Enda Bates – Supervisor: Dr. Dermot Furlong and Donnacha Dennehy
Spatial music: Enda’s research is concerned with both the technical and artistic aspects of spatial music, including sound spatialisation in concert hall environments and electro-acoustic composition for spatially distributed sources. Much of his work has focused on evaluating the performance of advanced spatialisation techniques for a distributed audience in non-ideal acoustic environments such as concert halls.
Work to date has largely focused on Wavefield Synthesis, Ambisonics, Binaural Recording and IRCAM’s Spat~ Processor. Composition work to date has included numerous multi-channel tape pieces, works for a spatially distributed string quartet, and various mixed media works for acoustic instruments and multi-channel tape. Enda is also a founding member of the spatial music collective (www.spatialmc.net) who regularly host electronic and acoustic spatial music concerts around Ireland.
For more information, see www.endabates.net and www.fairlights.net
Gavin Kearney – Supervisors: Professor Frank Boland and Dr. Dermot Furlong
Sound localisation and spatialisation for distributed audiences in real environments: Research into conventional sound reinforcement solutions shows how systems based on stereophonic principles fail to provide the cues for accurate localisation of sound sources for audience members not located at the particular acoustic 'sweet spot' . We are currently studying the performance of various spatialisation techniques using the non-ideal speaker arrangements found in concert halls. The spatialisation methods are assessed in terms of their localisation accuracy and listener envelopment.
Audio and video merging for E-Learning systems for synchronous training applications: This research investigates the fusion of information in signals from video cameras and microphone arrays for determining the location of a lecturer and indexing events in a scene. The auditory scene can then be resynthesized for true directionality and depth at another location for a remote audience.
Automatic stage lighting via multichannel audio: Investigated is the use of multiple audio streams from digital mixing consoles for application to real-time enhancement of synchronised visual effects in live music performances. The audio streams will be processed simultaneously and their temporal and spectral characteristics are used to control the intensity, duration and colour of the stage lights.
Wavefield Synthesis: We are currently investigating the use of wavefield synthesis for accurate source localisation and spatial enhancement for application to live sound reinforcement and enhancement of electro-acoustic music. Current work involves the physical construction of an experimental wave field synthesis array for testing of a real-time convolution kernal.
For more info: http://www.mee.tcd.ie/~gkearney/
Les Keye – Supervisor: Dr. Dermot Furlong
Les is doing research into the perception of rhythm from the standpoint of Embodied Cognition. This paradigm presupposes the bodily basis of thought, and looks at Mind as an entity distributed throughout and formed by the kinaesthetic activities of an organism situated in its environment. He is using the model of The Blues to investigate this phenomenon, and ask what is special (if anything) about this indigenous American genre that it has managed to form the bedrock of contemporary popular music.
Jonathan O'Donovan
Last updated: Dec 09 2009