Deadline for 2018 NAMM TEC Awards entries extended

The TEC Nominating Panel has extended the 33rd Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards entries deadline to 10 July 2017.

Divided into three portions – Oustanding Technical Achievement, Outstanding Creative Achievement and Studio Design Project – the TEC Awards recognises and honours those people, companies and products that have attained ‘the highest standards of excellence within the audio, music technology and sound production industry.’

Products and project entries must have been released and in commercial use during the current eligibility year: 1 September 2016 – 31 August 2017.

Submitted studio design projects must be new studios or rooms, or major renovations completed and in use during the eligibility period. Entrants are also being asked to include a web address where Nominating Panel members may view the new room or facility.

Once the call for entries is complete, the 2017 TEC Nominating Panel – a group of industry thought leaders, executives, audio professionals and media agents with expertise spanning the entire range of awards categories – will review submissions and vote on their top three choices in each category. Those nominations with the most votes will be finalists to win a 33rd Annual NAMM TEC Award.

See below for a rundown of the Technical and Creative Achievement categories, including descriptions of what kinds of products would be suitable for each Award:

Technical Achievement Categories

Amplification Hardware/Studio & Sound Reinforcement

Amplifiers, speaker/monitor management, system controllers, signal distribution, snakes, feedback eliminators, crossovers, and related equipment.

Ancillary Equipment

Acoustic materials, synchronizers, control systems, test equipment, accessories, and related equipment

Audio Apps & Hardware/Peripherals

Mobile applications and hardware for recording and music production, audio measurement, utilities, controllers, signal processing and musical instruments — recording, test/measurement, control, audio, and music production/performance and add-ons/accessories

Audio Education Technology

Apps, tutorials, software, books and interactive courseware for music and audio education

Computer Audio Hardware

Converters, interfaces, master clocks, data storage, peripherals, and made-for-audio computers?

DJ Production Technology

Controllers, mixers, media players, turntables and effects

Hardware/Peripherals for Smartphones and Tablets

Recording, test/measurement, control, audio and music production/performance add-ons/accessories

Headphone/Earpiece Technology

Headphones and in-ear transducers for professional studio, live sound and broadcast

Large Format Console Technology

Mixing board, over 60 pounds for recording, broadcast or sound reinforcement

Microphone Preamplifiers

Mic preamps, channel strips and other products that process mic-level signals

Microphones – Recording

Microphones and accessories for recording applications

Microphones – Sound Reinforcement

Microphones and accessories for live sound applications

Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects

Instrument amps, preamp/processing/effects rack units and pedalboards, stomp boxes, and related equipment

Musical Instrument Hardware

Hardware-based synths, samplers, drum machines, instruments, and controllers

Musical Instrument Software

Virtual instruments, music creation software, instrument libraries/loops, amp modelers, and related equipment

Signal Processing Hardware

Delays, reverbs, compressors, limiters, equalizers, noise reduction, and other effects

Signal Processing Hardware (500 Series Modules)

Delays, reverbs, compressors, limiters, equalizers, noise reduction, and other effects in the 500 Series format

Signal Processing Software (Dynamics/EQ/Utilities)

Stand-alone and plug-ins – compressors, limiters, equalizers, crossovers, meters, restoration, etc. for computer-based signal manipulation

Signal Processing Software (Effects)

Stand-alone and plug-ins — delays, reverbs, chorus, pitch/harmony, spatial apps, etc. for computer-based signal manipulation

Small Format Console Technology (Studio, Broadcast, Sound Reinforcement)

Portable, under-60-pound mixers for recording, broadcast or sound reinforcement

Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers

Main and stage monitor systems, drivers, horns, transducers and other components for live sound applications

Studio Monitors

Speakers, monitors, drivers and components for studio applications

Wireless Technology

Wireless systems including mics, transmitters, receivers, accessories, and related equipment

Workstation Technology/Recording Devices

Computer-based DAWs and digital editing systems — hardware based systems for recording and capturing audio

Creative Achievement Categories

Interactive Entertainment Sound Production

Record Production/Album
Record Production/Single or Track
Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast (Radio broadcast, TV broadcast, CD or DVD)
Television Sound Production Film Sound Production
Tour Sound Production

Picture: WSDG’s John Storyk at the 2017 event with his company’s third consecutive TEC Award for Best Studio Design

http://www.tecawards.org