INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION TO PURSUE RESEARCH 

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Growing up in a small town in Assam, nestled in the heart of India's politically charged and socially isolated Northeast region, I found myself, a small-town dreamer, harboring aspirations of forging a career in music—a pursuit both non-traditional and lacking the promise of a fixed income. While my peers in the music sphere opted for more conventional paths, I grappled with the challenge of charting a course that would lead me out of Assam and into the realm of a music career. It became evident that the key to unlocking this dream was to obtain a degree in engineering—a field I was passionate about—and subsequently explore the synergy between music and technology to carve my niche as a music producer and audio engineer.

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Upon securing a prestigious position at IBM post-engineering, my unwavering determination led me to pursue a second bachelor's degree in music at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Despite being the recipient of the highest scholarship from India in 2014, covering 50% of my expenses, I strategically tailored my academic journey. Opting for a diploma program enabled me to graduate in three years, bypassing the financial burden tied to completing additional liberal arts credits already covered during my engineering studies. This decision was rooted in pragmatism, emphasizing efficiency rather than adversity.

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While navigating my own successful music career, my time at Berklee exposed me to a deluge of inquiries from aspiring musicians in developing countries like India and even from developed nations such as the US, and the UK. Many shared experiences akin to mine—a burning desire to pursue a musical career but grappling with the complexities of securing funds and finding their way to prestigious institutions like Berklee. This period of realization fueled my commitment to making a tangible impact on the lives of musicians facing similar challenges.

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Post-graduation, I decided to dedicate a few years to active teaching, performing, and immersing myself in the music industry and now I humbly feel I'm ready to venture into research on leveraging technology for remote music education. Teaching musicians across age groups and diverse backgrounds, from school programs to summer camps and marginalized societies like Compton, provided invaluable insights. Simultaneously, I undertook the ambitious task of bootstrapping an online music production school, delivering education in music theory, instrumental lessons, music production, mixing, and mastering to over 10,000 students through various modes, including one-on-one coaching, group sessions, and online courses on platforms like Udemy and Teachable. My co-founder and I developed innovative technological methods, employing our revolutionary mix bus magic technique and AI mastering to create a unique approach to teaching music production remotely—a technique that has proven to be immensely successful.

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As I stand at the threshold of my next chapter, the culmination of my experiences propel me toward a profound mission. It is my aspiration to empower a hundred thousand musicians globally, enabling them to produce, mix, and master music remotely from the comfort of their homes, leveraging advancements in technology. I realize that the only way to achieve this mission is by effectively employing modern technologies like AI, machine learning, and other cutting-edge tools to impart music production education to a large audience. Traditional methods, such as online courses, will not suffice in the future; there needs to be an integration of innovative approaches like mobile apps, VR, animation, 3-D modeling, and other emerging technologies. With a background in mechanical engineering and a specialization in chemical process engineering, coupled with a diploma in professional music with focus in electronic music production and design, I find myself among the fortunate few with experience in both fields, poised to develop ingenious solutions in the realm of music technology and music education. 

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INTERESTED RESEARCH TOPICS 

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Confluence of technology with creativity: Revolutionizing Music Production, Mixing and Mastering through Integrated WorkflowsTOP 

 

Summary:

This research will aim to revolutionize music production by investigating a universal system that allows music producers to seamlessly integrate production, mixing, and mastering processes concurrently. While initial experiments at our company Immersed Productions have commenced, deeper technological, physics and mathematical insights are required for the development of sophisticated software solutions in collaboration with industry leaders.

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Objectives and Expected Outcomes:

• Unified Workflow Development: Develop a streamlined approach for simultaneous production, mixing, and mastering, culminating in a unified music production workflow.

• Collaborative Software Integration: Form strategic partnerships with leading software and plug-in companies to create tools that seamlessly merge production processes, fostering an integrated environment.

• Efficiency Metrics: Establish quantifiable metrics to assess the efficiency gains achieved through the integrated workflow, emphasizing factors like time savings, resource optimization, and production quality enhancements.

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Challenges and Research Contributions:

• Complexity of Integration: Address challenges associated with merging diverse processes and explore methodologies to simplify complex integrations through advanced algorithms and AI.

• Real-time Processing: Investigate real-time processing challenges, focusing on minimizing latency and enhancing computational efficiency to ensure a seamless and responsive user experience.

• Industry Adoption: Explore strategies to overcome potential industry resistance or skepticism toward adopting integrated workflows, emphasizing the benefits demonstrated through research outcomes.

