Dr Chris Payne

Lecturer

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

I have always been interested in games, programming and music. Prior to academia, in the early 2000's, I spent six years working as a full-time dance music producer and DJ in the Hard House scene. Regarding academia specifically, I have worked for 15 years in the further education and higher education sectors, mostly as a music technology lecturer and more recently as a games design lecturer. Within this time, I have had experience of teaching, course leading and writing both music and games programmes.

My PhD has given me the opportunity to explore my love for gaming, music and programming by creating a visual programming system – Music and Maths in Collaboration (MAMIC). MAMIC is a thematic-based interdisciplinary curricular connection visual programming system designed for in-the-wild use in primary schools. MAMIC aims to unite music, maths and computing at key stage 1 through the use of music, visual programming and simple gamification strategies.

Academic qualifications

  • PhD, ‘Towards the Convergence of Music, Mathematics and Computing in the Primary School Through the Use of a Visual Programming System Designed for In-the-wild Delivery’, University of Wolverhampton.
  • MSc in Music Technology, Staffordshire University.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Staffordshire University.
  • BA (Hons) Popular Music, University of Wolverhampton.

Expertise

  • 2D and 3D game design in Unreal Engine
  • Game sound (Unreal Engine MetaSounds)
  • Audio production (especially dance music production) Logic Pro X / Pro Tools / Reason / Pure Data
  • Visual programming design for interdisciplinary curricula
  • Music and algorithmic composition (especially 20th century composition techniques)

Research interests

  • Serious games and pedagogy
  • Game sound in game development
  • Gamification
  • Visual programming design for interdisciplinary curricula
  • Music and algorithmic composition

Publications

Academic publications

Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2019) MAMIC goes Live: A Music Programming System for Non-Specialist Delivery. in Hepworth-Sawyer, R., Hodgson, J., Paterson, J., and Toulson, R. (eds.) Innovation In Music: performance, production, technology and business. 1st ed. Abingdon: Taylor & Francis.

Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2017). MAMIC goes LIVE: A Portable Music Visual Programming System for the Non-Expert practitioner. Accepted for the 2017 INMUSIC 17: Innovation in Music Conference 2017 at the University of Westminster, London, UK, 7th September 2017.

Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2017). The 12 Bar Blues Array: How to Get Guitarists Playing Solos and Code. Accepted for the 2017 INMUSIC 17: Innovation in Music Conference 2017 at the University of Westminster, London, UK, 7th September 2017.

Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2016). MAMIC: a visual programming library for amalgamating Mathematics and Coding through Music. Accepted for the 2016 conference on The Group for Learning in Art and Design (GLAD) Birmingham. Birmingham, UK, 26th February 2016.

Dalgleish, M., Payne, C. and Spencer, S. (2015). Adding Value: Combining ambient visual and vibrotactile feedback to encourage good posture in trumpet players. Accepted for the 2015 conference on Electronic Visualisation in the Arts (EVA) London. London, UK, 7-9 July 2015.

Dalgleish, M., Payne, C. and Burn, R. (2015). Uchronie: revisiting analogue computing to expand the language of A/V synthesis. Accepted for the 2015 conference on Electronic Visualisation in the Arts (EVA) London. London, UK, 7-9 July 2015.

Dalgleish, M., Payne, C. and Spencer, S. (2015). Postrum II: a posture aid for trumpet players. Accepted for the Linux Audio Conference 2015 (LAC) University of Mainz. Mainz, Germany, 8-12 April 2015.

Paper presentations

United Kingdom - Paper presented: Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2017). MAMIC goes LIVE: A Portable Music Visual Programming System for the Non-Expert practitioner. Accepted for the 2017 INMUSIC 17: Innovation in Music Conference 2017 at the University of Westminster, London, UK, 7th September 2017.

United Kingdom - Paper presented: Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2017). The 12 Bar Blues Array: How to Get Guitarists Playing Solos and Code. Accepted for the 2017 INMUSIC 17: Innovation in Music Conference 2017 at the University of Westminster, London, UK, 7th September 2017.

United Kingdom - Paper presented: Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2016). MAMIC: a visual programming library for amalgamating Mathematics and Coding through Music - current progress. Accepted for the 2016 Performing Arts Research Symposium at the University of Wolverhampton Walsall. Birmingham, UK, 14th September 2016.

United Kingdom - Paper presented: Payne, C. and Dalgleish, M. (2016). MAMIC: a visual programming library for amalgamating Mathematics and Coding through Music. Accepted for the 2016 conference on The Group for Learning in Art and Design (GLAD) Birmingham. Birmingham, UK, 26th February 2016.

United Kingdom - Paper presented: Dalgleish, M., Payne, C. and Spencer, S. (2015). Adding Value: Combining ambient visual and vibrotactile feedback to encourage good posture in trumpet players. Accepted for the 2015 conference on Electronic Visualisation in the Arts (EVA) London. London, UK, 7-9 July 2015.

Germany - Paper presented: Dalgleish, M., Payne, C. and Spencer, S. (2015). Postrum II: a posture aid for trumpet players. Accepted for the Linux Audio Conference 2015 (LAC) University of Mainz. Mainz, Germany, 8-12 April 2015.

