Paul Ferguson

Paul Ferguson is Associate Professor of Audio Engineering in the Applied Music Research Centre within the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University.
Since 2012 his research has focused on the use of high-speed research and education networks to allow artists separated by long distances to perform together in real-time. This research brings together two separate strands from Paul’s industry background:
• 10 years as an electronics/embedded software R&D engineer in the defence industry leading a 12 person team specialising in deterministic network communications.
• 20 years as an audio engineer with a technical specialist role leading him to support studio and live projects by artists such as Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Marillion, Bad Company and Robert Plant.
Since joining Edinburgh Napier University in 2001 Paul has maintained his music industry links and provides project support and consultancy. He is currently under NDA with audio companies AVID, Audinate and Focusrite. He is an invited member of a Working Group on networked audio hosted by Abbey Road Studios to explore development and commercialisation of emerging technologies. Recent remote networked audio research and consultancy projects include the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Steve Craddock (Ocean Colour Scene) and Paul Weller.
In 2014 Paul’s research team was awarded a European Commission FP7 grant with partners in the Czech Republic and Italy entitled “eMusic - Using GÉANT dynamic circuits to support remote collaboration in musical education and eCulture”
In 2017 Paul’s team together with Industry partner Soluis was awarded an AHRC grant entitled “ENSEMBLE Performing Together Apart: Enhancing Immersive Multi-Location Co-Performance in Real Time”
Paul has presented in person, and virtually, at conferences in the UK, Europe and USA on the subject of networked real-time rehearsal, teaching and performance over distance.