Mr. Steve Barbar

Founder of LARES Associates

Member and an invited panelist of the Audio Engineering Society

Member and an invited panelist of the Acoustic Society of America

Member and an invited panelist of the Institute of Acoustics

Steve Barbar has been working professionally in the audio industry for more than thirty-five years, and has been infatuated with sound and sound technology throughout his life.  While studying at the University of Maryland, he joined the technical staff at the student union and assisted in maintaining the audio systems for film and public address, as well as the broadcast equipment in the campus radio station.  He helped to organize rentals of large format public address systems for music concerts on campus, and operated these systems for many performers.

In 1981 he joined Systems Wireless Ltd. who specialized in providing large multi-channel wireless systems and frequency co-ordination for large events.  These included the Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Country Music Awards, Tony Awards, Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, Miss America Pageant, Liberty Weekend, and many more. This also included work for facilities such as NBC, CBS, ABC, PTL, CBN, USA Today, CNN, NFL Films Walt, Disney, Universal, and others.

Mr. Barbar joined Lexicon Inc. in 1984 as Advanced and Broadcast Products Manager to work with a then emerging technology – digital audio. He oversaw development of Lexicon’s broadcast quality time compression systems which earned an Emmy award. In addition, he worked on development of the Lexicon 480L- the first commercial signal processor with digital interconnectivity, which became an industry standard for both digital reverberation as well as all digital mastering.   In 1989, he and Dr. David Griesinger developed LARES – Lexicon Acoustic Reinforcement and Enhancement System that alters room acoustics electronically.  This system was nominated for a Tech award by Mix magazine in 1993.

In 1995 Mr. Barbar formed LARES Associates, which designs, integrates, and develops comprehensive systems for electronic acoustic enhancement.   In addition, LARES Associates performs ongoing research in the fields of acoustics, electro-acoustics and human neurology.  Since that time, LARES Associates has installed hundreds of acoustic enhancement systems worldwide in concert halls, opera houses, performing arts centers, houses of worship, sports arenas, recording facilities, soundstages, rehearsal rooms, and outdoor venues.  In 2008, LARES Associates developed a range of new system hardware branded as E-Coustic Systems.  This hardware supports new algorithms derived from research in human neurology that represent a substantial leap forward in sonic performance.

Mr. Barbar is a member of the Audio Engineering Society, the Acoustic Society of America, and the Institute of Acoustics.   He has been an invited panelist for these organizations, in addition to presenting scientific papers and lectures.