Conference and Seminar Programme

11:00 - 11:30

Seminar: RIGGING IT RIGHT - ALIGNMENT OF ARRAYS & STACKS

Speaker: S. Gopinadhan (Poncho), E & E Systems India Pvt. Ltd.
Even though audio is intangible, it is undeniably one of the most crucial production aspects of any live event. A huge factor that determines the quality of audio delivery is the alignment of the audio system / rig, and real time analysis of the audio quality while the rig is in play (RTA). With a host of tools available to help deliver the perfect alignment and offer RTA capabilities, these factors have now established themselves as a critical necessity to deliver the perfect audio solution. PALM Conference has recognised the importance of this critical aspect of pro audio, and hence has organized this session with the view to deliver in-depth information on the skill of System Alignment and Real Time Analysis (RTA). System Techs, System Engineers, FOH engineers etc across audio rental companies will greatly benefit from this session, as it promises to enhance their knowledge and intelligence quotient of these aspects.

12:00 - 12:30

Seminar: DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING & AMPLIFICATION IN THE LIVE DOMAIN

Speaker: Ashish Bajaj, Harman Professional India
In today’s day, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) has become much more than a tool to make your rig sound better. The concept, which essentially came into being for studio recording, has affirmed its importance in the live arena as well, through all the exponential advancements in digital technology. DSP’s integration into the live mixing console has delivered flexibility and the power to tailor the quality of sound to best suit the venue, and provide the ability to derive studio like tonal qualities within the live domain. Additionally, DSP’s integration into amplifiers provides engineers with added flexibility and the potential to derive the maximum performance from their rig, which has revolutionized amplification technology, making amplifiers of the current generation more comprehensive & efficient. With a view to deliver a holistic understanding on the various nuances of DSP, current advancements in amplification technology and their relevance in the live arena, PALM conference will deliver this session, which will be conducted by an industry veteran, who has witnessed the evolution of these technologies first hand, and has helped further advancements. Audio engineers, both established as well as aspiring, stand to gain tremendous benefit through this seminar.

12:50 - 13:30

Seminar: POWER DISTRIBUTION - PLUGGING IN & POWERING UP

Speaker: Sudhir Kamat, Raylogic Systems
An often overlooked factor that’s responsible for driving live events is the importance of power distribution and the accompanying auxiliaries that are a part of the distribution network viz; cables, connectors etc. Countless events in India have witnessed disastrous results due to substandard audio or lighting solution delivery that has risen out of poorly managed power distribution. As a true industry platform, PALM Conference recognises the gravity of this issue and the impact that it has had on the live event scenario . So, with a view to elevate the overall quality and level of live event productions in our country, we have organized this seminar that will be delivered by seasoned veterans in the live events domain. The highly interactive and informative seminar will discuss in detail the importance of having appropriate arrangements for smooth distribution of power, ensuring clean power sources and using good quality cables and connectors etc, which will greatly benefit contractors who organize live events, lighting & sound rental vendors and other professionals related to the live events scene. The seminar promises to clear concepts on effectively planning power management, which in-turn would translate into successful service deliveries.

 13:30 - 14:30

LUNCH

14:30 - 15:30

Seminar: LIVE SOUND / INSTALL SOUND REINFORCEMENT

Speaker: A Representative from D&B Audiotechnik
Product Presentation From D&B Audiotechnik

16:00 - 17:00

Seminar: THE ART & CRAFT OF LIGHTING DESIGN

Speaker: Viraaf Pocha & Atul Sonpal
Though lighting is one of the most tangible aspects of any event (be it live or pre-recorded & televised), it still remains overlooked and often taken for granted. Like any other occupation, the art of lighting design involves a lot of skill, technique, hard work and dedication. Much more than just mere mixing and matching of colours, lighting design involves complex arithmetic and physical calculations, which needs to blend together harmoniously with an artistic design pattern to deliver the perfect lighting solution.Though India today has a healthy amount lighting rental companies, the fact still remains that we can boast of very few quality lighting designers, and many attribute this to lack of skill, which in turn has risen out of the lack of quality guidance. Therefore, the PALM Conference brings together two of India’s senior-most decorated and well respected lighting designers, Viraaf Pocha & Atul Sonpal, who will discuss the various nuances of the art of lighting design in this seminar session. The session will span a comprehensive look at the various aspects of lighting design and the various fields of application (like live events, TV etc), and will benefit existing lighting professionals as well as aspiring lighting designers.