Music Recording Publications Original Works

Payne, C. (2010) Beatz from Hell Manchester: Toolbox Recordings Toolbox Music Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing

Payne, C. (2006) W is for Wrong London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Jukes, A. and Montgomery, J. (2006) Acid Muzik London: Deprivation Recordings Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Lewis, S. and Neale, S. (2005) Sonic Chaos. London: Passion Records Presents… Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2005) Trippin’ London: EnergyUK Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Moore, A. (2005) Rugged. London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2004) Generation London: EnergyUK Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Fitzpatrick, A. and Robertson, D. (2004) Bass Heavy London: Deprivation Recordings Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Lewis, S. (2004) Weapons of Mass Distraction / Kellogs. London: Bulletproof Recordings Alpha Magic Distribution and Here, There and Everywhere Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2004) Funky 4 U London: Brain Damage Recordings Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2004) Paranoid Manchester: Toolbox Recordings Unique Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) Virtual Reality / Feel it London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Lamouri, K. (2003) You Have Control / Passion5 London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Bishop, A. (2003) Afraid of Us and Just Like Dynamite. London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by Telstar Records under PED Publishing.

Payne, C. and Rafferty, N. (2003) 24/7. London: NR Recordings Alpha Magic Distribution and Here, There and Everywhere Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2002) Wallop! London: Passion Records Infectious Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2002) Oh Yeah London: Passion Records Infectious Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2002) Sweet Sensation London: Passion Records Infectious Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2001) Mad as Hell / Tune your Bass to Up London: Passion Records Infectious Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Hewitt, M. (2001) The Mark Eden and Casper EP. London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2001) Let the Bass Kick. London: Bomb Proof Records Infectious Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Music Recording Publications Remix Works

Payne, C. and Lewis, S. (2004) Casper & Testube Babies Bass Heavy (Antimatter Remix). London: Deprivation Recordings Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. and Lewis, S. (2004) NooNoo Submission (Antimatter Remix). London: Titanium Trax UK Alpha Magic Distribution and Here, There and Everywhere Music Publishing

Payne, C. (2003) Valex But It Was (Casper remix) London: Nitrox Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) Daley No Laying Around (Casper remix) London: Flashpoint Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) Colin Barrett Magnifique (Casper Remix) London: Short Circuit Recordings Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) UHT Battle Anybody (Casper Remix) London: Thumping Hard Records Alpha Magic Distribution and Here, There and Everywhere Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) EnergyUK DJs, Guy McAffer, and Mark Tyler Eardrums (Casper Remix) London: EnergyUK Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) Nick Rafferty & Cyber Steve Sequenza (Casper Remix). London: NR Recordings Alpha Magic Distribution and Here, There and Everywhere Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) Active Force Ultima (Casper Remix). London: Bulletproof Ltd Recordings Alpha Magic Distribution and Here, There and Everywhere Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) Daley Deformed (Casper remix) London: Flashpoint Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing.

Payne, C. (2003) Nick Rafferty White & Jeffries Everybody (Casper Remix). London: NR Recordings Alpha Magic Distribution and Here, There and Everywhere Music Publishing.

Music Recording Publications Compilation Works

Payne, C. and Lamouri, K. (2007) You Have Control. London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by London: Do Not Bend Recordings for Unreleased Projects Vol.2.

Payne, C. (2006) Daley Deformed (Casper remix) London: Flashpoint Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by London: Flashpoint Records for Industrial Strength Volume.1.

Payne, C. and Johnson, M. (2006) Daley No Laying Around (Marc Johnson & Casper remix) London: Flashpoint Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by London: Flashpoint Records for Industrial Strength Volume.1.

Payne, C. (2004) Paranoid Manchester: Toolbox Recordings Unique Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by Manchester: Toolbox Recordings for What’s your Pleasure? (Vol 01). Payne, C. (2006) Paranoid Manchester: Toolbox Recordings Unique Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by Manchester: Toolbox Recordings for Toolbox – Volume One.

Payne, C. (2004) Generation London: EnergyUK Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally licensed by Newcastle upon Tyne: GGR (Goodgreef Recordings) for Goodgreef Album – Vol2:. Payne, C. (2004) Paranoid Manchester: Toolbox Recordings Unique Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by London: Sky Hi Records for Fist Resurrection Compilation Album.

Payne, C. (2003) Mad as Hell / Tune your Bass to Up London: Passion Records Infectious Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally licensed by St-Petersburg (Russia): Jutonish Records for Sonic Mine – Vol2: Go Jutonish, Go!!!.

Payne, C. and Bishop, A. (2003) Afraid of Us and Just Like Dynamite. London: Passion Records Tuned Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by Telstar Records under PED Publishing for Lisa Lashes Extreme Euphoria (Blue).

Payne, C. and Hewitt, M. and Lamouri, K. (2003) The Sound of the Underground Hard House Casper Productions – Various mxied by DJ Alan Huang London: Passion Records Infectious Distribution and Hatfish Music Publishing. Additionally, licensed by Taipei Underground Records (Taiwan) under Hatfish Music Publishing for The Sound of the Underground Hard House Casper Productions – Various mxied by DJ Alan Huang.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021