What our Students say...

Dan Gardner, BSc (Hons) Audio Technology working at Codemasters.

"When I choose to do the Audio Tech degree at Salford it was primarily because I was so interested in sound from the most technical scientific to the creative aspects. I just wanted to understand how sound really worked and become confident in it's manipulation/control and I feel that the course gave the me the understanding I was looking for and alot more.

I have now been working at Codemasters, I was employed here as a Sound Designer for their video games, the most famous game probably being Colin McRae Rally and more recently TOCA Race Driver.

My work involves creating the audio content for the games we release and this will involve location/foley recording of spot effects(eg.footsteps, shouts, smashes, animals), speech/dialogue recording of voice-over artists/actors and celebrities in various different studios, recording of lots of sports cars in a semi-anechoic purpose built recording studio, designing/implementation and testing of the ingame audio systems, upgrading/building new sound systems/studios to keep up to date with the ever-changing games industry, the sourcing/creating and mixing of all ingame sound FX using computers and other audio equipment and also the mixing of any ingame movie cut-scenes into Stereo/Pro-Logic and 5.1 surround dependant on final game platform.

The course at Salford has helped me enormously to enter this field and I already have a very good understanding of all aspects of audio including audio compression techniques (trying to get everything into very small audio memory limits), modelling of real-world acoustic behaviour (to try and simulate this as close as possible, within the game world), knowledge of different surround sound techniques, the ability to use and feel at home in various recording studios, the knowledge of audio equipment specifications to aid selection/design or purchase of new devices/accessories, audio programming techniques which greatly aid communication with the game programmers, not forgetting the knowledge/abilities I gained from the course for when it comes to diagnosing acoustic (or any audio) problems that occur here.

The course at Salford and the high standards of lecturing and practical work gained whilst there has given me these extremely valuable tools, allowing me to feel confident and knowledgable when working with other audio professionals."

Simon Woollard, BSc (Hons) Audio Technology working at Mission Loudspeakers.

I chose to study the BSc (hons) degree in Audio Technology at Salford as I wanted to work in the audio industry, and quite fancied designing speakers. The degree offered a wide range of modules that covered all areas of audio, and was endorsed by companies within the industry, so it looked like a safe choice for securing a job post graduation. Having looked at all of the options available, Salford was the best choice for me.

The course gave me a broad knowledge base in virtually all areas of audio and acoustics, really enabling me to choose a career in whichever area I wanted. I particularly enjoyed the modules in transducer design and speech technology, and I enjoyed the freedom of my final year project in which there is the potential to research an area of particular personal interest. I did my project on spatial audio reproduction, and must have enjoyed it to endure the hours of programming that I did!

I am now working as an Acoustics Engineer for Mission, designing speakers for their new Pro division. Immediately after graduation, I went to work for NXT. The course was very influential in my securing this job, as the University has a good working relationship with NXT. In the department that I was working in, there were 4 Salford acoustics graduates from recent years! After 10 months there, I was offered a position at Mission, which has enabled me both to build on my experience in DML (flat panel) design, and to develop experience in conventional loudspeaker design too.

Robert Bantin, BSc (Hons) Audio Technology working at Philips Research Labs.

"Having come from a physics and music background, I decided to look for a course that was scientific in nature that could also satisfy my musical interests. There were many "studio engineering" courses available, but none of these had the serious physics edge that I was looking for. After hearing my dilemma, my career guidance councillor said simply one word; "Salford".

Initially I was in no mind as to what my real strengths were. Luckily, they show you a lot here, and it was nice watching everyone develop their own corners of expertise over the three years. Mine was digital signal processing, and even though it was taught from an introductory level, the staff were always keen to help me pursue this area further. The result is that I now work at the cutting edge of that field, and love every minute of it. "

Rebecca Board, BSc (Hons) Audio, Video and Broadcast Engineering working at the BBC.

"I was encouraged by the university to do a 'Year in Industry'. I secured myself a year contract with Carlton Television in Birmingham as a Technical Operator where I worked in maintenance, post-production and transmission for CITV as well as for local programming. On completion of this I also did six weeks engineering training with the BBC in London with the Satellite News-Gathering trucks.

The electronics and video production projects undertaken at university stood me in really good stead for these placements. The 'hands on' element on this course is important experience, combining it with a good knowledge of technology and electronics makes it invaluable. I am currently completing my final year and look forward to starting my career in September. I have been given an unconditional offer of employment with the BBC in London as a Broadcast Engineer."

