Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545099
6 M PS E . O R G Hello MPSE members. Welcome to the Summer 2026 edition of Wavelength! School is out, summer vacations are being planned, and we hope you'll remember to pack a copy of Wavelength wherever your travels may take you. We are delighted to feature longtime MPSE member Karol Urban CAS on our summer cover. Usually, it's Karol we see hosting interviews and leading the Q&As, so it's a special treat to steal a bit of time from her consistently busy schedule and place her in the spotlight for a change. In addition to her past presidency with our sister organization, CAS, Karol continues to champion the post-production sound community through her recent appointment to the Board of Directors for MPEG. We hope you enjoy this insightful interview between Wavelength contributor Charles Maynes MPSE and Karol (Pg. 42). The entire sound community was saddened by the passing of re-recording mixer Steve Maslow this past April. One of our industry's most beloved contributors, Steve—affectionately known to many as "Maz"—leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in film sound. Wavelength contributor Steve Lee shares personal reflections and memories in "Remembering Steve Maslow" (Pg. 50). In this issue's "Tech Corner," Matias Caldarella, MPSE reviews "Acon Extract:Dialogue 2" (Pg. 24). Additionally, Matias reached out to Goden Reel and Emmy Award-winning sound editor James David Redding III MPSE about sharing his workflow philosophy on efficiency, performance, and the evolving language of sound (Pg. 38). Wavelength contributor Vickie Sampson MPSE introduces a new column, "Stories from the Trim Bins" (Pg. 32), taking us back to the days of film splicers, Moviolas, KEMs, and Steenbecks. If you have stories of your own from the trim bin era, we'd love to hear them—send them to wavelength@mpse.org. We also have six outstanding "Breaking & Entering" (Pg. 12) stories for you this quarter that you won't want to miss. This has quickly become one of my favorite departments in Wavelength. Since introducing the column, no two stories have been alike, and each one has offered a unique and fascinating perspective. Keep them coming! Be sure to check out Steve Lee's regular column "From the Vault," featuring a look at "Murray Spivack and King Kong" (Pg. 28) — another wonderful piece of film sound history. We hope you enjoy this summer edition of Wavelength. Every article in these pages is written by sound professionals who generously share their experience, insight, and passion for the craft. While we may not all be professional writers, we strive to bring you stories that celebrate creativity, community, and the art of sound. Our goal is always to entertain, enlighten, educate, and inspire. Until next quarter, thank you for reading. CHRISTINA HORGAN MPSE Editor I MPSE Wavelength LETTER FROM THE EDITOR "Don't plan it all. Let life surprise you a little." –Julia Alvarez Game Audio Update The MPSE Game Audio Committee continues to build momentum as we look ahead to a busy year of game audio events, articles, and community outreach. The upcoming 3rd Annual Fall Game Audio edition of Wavelength will highlight work connected to teams recognized through the 2026 Golden Reel Awards, celebrating the artists and crews behind some of the year's most exciting achievements in game sound. We are also looking ahead to GameSoundCon 2026, taking place October 20–21 at the Burbank Marriott. MPSE is returning as the Gold Networking Event Mixer Sponsor, continuing our commitment to supporting and connecting the game audio community. We are also exploring MPSE-sponsored sessions, featuring some of this year's Golden Reel-recognized titles. As always, our goal is to expand MPSE's presence in game audio, celebrate the artists behind the work, and help bring more visibility to sound editorial across games. More updates coming soon! GARRETT MONTGOMERY MPSE Editor in Chief I Game Audio GARRETT ON GAME AUDIO