The TEC Awards is an annual program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals

Professional audio

Professional audio, also 'pro audio', refers to both an activity and a type of audio equipment. Typically it encompasses the production or reproduction of sound for an audience, by individuals who do such work as an occupation like live event support, using sound reinforcement systems designed for...

. The awards are given to honor technically innovative products as well as companies and individuals who have excelled in sound for television, film, recordings and concerts. "TEC" stands for "Technical Excellence & Creativity".

History

Originally founded in 1985 by Mix

Mix (magazine)

Mix magazine is a periodical billing itself as "the world's leading magazine for the professional recording and sound production technology industry". The magazine is distributed in 94 countries....

 magazine, since 1990 the TEC Awards program has been headed by the TEC Foundation (formerly the Mix Foundation) for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) public benefit organization that also offers scholarships and works to mitigate noise-induced hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is a type of hearing loss in which the root cause lies in the vestibulocochlear nerve , the inner ear, or central processing centers of the brain....

.

TEC Awards process

The TEC Awards list of nominations are compiled annually by the TEC Awards nominating panel; a committee of more than 100 industry professionals. The list of nominees is published on the Foundation's website. The winners are announced and the awards presented at a ceremony held at the NAMM Show

NAMM Show

The NAMM Show is one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center...

, one of the largest trade show for the music products industry, held each January in Anaheim, California.

TEC Awards Hall of Fame

Similarly, a pioneering or innovative person is chosen annually for the honor of induction into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame. This special award was established in 1988; the winner is selected by the TEC Awards nominating panel.

Les Paul Award

In addition, through the Les Paul Award, the TEC Awards nominating panel and the Board of Directors of the TEC Foundation honor "individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio technology." This special award was established in 1991. In 1997, Les Paul

Les Paul

Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...

 himself presented his namesake award to Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...

 and in 2003, with Bob Ludwig

Bob Ludwig

Bob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....

, he co-presented the award to Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...

, who was unable to attend. In 2007, at age 92, Les Paul presented the award to musician, songwriter and producer Al Kooper

Al Kooper

Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...

. Gibson Musical Instruments

Gibson Guitar Corporation

The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...

, maker of the Gibson Les Paul

Gibson Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...

 electric guitar, is the sponsor of the Les Paul Award.

TECnology Hall of Fame

The TEC Awards nominating panel may choose to honor a number of pioneering or innovative audio products with induction into the TECnology Hall of Fame. A product must be ten years old to receive the honor. At the establishment of this award category at the AES Convention in San Francisco in October 2004, the initial 25 inductees included the venerable Edison cylinder (1877), Emile Berliner

Emile Berliner

Emile Berliner or Emil Berliner was a German-born American inventor. He is best known for developing the disc record gramophone...

's flat disc recorder (1887) and Alan Dower Blumlein Stereo Patent (1931).

External links

• TEC Awards webpage. TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, Inc. website
• TEC Awards Hall of Fame Inductees webpage. TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, Inc. website
• TECnology Hall of Fame webpage. TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, Inc. website