Ryland Chambers-Moranz in studio (University of Lethbridge photo)

By Justin Goulet

U of L student and musician receives two prestigious research grants

Jul 9, 2019 | 9:59 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A University of Lethbridge student has been awarded two research grants.

Ryland Chambers-Moranz is a Digital Audio Arts (DAA) student and researcher who also takes the stage as a musician. He’s received both the 2019 Joyce & Ron Sakomoto Research Prize in DAA and the Office of Research and Innovation Services’ Chinook Summer Research Award.

Chambers-Moranz has been studying and working alongside Dr. Amandine Pras, analyzing the differences of analog versus digital technologies in the music recording studio.

Chambers-Moranz with Dr. Amandine Pras (University of Lethbridge photo)

“The focus of this research will be to expand an experiment on the topic of mixing practices and perception,” Chambers-Moranz said, in a release from the U of L.

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“In particular, whether or not there is evidence of any perceptual differences between analog and digital summing of the same mix, and if so, what are they, and is there a correlation between preference and genre?”

Chambers-Moranz said if a correlation is found between musical style and production method, it will give producers and audio engineers the opportunity to choose the best mixing format for their projects.

The grant funding will help move research beyond the U of L. The initial study was done in the school’s Studio 1 using the SSL Duality to create mixes, and the student body offered trained listening participants.

Chambers-Moranz added that the funding will allow them to access vintage analog equipment from the Banff Centre and National Music Centre in Calgary.

“I’ll also be able to reach a larger demographic of mixing engineers worldwide through my own contacts and through those of my colleagues,” he said.

Chambers-Moranz is a solo musician, as well as a supporting guitar and banjo player for Leeroy Stagger and the former frontman for the band Sophomore Jakes.

As of this writing, he is on the road supporting Stagger across British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Chinook Summer Research Award will support work until the end of August. The Joyce & Ron Sakomoto grant will continue the project until its completion in April 2020.