Projects

Suite Talk

Challenge: AES MATLAB Hackathon 2025

In 28 hours, develop a VST in MATLAB that helps podcasters achieve a professional sound quality, while removing background noise. Combine Voice Activity Detection (VAD), A.I. and traditional DSP to provide a quality audio output with an easy-to-use interface.

Solution: Suite Talk – Gold Prize Winner

• A.I. Speech Enhancement – Remove non-speech noise using MetricGAN model
• VAD / Gate – Detect speech in a signal, and open a noise gate so extraneous noise is reduced
• Dynamic EQ and hum reducer – Reduce 60Hz hum and handle common speech EQ in the background

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Chorus Verb

Challenge: AES MATLAB Hackathon 2024

Complete a reverb plugin using provided helper filters (comb, all-pass, high shelving) and block diagrams. The first challenge was to finish the main processing block.

Solution: Chorus Verb – First Place Winner

• Chorus Effect – Adds modulation and depth to the reverb tail
• Haas Effect (Wideness) – Creates a wider stereo image
• Reflection Control – Increases signal of reflections/diffusions for better decay control

The final challenge was to measure the performance of the reverb plugin, including some preset designs.

After completing the challenge, the plugin was calibrated by measuring the RT60 of the impulse response and creating a lookup table for the decay time.

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V-Kn Comp

Challenge: AES MATLAB Hackathon 2023

Implement a dynamics compressor plugin.

Solution: V-Kn Comp – First Place Winner

• Variable knee compression – Smooth transition between uncompressed and compressed signals
• Input/Output gain staging – Precise level control
• Saturation module – Adds harmonic character
• Real-time metering – Visual feedback for gain reduction

SmartPick

SmartPick is a project aimed to increase musical expression for guitarists, built on the Teensy 4.0 development platform. Force sensor data was converted into MIDI control messages which communicate with a custom effects plugin. The effects plugin utilized a modulated biquad lowpass filter and an amplitude modulator that would react based on the force sensor's readings.

This project was developed by Ryan for his undergraduate capstone project, as well as a full design document detailing each step in the process.

GuitarBot Jams

GuitarBot is a robotic guitarist at Georgia Tech's Robotic Musicianship laboratory. Upon joining the lab, Ryan Baker was instantly drawn to the project.

However, there was no way to interactively play along with GuitarBot yet. Baker developed a backend that allowed a user to play audio into a DAW, which is then automatically transcribed into chord information for GuitarBot to improvise over. This is part of ongoing research at Georgia Tech.