iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Hats off to all who helped with our online experiment re: sound/scent associations. I presented the findings (along with our lab experiment) at the Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium. Check out my post here: www.linkedin.com/posts/stevek... #SonicStrategy #Pangborn2025 #MusicScience #crossmodalism

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Thanks to those who have responded to my request for help with our "sound/scent" research. Hoping to boost our sample size a bit more. Link to survey if you haven't responded: pandora.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... Feel free to share. NOTE: No responses from SiriusXM Media colleagues, please.

pandora.qualtrics.com

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Working some research into sound/scent associations and need your help with a quick survey, listening to two soundscapes and subjectively rating associations with various aromas. Here's the link - and thanks! pandora.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #MusicScience #Crossmodalism #BehavioralScience

pandora.qualtrics.com

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

One last push! Thanks to everyone who's responded! If you haven't, please take about 10 minutes to answer some survey questions as we explore sonic interventions that could make our workplaces more healthy and humane. hks.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #MusicScience #Neurodiversity

hks.qualtrics.com

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

I need your help! We're exploring the impact of sound in the workplace on focus, creativity, & group work. If you could answer some survey questions, I'd appreciate it! Access via this link. Takes about 10 minutes - please share: hks.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #MusicScience #Neurodiversity

hks.qualtrics.com

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Won’t be long now… Join GM’s Jay Kapadia and me today at 4PM(CDT) for our #SXSW2025 fireside chat, diving deep into the power of sound and its implications for sound design for EVs. You’ll find session details here: schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/... #SonicStrategy #SXSW #EV

schedule.sxsw.com

Soundscapes of the Future: Safety and Harmony in EV Sounds

SXSW 2025 Schedule | For a century, much of vehicle engineering was about masking sounds. In the EV revolution and its absence of internal combustion engines, vehicle engineers are challenged with bri...

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

When it comes to the emotional connection between humans & automobiles, sound has always been in the driver’s seat. EVs represent an opportunity to take that connection further. Jay Kapadia & I will dive deep into the world of EV sound at @sxsw.com. Join us! schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/...

schedule.sxsw.com

Soundscapes of the Future: Safety and Harmony in EV Sounds

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Tragic for so many reasons. Thank you for taking a stand.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Kicking off #CES2025 in Vegas! We've got a busy week, exploring #TheFutureOfAudio with Studio Resonate's "Super Sonic Sound Summit," a Sonic Sommelier wine/sound pairing, a floor tour with friends from Razorfish, and participating in an "AI House" panel. Catch me if you can 😏 #SonicStrategy

A photo of Steve Keller's CES Exhibitor badge, on tope of a pillow that has been embroidered with "SiriusXM Media"

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

A number of things happen in loud restaurants. The Lombard effect kicks in (amplifying the noise even more), alcohol consumption increases (triggering the "cocktail effect" that dulls lower frequency hearing), food is perceived as less flavorful, & at these dB levels, temporary hearing loss.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Happy New Year! Welcomed 2025 at a wonderful dinner with friends at one of our new favorite NYC restaurants. The food is consistently great & the venue small & cozy - which was a problem last night: They hired a DJ & by 10:30PM, the volume at our table averaged 96dB & 114dB closer the speaker.

Decible meter showing the volume of noise at a restaurant - 96 dB

Decible meter showing the volume of noise at a restaurant - 114 dB

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

2025 is almost here! Rather than yet another "Audio Trends Report," I'm offering six suggestions I think will help brands & agencies unlock audio's potential & maximize ROAS in the year ahead. Link to the @adweek.bsky.social article here: www.adweek.com/partner-arti... #SonicStrategy #Marketing

adweek.com

6 Ways to Unlock Audio’s Potential in 2025

Audio’s future is full of possibility, but realizing its full potential requires a fundamental shift.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Sunday #vinyl Sessions: Holiday Edition This year's favorite spin is @actualbenfolds.bsky.social latest gem, "Sleigher," serving up a playful blend of wit, melancholy, longing, & hope (with a pinch of Guaraldi & a dash of Bacharach thrown in for good measure). Guaranteed to warm the heart.

Photograph of the front cover of Ben Folds' holiday album, "Sleigher."

Photograph of Ben Folds' record album, entitled "Sleigher," playing on a turntable.

Photograph of the back cover of Ben Folds' album, "Sleigher," with titles and credits.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I think it would be difficult to have an immersive sonic environment that wouldn't overwhelm/disturb other ears in the vicinity - particularly if game play was meant to amplify arousal/cortisol/adrenaline levels.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

There are some consumer facing models designed for home that I've tested & work surprisingly well - but to your point, that's user-side. From a design standpoint, one solution might be to create two user selected audio program options: one with basic functional sound only & one more immersive.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Hyper directional speakers might be an option if headphones can't be used

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Sunday #vinyl session: William Shatner’s “Has Been” is brilliant. Really. It sucks you in with its writing, its wit, its swagger, & its moments of beautifully brutal vulnerability. Produced by @actualbenfolds.bsky.social & supported by a wonderful cast of contributing characters.

