Projects

Focusrite Plug-in Project

Researcher

Focusrite, one of the UK’s leading Music Technology companies, recently commissioned Oliver Larkin to assist in the development of two new audio effect plug-ins.

The Red 2 EQ and Red 3 Compressor are software models of some of Focusrite’s popular hardware devices and will be bundled with the company’s range of audio interfaces as well as being available to purchase separately. They were announced in January at the 2015 Winter NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) trade show in Anaheim, USA.

Oliver was involved in the project because of his significant experience developing cross platform audio plug-ins. In order to reach a wide market, developers must make their software compatible with a range of different plug-in formats, digital audio workstations and operating systems. This is a big challenge and Oliver maintains an open source software framework that simplifies the process. The Red Plug-In Suite supports four different formats (VST2, VST3, AudioUnit and ProTools AAX) and works on Windows and Mac OSX, on both 32 bit and 64 bit platforms.

For further info see the Focusrite Website.

Other projects

Off Grid: The Magic of Microtones

This project brings together ongoing research into the use of microtones from compositional, performance and analytical perspectives.
Words and Music

This project brings together writings and compositions which interrogate the issue of combining words with music. An ongoing series of articles by Roger Marsh, William Brooks and others, addresses the many ways in which composers go beyond conventional word setting routes, exploring significant instances of writers crossing into musical territories and composers composing with words. Articles are linked to related compositions, presented as recordings and videos, with commentaries on collaborative and creative processes.
Player Piano

Player Piano is an interdisciplinary performance created as part of the research project ‘Performance, Subjectivity and Experimentation’, led by Catherine Laws, at the University of York and the Orpheus Research Centre in Music, Ghent.
Edgelands

Roam the Barbican foyers using headphones to experience this free audio journey, which reframes the sounds and sights of the iconic arts centre.
Representing Rehearsal

This research project, led by Catherine Laws (Senior Lecturer in Music), Jon Hook (Lecturer in Interactive Media) and Tom Cornford (Lecturer in Theatre) has been funded by the University of York’s Research Priming Fund.
Expressive Nonverbal Communication in Ensemble Performance

The Expressive Nonverbal Communication in Ensemble Performance network comprises three projects, exploring aspects of how musicians communicate in groups:

Movement and sonic gestures in ensemble performance
Achieving excellence in ensemble singing
Teaching and learning of ensemble communication