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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, […]

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 […]

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 a large loudspeaker on a stage.

Paper Spotlight – An improved omnidirectional loudspeaker

This week we feature the paper, “The ICOSSA Project – An improved omnidirectional sound source for room acoustic testing,” by David Gilfillan, Glenn Leembruggen, and Adam Hill, which presents an interesting advancement in the field of room acoustics. This paper is relevant to acoustics professionals, sound engineers, and venue designers, as it introduces an innovative […]

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 […]