Working with the University
Supporting the development of a new audio software plug-in
Dr Jez Wells developed software for analysis and manipulation of reverberation (reverb) for an audio-visual installation commission at the National Centre for Early Music in 2016.
Identifying its commercial potential, Dr Wells approached Leeds-based audio specialists NUGEN in early 2017 with ideas for a reverb processor that could manipulate the sound of rooms in audio recordings.
Dr Wells’ technique offers a combination of acoustic signatures of actual spaces with a very high degree of editing control, giving the user a highly accurate and editable reverb effect.
The collaboration between NUGEN and Dr Wells has now successfully launched his algorithm in the ‘plug-in’ ‘Paragon’, offering full control of decay, room size and brightness of reverb modelled on 3D recordings of real spaces, while avoiding the use of time stretching.
The KTP team supported Dr Wells with an EPSRC IAA Innovation Voucher application and accompanying licensing agreement. Income from this agreement is now being managed by the Commercialisation Team in Research & Enterprise.
The experience of the partnership with NUGEN allowed Dr Wells to be further enthused and and confident to exploit his expertise with another SME, RPPTV, first though another EPSRC Innovation Voucher by working with the KTP Team, which then led to a successful KTP project.
“....NUGEN Audio’s Paragon reverb plug-in has been our best-kept secret, and we’re excited to now unveil it to the world….This technology not only enables users to reduce the sheer volume of recordings, it also encourages a greater level of creativity.”Paul Tapper, CEO, NUGEN Audio
"The final arbiter of any reverb, of course, is the quality of its reverberation and I can't overstate how impressed I am with what Paragon can do .... Paragon is an excellent-sounding reverberation processor. This really is very impressive technology that takes convolution reverbs to a new level, and I heartily recommend checking out the free trial"Hugh Robjohns reviewing in Sound on Sound
KTP Team Contact details:
Dr Rukmal Abeysekera
Knowledge Transfer Manager
Research & Enterprise
Ron Cooke Hub
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1904 32 1124
rukmal.abeysekera@york.ac.ukCherry Warburton
Knowledge Transfer Administrative Assisstant
Tel: +44 (0) 1904 32 1128
cherry.warburton@york.ac.uk