17:30 - 18:15

Presentation: BY THE COMPOSER, FOR THE COMPOSER

Speaker: Mr Aashish Rego, Mr Raju Singh & Mr Ram Sampath of the MCAI
The Music Composers Association of India (MCAI) is the country’s only confederation that focuses on the smooth commissioning and overall welfare of composers across the entire music industry. Ever since it came into effect in 2010, the MCAI has managed to bring about a number of positive changes in the functioning of the music industry, with some of their major achievements being uniting composers across various streams of the Indian Music Industry, enforcing the copyrights issue in favour of the composers, establishing uniform work-flows and work ethics etc and many more. In recognition of this heartening initiative, and displaying PALM’s strong support for the organization, PALM Conference has presented the MCAI with a healthy platform to reach composers & musicians across the country, in the form of this seminar session. Through this, the PALM Conference looks forward to thrusting the betterment of Indian Music, and showing their support towards the music fraternity.

11:00 - 11:40

Conference: HOW TO MAKE YOUR CAREER AS AN AUDIO ENGINEER A SUCCESS

Speaker: Daman Sood, Mujeeb Dadarkar & Vijay Benegal
Over the past two decades, the Indian Pro Audio market has flourished manifold, with business expansion reaching astronomical figures and offering even better potential for growth in the future. Be it the studio domain or the live circuit, the craft of audio engineering has affirmed its mark in the entertainment industry. No longer is audio engineering considered a “risky proposition” when it comes to choosing career options. The industry has evolved, and opportunities for growth and success are numerous, which ideally should be an extremely heartening factor for those youngsters who have dared to think beyond the management degrees and pursue their “passion” for audio.Even though the opportunities for growth & success are plenty, students need to know what moves to make in order to tap these potentials, which is where industry guidance plays an extremely important role. With the resolve to build the future of the Indian Pro Audio Industry, PALM Conference has organized a special one hour open session exclusively for those youngsters who have just set foot into the vast world of pro audio. The session will feature stalwarts from the studio & live factions of the pro audio industry , who will provide the audience with invaluable pearls of wisdom on how to tap the ever growing potential of the Indian market and what steps to take to ensure a fruitful career in audio engineering."

12:00 - 12:40

Seminar: INTELLIGENT AUDIO DECISSIONS FOR YOUR STUDIO - MICS, PRE-AMPS & COMPRESSORS

Speaker: Michael Deming of Charter Oak
This session is directed to everyone within the studio domain, and will highlight the critical importance of microphones, pre-amps and compressors in the day to day working of a studio in todays world - be it a home studio or a pro-grade studio. Michael will discuss the nuances of setting up a studio facility and will divulge key tips of ensuring you ge the right kind of gear for your studio. At the same time, he will also share critical tips on how to derive the maximum performance potential from your gear.

13:00 - 13:30

Seminar: SOUND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRO RIBBON DRIVER

Speaker: Tom Back - Alcons Audio
A product presentation from Alcons Audio describing the new transducer technology that promises to enhance the overall sound experience of an audience

 13:30 - 14:30

LUNCH

14:30 - 15:30

Seminar: EXPLORING ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES OF THE D.A.W

