3rd Beijing Film Academy Sound Forum 2024 wrapped up
Over the course of the event, nearly 30 distinguished experts and scholars of sound creation and audio technology shared creative experiences and cutting-edge research, attracting a knowledgeable audience of over 300 professional audio practitioners and university students from across China. The success of the gathering, which marked the official establishment of AES special events in China, will surely help to foster new levels of knowledge sharing among audio professionals in the future, both domestically and internationally.
On the BFA campus, thematic presentations and immersive 3D sound workshops were held in both the main lecture hall and the music recording studio of the college's School of Sound. The lecture hall focussed on two core topics: 'Sound Perception' and 'AI in Audio'. There, experts from a range of fields shared insights and engaged in in-depth discussions. Among them, Genelec Chief Technology Officer Aki Mäkivirta and Senior Technologist Thomas Lund explored the fundamentals and potential of both human auditory perception and spatial audio.
The immersive sound workshops in the recording studio also garnered significant attention. The space featured a 7.1.4 Genelec Smart Active Monitoring (SAM) system built with 8381, 8361, 8351 and 8341 The Ones coaxial monitors – and a 7382 subwoofer – for an exceptional listening experience for workshop attendees, who were treated to deep insights into the guest presenters’ recordings and creative processes.
Unveiling our newly launched Personal Reference Monitoring Solution (PRM) to the region's audio professionals was a key highlight of the event. Comprising of the 9320A SAM Reference Controller, Reference Microphone and brand-new 8550A Professional Reference Headphones, this pioneering system seamlessly bridges the worlds of loudspeaker-based and headphone monitoring, giving audio professionals the freedom to work effectively anywhere.
Combined with our Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) software and Aural ID 2 binaural virtual monitoring, users of PRM can enjoy a personal, highly reliable loudspeaker and headphone monitoring experience – right up to immersive – whether working in the studio or on the go.
The Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Wang Jue, one of the co-founders of the 'Sound Forum' series and a professor at the Beijing Film Academy. She provided an overview of the event, expressed gratitude to the participating guests, and warmly welcomed attendees.
Professor Tong Lei, Vice President of the Beijing Film Academy and Dean of the School of Sound, delivered a speech on their behalf. He outlined the founding vision of the Sound Forum series – to promote deep interaction between academia and industry, spreading cutting-edge insights, sharing the latest achievements of creativity and research. Professor Tong thanked Genelec China for their strong support and the Audio Engineering Society (AES) for their recognition of the event and cooperation. He also expressed hope for the Sound Forum to serve as a lasting platform for global collaboration and exchange among experts, scholars and professionals.”
AES President for 2025 Gary Gottlieb, then AES President-Elect, delivered remarks in which he expressed his gratitude to the Beijing Film Academy for the invitation. He introduced the mission and goals of AES, emphasising its role in uniting audio enthusiasts for the open exchange of ideas. He also highlighted the Sound Forum’s role in offering valuable learning opportunities for students and young professionals.
Genelec Managing Director Siamäk Naghian, who joined the ceremony remotely from Finland, extended a warm welcome to attendees, before expressing Genelec’s pride in sponsoring the event. He highlighted that collaboration with the Beijing Film Academy had been an incredibly positive experience, and he conveyed his sincere appreciation to AES for their strong support of the Sound Forum.
Director of Genelec China Feng Hanying introduced the Sound Forum's lectures and workshops. He noted that sound production is just one aspect of immersive sound – and that attendees would leave with a multidimensional and comprehensive understanding of 3D sound, having explored topics such as audio perception and AI in audio.
The Highlights
Keynote presentations in the lecture hall
The main presentations in the lecture hall kicked off with the theme of 'Sound Perception', where experts delved into the complexities of human auditory perception and spatial audio from both an academic and technical perspective. Compared to traditional stereo, 3D sound has significant differences in multiple aspects, allowing for new areas of research. Building on advancements in the field of 3D sound, experts and scholars presented cutting-edge research on subjective and objective listening evaluations and provided insights into the mechanisms of human auditory perception. Additionally, technical specialists delivered in-depth discussions on 3D sound rendering over headphones, outlining the relevant technologies and parameters.
The rise of artificial intelligence has unlocked new possibilities for sound-related fields. Professors from leading universities presented a series of insightful lectures on the integration of AI technology in the audio world, while exploring the future development paths of AI in audio production. They went on to analyse the profound impact these emerging technologies are having on the audio industry.
AES President-Elect Gary Gottlieb presents “How Does It Sound Now? The Evolution of Audio.”
Genelec Senior Technologist Thomas Lund presents “Auditory Envelopment: a primary driver of emotional impact in listening.”
Senior Representative at WSDG Victor Canellas presents “Designing an Immersive Audio Production Studio: an in-depth study of BFA Scoring Stage.”
Genelec Chief Technology Officer Aki Mäkivirta presents “HRTF Individualization and Audio Rendering for Headphone-based Audio Monitoring.”
Professor at Fudan University Li Wei presents “An Introduction of Sound and Music Computing.”
Immersive masterclass workshops in the recording studio
With the theme 'Immersive Sound Recording and Production for Music', experts and scholars shared their knowledge and experience, covering all aspects from live recording to post-production and mixing. They provided a thorough analysis of the techniques and processes involved in 3D sound production, highlighting the key differences in immersive applications for various types of music. Additionally, they introduced cutting-edge concepts in 3D sound production, which sparked enthusiastic discussions and interactions with the audience.
Before the official programme, a special session was held for student project reviews, where experts provided on-the-spot guidance. This unique opportunity proved to be a highly valuable learning experience, leaving a lasting impact on students.
Professor at Sound School of Beijing Film Academy Li Yuesong presents “Reformation and Reproduction-Immersive Music Production for the Beijing Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony.”
Sound Engineer, Mixer & Mastering Engineer Zhang Buruo presents “Spatial Audio Music Mixing Template Design and Case Study.”
On both days, the marathon of keynote presentations and immersive masterclasses extended well into the evening. Audiences participated with great enthusiasm, diving deep into this academic feast. As the event neared its conclusion, Professor Li Dakang delivered a captivating closing presentation，elevating the atmosphere to a thrilling climax. His emotionally charged delivery was met with sustained applause from the audience.
Following this, Professor Wang Jue delivered the closing remarks, sincerely thanking all the speakers for their insightful contributions. She also extended her gratitude to the faculty, students and Genelec staff behind the scenes for their tireless efforts. She officially declared the conclusion of this edition of the Sound Forum a resounding success.
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About the Author
Qu Lu is the Marketing & Communication Manager of Genelec China (BGA) and has been with the company for a decade. With a background in recording arts, she initially envisioned a career in audio production but found her passion in marketing, storytelling, and customer engagement. She thrives on creative challenges, from launching campaigns and documentaries to pioneering new customer experiences, all while staying true to Genelec’s values of innovation, sustainability, and authentic communication.