be held at the Pacific Audio Fest which the club is supporting.

We have invited International Grammy-winning saxophonist and band leader Paul Sawtelle to bring his sax and play us some tunes. He will be recorded by Dr Phillip Chance using some of his vintage microphones (to be selected later) and by Ki Choi with a Nagra 4S and QGB on his lap (incidentally, the same way Jazz at the Pawnshop was recorded). Then, we will rewind, and play the recording back over the show system.

Paul-kwith-ten-and-sap_d400.jpg
 
Last edited:

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Genesis and Merrill Audio jointly sponsored a live big band event for the Pacific Audio Fest. We had the Kings of Swing with Paul Sawtelle and featured the vocalist Bethany Wilson. It was a great opportunity to experience first-hand the scale and power of a 17-piece dance band. 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, double bass, keyboards, drums and vocalist. Unfortunately, the brass and woodwinds over-powered the sound system at the live performance.

However, we had Dr Phillip Chance and Ki Choi record the band with a Nagra VI as a mixing console and a Nagra IVs with QGB rolling SM900 tape. The main stereo pair of microphones were a pair of Neuman TLM 50. The next day, we played the freshly recorded tapes through our system.

Kings of Swing.jpg


 

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
10,517
1,774
1,850
Metro DC
[text omitted]"The next day, we played the freshly recorded tapes through our system."
Gary don't leave us hanging. What were the results
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
[text omitted]"The next day, we played the freshly recorded tapes through our system."
Gary don't leave us hanging. What were the results

The live band is HUGELY powerful. It overwhelmed the live sound system and the vocalist was muted. So, as the mics had the "best seat in the house", most of those who came in the next day thought recorded was better than live. We took a direct feed off the vocal mic, and used a spaced pair of Neumann TLM 50 as the main stereo signal.

I sat right in front, and I will have to say that the recording system and the playback system managed to capture the scale, power and micro and macro dynamics of the 17-piece live band. Both Ki Choi and I were pleasantly surprised at how well the system managed. It put all my big band LPs to shame. The solo sax 'Live vs Recorded' gave us a taste of what the system could do, and the whole big band sealed it.

I'll need to revise my "no system, not even my big speakers can do more than 70% of live" upwards. Way upwards.
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
[text omitted]"The next day, we played the freshly recorded tapes through our system."
Gary don't leave us hanging. What were the results

This gives you an idea of what it sounded like "live" vs recorded.

This first video was taken with a Canon 5D Mk II and a hot-shoe mounted AT8022 stereo microphone.


This is the recorded tape played back using a Studer C37 through the system. It was recorded using the 5D and AT8022, so gives a fair comparison.

 
  • Like
Reactions: sujay and thomask

Audiophile Bill

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2015
4,293
4,093
675
This gives you an idea of what it sounded like "live" vs recorded.

This first video was taken with a Canon 5D Mk II and a hot-shoe mounted AT8022 stereo microphone.


This is the recorded tape played back using a Studer C37 through the system. It was recorded using the 5D and AT8022, so gives a fair comparison.


Hi Gary,

I am not sure what you are trying to show / convey here? The recording sounds nothing like the live vid at all. Huge imbalance between them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tango

Tango

VIP/Donor
Mar 12, 2017
4,938
6,268
950
Bangkok
Hi Gary,

I am not sure what you are trying to show / convey here? The recording sounds nothing like the live vid at all. Huge imbalance between them.
I was thinking the process to transfer signal onto tape and then play it back is the bottle neck. Why would a normal simple video sound realistic while one play back from tape is so far off? What this comparison show me is how people really underestimate the truthfulness of sound from a simple video recording.

What would really be interesting is to play back digitally the same file with the system. Then you really hear how the system present sound differently from real event. I admire Gary's courage showing the two videos. He is real.
 
Last edited:

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
This was in answer to Gregadd's post above. The point of the two videos is to illustrate a point - that what you heard when you were at the event is different from what was recorded. The 'live' video would have been close to what you heard sitting in front of the audience - you hear the P.A. system that was being used for the singer, the piano and the acoustic bass. We used a decent stereo microphone for this purpose - the AT8022. Not just a cellphone.

The second video was recorded by Dr Phillip Chance using a Nagra VI digital recorder as a mixer. He took a direct feed off the vocal mic. The brass was recorded with a pair of Neumann TLM 50 microphones, and then from that to a Nagra IVs. And then the tape played back with a Studer C37.

And yes - the intention is to show that live presents completely different from recorded. There is always a fine line between courage and stupidity......
 

carolkoh

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Sep 17, 2010
907
226
955
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Thank you David W. Robinson for the Audio Oasis! award for Genesis and Merrill Audio.

"It's like the Infinity IRS V's of yore rose from the dead…only much better."

"This room? Big, big, big. Good, good, good."


PF_Audio_Oasis_Genesis_Merrill_Audio.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: sujay

ChasFreeland

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2019
44
18
90
76
Gary, I'm just now catching up with this thread: Congratulations on the above 'Positive Feedback' award from the Pacific Audio Fest, and for your new products. Any chance you will be in BKK for an audio show with these new products, the tone arm and the cartridge?
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing