Contributed by Nasa.

What's the AES Convention you ask?  (This may not be the post for you then).  It's the Audio Engineering Society Convention (aka place where recording engineers go to nerd out on new gear before getting drunk later that night).  This was my first time going, even though I've been in the recording business for over 10 years.  I always thought you had to pay dues to get in, but apparently now you can register ahead of time and do it for Free.  I was told it was much smaller this year, but since I'd never gone, that didn't really bother me.  Lots of exhibits from manufacturers, although I noticed that Digidesign, TC Electonic and KRK weren't there- not cool.  Most others were.  The two clear highlights of the Convention floor for me were 1- Watching George Massenburg of GML play back one of his mixes on some giant monitors (may have been the best sounding song I've ever heard- I was shook after hearing it for about 10 minutes) and briefly getting shunned by DMC as he gave Willie Green the quickest pound ever and walked away. 

I won't really get into the drunkeness that proceeded the below slideshow at the after parties, I'll leave those stories for Willie Green to tell.  Before I send you down there to check out some pics of gear with some comments, just wanted to thank Willie & Matt Carter of MSR Studios in Manhattan for hooking me up with all the right RSVPs Friday and Saturday nights.  Good times yall.  Holla!

These monitors from Focal were EVERYWHERE at AES. I'd never heard of them before, but apparently they are the new big thing.This is the Preception 820 Tube Mic from AKG. Someday, this will be in my studio, loving this mic. The box next to the mic is where the Tubes are of course, but the knob to the right actually has 9 notches. Each one taking you from omnidirectional to carioid to figure 8. Sick! For now I will stare at it in the catalog.API's ill analog board. API threw a party at Roseland later that night, some "interesting" musical selections, but they did have free food- hot and cold.

Close up of the classic and original "noched" design on API boards.Sorry, cant get this one to flip vertical. These are the much talked about Dr. Dre sponsored headphones. They sounded pretty good, but for 300 dollars a pair, they'd have to mix the track for me too in order for them to be worth it.

These are the very cool "mini rack" instruments from SPL. The graphic EQs (with the orange lights in this pic) are pretty friggin incredible. Added Bass that would be coveted by any Hip-Hop mixer or producer.Apparently this was Bob Weir's board on loan. Nice.Why yes! People do still find reasons to use ADAT & DA-88 tapes (seen in the back). Not sure what this was about, didn't ask questions.Very cool looking wood finished board from Toft Audio.Charter Oak Mics. These are what you would call "boutique mics", kind of like the mic equivalent of an IPA if your a beer drinker. Small factory outlets made in the USA. These are highly suggested, I've used them.These dudes are on some Star Trek shit. I'm not even going to pretend I know what the heck that board is or does specifically, but it was pretty sick looking!This completes your tour, hope you enjoyed, peace!