Phil Ward
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Articles by Phil Ward
Rime of the ancient research professional
Image: Robert Cutts [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Flickr Former Funding Insight columnist considers bygone days and scans the horizon for what’s to come Sometimes I feel a little like the ancient mariner of Coleridge’s classic poem. Okay, I’m not wearing an albatross like a scarf, and I accept that my tales of life on the high seas of research management might not measure up to battling the Great Pacific Ocean, but that doesn’t stop me from boring any wedding guest with tales of how things used to be.
Westone AM Pro X30
Do your IEMs leave you feeling isolated on stage? Westone’s latest design aims to let some of the outside world back in... I have to admit to being a relative newcomer when it comes to using in‑ear monitors on stage. As a busy bass player I’ve done countless gigs in venues small and large using conventional on‑stage wedge/side‑fill monitoring, and now six gigs using a pair of entry‑level professional IEMs driven by an Xvive U4 wireless transmitter and receiver.
Areal SR1
Have newcomers Areal solved the problem of monitoring Atmos on headphones? It’s generally accepted wisdom that to mix music in Dolby Atmos, you need at least 12 speakers, in a 7.1.4 monitoring array. You also of course need a DAW interface with at least 12 monitor outputs. This is generally true because, even if you’re mixing in Atmos primarily on headphones, you will at some stage want to confirm your work over a full‑fat, speaker‑based monitoring rig.
From the archive: Untapped potential
Image: Engin Akyurt, via Pexels Researchers at smaller universities should take heart from an analysis of UKRI funding data The data in the article below may be seven years old, but its message is as true today as when it was published: researchers at smaller universities should not feel discouraged from applying to funding calls because of their institution’s perceived lack of clout. Once their application is in, they should have as much chance as any of their competitors in claiming the prize.
Sound Advice: Beamform me up, Scotty
Sound Advice: Beamform me up, Scotty Beamforming technology is bringing science fiction comms into today’s workplaces, says Phil Ward. You must be a registered user to view our feature articles. Registering takes seconds - click below, or login if you are already a registered user. To Read this article, you need to register You must be a registered user to view our feature articles. Registering takes seconds - click below, or login if you are already a registered user.
Long Saramago Cocktail Recipe
Measurements in: Serves: 2 fl oz Blanco tequila 3⁄4 fl oz Strucchi Bianco Vermouth (chilled) 1⁄2 fl oz Elderflower liqueur 1 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura 2 1⁄2 fl oz Thomas Henry Soda Water (chilled) Photographed in an UB Koto Collins 35cl Select and pre-chill a COLLINS GLASS. Prepare garnish of rosemary sprig. STIR all ingredients with ice. STRAIN into chilled glass. Garnish with rosemary sprig. One serving of Long Saramago contains 204 calories 1.7 standard drinks 13.98% alc./vol.
Sound Advice: Putting the listener in the auditorium with virtual acoustics
Sound Advice: Putting the listener in the auditorium with virtual acoustics Breathe in and listen to the sounds around you, says Phil Ward. With virtual acoustics systems, all may not be as it seems. What you’re hearing is from somewhere else. You must be a registered user to view our feature articles. Registering takes seconds - click below, or login if you are already a registered user. To Read this article, you need to register You must be a registered user to view our feature articles.
Barefoot Footprint 02 Gen2
Barefoot’s latest compact three‑way represents a significant step up from its predecessor. The intention behind Barefoot Sound’s Footprint active monitor range, from which I have previously reviewed the 01 and 03 models, is to integrate many of the electro‑acoustic philosophies and principles found in the company’s high‑end models within more compact and cost‑effective offerings.
Black Prince Cocktail Recipe
Discerning Drinkers (2 ratings) Keep screen awake Photographed in a Bobo Boobette 2 fl oz Caribbean blended rum aged 6-10 years 3⁄4 fl oz Punt E Mes vermouth amaro chilled 1⁄2 fl oz Amaro (e.g. Averna) 1 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura optional Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS. Prepare garnish of skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherry. STIR all ingredients with ice. STRAIN into chilled glass. Garnish with skewered maraschino cherry.
United States: Sport meets entertainment
Every four years since 1930 – except for 1942 and 1946 – the FIFA World Cup takes its turn among the other sporting spectacles such as UEFA Championships, the Ryder Cup and alternate with the summer Olympics. All of these events compete internationally for technology bragging rights with as much commitment as the athletes devote to winning cups and medals. And whenever any one of these contests reaches the US, the budgets take steroids.
Neumann KH 810 II
Brain meets brawn in Neumann’s powerful new smart subwoofer. I’ve always been a subwoofer sceptic. The purist in me bridles a little at the bass‑managed 2.1 concept, and I’ve rarely heard a 2.1 system that I am entirely comfortable with. However, the contemporary audio environment is not the same as it was.
