Being part of the AES is so useful in terms of learning and networking.I encourage young engineers to get involved. As technology changes are exponentially increasing year to year, the need of staying on the top of your game is super important. Also you get to check out the latest trends in technology. In some cases the resurgence of old ideas. 
Audio recording is one of the few engineering fields in which technology goes both backwards and forward. We are constantly revising and reviewing the advances and incorporating old techniques that some times where forgotten . We in corporate them in new and dynamic ways and creative thinking is in the forefront of our craft. Take for instance the resurgence of phase linear speakers in sound reinforcement.
A few years back I remember meeting a bass player well in his 90 . He had lost most of his hearing due to old age, but still had his bass in display, a beautifully crafted Italian bass he had picked up after Normandy in the 40s. Next to it he had a set of 1950’s portable entertainer pa. A metal suitcase that looked like a amo case housed the tube electronics and featured 3 xlr inputs each with a level control and a master volume output on screwing connectors labeled a-b two towering speakers with 8 4” full range drivers on each speaker . I found them so interesting the drivers spaced about one inch
presented, with a super modern approach to the recording, aimed at emulating the feeling of old big band recordings of the Putnam era. Recorded in a dead studio with hyper close miking techniques and extreme absorption isolation more related to modern pop recordings. Mixed at skywalker ranch, the use of the live scoring stage as a echo chamber with a quad array of u47’s at mix down and a Bricasti m7 for the mono center channel and other slap back effects aimed at recreating the old school sound for reproduction in 5.1 systems.
This album Arranged by Sammy Nestico 83 year old trombone player, composer arranger who has worked since his teens and was part of the big band boom and recorded in the all at once big live room direct to tape approach of this period. He talked about the advent of personal real to real recorders, mini tape, 8tracks , midi and ultimately tools like protools and Sibelius . It reminded me of the feel of early Bruce Sweeden recordings of the count Basie orchestra.
Another example is the outstanding audio production of the “grease live” revamping of the classic movie soundtrack with a live to TV production featuring a5.1Being part of the AES is so useful in terms of learning and networking.I encourage young engineers to get involved. As technology changes are exponentially increasing year to year, the need of staying on the top of your game is super important. Also you get to check out the latest trends in technology. In some cases the resurgence of old ideas.
Audio recording is one of the few engineering fields in which technology goes both backwards and forward. We are constantly revising and reviewing the advances and incorporating old techniques that some times where forgotten . We in corporate them in new and dynamic ways and creative thinking is in the forefront of our craft. Take for instance the resurgence of phase linear speakers in sound reinforcement.
A few years back I remember meeting a bass player well in his 90 . He had lost most of his hearing due to old age, but still had his bass in display, a beautifully crafted Italian bass he had picked up after Normandy in the 40s. Next to it he had a set of 1950’s portable entertainer pa. A metal suitcase that looked like a amo case housed the tube electronics and featured 3 xlr inputs each with a level control and a master volume output on screwing connectors labeled a-b two towering speakers with 8 4” full range drivers on each speaker . I found them so interesting the drivers spaced about one inch mix of a Cast of 57 a crew of 220 , shot live in a 22 acre area that included 5 sets. A music playback station using Abelton live, a Sfx position using Spot On , a premix dialogue and main mix using a LawoMc2(387 channel 88fader master mixer), tied to redundant Protools HD systems, 3 FOH positions and a monitor position with digital mixers ran on Madi digital interconnection with redundant autoswitched analogue .This are only a few examples of how our field evolves by looking at the past and using modern techniques to revive the feel of the past, and also looking at the past to develop ideas looking at the future. Overall I always learn something new in this conventions and meet teachers, peers and new talent. If you are a new or seasoned producer, engineer or work in the audio world I highly encourage you to join and attend this events .