Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545099
4 M PS E . O R G Welcome to Wavelength's Summer 2026 edition! Just when you thought winter would never end… For those not in Southern California (the physical embodiment of an endless summer), summer is finally here! Time to escape the dark rooms from time to time, explore the great outdoors, get some essential vitamin D, and experience the sounds of our world! THIS is where we get inspiration and translate that into the cinematic language of sound. And when I say cinematic, I'm not exclusively speaking of theatrical presentation. ALL of our work has become "cinematic" in its own right, in its own medium. I say this only partially in jest. When I've had the honor of speaking to students and those entering their careers in sound, I'm often asked questions along the lines of, "What can I do to get better at sound?" My first answer is always the same. A simple one-word answer—LIVE! Not only is "living" vital to our mental health, but it also informs us about the worlds that we're sonically creating, or recreating, in the cinematic realm. When you're out experiencing the world, you're not flippantly wasting time; you're gathering valuable information that will directly be applicable to your work. How else are you going to know what a packed, noisy club sounds like? Or what a beach sounds like at night? What is the sound of "air" through pine trees? The roar of traffic? The silence of a desert night? Every location, every activity, every experience is a chance to listen and learn. The more varied, the better. All of this input will allow you to edit and design sound more accurately, creatively, and efficiently. An additional benefit of "living" is the experiences themselves. Diversifying your interactions with the world will pay off in ways beyond simple environmental immersion. Your adventures will fill your quiver with arrows of connection that will pay off at the most unexpected moment. That time your car broke down in 100-degree heat on the way to Vegas, that time you sprained your ankle hiking the Mist Trail at Yosemite, that time you closed down the club at 2 a.m., that time your dogs played in the dog park, etc., etc. ALL of these experiences could be a potential moment you share with a client in the future. That anecdote and your real-life experience may enhance your ability to sympathize or empathize with a client, and that small thing just might be that "in" that seals the deal. So take this summer issue of Wavelength with you to the park, or the beach, or the club (ok, maybe not the club). But get out there and live a little! You won't regret it. Cheers, David Barber LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT DAVID BARBER MPSE I PRESIDENT The Official Publication of the Motion Picture Sound Editors Editor in Chief CHRISTINA HORGAN MPSE Officers david barber - President korey pereira - Vice President chris reeves - Treasurer brent findley - Interim Secretary solange schwalbe - Sergeant at Arms Board Members peter albrechtsen alex borquez mark camperell timothy day baylon fonseca eric gillingham kevin howard howard karp phil kovats perry la marca mark lanza charles maynes garrett p. montgomery timothy muirhead nicholas papaleo vickie sampson paulette victor lifton The MPSE Wavelength is published quarterly by the Motion Picture Sound Editors MPSE.org Comments, editorial and photo submissions can be sent to wavelength@MPSE.org Publisher ingledodd media Advertising ingledodd media 310.207.4410 MPSE@IngleDodd.com www.IngleDoddMedia.com Stay tuned to our "Upcoming Events" page at mpse.org for the latest on our activities. Please like and/or follow us on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X and share our content. Social media is an important vehicle, and your help is needed to inform and inspire beyond the walls of the sound community!