Speaker: Rohit Kulkarni, Composer & Music Director
The concept of the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) broke into the international studio market in a big way in the late 90’s, and ever since the DAW has grown through leaps and bounds to reach the stage of advancement it has today. The fever has caught up with the Indian market as well, with almost every studio in the country gone digital, leading to the DAW being recognised more than just a tool or means to achieve the end product i.e. music. With leapfrog advancements in digital technology, so much so that multi-track recording has reached into the thousand count, the DAW has grown to limits that have encompassed multiple working capabilities, thereby ushering in a new era of work environment within the music production domain. Professionals now use the DAW as an end to end solution for projects, and the quality derived is unquestionable. Today’s DAW though, has far more to offer than what is currently being utilised by industry professionals here in India. So with a view to help Indian professionals harness and unleash the complete potential of the DAW, PALM Conference will deliver this special seminar that will be conducted by a renowned studio professional. The seminar will open the gates to new application possibilities of the DAW, helping professionals derive more than what they current churn out from their workstation. Studio recordists & engineers, music producers etc are the audience who stand a chance to benefit the most from this session.

16:00 - 17:00

Seminar: STUDIO CONTROL ROOM DESIGN FOR STEREO & SURROUND SOUND MONITORING

Speaker: Clifford Pereira, Genelec
A Studio Control Room is often referred to as a near perfect controlled environment that delivers almost perfect reproduction of audio fidelity. However, this isn’t the case with every studio. This seminar will highlight the various acoustical problems loudspeaker monitors encounter in typical audio studio control rooms & the various studio design solutions to overcome these problems. The seminar will touch base upon crucial issues such as loudspeaker monitoring placement & calibration, studio equipment & furniture layout, and modern control room shape & acoustic treatment techniques, all of which promise to be a great boon for all current studio owners, and those who would want to set up their own studio some day.

17:30 - 18:30

Seminar: LIVE SOUND / INSTALL SOUND REINFORCEMENT

Speaker: A Representative from D&B Audiotechnik
d&b Audiotechnik Product Presentation

11:00 - 11:30

Seminar: BIG PERFORMANCE IN A SMALL PACKAGE - BETTER PERFORMANCE TO SIZE RATIOS IN MODERN DAY LOUDSPEAKERS

Speaker: A Representative from K-Array
K - Array Product Presentation

11:50 - 12:30

Seminar: GOING INTERNATIONAL - WITH TOURING ENGINEERS

Speaker: Pramod Chandorkar, Ashish Saxena & Mujeeb Dadarkar
Indian musicians and artists have come of age, with the proliferation of Indian music expanding to all corners of the globe. The growing demand for Indian music internationally has brought with it an upswing in the demand for live performances in various parts of the world. Audio engineers (both FOH as well as MON) who tour with the performer(s) have thereby interacted with several professionals from different nations and have also come to experience the manner in which international pro audio professionals conduct their duties, be it audio engineers or rental companies. At the same time, there has also been an exchange of ideas, knowledge, skill and technique, which have helped the Indian engineers to elevate their game, and deliver the best quality at every instance. With an intention to help the rest of the Indian pro audio professionals catch up on such vital knowledge and information, PALM Conference has organized this exclusive session, bringing together some of the leading touring engineers on one platform to share their experiences and disseminate vital knowledge on skills and techniques that they’ve learn from their touring experiences. The seminar aims to benefit live sound professionals across the hierarchy, be it system techs, system engineers, Monitor Engineers or FOH engineers.

12:50 - 13:30

Seminar: LIVE SOUND / INSTALL SOUND REINFORCEMENT

Speaker: A Representative from D&B Audiotechnik
Product Presentation by D&B Audiotechnik

 13:30 - 14:30

LUNCH

14:30 - 16:00

Seminar: MIXING IT RIGHT

Speaker: Shantanu Hudlikar, Yash Raj Film Studios
Mixing it Right' session will see industry veteran and extremely respected & renowned Studio Mixing Engineer extraordinaire presenting a fast paced, highly interactive skill & technique intensive sessions, discussing intricate tips and techniques about studio mixing, recording and sound balance, while delivering real life, real world, practical demonstrations that will leave you feeling much smarter. The speaker boasts of an illustrious career that spans over multiple years of recording, mixing and arranging several impressive pieces of Bollywood music. At the same time, he has been an inspiration for the next generation through his works and has raised the standard of the craft of studio mixing in India today. The PALM Conference has invited the speaker to conduct the ‘Mixing it Right’ session, which will span over 90 minutes in total, with the view to disperse critical knowledge about the art and craft of studio mixing. So don’t miss this opportunity to tune your ears up and get educated by one of the gurus of the studio domain.

