Dr William Campbell

Dr Campbell has expertise in audio and music technology, specifically specialising in dynamic range compression of musical signals, signal analysis and their psychoacoustic implications.

Email: william.campbell@aru.ac.uk

Background

Dr Campbell received a first-class BSc (Hons) degree in Audio and Music Technology in 2008 and a PhD studying the ‘The Effect of Dynamic Range Compression on the Quality and Loudness of Commercial Music’ in 2019. His research has an international profile ranging from conference presentations to journal articles.

He started his audio career as a touring live sound engineer and currently works as a music engineer and producer, and postproduction filmmaker. Dr Campbell is also a certified Wwise instructor, teaching sound design and music implementation for games.

He is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, a Member of the Music Producers Guild, and a Member of the Audio Engineering Society.

Research interests

• Dynamic Range Compression
• Psychoacoustics
• Technology
• Pro Audio

Areas of research supervision

• The development and application of technology for usage in music therapy.

Teaching

William currently teaches on the following modules:

• Audio for Games

Qualifications

• Wwise Certified Instructor, Audiokinetic, certification date: 5 February 2018
• Postgraduate Certification, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK, 2012 - 2013
• Students Who Teach Certificate, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK, 2009

Selected recent publications

Campbell, W., Paterson, J. and van der Linde, I., 2017. Listener preferences for alternative dynamic-range-compressed audio configurations. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 65(7/8), pp.540-551.

Recent presentations and conferences

Campbell, W., 2017. Listener preferences for alternative dynamic-range-compressed audio configurations. Auditory Perception Group in the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK. 17 November 2014. [oral presentation]

Campbell, W., 2014. Strategies for reducing the effects of dynamic range compression. Faculty of Science & Technology: Pushing the Boundaries – 4th Annual Research and Scholarship Conference, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. 14 May 2014. [poster]

Campbell, W., Paterson, J. and Toulson, R., 2014. A quantitative evaluation of signal masking in summed and compressed audio. KES Transactions on Innovation in Music, Special Edition - Innovation in Music 2013. Shoreham-by-Sea, UK: Future Technology Press, 1(1), pp.20-31. [peer-reviewed abstract, oral presentation delivered by Campbell and full article]

Toulson, E. R., Paterson, J. L. and Campbell, W., 2014. Evaluating harmonic and intermodulation distortion of mixed signals processed with dynamic range compression. KES Transactions on Innovation in Music, Special Edition - Innovation in Music 2013. Shoreham-by-Sea, UK: Future Technology Press, 1(1), pp.224–246. [peer-reviewed abstract, oral presentation delivered by Toulson and full article]

Campbell, W., 2012. Compression: Investigations into the Loudness War. Cultures of the Digital Economy Conference, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. 27-28 March 2012. [oral presentation]

Ward, J. and Campbell, W., 2010. Loss of our musical heritage: The rise of the digital re-master. The Art of Record Production Conference, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK. 3-5 December 2010. [peer-reviewed abstract, oral presentation delivered by Ward]

Campbell, W., Toulson, R. and Paterson, J., 2010. The effect of dynamic range compression on the psychoacoustic quality and loudness of commercial music. 39th International Congress on Noise Control Engineering 2010 (Inter-Noise: Noise and sustainability, 2010), Lisbon, Portugal, 13-16 June 2010. Red Hook, NY, USA: Curran Associates, Inc. pp.2580-2588. [peer-reviewed abstract, oral presentation delivered by Campbell and full article]

Toulson, E.R. and Campbell, W., 2009. The life and death of dynamic range: who decides how loud? The Art of Record Production Conference, Cardiff, Wales, UK, 13-15 November, 2009. [peer-reviewed abstract, oral presentation delivered by Toulson]

Media experience

Film

• The Murderers (Black Barn Productions) – published 2017 (UK)
• The Twisted Death of a Lonely Madman (Black Barn Productions) – published 2016
• The Next Great American Game (Grandfather Pictures) – published 2015 (USA)
• Tied in Blood (Rotunda Films) – published 2012

Productions for Bands

• Madre Sun – Debut EP, published 2020
• Madre Sun – Debut Single, published 2019
• State Villains – Debut EP, published 2014
• Echo Trails – Debut Album, published 2014
• Michelle Lewis-King – Mastered Album, published 2013
• The RipRap Quartet – Snow Blue Night, published 2012
• The Audio Cartel – Debut Album, published 2009
• Daphnia and the Voyagers – Live album

Podcasts

• ARU CSCI Podcast