Andrew Cavan Fyans, PhD 27 Ballymacash Road, Phone: +44 7887507803 Lisburn Email: cfyans@gmail.com BT28 3DX www.cfyans.com U.K. Education Ph.D. Sonic Arts - Spectator Understanding of Performative Interaction: The influence of mental models and communities of practice on the perception and judgement of skill and error in electronic music performance ecologies, Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC), Queen s University Belfast, 2015. M.A. Sonic Arts - Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC), Queen s University Belfast, 2006. B.S.c Music Technology (2:1) - Queen s University Belfast, 2005. A Level - Maths, Physics, Music Technology, Electronics - Worth Abby, Sussex, 2002. GCSE - Maths (A), Physics (A), Electronics (B), Music (B), English (B), Chemistry (B), Biology (B), Religious Studies (B), Spanish (C), - Worth Abby, Sussex, 2000. Academic & Professional Experience Software Developer Sonic Academy May 2015 - Present Software development of novel VST / AU audio plugins for a wide range of DAW environments. In this post development has been undertaken primarily in C++ utilising the JUCE framework for plugin development. My tasks have included: Programming of audio generation, manipulation and playback systems; Custom tools for wave and spectral audio analysis and comparison; Implementation and interaction of custom GUI elements; Introduction & tutoring of C++ language & JUCE framework to other Sonic Academy team members. Audio Visual Consultant Millennium Court Arts Centre Portadown, UK May 2015 - Present Consultation, purchasing and installation of bespoke and unique audio visual systems necessary to display artists works in the Millennium Court Arts Centre galleries. Electronics, Hardware & Software Consultant Freelance December 2014 - Present Consultancy for software & hardware development studios in the design and manufacture of bespoke electronics and hardware products & solutions. Tasks have included: Design, prototyping & fabrication of electronic circuitry for data capture from industrial sensors; Design, prototyping & fabrication of hardware housing and mounting; Firmware programming & assistance in mobile
software design for data acquisition and processing; Product design. PhD research candidate Oct 2008 - May 2015 My PhD research work addressed issues surrounding the design of performative musical interactions with new electronic technologies. My thesis, Spectator Understanding of Performative Interaction: The influence of mental models and communities of practice on the perception and judgement of skill and error in electronic music performance ecologies, examines spectatorship in the ecology of novel interactive electronic musical instruments through a series of qualitative and quantitative phenomenological studies. In these I explore how spectators perceive, understand and judge performances with novel electronic musical systems. Research Assistant October 2013 - October 2014 Research Assistant for Dr Paul Stapleton. Duties include: Management of the SARC electronics & materials Fabrication Lab for all students and staff, health and safety & risk assessment training & management, tools & parts inventory management and ordering; Re-design, setup and management of the SARC Interaction Lab (high tech multimedia studio for generation, manipulation & recording of high definition audio / visual / sensory works) including equipment sourcing, ordering & installation; Assistance to Dr. Stapleton on various research projects. Research Assistant June 2012 - June 2013 Research Assistant for the SIEMPRE project (www.infomus.org/siempre). Duties include: Sourcing, purchasing, installation and use of hardware & software systems for scientific studies; Organisation and execution of multi-media studies including recording & synchronisation of audio, video and multiple data streams (e.g. physiological data, motion tracking, live evaluation, questionnaires); Analysis and preparation of data & materials for oral and written presentation. Teaching Assistant Oct 2008 - May 2015 Assisting in the preparation and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate modules within the School of Music and Sonic Arts. Duties include directing classes, tutorials and lab sessions as well as the assessment of student work and providing feedback. Undergraduate courses I have worked on include: Designing Musical Interactions (Hardware & software interaction design and the creation of performances with new musical interactions), Computer Programming for Musical Application (Supercollider, Processing, Max/MSP, Java), Interactive Sensing Systems (Electronic components & circuitry, micro-controller programming, interfacing hardware & software), Performance Workshop (Electronic music performance practice). Postgraduate Courses: Interaction Design (Electronic components & circuitry, micro-controller programming, interfacing hardware & software). Technical Consultant Straandlooper Animation May 2007 - March 2012 Administration of all technical systems, software and hardware. Sourcing, purchase and installation
