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 […]

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 […]

singer sweating onstage

Paper Spotlight – The effect of perspiration on IEMs

Today we’re spotlighting “An investigation into the effect of sweat and moisture on the performance of in-ear monitors,” by Ross Gilmour, Jon Burton, and Adam Hill, which offers critical insights into an often-overlooked aspect of live performance technology – the effect of perspiration on in-ear monitors (IEMs). This study is a valuable resource for musicians, […]

illustration of noise in an urban environment

Paper Spotlight – Prediction of annoyance due to live music

In our spotlighted paper this week, “Towards a subjective quantification of noise annoyance due to outdoor events,” Charbel Hourani and Adam Hill explore the complex nature of noise annoyance and its impact on communities surrounding outdoor events. This innovative research is relevant to event organizers, policymakers, and community leaders, providing a novel approach to understanding […]

illustration of a live music venue.

Paper Spotlight – Investigating the acoustic transparency of materials at live events

This week’s paper spotlight features “The effect of purported acoustically transparent materials on sound propagation” by Zsombor Szoke, Jon Burton, Adam Hill, and Mark Dring and provides an in-depth look at how materials used in stage designs, like LED walls and acoustic scrims, influence sound quality at live events. This research is of interest to […]