I’ve been intending to write a post overviewing my PhD for a while now. I started in December 2010, and am currently writing a progress report on what I’ve done so far. Rather than putting off posting something further, I thought I’d show you this talk by Tim Berners-Lee describing the Semantic Web:
I’m not working on linking data up on the internet, as cool as that is. I’m working at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research & Education, and am applying what Tim talks about above to the railway industry. The idea is that by using the technology that’s being developed for the semantic web, it will be possible to bring the same sort of advantages (in terms of interoperability) to all the computer systems at work running the rail network in the UK. That means everyone that works with trains gets more knowledge, and more knowledge = no more late trains.
Seeing as I posted the interim report for my final year project here (in March last year), I think it’s probably worthwhile me talking about the final results. Whilst I won’t be posting the complete code listing for my plug-in yet, I presented a poster at an IET event last year giving an overview, a copy of which is below:
IET Presentation Poster - Ambisonic Surround
If that sounds useful, email me and I’ll be happy to chat a bit more about it – I have a riveting 120 page report that I’ll be glad to let people read on demand (!). Admittedly it’s been a while ago now, and I’m not currently developing it any further, but I’m still proud of what I managed to produce over those 9 months and may well re-visit my work if anyone expresses an interest!
By the time I submitted the project, I had achieved more than what I set out to initially. The software developed (a large part of the project) was a VST plug-in that synthesised periphonic room acoustics (reverb) based on a number of input parameters (room dimensions, surface material, source/listener position) and a number of system parameters. Basically, a clever type of echo generator for music producers and broadcasters. It had pretty convincing results, although I was constrained a little by the size and simplicity of the speaker array I was using to test it.
Physical modelling algorithms like the ones I used to create my reverb need a compromise between computation power and accuracy; passable results can be achieved using relatively small amounts of processing, but really convincing results need a bit more CPU power. I also developed some ambisonic decoding hardware, but it was a very basic design and wasn’t quite so interesting (read a bit here).
Ambisonics is a really interesting concept – a surround sound technology developed in the ’70s but apparently killed off by bad marketing and bad luck. Hopefully, with the benefit of cheap, powerful modern computers, it’ll resurface a bit more. There’s a blog here, for instance, where the BBC talk about using it for archiving surround sound broadcasts.
It seems like the summer’s come (and gone?) very rapidly this year! So, without too much thought here’s what’s been happening:
After an intense few months of project-writing, presenting, and revising, I’ve finally (after five years) finished University with a first class MEng honours degree in Electronic & Computer Engineering. It’s been an incredible experience and I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve achieved, the people I’ve met, and what I’ve seen/done.
Myself and a few others have been collared into doing some research into Rail anti-ice techniques for use on UK train lines next winter. Whilst not the most glamourous job in the world, the past 8 weeks have been extremely interesting and it looks like we’ve actually made a lot of progress. There’s a chance we’ll be part of one or many Network Rail / BBC / press things over the next month or so, which I’ll post up here in due course. I’ve spent the majority of the time at -10°C dealing with this monster test rig:
Although not bogged down in gigs this summer, I’ve played some fairly memorable ones. Route 49 played their final gig (for now…), I was invited to play in the Top Cat Big Band (with some very friendly Bristolians), and was booked few hectic small group functions – witnessing an incredible improvised rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Fun!
I’ve also been lucky to have been on some incredible trips & holidays. First off was New York City, as part of a tour depping on trumpet with OUJO. Having already been once, it was fantastic to go back and play some gigs! We managed to meet up with a few people whilst out there, including Yoni, Chris, and Ill Spokinn of Spokinn Movement fame (who are back in the UK touring in November). Apart from that, we managed to see some jazz (John Escreet & Dave Binney being favourites…), do all the usual tourist things, and swim in a 2nd floor pool at the hotel…
Second off was North Sea Jazz festival. I could write about the gigs, free beer (shh), or 6AM jam sessions, but this picture (by Emily) sums it up – Earth Wind & Fire!
Then (as a more relaxing break) Laura and I trekked up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the last time. Our friends at LCubed produced Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years” and we stayed with them for three days. Not only was that show really enjoyable, but the other eight shows we saw over the weekend far surpassed my expectations. Definitely back next year!
Finally, I’m off to Club Med Mauritius playing piano/synth with “Les Rosbif” in a couple of weeks. More on that to come!
I’m busy at the moment. There are ten days between me and the end of a five year education at the University of Birmingham and they’re some of my busiest yet! That said, this video interested me:
As someone that first got into Jazz in around about Y2K, it’s very interesting reading other people’s views of how the music has changed and grown over the last ten years. As well as the music itself I think that audiences are changing too - it seems like jazz has become far more popular amongst young people recently, and more students seem to be clued up about whats happening outside of the charts than they were five years ago (Facebook, Spotify, and things like podcasting probably helped). Hopefully numbers at gigs will reflect that soon – the majority of Birmingham University students still turn down the opportunity to see a decent band for free in favour of spending all night at the same three clubs on Broad Street, but live nights seem to be on the up so who knows where we’ll be in 2020!
So, last night, whilst enjoying a great performance by Roy Nathanson at the Barbican Centre, I found out that a very hastily named pop/funk band I play with have our New Year’s Eve gig booked. It’ll be part of a week-long residency at Club Med Val Thorens, ski pass included, and I’m very excited.
Then (as a more relaxing break) Laura and I trekked up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the last time. Our friends at 