of hardware & software for initial studio setup (e.g. computer systems, data & backup servers, networking, communications). Administration of networks and computer systems including linux servers (live-data & backup), web servers, networking & VPN access with Mac and PC networks. Administration of animation and video systems & software (e.g. creative, editing and mastering software such as the Adobe Suite and Final Cut.) Technical Director Banjax Digital Animation Studio October 2006 - March 2007 Management and administration of all technical systems during the production of animated TV series Lifeboat Luke. Administration of networks and computer systems including linux servers, web servers, backup servers and systems, VPN, Mac and PC networks. Communication and data sharing between multiple geographic locations. Administration of animation and video systems & software, primarily Adobe and Apple software. Freelance Sound Artist Articulate Sound Jan 2008 - March 2009 Sound production studio providing high quality audio solutions for any media. Audio services included sound design, foley, composition and post production. Business tasks including online setup, website design, marketing, promotion and targeting selected developers, studios and production teams in all media including games, video and animation. Partner Curious Incident Records Feb 2007 - Jan 2008 Partner in Belfast based record label. Undertaking tasks in the set-up and running of the label including online and local/international promotion and advertising, business and financial administration, website admin and market research. Software & Programming Skills Programming Languages: C++, Java, JavaScript, C# Audio Programming Languages & Systems: JUCE, Supercollider, Max/MSP, Pure Data, C-Sound, Pro-tools, Logic, Cubase, Reason, Ableton Live. Electronics & Hardware Programming Languages & Systems: Arduino & derived microcontroller hardware, Eagle PCB. Web Programming Languages & Systems: HTML, CSS, PHP, Wordpress, Joomla. Visual Programming Languages & Systems: Processing, Resolume, Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, SketchUp, Unity. Other Programming Languages & Software: LaTeX, SPSS.
Research Output Publications: Fyans, A.C., Marquez-Borbon, A. Gurevich, M., Stapleton, P. (2012), Ecological considerations for participatory design of DMIs., In Proceedings of the Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Gurevich, M., & Fyans, A.C, (2011). Digital musical interactions: Performer-system relationships and their perception by spectators. Organised Sound 16(2). A. Marquez-Borbon, A.C. Fyans, M. Gurevich, P. Stapleton, (2011). Designing Digital Musical Interactions in Experimental Contexts, Proceedings of the Conference on New Interfaces for Musical A.C. Fyans, M. Gurevich, (2011). Perceptions of Skill in Performances with Acoustic and Electronic Instruments, Proceedings of the Conference on New Interfaces for Musical A.C. Fyans, M. Gurevich, P. Stapleton, (2010). Examining the spectator experience, Proceedings of the Conference on New Interfaces for Musical A.C. Fyans, M. Gurevich, P. Stapleton, (2009). Where Did It All Go Wrong? A Model Of Error From The Spectator s Perspective, Proceedings of the Conference on New Interfaces for Musical A.C. Fyans, M. Gurevich, P. Stapleton, (2009). Spectator Understanding Of Error In Performance, Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. A.C.Fyans, G. McAllister, (2006). Creating Games With Feeling, Proceedings of the Conference on Computer Games, (Best Student Paper Award). Interactive Installations & Exhibits: Sound On A String (2012) - A.C.Fyans, P. Stapleton, A. Marquez-Borbon, J. Jaimovich. Interactive sound & multimedia installation, Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast. Sins & Virtues (2011) - A.C.Fyans. Video and Audio work, Sins & Virtues exhibition, Coop Galerie Berlin. Everything Has Changed (2007) - A.C.Fyans & D. McKenna. Interactive multimedia art installation, bespoke sensing system, electronics and composition, Sonic Arts Research Centre (2007) & Belfast Festival (2007). Invited Workshops & Lectures DIY Electronic Instruments, Circuit Bending & Hardware Hacking Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast, 2013 & 2014 Hacking Musical Interactions: Interaction Design for DIY Electronic Instruments Belfast, 2012. Irish Sound Science and Technology Association Conference, Limerick, 2011. NK, Berlin, 2011.
Awards Circuit Bending & Interaction Design NK, Berlin, 2011. Electronic Arts Research Society, Belfast, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Catalyst Arts, Belfast, 2010. University of Hermosillo, Mexico, 2008. Conservatorio de las Rosas, Mexico, 2008. Mexico City, Mexico, 2008. Interactive Hardware and Mobile OS Interaction XCake, Belfast, 2011. 24 Hour Universal Design Challenge: People s Choice Award (Dublin, 2010). International Conference on Computer Games: Best Student Paper (2006). Service Peer Reviewer: Computer Music Journal. Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME). Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Computing (TEI) Dare To Be Digital: Dare To be Digital Ireland judging panel 2007. Ballyholme Yacht Club Shore Committee & Race Committee member. Website / communications management.