RIR interpolation and auralization - Helixon installation (ESAT, KULeuven)
The Helixon project at KULeuven focuses on 3D audio measurement and auralization in the context an art installation placed in the GroupT building in Leuven, Belgium. People can walk along the spiral building and can hear “virtual” acoustic sources playing at different positions along the spiral and guiding people towards different locations. The auralization is obtained by convolving previously measured (and interpolated) Room-Impulse-Response (RIR) with Head-Related-Transfer-Functions (HRTF) and successively with different audio fragments. All the audio processing is performed in reat-time using Max4Live inside Ableton.
Music-based biofeedback for sports applications (PhD, UGent)
The music-based biofeedback system was able to reduce foot strike impact loading by 27% of the initial runners impact level without explicit instructions on how to achieve this.
For more info check: “Tibial shock reduction by means of music-based biofeedback in over-ground running: proof-of-concept.” in publications
The developed music feedback system was able to effectively alter running SPM up to 7% on average and performed better than standard verbal instructions by a trainer.
See article: “Design And Validation Of An Auditory Biofeedback System For Modification Of Running Parameters” in publications.
Our biofeedback system was used to improve weightlifting technique for injury minimization and performance enhancement. We achieved 10% spine bending reduction and increased horizontal barbell-to-toe distance by over 50% of the initial distance.
See article: “The sonic instructor: a music-based biofeedback system for improving weightlifting technique.” in publications
This music/sonification feedback system was able to increase the tendency of cyclists’ to synchronize to external music and to keep a more stable pedalling cadence.
See article: “The SoundBike: musical sonification strategies to enhance cyclists’ spontaneous synchronization to external music” in publications.
PhD defense – October 2019
“Music-based biofeedback for sports applications”
The printed systems are real-time biofeedback system for modification of physical parameters to improve sport technique, which exploit the psychophysical properties of music and the concept of reward.
The need of such systems and the development concepts are presented together with four applications different sports practices and different physical parameters.
Aeroacoustics of Wind Turbines (Siemens WP)
Most of wind turbines noise is aerodynamically generated. This is mostly due to turbulence passing over the trailing edge of the blades.
At Siemens Wind Power we researched and developed systems to be added to the blades to modify the aerodynamics and reduce the noise. Last generation of these “add-on’s” were able to reduce noise of over 2dB compared to a clean blade (see Patent description here). The idea is to imitate the silent flight on a howl.
3D printed wind instrument mouthpieces
Almost every saxophone player I know has been looking for new mouthpieces. These are usually very expensive and if your favourite breaks down it is really hard to get a similar one. 3D printing has opened great opportunities in this direction. Production has become very fast and any kind of specific requirements/modifications have become a possibility. If your mouthpiece breaks you can get an exact copy in a couple of hours and for a fourth of the price! This project was initiated with the group of Industrial Design of Delft University of Technology. Dave Liebman has been playing and this mouthpieces and Benjamin Herman has been performing with one of these models in his gigs.
