Dr Adam Hill

About

I'm currently an Associate Professor of Electroacoustics at the University of Derby where I'm co-lead of the Electro-Acoustics Research Lab (EARLab) and run the MSc Audio Engineering program. I received a Ph.D. from the University of Essex, an M.Sc. in Acoustics and Music Technology from the University of Edinburgh, and a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering from Miami University. My research generally focuses on analysis, modelling, and wide-area spatiotemporal control of low-frequency sound reproduction and reinforcement.

I work seasonally as a live sound engineer for Gand Concert Sound, where I've designed and operated sound systems for over one thousand artists. I'm chair of the AES Technical Committee on Acoustics and Sound Reinforcement, a member of the Electro-Acoustics Group Committee within the Institute of Acoustics, and a member of the WHO technical working group for the development of the Global Standard for Safe Listening Venues. I was awarded the IoA Young Persons’ Award for Innovation in Acoustical Engineering in 2019. I'm a chartered engineer and a member of the AES, IOA, IEEE and IET.

Programme Leader on the programme

MSc Audio Engineering

Lecturer on the programmes

Teaching responsibilities

Undergraduate modules for the 2023/24 academic year

Electrical Circuits and Devices
Electroacoustics
Live Event Practice

Postgraduate modules for the 2023/24 academic year

Audio Electronics
Live Sound System Design & Optimisation

Research interests

Audio engineering
Digital signal processing
Active acoustics
Psychoacoustics
Nonlinear signal processing
Loudspeaker design
Live sound reinforcement
Analogue circuit design
Navigation technology
Machine learning
Sound exposure and noise pollution

Membership of professional bodies

Active leadership roles:

Chair, AES Technical Committee on Acoustics and Sound Reinforcement
Head of content, IOA Electro-Acoustics Group Committee
Member of WHO Technical Working Group on the Global Standard for Safe Listening Venues
Paper reviewer for AES, IEEE, Scientific Reports (Nature) and IOA publications/conferences
Peer reviewer, EPSRC research grant proposals
Book reviewer for Focal Press (Routledge)

Membership

Chartered Engineer (CEng)
AES
IEEE
IET
IOA
HEA

Qualifications

Undergraduate qualifications

BSE Electrical Engineering, Miami University

Postgraduate qualifications

MSc Acoustics & Music Technology, University of Edinburgh
PG Certificate in Higher Education, University of Derby

Research qualifications

PhD Electronic Systems Engineering, University of Essex

Recent conferences

Mulder, J.; A.J. Hill. “Sound Level Measurement, Monitoring and Management in Small Music Venues: Leq Averaging Time Interval.” 4th International Conference on Acoustics and Sound Reinforcement, Le Mans, France. January, 2024
Hill, A.J. “Signal decorrelation for sound reinforcement system crossovers.” 4th International Conference on Acoustics and Sound Reinforcement, Le Mans, France. January, 2024
Hill, A.J.; K. Liston; I. Wiggins; G. Naylor. “A case study on practical live event sound exposure monitoring.” 4th International Conference on Acoustics and Sound Reinforcement, Le Mans, France. January, 2024
Gilmour, R.; J. Burton; A.J. Hill. “An investigation into the effect of sweat and moisture on the performance of in-ear monitors.” Proc. IOA Conference on Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK, November, 2023
Gilfillan, D.; G. Leembruggen; A.J. Hill. “The ICOSSA Project – An improved omnidirectional sound source for room acoustic testing.” Proc. IOA Conference on Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK, November, 2023
Hourani, C.; A.J. Hill. “Towards a subjective quantification of noise annoyance due to outdoor events.” Proc. IOA Conference on Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK, November, 2023
Szoke, Z.; J. Burton; A. Hill; M. Dring. “The effect of purported acoustically transparent materials on sound propagation.” Proc. IOA Conference on Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK, November, 2023
Gardner, J.; G. Hance; A.J. Hill. “Inaudibility criteria and alternative methods for controlling music noise levels from late night entertainment.” Proc. IOA Conference on Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK, November, 2023
Kok, Marcel, Adam Hill, Jon Burton, and Jos Mulder. “The influence of audience participatory noise on sound levels at live events.” In INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings, vol. 265, no. 6, pp. 1947-1954. Institute of Noise Control Engineering, 2023
Burton, J.; A. Hill. “Using cognitive psychology and neuroscience to better inform sound system design at large musical events.” Proc. IOA Conference on Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK, November, 2022
Mulder, J.; A. Hill; J. Burton; M. Kok; M. Lawrence; E. Shabalina. Education and Certification in Sound Pressure Level Measurement, Monitoring and Management at Entertainment Events. AES International Conference on Audio Education. July, 2021
Hill, A.J.; J. Burton. A case study on the impact live event sound level regulations have on sound engineering practice. Proc. Institute of Acoustics – Conference on Reproduced Sound (online) November, 2020