Photograph of the front cover of William Shatner’s “Has Been” record album

Photograph of a vinyl copy of William Shatner’s “Has Been” record, playing on a turntable

Photograph of the back cover of William Shatner’s “Has Been” record album

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

It’s an attempt to compete with the novelty of NotebookLM’s “podcast” generator. ElevenLabs has some of the best AI-generated voices in the business in my opinion, but from the demos I’ve heard of this podcast generator, they have a way to go before beating NotebookLM.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

When it comes to brand design, you shouldn't ignore the #crossmodal relationships between sound and our other senses. Check out this issue of Transform Magazine for more on the topic (with a few bits and bobs from moi) transformmagazine.net/articles/202... #SonicStrategy #Multisensory

transformmagazine.net

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Hey, @actualbenfolds.bsky.social! Glad to see you here! We need to get Joe Costa to make the jump! 😏 There are a ton of #MusicScience peeps here, too. You'd dig that community - along with the #MusicTherapy practioners and advocates. Welcome to the neighborhood!

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

In that case, try Freemans (www.freemansrestaurant.com) I saw someone mention Thai Diner - which is also a great option if you enjoy Thai.

freemansrestaurant.com

Freemans Restaurant

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Sunday #vinyl Sessions: Skinny Puppy: "Empire Central" The band's ode to Dallas is full of swampy, funky, improvisational goodness. With 12 musicians, 16 tracks, 3 discs & over 1.5 hours of live recorded music, it's a bit of a slog - but when they hit the mark, it's pure bliss.

Photograph of the album cover of "Empire Central" the jazz fusion album by Skinny Puppy. The cover features a line drawing of the Dallas, Texas skyline.

Photograph of a record album playing on a turntable.

Photograph of the back cover of the album, "Empire City" by Skinny Puppy.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

More of a #MusicScience "pracademic" than an academic, but would be happy to be included if you'll have me.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

3) The other two papers were co-authored with my friend and compatriot in #crossmodal arms, @ox.ac.uk's Charles Spence. You'll find them here (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...) and (marketing.expertjournals.com/ark:/16759/E...) #SonicBranding #SonicStrategy

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

2) One of those papers was the one on source effects that I mentioned in an earlier post, cp-authored with @manuelangladatort.bsky.social.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

1) I've spent a great deal of my career focused on how sound can shape brand perception & consumer behavior. Happy to have three publications cited into this new ARF white paper on #sonicbranding : thearf-org-unified-admin.s3.amazonaws.com/ARF%20Counci... #SonicStrategy #Branding #Advertising

thearf-org-unified-admin.s3.amazonaws.com

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Thank you, @kellyjakubowski.bsky.social! Amplitude modulation as a variable seems aligned with other research I've found. Might explain the popularity of "8D" mixes (a modulation technique where stems are panned intermittently creating constant movement within the track).

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Thanks, @ksenamooremtbc.bsky.social! That was one I didn't have in the "library" - so a good addition. Finding research more focused on ADHD/ADD has been challenging.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Sunday #vinyl sessions: “Sable” - original soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast. Languid, evocative soundscapes befitting of the video game, “Sable,” with a few lovely pop tunes sprinkled in for good measure, all pressed up on two clear vinyl discs (one blue and one gold). Beautiful.

Photo of the back cover of the album cover for the soundtrack to "Sable" by Japanese Breakfast, featuring artwork from the Sable video game.

Photo of the front cover of the album cover for the soundtrack to "Sable" by Japanese Breakfast, featuring artwork from the Sable video game

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Currently exploring research at the intersection of auditory cognition & neurodiversity. Extra points if it leans more into ADHD/ADD than autism - and extra-extra points if it explores the use of music/sound to enhance task focus

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

One of the judges, Jozef Youssef, is a good friend of mine. He's an amazing chef in his own right, and I've been privileged to work with him on a number of projects. Here's an example: hakaimagazine.com/news/gastrop...

hakaimagazine.com

Gastrophysicists Are Using an Audiovisual Experience to Make Jellyfish More Appetizing | Hakai Magazine

Jellyfish are emerging as a sustainable seafood option, but can Westerners be convinced to indulge in this tasteless delicacy?

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

@amybelfi.bsky.social No surprises there. Interesting to note that in our studies, younger demographics were driving the negative sentiment (18-34)

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

We should catch up! We've looked at source effects for voices, and found that trust & positivity drops when listeners are primed that they're hearing an AI voice (even if the voice is human). That may change in time, but currently an anti-AI/pro-human bias definitely exists.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

I've always been interested in how #bias can influence #perception. A few years ago @manuelangladatort.bsky.social and I explored how source effects impact the evaluation of music for #advertising. Interesting results - with cost implications. research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/29... #MusicScience

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Thanks for the recommend, @jofletchersaxon.bsky.social! Not as familiar with Tarling's work but I'll dig into it a bit more.

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

If wishes were horse(power)s... I found my dream Maserati. Now I'm dreaming of the cash I need to buy it. What's the ROAS for selling a dream? 😏

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Thanks, @addiebabe.bsky.social! If you wouldn't mind reaching out to them (or connecting us if they're on bluesky or LinkedIn) that would be lovely. I have a few #AuralDiversity papers - but looking to find more. Here's a link to my LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/stevekell...

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The Audio Alchemist @audioalchemist.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I'm exploring the intersection of sound & #neurodiversity - surprised to find there's not as much academic research on the topic as I expected. Hit me with any relevant #MusicScience papers - particularly re: impact on flow, restoration, & focus. #MusicSkyence #Neurospicy #SonicInterventions

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