Luke Harrison
School of Arts and Media
Current positions
Lecturer in Sound for Live and Recorded Media Performance
BIOGRAPHY
My main subject area of interest is sound design & recording for music, theatre, radio and gaming. I am particularly interested in where these formats converge, and also where holistic analysis and critique can be combined with technical and scientific approaches to develop a rounded understanding of the topic, as I believe sound recording and production to be equal parts art and science.
I have been working in the creative industries from the age of 16. In my professional years, working with sound and latterly video, I have held many roles including musician, musical director, recording studio engineer and sound designer for various performance outputs. This wide experience has given me a rounded sense of the creative arts and the place of sound within it.
I strive for excellence in the teaching of these subjects, and how as technology progresses, the pedagogical methods can be evolved and perfected to match industry practice as well as theory.
Areas of research
Immersive Audio, Digital Heritage, Technical Theatre, Audio Post Production, Virtual/Augmented/Mixed Reality
I currently teach across levels 4, 5 and 6 on BA(Hons) Media & Performance, BA(Hons) Comedy Writing and Performance and BA(Hons) Technical Theatre.
Specifically, I deliver modules with a technical basis, including:
- Production Skills,
- Production Workshop
- Integrated Production Skills.
I am also a supervisor for level 6 Practical Research Projects.
I am a level 4 personal tutor and the admissions tutor for BA(Hons) Technical Theatre.
My research interests lie in audio production and performance of fiction for stage, screen, radio and gaming, with a focus on the artistic and scientific crossover in these areas, and also the pedagogical requirements for teaching modern media production skills in current and future higher education. I have a particular interest in the combination of sound recording, performance, motion capture technology and virtual/augmented reality within digital storytelling.
My most recent research has been involved in the ‘Sound of Laughter’ research project, responsible for the accurate recording and analysis of live comedy. I am also in the initial preparations of working with a colleague on the use of 360° video and/or VR technology for one-to-one performance.
In 2015, I presented at the ‘I’ll See You Again in 25 Years: The Return of Twin Peaks and Generations of Cult TV’ collaborative conference between the University of Salford and Middle Tennessee State University. My paper, which argued that the sound design for ‘Twin Peaks’ was one of the earliest examples of cinematic sound crossing over into television production, was selected as a candidate for publication in the online journal ‘Senses of Cinema’. In 2017, I also chaired a panel at the University of Salford’s ‘Purple Reign’ conference, entitled ‘Sound, Performance and Presence’
Qualifications
- BA(Hons) Popular Music and Recording – University of Salford 2007
- MSc – Audio Production – University of Salford 2014
- Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice – University of Salford 2016
Memberships
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Fellow of the Higher Education Academy - 2016