About

Will Howie is a music producer, recording engineer, and innovator in production, research and composition techniques for 3D audio. His professional audio experience covers myriad genres, including classical, jazz, fusion, acoustic/electroacoustic, avant-guard, rock and funk, as well as countless live and in-studio broadcasts for CBC/Radio-Canada. Will holds a PhD in Sound Recording from McGill University, and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Tokyo University of the Arts. He has had the pleasure to have worked with such artists as the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, James Ehnes, Steven Page, Toshiyuki Honda, Tafelmusik, Angela Hewitt, Chucho Valdés, Angélique Kidjo, Tanya Tagaq, and Jane Coop.

Media

Selected Recording Projects

<a href="https://cathleengrado.bandcamp.com/album/suite-no-4-in-e-flat-major-bwv-1010">Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010 by Bach, Christopher Costanza, cello</a>
Credit: Recording Engineer

<a href="https://brasstronaut.bandcamp.com/album/mount-chimaera">Mount Chimaera by Brasstronaut</a>
Credit: Producer, Recording, Mixing

Credit: Producer, Recording, Mixing, Mastering

Credit: Producer, Recording, Mixing

<a href="https://redshiftmusicsociety.bandcamp.com/album/new-wave">New Wave by Standing Wave</a>
Credit: Producer, Recording, Mixing, Mastering

<a href="https://anthonytan.bandcamp.com/album/susurrus"></a>
Credit: Recording, Mastering

Research

Will’s current research interests are focused on developing immersive composition, signal processing, and live mixing techniques for acoustic and electroacoustic music, as well as acoustic ecology of threatened ecosystems. From 2021-2023, he was a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science postdoctoral research fellow within Tokyo University of the Arts’ department of Musical Creativity and the Environment . He frequently collaborates with members of McGill University’s Immersive Media Lab , The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology , and the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology on areas of research such as recording and mixing techniques for immersive audio, perception of 3D sound environments, and training and selection of listening test subjects.

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RyzAJCIAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Will-Howie-2

IMMERSIVE AUDIO

Will has been working with spatial audio in the studio, live, and R&D for 20 years. He is well-versed in established industry formats such as 5.1 Surround, Dolby Atmos, NHK 22.2, and various binaural renderers, as well as many different experimental systems. Since 2014, he has worked tirelessly to develop new recording, mixing, and signal processing techniques for immersive audio, gaining a deep understanding of what is necessary to create compelling and enveloping end-to-end 3D music productions.

Along with Sam Davidson and Yujin Honda, Will recently released Unrealistic Spaces, an album and concert of 3D electroacoustic music, composed, recorded, and mixed specifically for 7.1.4 audio reproduction. ADM BWF Atmos Masters and detailed technical explanations can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19542627