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Dr. Floyd Toole on the state of the art of sound reproduction and auditory perception

The Departments of Recording Industry, Physics and the School of Music at Middle Tennessee State University are pleased to announce a public lecture by Dr. Floyd Toole on the state of the art of sound reproduction and auditory perception. The presentation will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, in the State Farm Room (Business and Aerospace Building Room S102). Dr. Floyd Toole is a scientist recognized worldwide for his expertise in acoustical engineering. His research has focused on the acoustics and psychoacoustics of sound reproduction in small rooms, and his work has led to improvements in loudspeaker design, engineering measurements, and techniques for reducing variability in acoustic performance within sound-studio control rooms, living spaces and home theatres. Dr. Toole’s lecture will be an engaging and accessible overview of issues that affect music fans, record producers, mixing engineers, equipment designers, film buffs and audiophiles alike. This is a must-hear (and must-see) event for anyone who wants to ensure that recorded sound is heard as intended by its creators.

Summary

What: Guest lecture by on “Sound Reproduction, Perception and Acoustical Engineering"
Who: Dr. Floyd Toole (bio below)
When: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Where: State Farm Room (Business and Aerospace Building Room S102)
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Audience: Open to all students, faculty, guests and the public
Admission: Free
Sponsors: Presented with support from the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund, the MTSU Student Section of the Audio Engineering Society, the College of Mass Communication, the Department of Recording Industry, the Department of Physics and the MTSU School of Music. Contact for further information: Michael Fleming, Associate Professor, Department of Recording Industry. 615-898-2029 or mfleming@mtsu.edu

Detailed biography: Dr. Floyd Toole is a scientist recognized worldwide for his expertise in acoustical engineering. He conducted research for over 25 years at the National Research Council of Canada before becoming vice president of acoustical engineering and director of research and development at Harman International Industries, the corporate parent of loudspeaker companies JBL and Infinity.

Dr. Toole’s research has focused on the acoustics and psychoacoustics of sound reproduction in small rooms, and his work has led to improved engineering measurements, objectives for loudspeaker design, and techniques for reducing variability in acoustic performance within studio control rooms, living spaces and home theatres.

Since his retirement from Harman, Dr. Toole has remained active as an advocate for scientifically-based best practices in audio engineering and for high quality sound reproduction in professional and consumer environments. He is a frequent lecturer at professional events and a guest-instructor at industry workshops and universities. Dr. Toole has received two publication awards, a Fellowship and the Silver Medal from the Audio Engineering Society. He is also a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America.

Lecture Overview: Reproduced sound in nearly universal in modern residential, commercial and entertainment settings. Despite its relative sophistication, however, there are tremendous variables in the production processes and electronic components that link the creators of audio programs to their audiences. Human perception of sound is subjective, complex, multidimensional, adaptable and sometimes even capricious. Meanwhile, audio technology has reached a very high level of reliability and consistency in performance, but technical metrics are fundamentally different from the emotional and personal criteria used to describe musical and sonic content. For most of his career, Dr. Toole has studied the interface between these disciplines by identifying perceptual dimensions that influence listener responses, researching the underlying psychoacoustics, measuring and specifying loudspeaker characteristics, and promoting high-quality standards so that sound—and especially musical art—can be heard as it was intended.

Music, Sound and Engineering at MTSU: At MTSU each semester, hundreds of Recording Industry majors are engaged in classes and studio activities that emphasize subjective responses to recorded and reproduced sound. Meanwhile, dozens of engineering students study the science of sound and electro-acoustics through classes offered by the physics department, and hundreds of applied music students attune their ears to the nuances of natural sound and acoustics through rehearsal and live performance. This lecture is intended to inspire greater awareness of the interdisciplinary natures of audio production, music, physics and human perception.