White Mark?s David Bell honoured by LIPA

Renowned acoustician David Bell has been conferred the title of LIPA Companion.

As a founding director of UK studio design consultancy White Mark, Bell’s career began at EMI where he worked on the earliest digital audio projects, culminating in the release of EMI’s first digitally mastered records for the LSO and John Williams’ band Sky.

He has also worked for the BBC, helping specify and design the Corporation’s first digital production facilities, and Solid State Logic, where he worked on algorithm development and control surface programming language creation. During this time the team created the first continuously variable digital equalisers in the world.

Bell’s interest in acoustics and technical systems integration led to him joining Harris Grant Associates as technical director. He established White Mark in 1997 with partners Derek Buckingham and Alan Cundell.

Jon Thornton, who heads LIPA’s three year BA (Hons) Sound Technology course, said: “David has had a very long association with LIPA, starting even before the building was officially opened. Together with Derek Buckingham, he was part of the original team involved in the design and build of our six-studio recording complex whilst at Harris Grant Associates. Since he and Derek went on to form White Mark, David has maintained this link, giving generously of his time by visiting at least once a year to deliver guest lectures as part of the Studio Design module taken by final year students. It is this long-standing relationship and commitment to the student learning experience that we are acknowledging by making him a LIPA Companion.”

LIPA, which is located in Sir Paul McCartney’s old school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys, was founded by McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty and opened in 1995. Its Companionships are awarded in recognition of contributions to the world of arts and entertainment. All Companions are committed to sharing their expertise with LIPA students and most have provided masterclasses at the Institute.

Bell commented: “All of us at White Mark are committed to education. Discussing topics with students and answering their questions challenges us by making us think about what we do. Standing up in front of a group of students was initially terrifying but having done it a few times I see it as a privilege and am always delighted to be able to put something back into the industry by helping to educate the next generation.”