News

SPARS Talks Delivery Specs

New York City (October 10-13, 2003)--The monthly SPARS luncheon took place as usual at Gallagher's Restaurant in midtown Manhattan yesterday, hosted by Pro Sound News, and well-attended by various local and out-of-town studio owners and independent SPARS members. PSN organized an agenda focused on delivery recommendations and secure file transfer, for more efficient and secure work between record labels and recording and mastering facilities. Speakers included BMG's Allison Booth, and Bridge Media Solutions president John Spencer, who discussed delivery specifications for master recording, and DMOD president Mark Overington, who addressed piracy and asset leakage during the production process.

Spencer and Booth discussed the recently developed Delivery Recommendations for Master Recordings document, created by the Delivery Specifications Committee, formed by Nashville members of the P&E wing of the Recording Academy. The document contains guidelines for both short- and long-term storage of master recordings, and addresses the management of media as IT data for record labels, so that material from recording sessions is readily labeled and can be re-purposed at any time.

"We need to get a better handle on our assets," implores Booth. "Documentation of Pro Tools sessions is nonexistent." And Spencer points out to SPARS members that, "The delivery recommendations are going to drive the reshaping of contracts, which helps labels repurpose their assets. And, recording studios can be proactive with the committee's recommendations, they can figure out how to profit from them. It's another extension of your services." Overington spoke of piracy, and DMOD's technology, which moves files securely for review and approval purposes and off-site collaboration.

--Janice Brown