David E. Blackmer
Encyclopedia
David E. Blackmer was an American audio electronics engineer, most famous as the inventor of the DBX noise reduction system
and founder of dbx, Inc.
.
As well as audio noise reduction, Blackmer worked on extending the frequency response of audio electronics beyond the conventionally-accepted audible range of 20 kHz. He also published research on the value of ultrasonic frequencies in sound reproduction, claiming that the time resolution of human hearing is 5 microseconds or better - which would correspond to a frequency of 200 kHz, requiring audio equipment ideally to have a flat response to that frequency.
Blackmer attended High Mowing School
in Wilton, New Hampshire
, New Hampshire
, USA
. He started in audio at Lafayette Radio
in Boston
in the 1940s and studied electronics
in the US Navy
and at Harvard University
and MIT
. He later worked at Trans-Radio Recording Studio, Epsco, Hi-Con Eastern and Raytheon, where he designed telemetry
systems for the Mercury space program
. He founded dbx in 1971, selling it to BSR
in 1979 and staying on with the company for several years. In the late 1980s he formed Earthworks, producing studio microphone
s, preamplifier
s and studio reference monitors
. He also founded Kintek (now Colortek) and Instrumentation Laboratory
, as well as running the Cafe Pierrot restaurant in Wilton for a time.
Blackmer was a Life Member of the IEEE
and a Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society
from 1976. He was also a great reader of science fiction
. He had ten children.
Dbx (noise reduction)
dbx is a family of noise reduction systems developed by the company of the same name. The most common implementations are dbx Type I and dbx Type II for analog tape recording and, less commonly, vinyl LPs. A separate implementation, known as dbx-TV, is part of the MTS system used to provide stereo...
and founder of dbx, Inc.
Dbx, Inc.
dbx, Inc. is an American producer of professional audio recording equipment. It was founded by David E. Blackmer in 1971. The original company goal was: "To get closer to the realism of a live performance." Its early products were based on the concept of using decibel expansion which gave the...
.
As well as audio noise reduction, Blackmer worked on extending the frequency response of audio electronics beyond the conventionally-accepted audible range of 20 kHz. He also published research on the value of ultrasonic frequencies in sound reproduction, claiming that the time resolution of human hearing is 5 microseconds or better - which would correspond to a frequency of 200 kHz, requiring audio equipment ideally to have a flat response to that frequency.
Blackmer attended High Mowing School
High Mowing School
High Mowing School is an independent private, co-educational, day and boarding school, located in Wilton, New Hampshire, in the United States. High Mowing is a Waldorf school, and is the only Waldorf boarding school in the United States. It is a high school...
in Wilton, New Hampshire
Wilton, New Hampshire
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 3,743 people, 1,410 households, and 1,023 families living in the town. The population density was 145.3 people per square mile . There were 1,451 housing units at an average density of 56.3 per square mile...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He started in audio at Lafayette Radio
LaFayette Radio
Lafayette Radio Electronics Corporation was a radio manufacturer and retailer based in Syosset, New York. The company sold radio sets, amateur radio equipment, citizen's band radios, and other communications equipment, as well as electronic components and tools through retail outlets as well as...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in the 1940s and studied electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
in the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. He later worked at Trans-Radio Recording Studio, Epsco, Hi-Con Eastern and Raytheon, where he designed telemetry
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
systems for the Mercury space program
Mercury program
Mercury Program might refer to:*the first successful American manned spaceflight program, Project Mercury*an American post-rock band, The Mercury Program...
. He founded dbx in 1971, selling it to BSR
Birmingham Sound Reproducers
Birmingham Sound Reproducers was a British manufacturer of record player turntables.Daniel McLean McDonald founded Birmingham Sound Reproducers as a private company in 1932 in the West Midlands of England, UK...
in 1979 and staying on with the company for several years. In the late 1980s he formed Earthworks, producing studio microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
s, preamplifier
Preamplifier
A preamplifier is an electronic amplifier that prepares a small electrical signal for further amplification or processing. A preamplifier is often placed close to the sensor to reduce the effects of noise and interference. It is used to boost the signal strength to drive the cable to the main...
s and studio reference monitors
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
. He also founded Kintek (now Colortek) and Instrumentation Laboratory
Charles Stark Draper Laboratory
Draper Laboratory is an American not-for-profit research and development organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Draper focuses on the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy.Originally...
, as well as running the Cafe Pierrot restaurant in Wilton for a time.
Blackmer was a Life Member of the IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
and a Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society
Audio Engineering Society
Established in 1948, the Audio Engineering Society draws its membership from amongst engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or products for audio, and persons working...
from 1976. He was also a great reader of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. He had ten children.