Von: Pedro Rebelo
Betreff: Studentships available at the Sonic Arts Research Centre (2013/14)
Datum: 30. Januar 2013 11:39:26 MEZ
Studentships available at the Sonic Arts Research Centre (2013/14)
http://www.sarc.qub.ac.uk
The Sonic Arts Research Centre is pleased to announce a number of funded postgraduate opportunities including one international award available within the School of Creative Arts at Queen’s University Belfast.
In addition to the projects listed below, applicants wishing to pursue other research topics can apply to studentships available to UK, EU and international students (http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofCreativeArts/News/Title,364245,en.html). For further information on research at SARC, including past PhD thesis please visit http//www.sarc.qub.ac.uk
Deadline: 21st February 2013 (please note different deadline for opportunities listed below).
For details on funded masters (MA in Sonic Arts) opportunities, including bursaries open to UK, EU and international students visit: http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofCreativeArts/MusicSonicArts/ProspectiveStudents/TaughtPostgraduateProgrammes/MAinSonicArts/
Anyone wishing to be considered for one of these awards should submit their application through the online portal at https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/user/u_login.php
PhD Projects:
Title: Co-operative body to body networking for distributed music performance
Supervisors: Prof. William Scanlon and Prof. Pedro Rebelo
The project focuses on the development of body centric networking strategies for music performance. Recent developments in body-to-body networking research has highlighted the possibility of high bandwidth, low latency multi-hop networks that are dynamically and opportunistically formed as individuals interact either socially or anonymously in shared spaces and environments. While the difficult and often unpredictable wireless link conditions present significant challenges in maintaining and managing these networks, recent research at ECIT has shown promise. The studentship builds on collaborative links between the School of Electrical, Electronic Engineering and Computer Science and SARC in the areas of digital communications and networked music performance.
In particular, the research will focus on:
– the use of ad hoc and hybrid networks for participative network music
– Experimental and numerical investigation of the effects of unpredictable wireless link quality
– mass distributed music performance
– sonification of mobile networks
– the use of sound in participative locative media scenarios (e.g. gps location-based games)
Contact: w.scanlon@qub.ac.uk
Deadline: 15 February 2013
Title: Computation Architectures for Virtual-Acoustic Instruments
Supervisors: Professor Roger Woods and Dr Paul Stapleton
A major breakthrough in music instrument creation can occur if the computational ability of silicon technology can be efficiently harnessed. Modelling of physical material called “physical modelling” results in the creation of computationally complex models and whilst processor architectures e.g. microprocessor DSP processors, give high performance, it is only by deriving application specific processor solutions using for example, field programmable gate array technology (FPGA), that this performance requirement can start to be met. However it is not just a case of implementing these models but ensuring a close interaction in the design process.
Physical Modelling techniques can be employed to develop new, acoustic-sounding musical instruments for highly nuanced performance that, through the physicality of the control parameters, afford a learnability and virtuosity that is similar to that of traditional acoustic instruments. However, the principal novel feature offered by such virtual-acoustic instruments, is the extended range of design and control options, such as the adjustment of material and geometrical properties. To fully exploit the musical potential, crude simplifications in the derivation of the model should be avoided as they are computationally costly, but at the same time, the instrument must run and be controlled in real-time. Meeting these criteria requires dedicated hardware as well as tools for mapping algorithms to hardware architectures.
The student will investigate the development of programmable architectures that can be implemented on a suitable hardware platform. The main research challenge is in developing architectures and tools that will enable rapid realisation of a range of physical modelling algorithms. The hardware design process will be carried out in close collaboration with performers and other researchers in order to fine-tune the control specificities of the instruments.
Contact: r.woods@qub.ac.uk
Deadline: 15 February 2013
Title: Distributed Impact Simulation for Sound Design
Supervisors: Dr Maarten van Walstijn and Professor Pedro Rebelo
The main focus of the project is therefore on developing new finite-difference based methods that afford rendering sounds created by distributed impacts, where the main challenges is to ensure well-defined stability properties. Once a methodology is established, a more practice-lead approach will be taken in investigating strategies for designing a software environment that is suited practical use by sound designers.
Objectives:
– Investigate numerical methods in the context of sound synthesis and design.
– Investigate the physics and simulation of colliding objects, and identify the limitations of standard numerical methods regarding provable stability.
– Develop novel energy-corrective methods and investigate the conditions under which both stability and accuracy properties can be defined.
– Develop an implementation and investigate interface strategies for sound design.
Applicants should apply electronically through the Queen’s online application portal at: https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/
Further information available at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/eeecs/PhD/PostgraduateResearchScholarships/DEL201314-5/
Contact: m.vanwalstijn@qub.ac.uk
Deadline: 15 February 2013
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