Sound Advice: Soundscapes in the round
Launched in 1972, AV Magazine is the pro AV buyer’s guide for audiovisual solutions and technologies. It bridges the gap between the professional AV industry and its end-user customers, helping to educate the channel and supporting its readers to transform their businesses through the use of AV technologies.
MY TURN: Legislature passes bill for Medicaid expansion work requirements
Scapegoats tend to be people considered expendable. Are people who need Medicaid expendable? The word “scapegoating” originated from an ingenious ritual described in the Bible. According to Jewish law, the high priest laid hands on an “escaping” goat, placing all the sins of the Jewish people from the previous year onto the animal. Then the goat was beaten with reeds and thorns, driven out into the desert, and the people went home rejoicing.
Focal Utopia Main 112
Focal’s new Utopia speakers are their biggest and most ambitious yet. We’ve reviewed numerous Focal monitors over the decades, but they have always fallen into the nearfield or midfield category — until now. With the launch of the Utopia Main 112 and Utopia Main 212, Focal have ventured into fully fledged ‘main monitor’ territory. The 112 is a substantial three‑way reflex‑loaded active system comprising a 13‑inch bass driver, a 3‑inch dome midrange driver and a 1.5‑inch dome tweeter.
AsciLab A6B
With their debut speakers, South Korean company AsciLab have raised the bar for nearfield monitoring. Located in South Korea, AsciLab are relatively new entrants to the high‑performance loudspeaker sector.
Kali Audio HP-1
Kali’s debut headphones straddle the professional/consumer divide. How useful are they in the studio? Headphones sales have ballooned over the last decade or so, and many monitor manufacturers have felt compelled to add them to their product range. The headphone market has also become intensely competitive, so if you launch some headphones they really need to cut it in terms of price, features, performance and appearance. Have Kali Audio hit the sweet spot with their new HP‑1?
Fiedler Audio Mastering Console 2
This major update to Fiedler’s immersive audio mastering suite could revolutionise your Atmos workflow. My review of Fiedler Mastering Console version 1 was published as recently as SOS December 2024, and the fact that I’m already writing about a version 2 indicates both that Fiedler Audio seem able to move very quickly, and that this new version is a very significant advance. In fact, Fiedler describe it as an entirely new product — and I wouldn’t argue with that.
Aguilar Plugin Suite
For this plug‑in, boutique New York bass specialists Aguilar teamed up with modelling experts Korg — and the results are impressive... Despite being an enthusiastic and busy bass player, I have to admit that when it comes to recording my basses I’ve never really been all that sophisticated or adventurous in my methods. I’ve played with a few amp‑and‑cab modelling plug‑ins but never been entirely convinced or particularly inspired by them.
Sound Advice: Building a natural connection
Launched in 1972, AV Magazine is the pro AV buyer’s guide for audiovisual solutions and technologies. It bridges the gap between the professional AV industry and its end-user customers, helping to educate the channel and supporting its readers to transform their businesses through the use of AV technologies.
How Loss>
After a strong start in gaming and VR, object-based audio is making inroads into live sound. The terms ‘spatial’ and ‘immersive’ are used a lot to describe this new technique, and are perhaps in danger of diluting its importance. But they are useful. This is not merely surround sound; it has many applications that, quite seriously, could reinvent the wheel of professional audio in the way that stereo, 5.1 and even line array have done in the past.
Public schools deserve support
In his My Turn article, Mr. Hearn explained what was said at a town hall meeting regarding public education. Some of our legislators do not support public education. “Rep. Heather Scott claimed rampant “deviant behavior in schools” and that public schools were “ignoring the law” about DEI. Rep. Tony Wisniewski said there was “indoctrination of our students” in public schools and stated his support for school vouchers. Sen. Ben Toews expressed support for school vouchers.
Loop Tonic Cocktail Recipe
Recipe contains the following allergens: Adapted from a recipe created circa 2009 by Phil Ward at Mayahuel in Manhattan, New York City. One serving of Loop Tonic contains 255 calories Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the . Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.
Amphion One18X
With their precision engineering and distinctive white waveguides, the One series put Amphion on the studio map. And now they’ve got even better. I first wrote about Amphion monitors in these pages over 10 years ago, when I reviewed the One15 and One18 models (along with an Amphion power amplifier). That speaker has now been revised, with a new tweeter and a re‑engineered crossover, to become the One18X.
From the archive: Can we always have more?
Reflections from a time when endless research income growth seemed possible A blast from the more distant past than usual this week for Funding Insight’s archive selection as we return to an apparently more hopeful age—August 2016, just after the UK’s EU membership referendum.