16:30 - 17:30

Conference: INSTORE & ONLINE RETAIL EXPANSION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN INDIA

Speaker: Representatives from Vardhaman, Furtados, Onstage Music Factory, etc.
The Indian market for musical instruments has come a long way in establishing itself as a serious contributor to the growth of the nation’s economy. With huge overseas investments entering into the Indian market over the course of the past few years in the form of new brands & expanded product lines, and many more awaiting their turn to tap the potential that India has to offer, the market has grown manifold and continues to do so at a steady pace. Music, as a career option has also garnered a lot of momentum over the past few decades, and is now no longer considered as a risky career proposition.This scenario has had a direct impact on the retail sector, as it has shown a dramatic rise in expanse as well as performance over the last few years. Tapping buying potential in cities across the nation, especially those considered as B & C towns, retailing has now entered into the digital domain as well, with online retail stores touted to be the next big thing in India.The strength accrued in the existing retail infrastructure for MI products shows immense potential that can be leveraged for retailing of standard pro audio & lighting products as well. The PALM Conference has recognised the true scale of the retail business in Indian market and hence has organized this exclusive conference, which will feature the top players in the retail sector delving into details about the business of retailing as it stands today. These stalwarts will share their inputs on the various aspects of the business and will discuss their views on the prospects of retailing for MI as well as pro audio in the future. Considering the wide scope of this topic, the knowledge shared will benefit professionals across various applications in the pro audio & music production industry at large including the dealer-distributor network, musicians & music producers, live & studio sound professionals, system integrators etc.

15:00 - 16:00

SUNBURN – INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF ELECTRONIC-DANCE-MUSIC AND MUSIC FESTIVALS IN INDIA

Speaker: TBA
Sunburn is Asia’s largest and amongst the World’s TOP TEN festivals at #9. Most importantly, it is home-grown, created , organized, managed & marketed by an “Indian” organization as compared to the imports that we are used to. The challenges that Percept has faced in our system/industry in seeding this space not only as a genre of music but opening the music festival culture in India makes this panel interesting. Some interesting mix of delegates shall keep you ticking with their vision, ground breaking thoughts and ideologies.

15:00 - 15:45

DJ TASTER COURSE - DJ WORKSHOP

Speaker: DJ Reji
DJ Reji will conduct an introductory course for beginners interested in learning the skills of DJing. The Workshop comprises practical hands-on and theory-based lessons on:- elementary steps in DJ Technique- setup, maintenance and functions of DJ equipment- beat matching and basic mix techniques.

16:00 - 18:00

DJ ELIMINATIONS

Speaker: DJ Reji & DJ Amul
This session will see DJ's from across the country battling it out with each other on the turntable, in an attempt to qualify for the finale of the PALM DJ Competition 2012, which will take place on the final day of PALM 2012.

12:00 - 15:00

IMMA – Presenting the future of the industry association

Speaker: Jasbeer Singh, Anthony Gomes, Manoj Motwani, Brajesh Bhargava
The Indian Music Merchants Association (IMMA) has been set up with the view to elevate the various facets of the Indian music industry. PALM Conference has recognised the relevance & importance of such an industry association, and has hence delivered a platform for the IMMA to conduct an open session with the industry to present the benefits of memberships and alignment with such industry bodies, and how important it is to build a strong industry association that can redress issues confronting the growth of the pro audio & musical instruments industries. The open session will be presided by the committee members of the IMMA, and will be followed by a private get-together & lunch exclusively meant for the IMMA members.

16:00 - 17:00

PALM DJ COMPETITION FINALE

Speaker: DJ Regi & DJ Amul
Contestants that have been shortlisted from the PALM DJ Competition Elimination round, climb up to the final pedestal to battle it out with each other in a mix-down to the finish. The last (wo)man standing at the top will receive the distinction of being the undisputed winner of the PALM DJ Competition.