photo of Oscar Ortega Garduño

Graduate Spotlight – Oscar Ortega Garduño

Oscar Ortega Garduño, a MSc Audio Engineering graduate, has transitioned from studying electronics and telecommunication engineering to making a significant impact in the audio industry. His focus on audio electronics and real-time processing led him to roles at Music Tribe, where he contributed to the Behringer Synth Suite Bundle, and currently at KEF as a […]

HELA logo

World’s first safe listening certification launches, setting new standard for live events

3 March 2025, LONDON, UK – The live event industry is set to transform with the launch of the HELA (Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance) Certification, the world’s first initiative aimed at promoting best practices for responsible sound management at live events. This groundbreaking resource, led by researchers within the Electro-Acoustics Research Lab (EARLab) at the University […]

Bruce Wiggins presenting a paper.

Paper Spotlight – A Comparison of Stereo Microphone Techniques for Rendering Ambisonics

“A Subjective Comparison of Virtual Stereo Microphone Techniques for Rendering Ambisonics” by Anantha Girijavallabhanand and Bruce Wiggins explores how different stereo microphone techniques can be virtually extracted from Ambisonic recordings, comparing their effectiveness for stereo reproduction. This study is valuable for audio professionals and enthusiasts interested in 3D audio and immersive sound, offering insights into […]

illustration of engineer mixing a live performance.

Paper Spotlight – Enhanced Sound Level Monitoring at Live Events

“Enhanced Sound Level Monitoring at Live Events by Measuring Audio Program Loudness” by Jonathan Digby and Adam Hill explores a novel approach to sound level management by applying broadcast industry loudness metering to live event audio. This research presents a logical shift from traditional peak normalization to loudness normalization, enabling front-of-house engineers to achieve consistent, […]

photo of Matt Russell working on a production.

Graduate Spotlight – Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell, a graduate of our MSc Audio Engineering programme, has built a diverse and impressive career in the theatre industry. After gaining years of experience as a Lead Production Sound Engineer, Matthew’s time at Derby helped refine his expertise in audio theory, subwoofer placement, and line arrays. Although his career trajectory shifted slightly after […]

illustration of an audience at a live event.

Paper Spotlight – Signal decorrelation for live sound

This week’s paper spotlight focuses on “Signal decorrelation for sound reinforcement system crossovers” by Adam Hill which delves into the application of diffuse signal processing to improve sound quality in live settings by addressing coherent interference issues. This paper is likely to be useful to audio professionals seeking an innovative solution for more consistent sound […]

illustration of a crowd at a live event.

Paper Spotlight – Live event sound exposure monitoring

In today’s paper spotlight, we have “A case study on practical live event sound exposure monitoring,” by Adam Hill, Ken Liston, Ian Wiggins, and Graham Naylor, introducing innovative strategies for real-time sound monitoring in music venues, aimed at reducing the risk of hearing damage for concert-goers while preserving the quality of live music experiences. This […]

David Imrie photo.

Graduate Spotlight – David Imrie

David Imrie, a graduate from Derby’s BSc (Hons) Sound, Light, and Live Event Technology program, chose Derby for its strong engineering focus, influenced by a former boss who was a Derby graduate. Throughout his studies, his confidence grew, and he acquired a diverse skill set encompassing problem-solving, electro-acoustics, and more. Surprisingly, he developed a newfound […]