MY TURN: Good leaders, not power seekers
The city of Coeur d’Alene is not broken; it is running well. Yet, many of us dislike, even hate, government. The intent of public service is to improve our lives. Seeking elected office, a chance to lead often appeals to the least among us. We often elect people who have no concept of how our government is intended to run. Local government provides the services we need.
Apogee Symphony Studio
Designed with immersive audio in mind, the Symphony Studio is also a top‑class all‑round audio interface. Apogee’s new Symphony Studio range of USB interfaces is aimed particularly towards immersive audio production duties. In that context, and like the Audient ORIA interface I wrote about in SOS July 2024, the headline specification that substantially defines each of the three Symphony Studio models is not so much their input count but their output count.
Sound Advice: History transformed into museum sound
Babel is a 2001 sculpture by Brazilian artist, Cildo Meireles which has been on display recently at London’s Tate Modern. It’s a 30ft-tall circular tower cladded in vintage radios of every kind – radios that continually emit random broadcasts through 360 degrees: the room buzzes with electronic noise. As the title eludes, in a very modern way it expresses the biblical Tower of Babel, the divine source of humanity’s disparate, barrier-forming languages and a symbol of conflict.
From the archive: AI and the future of research management
With news of a survey for research managers on their changing working lives What future for research management in the era of AI? More specifically, when a researcher in the exciting field of medieval elephant husbandry needs advice on potential funders for their work, and then how to go about formulating their bid, will they head to their research office, or ChatGPT (other large language models are available)?
Dynaudio Acoustics M1 MkII
In updating their classic M Series, Dynaudio Acoustics show that passive doesn’t need to mean low‑tech. Dynaudio Acoustics, together with studio designer and acoustician Andy Munro, played a really significant role in the development of the contemporary professional studio monitor — particularly in Europe.
MY TURN: An expandable table
Much is written about election integrity. Since 2015, we have been advised that our election system is rigged. This is despite many court cases, reviews by Republicans and Democrats, attorneys and judges, etc., all attesting to the integrity of our election process. If we do not accept that, then that is our problem and may not be a problem with the election system. Along with these false claims are efforts to fix what really is not broken.
Sound Advice: Audio ends its split personality
Sound Advice: Audio ends its split personality Phil Ward asks: As audio production values are being raised in the traditional AV sector, how does professional audio affect sales and marketing in this area? You must be a registered user to view our feature articles. Registering takes seconds - click below, or login if you are already a registered user. To Read this article, you need to register You must be a registered user to view our feature articles.
IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro
IK’s newest iLoud speakers pack serious monitoring into an ultra‑portable format. Paul White reviewed the original version of IK Multimedia’s iLoud Micro desktop active monitor very favourably back in 2016. The intervening decade has seen the monitor establish itself as one of the benchmarks when it comes to ultra‑compact portable monitoring, but its time is now over, because its replacement has arrived: the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro.
Ginger Audio Sphere v2
Whether you’re mixing or mastering in stereo, surround or immersive formats, this powerful virtual monitor controller could soon become indispensable. The term ‘monitor controller’ used to refer to a hardware box that sat on your desk and provided volume control, output selection, some channel matrix options, a headphone socket or two, and maybe a talkback mic. But although hardware monitor controllers are still very much ‘a thing’, monitor control has also moved into the software realm.
Sound Advice: Sending a strong signal
Sound Advice: Sending a strong signal Meetings, conferences, presentations and live performances - how can we get the best out of RF distribution asks Phil Ward? Maintain a strong signal that minimises interference is a start. You must be a registered user to view our feature articles. Registering takes seconds - click below, or login if you are already a registered user. To Read this article, you need to register You must be a registered user to view our feature articles.
AudioSmile Little British Monitor
These compact speakers punch well above their weight — and you can build them yourself! Back in the deep, dim and distant past, loudspeaker kits were a big(ish) thing. British hi‑fi speaker brand KEF (Kent Engineering & Foundry, if you ever wondered) in particular did pretty good business with their KEFKIT 1, 2 and 3 and Constructor Series. The kits included drivers, passive crossover assemblies, internal foam, cables and connectors, and all the various specialist hardware items required.
APL Virtuoso v2
Based on cutting‑edge psychoacoustic research, Virtuoso v2 aims to deliver for headphone users the most convincing emulation of ‘speakers in a room’ to date. APL Virtuoso is a plug‑in and standalone binaural renderer built on technology developed by Dr Hyunkook Lee, Professor of Audio and Psychoacoustic Engineering and Director of Applied Psychoacoustics Lab (APL) and the Centre for Audio and Psychoacoustic Engineering at the University of Huddersfield.
