Challenges Of Beginner Audio Researchers And How To Overcome Them With Jon Fagerström | WolfTalk #003

Improving reverb and sampling techniques while playing the bass guitar.

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In this podcast episode, I was lucky to interview another member of the Aalto Acoustics Lab of the Aalto University in Espoo, Finland. Jon Fagerström is conducting his PhD research in the domain of audio signal processing, specifically, sampling synthesis and artificial reverberation. We are discussing what challenges beginning researchers face, how to find your niche in audio research, and what interesting ways there are to end up as an audio researcher.

Note: if you like the podcast so far, please, go to iTunes and leave me a review there. It will benefit both sides: more reviews means more outreach on iTunes and feedback can help me to improve the show and provide better quality content to you. Thank you for doing this.

Episode Contents

In this podcast episode, you will learn

• who is Jon Fagerström, and how did he get into audio processing and then into research,
• how to write your first scientific paper,
• how is the PhD topic established,
• what are the challenges of starting research and how to overcome them,
• the role of supervision in research,
• how to find a good research topic,
• how to relax after research work 😎,
• what is artificial reverberation, feedback delay networks, and velvet nose,
• how to generate naturally sounding variation in sampled impact sounds for drum machines, video games, and virtual reality,
• music bands’ reality during pandemic 🎸.

Referenced Resources

Below are all the resources that are referenced in the podcast episode.

• People:
  • Vesa Välimäki, head of the Audio Signal Processing group at the Aalto Acoustics Lab.
  • Benoit Alary, audio researcher at IRCAM in Paris, France, who did his PhD at Aalto Acoustics Lab.
  • Sebastian Schlecht, Professor of Practice for Sound in Virtual Reality at the Aalto University.
• Places:
  • Aalto Acoustics Lab of the Aalto University in Espoo, Finland
    • YouTube channel
    • Instagram
    • Acoustics and Audio Technology Master’s Programme at Aalto <- you can see Jon in the promotional picture!
    • Aalto School of Technology’s doctoral graduate outfit
  • Hefio, headphone company
  • Digital Audio FX (DAFX) Conference
• Publications:
  • Velvet-Noise Feedback Delay Network, Jon’s first paper, based on his master thesis.
  • One-to-Many Conversion for Percussive Samples, real-time natural variation in sound samples paper by Jon et al.
    • Sound examples of variation generation.
• Jon’s music bands:
  • So Indeed It Was
  • Blackadderfin
• How to contact Jon:
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • ResearchGate
• Products:
  • Satisfactory video game
  • NieR: Automata video game
  • Tanzbar analog drum machine
  • Novation Circuit Mono Station

Thank you for listening! Please, consider rating the podcast on iTunes!