Matthew Desborough, BSc (Hons) Audio Technology working at Dolby Labs.

"I've started at Dolby now. For the moment I'm fixing various bits of equipment and organising a new workshop/test station. However in a few weeks I will be more involved in masterings and screenings. In a mastering session I will be making sure all the equipment used in the mixing, AC-3 encoding, and replay of the audio is correctly aligned to produce the correct electrical and acoustics levels, and frequency response. Then making sure that the audio is encoded correctly and operating the Dolby encoding equipment .In screenings, similarly, I will be aligning all the equipment, and also making sure that the print is of a good quality and suitable for a premier or other important screenings."

Richard Colegate, BSc (Hons) Audio Technology managing his own company Concert Productions Systems.

"We set CPS up when I was studying at Salford and my business partner was studying in London. We had been working together for a couple of years prior to that, but fitting it around studying was still quite a challenge - I was covering up to 1000 miles a week on some occasions and averaging at least 600 miles on a quiet week. One of my most vivid memories is leaving a lecture (with a fellow student) one afternoon and driving to London to do a 1 night show, which at the last minute got a licence extension granted - the knock on effect of this was that by the time the show was over and we had dismantled the PA etc and the rest of the crew were driving back down to Bournouth, myself and Tim were on the way back to Manchester, through the morning Rush Hour traffic.

I gained an awful lot from my time at Salford, including the student life and a number of very good friends who I still keep in touch with. I learnt a huge amount from the pro's like Bill Davies and Trevor Cox. I also found the guest lecturers very interesting in providing a "real world" aspect to some of the theory."

Richard Elliott, BSc (Hons) Audio, Video and Broadcast Engineering working at Sony Digital Interactive.

"My interest in Video and Audio Engineering began as the Digital Broadcasting era approached. The University of Salford was one of the few places providing a course related to this area. On the course I increased and enhanced my knowledge and skills, and have subsequently been offered employment within Sony's Digital Interactive department as a Software Engineer."

Neil Robinson

Neil Robinson is originally from a small village just outside Birmingham, but now works for Industrial Light and Magic in San Francisco. He studied BEng in Electronic Computer Systems, and MSc in Data Telecomunications and Computer Networks, at Salford University.

Why did you choose the course you studied at Salford University?
I selected Salford based on its course, location and mostly in the friendly student atmosphere.

Did you spend a year on work placement as part of your degree?
No.

What kind of work did you do after graduation?
I worked for Salford Uni as a research assistant (Dr Ball and Prof Linge). I then moved to Cinesite (a Kodak company) in London to develop software for digital film special effects.

How has your career progressed since then?
I now work for Industrial Light and Magic in San Francisco; the world’s leading special effects company. I develop state-of-the-art visual effects tools. I have screen credits on "Lost in Space", "Starwars Attack of the clones" and "Van Hellsing". I have also presented at SIGGraph graphics conference.

What kind of projects are you working on now?
I’m now developing large scale real-time / near real-time image processing systems for digital film finishing.

What's it like working in a different country?
Working overseas is a once in a lifetime chance. It’s harder than you think, but rewarding all the same.

How well did your Salford course prepare you for your career?
It gave me a very good grounding in applied problem solving. Think around a problem and coming up with a practical cost-effective solution. Kind of applied theory.

What have been the highlights of your career so far?
Working on "Band of Brothers" for Tom Hanks. I and a co-worker built a real-time virtual environment system. This allowed Tom to see how a complex shot set in 1940s Paris would look, while actually being filmed in an old aircraft hanger in Harpenden!!

What advice would you give to students hoping to follow a similar path?
Don’t ever listen to people who say you cant do something.... if you listen they will be right!!

What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
I hope to have my own consultancy.

What do you remember most about your time at Salford University?
Many good nights in the Pav. I used to help out with the Ents crew and DJ the odd time

Update - May 2005

Since this interview in late 2004, Neil Robinson has secured a new job as Head of Engineering for Filmlight, a UK-based company that manufactures film scanners. Initially working in LA, Neil expects to return to the UK in August 2006.

Matthew Scott

Software Development Consultant
Kewill Systems plc, Salford
BSc (Hons) Computer Science, graduated 1999

I started working at Kewill Systems, a world-wide Electronic Commerce company, the week after I graduated. We help organisations become e-commerce enabled by writing generic/bespoke software to allow our customers to trade electronically, be that via the Internet or other means. The company (in the UK) is quite small, but we already have over 80% of the UK market share.