MY TURN: School days, golden rule days
“This country was built on American respect for education,” Ronald Reagan. Thomas Jefferson warned that government “tyranny” would emerge unless “the people at large” were “educated at the common expense of all.” Yet more than half of Americans (51%) say our public education system is going in the wrong direction. We have been “fixing” education since the Russian satellite, Sputnik, was launched Oct. 4, 1957.
Trinnov Nova
Room‑correction pioneers Trinnov were already a step ahead of the competition. Now they’ve taken things further. When reviewing Trinnov’s ST2 Pro monitor and room optimisation hardware in SOS July 2019, I initially felt a little overwhelmed by its combination of extraordinary technical capabilities, somewhat complex configuration and opaque user interface. Despite that, I described it as possibly the “last word” in monitor correction.
ME‑Geithain MO-1 MKII
Designed for outside broadcast trucks, Geithain’s compact monitors could easily find a home in music recording contexts where space is at a premium. There’s always been a need for ultra‑compact monitors, particularly in the world of professional broadcasting. Perhaps the best‑known example is the BBC‑designed LS3/5A, born in the mid 1970s specifically for the cramped environment of outside broadcast (OB) trucks.
MY TURN: Medicaid expansion isn’t broken
The Legislature is back in session and putting the Medicaid expansion back on the chopping block. We know the voters approved it, many of our legislators don’t, so what’s the problem? For years, Idaho lawmakers have said the rising budget for Idaho’s largest government program, Medicaid, needs to be controlled. The Medicaid expansion is one piece of that budget.
Lipspin Cocktail Recipe
Discerning Drinkers (9 ratings) WhatsApp These links will open in a new window Ingredients: 1 1/2 fl oz Patrón Silver blanco tequila 3/4 fl oz Hayman's Sloe Gin 3/4 fl oz Cynar or other carciofo amaro 4 drop Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water) Read about cocktail measures and measuring. Skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherry. How to make: STIR all ingredients with ice and strain into chilled glass. If Auld Lang Syne left your throat dry? And dancing left your feet sore?
Kii Seven
Kii’s impressive new cardioid monitors prove there’s still room for innovation in loudspeaker design. It was back in the January 2017 issue that we reviewed the the`n‑new and remarkable Kii Three active cardioid monitor. For a significant number of professional engineers and consumer audiophiles, the Kii Three set the benchmark for what is possible from a pair of loudspeakers. And now, after a somewhat extended gestation period, Kii have launched a smaller sibling: the Kii Seven.
Fiedler Audio Mastering Console & gravitas MDS
This combination of software and multi‑channel plug‑in overcomes some frustrating hurdles for those working in Atmos. Back in SOS September 2023, I reviewed Fiedler Audio’s unique and innovative Dolby Atmos Composer plug‑in suite, and now, with the launch of their Dolby Atmos Mastering Console and associated gravitas MDS module, Fiedler have again come up with something that can’t easily be found anywhere else in the Dolby Atmos landscape.
Kali Audio SM-5
Kali Audio’s latest three‑way speakers look unassuming, but represent a big step up in performance. Back in SOS June 2021 I reviewed the Kali Audio IN‑5. It was the company’s first active three‑way monitor, and featured their dual‑coincident driver technology, in which a tweeter is located at the apex of the midrange driver diaphragm.
Telegrapher Gorilla
Telegrapher may be a young company, but their flagship three‑way monitors are up there with the very best. Telegrapher Loudspeakers are a three‑year‑old professional monitor manufacturer based in Istanbul, Turkey, and their first products comprise the Fox compact two‑way active monitor, the Elephant active subwoofer, and the Gorilla and Gorilla‑S: both three‑way, active midfield monitors.
Attending to attendance
Get people to show up to your event with these simple—and sneaky—tips A couple of years ago, author Chelsea Banning shared her embarrassment about the low turnout for her book signing event. “Only two people came to my author signing yesterday,” she wrote on Twitter, “so I was pretty bummed about it. Especially as 37 people responded ‘going’ to the event. Kind of upset, honestly, and a little embarrassed.” The response to her tweet was heartening.
Attending to attendance
Get people to show up to your event with these simple—and sneaky—tips A couple of years ago, author Chelsea Banning shared her embarrassment about the low turnout for her book signing event. “Only two people came to my author signing yesterday,” she wrote on Twitter, “so I was pretty bummed about it. Especially as 37 people responded ‘going’ to the event. Kind of upset, honestly, and a little embarrassed.” The response to her tweet was heartening.
SPL Phonitor 3
With its clever Phonitor Matrix, this high‑end headphone amp aims to deliver a more speaker‑like listening experience. You perhaps don’t need me to point out that there’s something of a disconnect between the way most commercial music is mixed (on loudspeakers) and the way it’s increasingly consumed (via headphones). One result of this is that mixing on headphones is becoming much more common.
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