What’s your background?
My professional background is in audio engineering, specifically mastering, having spent the best part of ten years working at the highest level of commercial audio production as a Mastering Engineer at Turtlerock Mastering in Sydney.
My academic background is in acoustics and psychoacoustics. I hold a PhD in psychoacoustics (critical listening and technical ear training) and a Master’s Degree in Design Science (Audio & Acoustics)(Honours) from the University of Sydney’s Spatial Audio and Acoustics Lab, and a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (Curtin).
I first began lecturing in 2006 and have taught audio engineering and sound production at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Melbourne, Sydney, Dubai, Byron Bay, San Francisco, London, and now online as part of SAE’s Master of Creative Industries program.
I am also a self-taught software developer and active researcher in audio engineering education technologies.
Share a hobby
Developing interactive audio engineering education software.
Where is the first place you would visit when overseas travel resumes?
Oaxaca
Who inspires you?
Working on a recent project?
I’m currently developing what will be the most advanced technical ear training software ever released publicly.
How would you describe your opportunities to interact and engage with students at SAE?
Outside of my full-time role as Academic Director of Education Partnerships, I teach Visual Programming for Audio Applications and Audio Application Development in the SAE Australia MCI Program. In less than 12 weeks, my students learn to program in the Max software environment and develop professional audio-based software applications with no prior programming experience. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to share my knowledge with students and to learn from them; their dedication to learning a new programming environment, especially considering the significant learning curve that Max presents, is an inspiration.
Knowing that SAE students across the globe are able to continue learning remotely by using the digital console simulations that I have created is a great feeling. It’s my hope that the simulations will encourage potential students who may not have thought of audio engineering as a career to try it out.
What are some of the experiences you offer SAE students?
A decade of experience working at the highest level of commercial audio production, over a decade of experience developing interactive educational technologies, over 14 years of international experience lecturing audio engineering and sound production, my research in critical listening and technical ear training has been published and presented internationally, expertise in the science of sound, acoustics, critical listening, ear training, sound perception.
What do you enjoy most about teaching the Postgraduate program at SAE?
As Senior Lecturer in the MCI Program, I enjoy seeing the penny drop for students – that moment where it all comes together conceptually and they start to imagine what’s possible.
What advice do you have for students when they are looking for work or internships?
- Create a solid portfolio of work that is well-curated and get expert feedback to assist with this.
- In my experience, employers hire people they can work with, people they want to be around for long days, month-long studio sessions etc. I would rather hire a person whose skills need work but who is someone I want to be around for long periods of time than the opposite.
- Commit to being a life-long learner – the day you stop wanting to learn and think you know it all is the day your career starts its decline.
What advice do you have for students to help improve their problem-solving skills?
I always loved the idea of ‘fail early and fail often‘. Don’t let the fact that you have no idea how to solve a problem stop you from starting, and don’t wait for inspiration – problem-solving is a learned skill – you have to practice it.
What advice can you share with new students beginning their creative journey at SAE?
Ask for help and help others. Spend as much time as possible using the facilities, if you’re an audio student, spend all the time you can in the studios, and learn the natural, unprocessed, live sound of instruments. You are not an island – get to know your classmates, some will become life-long friends, coworkers, employees, and maybe even future employers.