Related courses

BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Tony O'Connell

Database Engineer
Scient, London
BSc (Hons) Computer Science and Information Systems, graduated 1996

Scient invented the Systems Innovation category to describe its brand of e-business consultancy. Over the past six months I have worked in the London office where from start-up Scient now has over 50 staff. Our global expansion and move into Europe (Germany has already been announced) offers plenty of worldwide travel opportunities.

Javid Kakuji

VB COM developer, Virgin Cars Project, Logica
BSc (Hons) Computer Science and Information Systems, graduated 1998

The course helped me by developing my software engineering and problem-solving skills. Most of my work is technical hence the practical software development exercises were extremely helpful...the Software Maintenance course was highly typical of a maintenance project in the real world. The course is an invaluable reference to use at an interview as it also displays team working and documentation skills, essential in a software project.

Sue Barton

BSc (Hons) Computer Science, graduated 1994

One element of the course which attracted me was the option of a 12-month placement. Salford's links with industry are very strong and I found that students from Salford University are generally held in very high regard. These factors helped me to secure a placement with ICI in their computing and telecommunications section.

Related courses

BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Andy Dennison

Director, 3D Web Technologies, Manchester
BSc (Hons) Computer Science, graduated 1995

I set up 3D Web Technologies in 1997 with a number of colleagues from my previous company. We produce web design and multi-media work, such as 'teach yourself' CD-ROMs, but the majority of work is in creating virtual environments models - such as creating a VE module of the Museum of Dubai. One of our most recent projects was creating a public information kiosk at the University of Manchester, which helps visitors find their way around.

Related courses

BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Lisa Cluroe

BEng (Hons)
Civil Engineering with European Studies

During my placement, I worked with WIBEBA in Vienna for twelve months. I was involved in civil engineering projects for the railways and power supply industry. My German improved tremendously, and my social life included skiing, sightseeing in Austria, and visits to the opera. An unforgettable experience.

Chris Marshall

As a student studying Civil Engineering with European Studies, I spent the third year working for Acerplan GmbH, a civil engineering consultancy, in Halle, in the former East Germany.

During the course of the year, I obtained experience from working in the structural and civil engineering departments. I worked on numerous projects including a feasibility study for a sewerage system in ten former East German villages, which tested the limits of my linguistic skills as the villagers became increasingly concerned as to why somebody was walking around their village with a clipboard.

Other projects worked on included sewerage masterplans, general infrastructure projects and structural designs. The highlight of my placement was when I received my own project involving the design of a drinking water pipe in Dresden, which involved me submitting a report to the client.

As the infamous saying goes, "It's not all work, work, work.". Weekends free from work for a year were spent attending pop concerts in Berlin, Munich, and Prague, experiencing the nightlife in Hamburg, Cologne and Vienna, sampling the local Brauerie (breweries) at quite reasonable prices - 30p a pint in Prague!!! All these extra-curricular activities being essential in improving the important aspects of a foreign language!

The year spent working in Germany has been the most beneficial experience of my life so far.

Helen Ramsdale - First Year Physics with a Modern Language

"I'm doing Physics with French as I wanted to do physics but I did French at 'A' level as well as I liked the language and culture. The French gives me a break at the end of the week. It really is totally different -- the assessment is different, the classes are different. The Physics Department is really good and gives me all the support I need. I came here in some ways because I liked the Physics department when I visited on an Open Day but it also wasn't too much a city University, as it's a little bit out from the centre and has a campus as well. Some of my friends said "you must be clever to be doing Physics" but it's getting easier and more socially acceptable for girls to study Physics".

Andrew Proctor - Physics with Acoustics

"I come from Kendal and chose Salford out of six choices because of its good industrial relations. I am on the Physics with Acoustics course and started the course in the first year that it ran and it had some minor problems in its first year but it's a good course and is interesting.I am doing a physics project that is acoustics-based on computational speech and voice recognition".

Helen Brown - Physics with Space Technology

"I am on the Physics with Space Technology course. I chose Salford because there are only a few universities that do Space Technology courses and Salford is in a great location as far as outdoor sports are concerned with the Peak District and the Lake District. The Physics Department is really friendly and the vast majority of the lecturers have got a sense of humour. I really enjoy Physics because it explains everything and it's great for arguing with Chemists!"

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