Howard A. Chinn
Encyclopedia
Howard Allen Chinn was an American broadcasting engineer who pioneered techniques of analog audio recording as well as radio and television broadcasting practices. Chinn served as chief audio engineer at Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) beginning in the 1940s, and authored many magazine articles and books on the technical aspects of audio engineering and broadcasting.
(MIT) where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1927, and a master's degree in 1929. From 1927 to 1932 he served as a research associate at MIT.
for graduate studies in electrical engineering
.
During World War II
, Chinn devoted his energies primarily to war research. For nearly all of 1942 and 1943, he was technical coordinator for the Radio Research Laboratory
of Harvard University
, funded by the Office of Scientific Research and Development
(OSRD). Chinn published a classified report called Enemy Radar Characteristics. From 1944, Chinn served as technical aide then consultant to OSRD.
(IRE) in the 1930s and wrote technical papers for publication in the organization's journal. Chinn often wrote for Audio Engineering
, a magazine that published technical reports on audio subjects.
Chinn was originally against the founding of the Audio Engineering Society
(AES) in 1948. He wrote a letter to the editor of Audio Engineering to say that the proposed formation of AES was unnecessary, as IRE had already formed an Audio and Video Technical Committee. Others did not agree, and when AES did form, Chinn immediately joined. Chinn served on the AES board of governors in 1951. The office was to be held for two years, but Chinn resigned after one "because of the press of work."
Early life
Chinn was born in New York, New York January 5, 1906, to David L. Chinn from China and Ethel Whinton of New York.Education
Chinn attended Polytechnic Institute of New York University, later moving to Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts 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...
(MIT) where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1927, and a master's degree in 1929. From 1927 to 1932 he served as a research associate at MIT.
CBS
In 1932, Chinn returned to New York to join Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) as assistant to the director of engineering. From 1936 forward he was the chief audio engineer. From 1939 to 1941, Chinn appeared as a special lecturer at New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
for graduate studies in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Chinn devoted his energies primarily to war research. For nearly all of 1942 and 1943, he was technical coordinator for the Radio Research Laboratory
Radio Research Laboratory
The Radio Research Laboratory , located on the campus of Harvard University was an 800-person secret research laboratory during World War II. Under the U.S...
of 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...
, funded by the Office of Scientific Research and Development
Office of Scientific Research and Development
The Office of Scientific Research and Development was an agency of the United States federal government created to coordinate scientific research for military purposes during World War II. Arrangements were made for its creation during May 1941, and it was created formally by on June 28, 1941...
(OSRD). Chinn published a classified report called Enemy Radar Characteristics. From 1944, Chinn served as technical aide then consultant to OSRD.
Memberships
Chinn joined the Institute of Radio EngineersInstitute of Radio Engineers
The Institute of Radio Engineers was a professional organization which existed from 1912 until January 1, 1963, when it merged with the American Institute of Electrical Engineers to form the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers .-Founding:Following several attempts to form a...
(IRE) in the 1930s and wrote technical papers for publication in the organization's journal. Chinn often wrote for Audio Engineering
Audio (magazine)
Audio magazine was a periodical published from 1947 to 2000, and was America's longest-running audio magazine. Audio published reviews of audio products and audio technology as well as informational articles on topics such as acoustics, psychoacoustics and the art of listening...
, a magazine that published technical reports on audio subjects.
Chinn was originally against the founding 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...
(AES) in 1948. He wrote a letter to the editor of Audio Engineering to say that the proposed formation of AES was unnecessary, as IRE had already formed an Audio and Video Technical Committee. Others did not agree, and when AES did form, Chinn immediately joined. Chinn served on the AES board of governors in 1951. The office was to be held for two years, but Chinn resigned after one "because of the press of work."
Published works
- (1935) Howard Allen Chinn and Charles W. Horn, Broadcast Transmission Developments and Progress During 1934, Proceedings of the IRE, Volume 23, Number 5.
- (1940) H.A. Chinn, D.K. Gannett, R.M. Morris. A New Standard Volume Indicator and Reference Level, Proceedings of the IRE, Volume 28.
- (1943) Enemy Radar Characteristics. Harvard University.
- (1945) H.A. Chinn, P. Eisenberg, Tonal-Range and Sound-Intensity Preferences of Broadcast Listeners, Proceedings of the IRE, Volume 33, Issue 9. ISSN: 0096-8390
- (1946) Radio Alphabet: A Glossary of Radio Terms, Hastings House, New York. Copyright CBS. Editors: Paul Kesten, Paul Hollister, Robert Strunsky, Douglas Coulter, William Lodge, William Gittinger, William Ackerman, John Churchill, Elmo Wilson, Gilbert Seldes, Howard Chinn, Earle McGill, Davidson Taylor, Lyman Bryson
- (1947) H.A. Chinn, Philip Eisenberg, New CBS Program Transmission Standards, Proceedings of the IRE, Volume 35.
- (1948) Audio System Design Fundamentals, Audio EngineeringAudio (magazine)Audio magazine was a periodical published from 1947 to 2000, and was America's longest-running audio magazine. Audio published reviews of audio products and audio technology as well as informational articles on topics such as acoustics, psychoacoustics and the art of listening...
, Volume 32, Number 11, pp. 11–12. - (1948) AES E-Library: How It All Began, Reprinted from AudioAudio (magazine)Audio magazine was a periodical published from 1947 to 2000, and was America's longest-running audio magazine. Audio published reviews of audio products and audio technology as well as informational articles on topics such as acoustics, psychoacoustics and the art of listening...
, 1948 by Sherry, Jr., Frank E.; LeBel, C. J.; Pickering, Norman C.; Salmon, Vincent; Hartley, Jack; Chinn, Howard A.; West, William P. - (1951) Measurement of Audio Volume, Audio EngineeringAudio (magazine)Audio magazine was a periodical published from 1947 to 2000, and was America's longest-running audio magazine. Audio published reviews of audio products and audio technology as well as informational articles on topics such as acoustics, psychoacoustics and the art of listening...
, Two-part series, September and October, 1951. - (1952) The measurement of audio volume. AES paper.
- (1953) Television broadcasting, McGraw-Hill.
- (1953) Rudy Bretz and Howard A. Chinn, Techniques of Television Production, McGraw-Hill.
- (1954) Chinn, H.A., O'Brien, R.S., Monroe, R.B., Fish, P.E. CBS Television City Technical Facilities, Proceedings of the IRE, Volume 42, Issue 7. ISSN: 0096-8390
Awards
- (1950) John H. Potts Award (now the Gold Medal), the highest accolade from the AES, "for outstanding achievement in the field of audio engineering".
- (1968) NAB Engineering Achievement Award, awarded by the National Association of BroadcastersNational Association of BroadcastersThe National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
(NAB) to Howard A. Chinn, director, general engineering; CBS Television Network; New York, New York.