Salford Acoustics offers acoustics and audio engineering courses undertakes public and industrial research in acoustics, carries out commercial testing and undertakes activities to engage the public in acoustic science and engineering. It is based in two locations: (i) 3 km west of Manchester city centre, UK, in the Newton Building on the Peel Park Campus of the University of Salford, and (ii) on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in Manchester at MediaCityUK.

Salford Acoustics
Salford Acoustics, University of Salford logo, Manchester, UK
MottoAltiora Petamus
"Let us seek higher things"
TypeDepartment, public university
Established1965
Location,
CampusUrban, Parkland
ColoursRed, Black and White
AffiliationsUniversity of Salford
Websitehttp://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/

History and current structure

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The second anechoic chamber at University of Salford

The first acoustic laboratories were established in Salford in 1965; in the early 1970s the Department of Applied Acoustics was formed.[1] In 1996 the university merged with University College Salford and a Department of Acoustic and Audio Engineering was formed. A couple of years later, this joined with another department to form Acoustic and Electronic Engineering. Finally, the university twice reduced the number of schools in the organisation. Salford Acoustics first joined the School of Computing, Science and Engineering and later this was merged into the School of Science, Engineering and Environment. Research work comes under the auspices of the Acoustics Research Centre.

Programmes

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The Department of Applied Acoustics first taught an undergraduate degree in 1975, namely the BSc (Hons) in Electroacoustics. This was later renamed Beng (Hons) Acoustics. In 1993, Salford Acoustics set up the BEng (Hons) in Audio Technology.[1] These two undergraduate degrees are now taught under a single banner, BEng Audio Acoustics, with two pathways to represent the different interests of the cohort.[2] Salford acoustics has also taught masters in acoustic engineering and audio for many decades, currently offering an MSc in Audio Acoustics[3] and an MSc in Environmental Acoustics.[4] The Acoustics Research Centre offers masters and doctoral research degrees.[5]

Research

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Rating

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In REF2021, the feedback from the Engineering Panel (UoA12) noted, ‘outstanding impact demonstrated … live sports audio’.[6] The Acoustics Research Centre achieved the top research rating of 6* in RAE 2001 as part of the Research Institute for the Built and Human Environment's submission to Unit Of Assessment 30, Architecture and the Built Environment.[7] In 2008, the RAE submission including the Acoustics Research Centre finished top of Research Fortnight’s ‘Research Power’ table for Architecture & the Built Environment. 90% of the research was graded at international standard and 25% at world-leading.[8]

Sub-disciplines

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Research is carried out in the following sub-disciplines of acoustic engineering and science

Public engagement

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Breaking glass with sound shot by Salford Acoustics and used in curriculum materials for schools

Examples of public engagement work include:

Laboratories

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Most of Salford's Acoustics and Audio Laboratories are based on the Peel Park campus, but some are at MediaCityUK:[9]

  • Audio production suites
  • Radio studios
  • Recording studios
  • Anechoic chamber
  • 2x Semi-anechoic chambers
  • Reverberation chamber
  • Transmission suite
  • Listening room

Commercial work

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Salford Acoustics is a calibration and test house for construction, government, military, audio R&D and the motor industry.[10]

Current staff

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Awards

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Person Award Year
Prof Jamie Angus Audio Engineering Society Gold Medal 2023
Dr Joshua Meggitt Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal 2023
Prof Jamie Angus Audio Engineering Society Silver Medal 2019
Dr Jon Hargreaves Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal 2016
Professor Yiu Wai Lam Institute of Acoustics Rayleigh Medal 2012
Dr Olga Umnova Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal 2010
Trevor Cox Institute of Acoustics Promoting Acoustics to the Public 2009
Prof Jamie Angus Institute of Acoustics Peter Barnett Award 2004
Trevor Cox Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal 2004
Dr Francis Li Institute of Acoustics Peter Barnett memorial student award 2003

Notable staff

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Alumni and Former Staff

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The following past members of Salford Acoustics have been President of the Institute of Acoustics:

Person Dates
Professor Peter Lord 1978-80
Professor Peter Wheeler 1992-94
Geoff Kerry 2002-04
Dr Tony Jones 2004-06
Professor Trevor Cox 2010-12
Jo Webb 2016-18
David Waddington 2024-26

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lord, Peter; Geoff Kerry (March 1997). "The Acoustics World". Acoustics Bulletin. 22 (2): 13.
  2. ^ University of Salford. "BEng Audio Acoustics". Archived from the original on 7 July 2013.
  3. ^ University of Salford. "Audio Acoustics". Archived from the original on 4 August 2013.
  4. ^ University of Salford. "environmental acoustics".
  5. ^ University of salford. "Phd".
  6. ^ The University of Salford. "REF 2021 | University of Salford". Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  7. ^ HEFCE. "RAE". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  8. ^ The complete University Guide. "University of Salford". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  9. ^ University of Salford. "Labs".
  10. ^ University of Salford. "home page". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Mr Chinelis's case study at University of Salford's website". 17 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Finch Consulting's website".
  13. ^ "Interview at Neon Futures, inspiring the next generation of engineers".
  14. ^ "Mr Chinelis's Profile at Finch's website".
  15. ^ "Mr Chinelis's Linkedn Account".
  16. ^ "Mr Chinelis's YouTube channel". YouTube.
  17. ^ "Mr Chinelis's Xperta profile".
  18. ^ Independent (11 June 2010). "Hurts' locker offers emotional rescue". The Independent. London. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  19. ^ Søren Bech, Nick Zacharov (16 June 2006). Perceptual Audio Evaluation - Theory, Method and Application. John Wiley & sons. ISBN 978-0-470-86923-9.
  20. ^ "QSC audio". Archived from the original on 9 July 2013.
  21. ^ "Electroacoustic Design Ltd". Archived from the original on 15 December 2013.
  22. ^ "Vanguardia Consulting".
  23. ^ "wbm". Archived from the original on 26 July 2013.
  24. ^ "dragonfly-environmental". Archived from the original on 21 July 2013.
  25. ^ "Acoustical Control Engineers Ltd". Archived from the original on 3 December 2010.
  26. ^ "AWN Consulting".
  27. ^ "Red Acoustics Limited".
  28. ^ "Temple Group". Archived from the original on 25 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Goodhand Acoustics".
  30. ^ AIRO. "airo".
  31. ^ a b "f1".
  32. ^ "Engineered Acoustic Design Ltd".
  33. ^ "HiWave Technologies plc".
  34. ^ "Southdowns Environmental".
  35. ^ "Acoustics Central".
  36. ^ "Atkins Limited".
  37. ^ "Cundall".
  38. ^ "RBA Acoustics". Archived from the original on 18 November 2013.
  39. ^ "Genelec Oy".
  40. ^ "Sound Reduction Systems Ltd".
  41. ^ "Acustica Ltd".
  42. ^ "Atkins". Archived from the original on 14 October 2012.
  43. ^ "PCB Piezotronics".
  44. ^ "RS Acoustic Engineering Ltd".
  45. ^ "AMEC E&I UK Ltd".
  46. ^ "dBx Acoustics Limited".
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53°29′10″N 2°16′24″W / 53.48611°N 2.27333°W / 53.48611; -2.27333