View my conference papers

Experience in industry

Seasonal live sound engineer for Gand Concert Sound (Elk Grove Village, IL, USA) since 2003

In the media

Awards

Tyndall Medal (2024), Institute of Acoustics
Young Persons Award for Innovation in Acoustical Engineering (2019), Institute of Acoustics
Inspirational Lecturer of the Year (2015), Vice Chancellor's Awards For Excellence
Lecturer of the Year, Engineering & Technology (2015), University of Derby Students' Union
You're Brilliant Award (2015), University of Derby Students' Union
18 of the Last 9 Young Alumni Award (2013), Miami University

Articles:

More info at: www.adamjhill.com and www.uodlive.com

Recent publications

Hill, A.J.; J. Mulder; J. Burton; M. Kok; M. Lawrence, “Sound level monitoring at live events, Part 3 – Improved tools and procedures.” J. Audio Eng. Soc., vol. 70, no. 1/2, pp. 73-82. January, 2022
Mulder, J.; A.J. Hill; J. Burton; M. Kok; M. Lawrence, “Sound level monitoring at live events, Part 2 – Regulations, practices, and preferences.” J. Audio Eng. Soc., vol. 70, no. 1/2, pp. 62-72. January, 2022
Hill, A.J., Mulder, J., Burton, J., Kok, M., and Lawrence, M.. “Sound Level Monitoring at Live Events, Part 1–Live Dynamic Range.” J. Audio Eng. Soc., vol. 69, no. 11, pp. 782–792. November, 2021
Hill, A.J. (chairman and editor). Understanding and managing sound exposure and noise pollution at outdoor events. AES Technical Document AESTD1007.1.20-05. May, 2020
Moore, J.B.; A.J. Hill. Dynamic diffuse signal processing for sound reinforcement and reproduction. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 66, no. 11. December, 2018
Hill, A.J.; Hawksford, M.O.J.; Newell, P. Enhanced Wide-Area Low-Frequency Sound Reproduction in Cinemas: Effective and Practical Alternatives to Current Calibration Strategies. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 64, no. 5, pp. 280-298. May, 2016
Piercy, J.J.B.; D.J. Smith; E.A. Codling; A.J. Hill; S.D. Simpson. "The good, the bad, and the distant: Soundscape cues for larval fish." Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol. 875, pp. 829-837. November, 2015
Piercy, J.J.B.; E.A. Codling; A.J. Hill; D.J. Smith; S.D. Simpson. "Habitat quality affects sound production and likely distance of detection of coral reefs." Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 516: 35-47, 2014
Hill, A.J.; M.O.J. Hawksford. "Wide-area psychoacoustic correction for problematic room-modes using nonlinear bass synthesis." Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 59, no. 11, pp. 825-834. November, 2011
Hill, A.J.; M.O.J. Hawksford. "Visualization and analysis tools for low-frequency propagation in a generalized 3D acoustic space." Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 59, no. 5, pp. 321-337. May, 2011
Hill, A.J.; M.O.J Hawksford. "Chameleon subwoofer arrays in live sound." Institute of Acoustics, Acoustics Bulletin, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 32-40. May/June, 2011

View a complete list of my publications

How virtual bass algorithms can predict the health of coral reefs

Adam Hill, Senior Lecturer in Audio Engineering, explains how his research can predict the health of coral reefs using underwater virtual bass algorithms.

Posted: 14 March 2018

By: Dr Adam Hill

Live events: sharing my passion with students

Adam Hill, lecturer at the University of Derby, shares his passion with his students, and talks about his expertise and experience working on live events.

Posted: 22 February 2017

By: Dr Adam Hill