CAS Quarterly

Spring 2023

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62 S P R I N G 2 0 2 3 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y I N R E M E M B R A N C E We cross paths with many people over the course of a career. Some are quick acquaintances, some become regular colleagues, while still others we are fortunate to call friends. The CAS wishes to recognize those who have worked in the industry and have recently passed on, leaving a great legacy behind them to our membership. Thomas James McCormick (1942-2022) Sound Engineer and Acoustician For a detailed biography, please visit the CAS website at CinemaAudioSociety.org Longtime CAS Associate Tom McCormick, founder of N.T. Audio Video Film Labs in Santa Monica and Hollywood (a man gifted with a "brilliant mind"), passed away in his sleep at 80 years of age in Santa Fe, NM, on September 13, 2022. Tom had a myriad of accomplishments in his life, among them was his development of the half-speed method for recording optical soundtrack negatives which produced a product with superior fidelity, reduced noise and distortion and was first used on Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish. In the mid-nineties, when the industry was revolutionized by the creation of Dolby Laboratories' Sound-On-Film Process, followed by the DTS system and Sony's SDDS, Tom created the "Quad Format" OSTN/Optical Soundtrack Negative which recorded all three digital formats on a single soundtrack negative film element; enabling release prints to be created that would play in any theater, anywhere in the world, and on any type of analog or digital soundtrack system. Tom was recognized by SMPTE for his pioneering work in the creation and improvement of the optical soundtrack with their Samuel L. Warner Memorial Medal. During his career (and before NTAV ceased operations in 2014), Tom's name was included with others on three US Patents for work associated with the motion picture industry. He is survived by his wife Nancy of 54 years, a brother, a niece, and a nephew. The CAS extends our gratitude to Tom for his contributions to our industry and our condolences to his family and friends.

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