In what year did you commence study / graduate?

I started in the beginning of 2010. I expect to finish the end of 2012 but that could spill over to 2013. I’m enjoying it too much and so am spreading it out.

Why are you interested in audio and acoustics?

I love sound as a medium and what you can do with it, both artistically and scientifically. It’s always captivated me since I was very young. Plus, I’m quite a technology junkie and you get to play with some pretty cool gadgets in audio.

What distinguishes the audio and acoustics program at Sydney University from courses offered at other institutions?

When I was researching postgraduate programs in New South Wales, Sydney offered the only degree that leaned towards scientific based subjects like digital audio systems and acoustics. There appeared to be a better balance between the creative and the analytical than other courses that were available.

In what profession / career do you hope to use / are using your skills acquired through your degree?

Already having had a career in audio production, I’m looking at this point in my life to build upon what I have already done and maybe move into a different area. I’m certainly hoping to do some academic research in the future carrying on from what I am doing now in the Master degree.

How did you decide to study audio and acoustics at Sydney?

I really wanted to get back to some form of study for at least a decade. I wanted to add upon the skills I had developed over the years and take it all 10 notches further up the scale. To me, it’s all about adding to your knowledge and not just ‘leaving it there’ for the rest of your life, hence the Master of Design Science seemed appropriate. It’s just as much designed for people like myself coming from an industry background as it is for the younger people who are moving straight from an under-grad. I took the plunge and I’m loving it.

What benefits have you experienced from undertaking a postgraduate program in audio and acoustics?

I honestly wish I had of done the course a long time ago as the science gives you an understanding of everything that is going on ‘besides’ just the mixing console and performance. A whole new area of knowledge has opened up for me and I’m really finding that very useful. I’m passionate about my studies; I tend to put a lot of time and effort into it. I think that’s vitally important if you want to get a good result and make the most of the experience.

What advice would you give to a student about to start a program in audio and acoustics?

Anyone who hasn’t studied for a while should definitely sharpen up their writing and maths skills for at least a couple of months before you start. Those straight from other studies similar won’t have that problem at all, but if you haven’t written an essay in years and forgotten high school maths, you’ll be facing a big learning curve. The University has many courses and seminars you can do that will prepare you.

What was your favourite subject in the audio and acoustics program while you were studying?

So far it is ‘Spatial Audio’. It was fascinating learning all about our perception of sound within 3D spaces and the means to recreate that artificially. It’s been my highest mark too so far, so I guess my enthusiasm counted.

How does your study allow you to take advantage of new opportunities in your industry?

It’s certainly broadening my skill base which I think is a good thing in this day and age of multi-media and technology. One of the best aspects of the University is you are encouraged in interdisciplinarity through your choice of elective subjects. You can select subjects from any other area that you think might be relevant to your particular industry outside of those offered in the core audio program.

I took advantage of this and went to the Sydney College of the Arts for a semester to study digital editing for film and video, which was a fantastic experience and I developed a very useful skill for multimedia production.

What is your opinion of the facilities available to students in the audio and acoustics programs?

The acoustics lab is the only one of it’s kind in Australia, and it has an incredible array of very expensive mindboggling technology. I always get a bit of a buzz when I work in there.

Beside that obvious fact, the facilities are great all round at the Wilkinson building with the two sound studios and rooms and rooms of new computers loaded with all the software you need to use. And you can access it all 24/7.

(I have been known to be in the Surround studio at 3am to tweak a mix that was bugging me so much I couldn’t sleep!)

In what year did you commence study / graduate?

I started in July 2008, after I finished my Masters of Engineering in the European school year. I wanted to get a second, specialized graduate degree. I took two semesters in a row and had a semester in France for a graduate internship. I returned to Australia in February 2011 and graduated in the July of that year.

Why are you interested in audio and acoustics?

I became interested in audio and acoustics while studying engineering. I have a passion for music (being a musician myself) and wanted to combine those two fields. That's how I discovered acoustical engineering.

What distinguishes the audio and acoustics program at The University of Sydney from the courses offered at other institutions?

The key difference is the mix between practical, theoretical and creative courses. Most of other universities don't offer this diversity. It’s very rewarding. The campus is located in the center of this major city was great to experience everything it had to offer!

How are you applying the skills you learnt in your program?

When I finished the degree, I started working for an acoustic consultancy office in the south of France. Their work is very diverse and ranged from environmental to industrial to building acoustics. I undertook several projects where I was part of design teams that included architects, HVAC engineers, structural engineers – the list goes on. This team was in charge of the acoustics of all kind of buildings such as offices, schools and some concert halls.

I’ve most recently changed from one field to another and I've started a PhD for a helicopter manufacturing company, Eurocopter. They are the parent company of the local firm Australian Aerospace. I am now doing research about an active noise control system for cabin interior noise.

How did you decide to study audio and acoustics at Sydney?

I didn't know much about Sydney before coming here. I chose Sydney because I was looking for a course outside Europe, with a campus close to the center of a city. When I saw the courses offered at The University of Sydney for acoustics, the diversity of course that were taught and the facilities available, my choice was made.

What benefits have you experienced from undertaking a postgraduate program in audio and acoustics?

This course has given me the perfect training to enter the workforce. Coming from a general engineering master course, I needed this specialized education because acoustics is a very particular part of engineering.

What advice would you give to a student about to start a program in audio and acoustics?

I would recommend balancing creative, practical and theoretical subjects when choosing at the beginning of the semester. I put equal work into all three categories and personally found it very rewarding. For me, they all complete each other; it is great to be able to learn these all together. Teachers from each field have their own approach to acoustics and each brings you something different.

What was your favourite subject in the audio and acoustics program while you were studying?

I enjoyed Sound Design for New Media classes very much. This is a fascinating field, where every other aspect of acoustics is involved (including: digital signal processing, room acoustics, loudspeaker design), but used for a creative purpose. History of Sound Design also teaches a lot about the evolution of acoustics.

How have your employers responded to the skills you have acquired during your degree?

They appreciated the fact that the course has some subjects that are making students operational on the field as soon as they get into their work environments. My employers required a specialised degree in acoustics in order to apply, as the job is technically quite specific.

How does your study allow you to take advantage of new opportunities in your industry?

Acoustics are becoming more important in many industries. New regulations are increasing the need for consultancy offices with the ability to measure, study and certify. In the transportation industry – in which I now work - acoustics have been important for many years but it is still a challenging area. There is a lot that remains to be discovered. In helicopters and cars, noisiness (or quietness) of the cabin is becoming a major point of investigation for manufacturers. This means the outputs from research and development are always increasing.

What is your opinion of the facilities available to students in the audio and acoustics programs?

The University has a great range of facilities for all subjects in the course. The sound design studio is amazing and has very good quality equipment! The facilities match perfectly the ones that you will use when employed by any company dealing with acoustics. Learning how to use this equipment during your studies is a great opportunity.

What non-academic parts of life in Sydney attract you to the city?

I was living in International House, a college right next to the faculty, which hosts students from all over the world. I've enjoyed meeting people of different nationalities: the multinational side of Sydney is very exciting. Of course, I am a fan of the beach and the ocean. Coming from a place on the seashore, I find the ocean so much more exciting! I find that Sydney has all the advantages of big cities, but none of the drawbacks, as the center is still on a "human scale" and as it is located by the ocean.