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Technological Solutions for Addressing Gender Disparity in Music Production and Audio Engineering and

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Summary:

Roughly 90% of students in music technology currently identify as white males, leading to a scenario where the creative sphere is predominantly influenced by male practitioners, instructors, and authors (Keeffe, 2017). This research study will focus on utilizing technology to investigate and address the gender disparity within the music technology sector, specifically in audio engineering. Despite the presence of skilled female professionals, their representation is disproportionately low. The study will explore the root causes of this gender gap and delve into how technology can be harnessed to empower and enhance the learning experiences of female producers and audio engineers. The research will intricately examine workplace integration, team dynamics in mixed-gender versus same-gender teams, and overall performance assessments. We will conduct in-depth key informant interviews of 40-50 female audio engineers or music producers to understand the workplace challenges faced by them and work environments desired by them. This research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Deepshikha Batheja, my wife, a Research Fellow at One Health Trust, with a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, whose research is based on the impact of gender on economic and social outcomes. She will bring an economics lens to the interdisciplinary approach, aiming to bridge the gender gap in music production through technological advancements. 

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Challenges and Technological Focus:

Understanding the nuanced reasons behind gender disparity in audio engineering will require a multidimensional technological approach, involving innovative software engineering solutions. Developing effective technological solutions catering to the specific needs of female producers encountering challenges related to accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural considerations. The research will navigate these complexities to propose meaningful and sustainable changes, emphasizing the role of technology as a catalyst for gender inclusivity in music production. 

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AI-Powered Ed-Tech Platform: Orchestrating the Future of Music Production Learning

 

Summary:

The research will focus on exploring the creation of a technological platform for music production, akin to Google but specifically tailored for music producers. Anticipating the evolution of learning methods, I aim to investigate the integration of AI models within music software to facilitate an autonomous learning experience for users. Drawing inspiration from technologies like ChatGPT and BARD, which enable user interaction for information retrieval, the study will establish a similar framework for music production learning, minimizing reliance on traditional online courses or one-on-one mentorship.

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Challenges:

• User Interface Navigation: The study will address the complexities of designing an intuitive interface that allows seamless interaction between users and AI assistants, ensuring a user-friendly learning experience.

• Machine Learning Integration: I will explore methods to effectively integrate machine learning algorithms within music production software, enabling personalized and adaptive learning experiences.

• Automation of Mixing and Mastering: The research will investigate the feasibility of automating the mixing and mastering processes through AI, considering factors like real-time adjustments and user preferences.

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Outcomes and Expected Contributions:

• AI-Driven Learning Platform: The study will result in the development of a robust AI-driven platform that guides users through music software interfaces, offering step-by-step assistance in learning the intricacies of production, mixing, and mastering.

• Enhanced User Experience: I will measure and enhance the overall user experience by implementing AI algorithms that tailor learning paths according to individual user preferences and skill levels.

• Automation in Mixing: The research will contribute to the ongoing exploration of AI-driven mixing by proposing innovative solutions for automating aspects of the mixing process, potentially revolutionizing the music production landscape. The concept stems from the notion that just as mastering can be automated, the same holds true for the mixing process.

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Transforming Music Technology Learning: Innovations in Remote Skill Acquisition

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Summary:

This research will be geared towards reshaping music production education by exploring and developing an autonomous remote learning system. The study will focus on the areas of production, mixing, and mastering, aiming to provide an affordable and efficient alternative to conventional education. Building upon successful techniques utilized at Immersed Productions, such as workflow templates, AI mastering, and Mix Bus Magic techniques, the research will delve into advanced technologies to create a self-directed learning experience.

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Objectives and Expected Outcomes:

• Technological Integration: The study will explore and integrate cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automated systems, to design a comprehensive and efficient remote learning experience for music production.

• Cost-Effective Skill Mastery: Strategies will be developed to minimize financial barriers associated with music education, ensuring aspiring music producers can access high-quality learning without exorbitant expenses.

• Accelerated Skill Acquisition: Methodologies and metrics will be established to assess the efficiency of skill acquisition through the automated remote learning system, emphasizing accelerated learning and professional-quality outcomes.

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Challenges and Research Contributions:

• Technological Infrastructure: The study will address challenges related to the development and integration of sophisticated technologies, focusing on creating a user-friendly interface that enables seamless learning experiences. It may address how to use offline remote learning for slower internet networks, how to use VR/Metaverse for a simulated music production learning environment.

• Pedagogical Effectiveness: The research will evaluate and refine the pedagogical effectiveness of the automated system, ensuring that it caters to diverse learning styles and provides meaningful educational experiences.

• Accessibility and Inclusivity: Ways to enhance accessibility and inclusivity will be investigated, considering factors such as internet connectivity, hardware requirements, and cultural considerations, to ensure a globally accessible learning solution.

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