Abbey Road Studios RED Hackathon

November 10th & 11th 2018

Seriously, read that title again.

It’s frankly incredible; the hosting of an open entry tech competition was at the very least a visionary but also a necessary step. Credit is due to the instigators, organisers and supporters for enabling this ground breaking event.

As a pinnacle of the biggest industry; music (in which Britain excels among many other things) - Abbey Road is the iconic institution and could be said to be, in some ways, un-breachable.

An ivory tower of excellence and opportunity - It is, it was and always has been. Now however, like the Punk rebellion against the muso giants of the 60s and 70s, a new wave came crashing in.

Driven by digital currents and shared ambition of  the punks, geeks or nerds, call them what you may. They finally found a welcome in the last place expected, yet really the most suitable environment on Earth. The home of globally affecting innovation;

Studio 1. Abbey Road.

Frankly, I get chills writing it…How to set this scene - Genuinely I am trying hard to accurately scope this?

You have seen the iconic images of the studio and the very best talent at work within, from ambient to Orchestral.

Now imagine it cleared of musicians, instruments, baffle screens and the hardware of recording, ordering and trapping sound. Empty now, but re-filling with new instrumentalists, and close to 200 people. Everyone stunned to be accessing the Cathedral of sound, jaws agape and minds fizzing with anticipation.

And for what?

So the biggest and best technical companies could share their latest digital innovation and allow keen amateurs and some not so amateur to play, learn and discover.

To invent and to create.

Some 20 odd teams were made up from the initial entrants, some fully formed, and others ad hoc on the day. Projects ranged from conceptual storyboards to trick spatial music making. University research groups were in strong attendance, so too collectives and clubs. However crucially there were the dreamers, the odd individual and a few misfits. Funnily enough it all gelled, so did we.

There was technology that echoed Greek myths (CHIRP) or aped our favourite screens (Lyric speaker), codecs and APIs, SDK and gongs…the fertile mix is what is know known as an innovation park or sandbox perhaps, where anything can happen.  Crucially anything is allowed to happen.

Audio alchemy.

Turns out, as well as a recording environment, it is a place to invent and meet, network and greet. Propelled by tea and coffee urns encouraging a vibrant creative hum, the process got under way. Powerful tools in the fields of data collation, mining and analysis provided by generous sponsors started to be tapped and explored and new or developmental uses experimented with.

The generous stewardship of the huge companies involved enabled all there to do something novel and exciting. To really push the boundaries of what could be done, or sometimes should be done.

To allow dreamers to deliver.

Beside the participants there were a number of selected groups to support them, Hackoustic had digital hardware and technical toys to inspire and make real. 3Dprinters and solder stations, tools and fixings…like any hacking environment; industrial detritus is often all that is available to hack a project.

Just the thing then there was that huge Gong! Set up on its weighty tripod of telegraph poles. Clang!!!! Time for the next event, or more food and coffee, maybe a new phase of the competition. It really held sway.

Astonishingly, as a side project one had the option to record their voice and have it (via HAM electromagnetic carrier wave)  bounced off the moon’s surface. Mind bendingly cool and a brilliantly engaging project that tied together scientist and artist; “Moon bounce”, led by the mercurially curious Martine.

Roving around were numerous Mentors and Judges (I felt genuinely honoured to be a mentor and huge thanks to OLEX Communications for proposing me), all offering experience and advice in their respective fields throughout the competition period…did I mention it spanned the night?

Read that title again.

This was a 24 hr competition! Seriously, I spoke the following words to my 11 year old daughter:

“Sweetheart, Dad is having a sleep over at abbey road Studio 1”.

Then promptly had a Jaws style emotional contra zoom moment as that hit home. So incredible to think how open and accepting this all was.

At this point, inevitably, some key logistical planning came into play, the numerous bean bags suddenly made much more sense. Some worked through the night, some asleep across their laptops and tools. Not before we were treated to a number of presentations and the outrageously brilliant analogue Rave that is Graeme Dunning:

I have never before awoken on a beanbag, central to the main floor in a big recording studio with my feet tapping to some brilliant beats. All analogue in origin but still made on a turntable!

Just so much awesome, everywhere.

The evening gave way to the night, those hours, naturally when coders and creatives can’t stop or won’t and they dig deep into their reserves of emotional and spiritual strength to keep going, keep creating. A feeling I know very, very well.

To not give up. Never, ever give up.

Some worked right through, others napped and others…just got on with it. I found myself at an impromptu birthday party in the Green room on the mezzanine (Vahaken), I bet it had never seen anything like it! Choc cake and bubbles everywhere!

We crashed for a bit as others tapped, soldered and created on. A new dawn awoke, mostly the vista was of large nylon caterpillars, as participants wriggled awake from their sleeping bags literally on every horizontal floor surface.

Where now in this land of creation, this familiar country with no borders?

More work for the teams and discussion with, and among mentors and judges. Physical builds were coming into focus and projects being tested and re negotiated. Gradually people and tech pulled literally something from binary nothing and were ready to present.

There was a lot to see, some truly inspired, some great, some just batsh#t crazy (to be expanded).

All great in intent and effort and each worth the price of admission alone (!). I won’t cover each here as Dominika and her associated team have already started doing that, but please add names and projects in the comments and I will incorporate. (This is very much private and happy recollections).

The tech demos of each project commenced and mostly, seemed to be a search for the correct dongle side for the first minute or two (Oh dear #Apple…) but once connected, each showed us their ideas and hopes. We were fascinated and informed mostly, sometimes dumbfounded and occasionally hugely impressed. Never forget that this part happens after little sleep and extended concentration. Normal people would get a good rest prior to presenting a final piece…some don’t have the choice.

A break of a few hours allowed  judges to discuss who would win what; numerous generous awards were available and agreed and ultimately awarded. The effervescent Noelle from Microsoft was a great inspiration and show runner every time she popped up.  Her huge experience in these things shining through. Thank you Noelle.

The stage was framed by an incredible semi spherical projection tech tucked behind the screen, a stunning multi dimensional live action valkeryie formation flew around and across most of one end of the massive sound stage 1 (Stephen Byron)…

Fortunately RedBull had set up a mocktail bar a few hours earlier in the day and then a load of iced beer turned up…In Studio 1 > Rock and Roll.

Even then the awesomeness did not abate, the very friendly young dude I had been chatting to all day on and off regarding his retro 80s digi instrument he had stripped down and started to rebuild, it turns out was a Youtube superstar Barnaby Dixon, massively talented at puppet animation and editing for great effect and laughs. He did an impromptu show on stage and the big screen. It all just got crazy.

I loved it (my first freelance job was at CHF animated films so adore stop frame and puppets). We all did.

It was all so epic and inspiring. Richard Grant

{I know I missed loads so will edit and add to this document. Please do add your memories and comments below and I will update. Please add links too!}