An Auspicious Annum for Audio?
The Year of the Fire Horse galloped onto the scene early last week and with its arrival, Shively Acoustics International (SAI) is taking to heart its promise of strength and dynamism as we look to what lies ahead, as our business continues to grow and our collaborative network expands within an industry experiencing intense transformation.
Before the customary Shively Acoustics check-in, humor us for just a moment longer on this notion of transformation, and consider the following: While the horse marks its return every twelve years, its combination with the element of fire does so every 60 years. Do the back-calculation and you reach 1966, which, as you might already know, was a watershed year for the world of Audio.
More of these audio heads this year, please!
Dolby’s A-type noise-reduction system saw its first commercial adoption that year, spawning a revolution in professional recording studios with cleaner multi-track recordings. Vacuum tubes gave way to solid-state transistors, enabling HiFi amplifiers and receivers, while the industry at large also began its pivotal shift away from mono in favor of stereo.
Inside the studios, among the established innovators exploiting the new technologies were The Beach Boys and The Beatles, resulting in the seminal albums Pet Sounds in May, and Revolver, in August, respectively. Meanwhile, the Jimi Hendrix Experience formed in October, beginning work on its own groundbreaking debut that was just around the corner. In the same month, WOR-FM in New York became one of the first FM progressive rock and album-oriented rock music stations on the airwaves. Outside the studios, a dedicated, formalized live concert sound industry of its own was taking shape, with more specialized equipment providers emerging around this time.
Any audiophile will eagerly point back to what it was that first sparked their passion for the industry, and for SAI president Roger Shively, much of the above makes the list. In this respect, Shively Acoustics as a company owes more than a little to the previous Year of the Fire Horse. Okay, nostalgic slice of perspective: ✅ – now back to the present. . .
Many horses in the race
Projects and partnerships on the one hand, and conference planning on the other – business is chugging along at Shively Acoustics. Ongoing project work with BOSS Audio and DSP Solutions, mentioned a few times here already, is progressing, with February full of activity fine-tuning designs and prototypes. In the case of DSP Solutions, things are going well enough that we are also starting new design projects, which should keep us busy with them for at least another year, if not more.
More good news this month concerned our research project with a Tier One client, where we had something of a breakthrough in our method for vehicle testing of sensors for voice. This has now allowed us to advance rather quickly to the next phase of the project, in which we hope to validate the method and move on to a new project with the company.
Additionally, planning is moving forward for another future project, this one involving Purdue University’s Ray W. Herrick Laboratories on behalf of Orava. After discussions this month, we’re hoping to see research applications and proposals with Purdue in March, with a start date as early as this summer or in the fall and continuing for up to two years. Check back here next month for an update on that.
Meanwhile, Roger has been in Detroit this week as head of SAI partner Silentium’s North American business for a string of meetings to support the company’s current and future projects. We also hope to be able to announce further Silentium news next month – stay tuned.
But of course, the big event on the horizon for Shively Acoustics and the wider industry is the AES 6th International Automotive Audio Conference taking place this summer in Detroit from July 29 to 31. Roger, the returning conference chair, reports that planning “is in full swing and building!” Facilities have been secured, calls for papers and sponsors are out (see below), while the immersive audio demo room is now being prepared alongside the full presentation, exhibit, and break-out spaces.
While the returning conference on automotive audio from the Audio Engineering Society might still be half a year away, the deadline to submit technical papers, workshops, and tutorials is not. In fact, it’s only three weeks away – Tuesday, March 17 – so, don’t delay, submit now!
AES Automotive Audio 2026
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Submit: Papers, Workshops, Tutorials
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Deadline: MARCH 17
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AES Automotive Audio 2026 〰️ Submit: Papers, Workshops, Tutorials 〰️ Deadline: MARCH 17 〰️
Finally, as if we could forget, the latest webinar from the Audio Product Development Alliance (APDA) was held earlier this month. Visit the audio alliance’s YouTube channel to watch APDA Webinar #15, “Immersive Designs and Soundbars Using Adaptive Audio Technologies” with MISCO’s Dan Digre (who previously joined us for Webinar #5) and ComHear’s Mike Binn. This latest edition of the webinar series comes on the heels of a successful APDA presence at ISE Barcelona at the start of the month.
Strong, dynamic, transformative – if you asked us if we had any doubts about SAI’s Year of the Horse, the answer would be a fiery “NEIGH!” ■
Shively Acoustics International — Modern Audio Solutions, Worldwide