Bill Evans, PhD
Audio Scientist • Engineer • Producer
Educator • Musician • Developer
Evans MMU PhD thesis established the science of Performance Restoration. It was the first formal investigation of assessing and repairing musical performance errors on recordings. He demonstrated how to objectively determine if a mistake was made, precisely determine the intended performance, and synthesise the corresponding audio—increasing clarity, accordingly. His submission included a live commercial Blu-ray that he had restored. It is listed on Wikipedia as judged by critics to be amongst the best-sounding live albums ever made.
Evans is highly sought after as an audio engineer, as the sole practitioner as both Performance Restoration and PRISM. He has worked with dozens of iconic artists and producers. In 2025, he bested Peter Jackson's team (responsible the Beatles' Get Back) for work on an upcoming film by Academy Award winner Robert Zemekis. Bill's task was to authentically generate a musical icon's legendary performance that was never recorded, using PRISM, for a pivotal scene in the movie.
PRISM: Performance Restoration and Isolated Structural Modelling. Evans' research evolves the practice of music production with a powerful new methodology for editing music and mixing sound. It reimagines the process from the user’s perspective, and reinvents it from a technical one. Yet it retains compatibility with existing tools and workflows, and preserves granular control. PRISM transitions DAWs to VAWs: Virtual Audio Workstations.
Bill first lectured while still an undergraduate student as at Clark University. Bill has taught at colleges and universities such as Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Glasgow. His subjects include music production, arrangement, software development, and the business of music. Currently, Bill teaches remote master classes in North America, the UK and Europe. To book him, contact his management at Celtiphonix.
Triangulation, Steve Morse Band (2025). As Morse's longtime executive producer for guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Kansas, Dixie Dregs), Evans helmed the new album for the multi-GRAMMY nominee. He also created the artwork, based on Polish surrealist Zdzisław Beksiński. Featuring guests Eric Johnson and John Petrucci, Triangulation will be released on November 12 by Mascot Label Group and Warner Music Group Japan.
In 2010, Evans pursued his PhD at Glasgow University, developing the Virtual Audio Workstation. A bold reimagining of music production methodology, he proposed virtual interaction with high-level parameters that were not constrained by the real world, powered by artificial intelligence. Evans created the software to realise this vision, incorporating the complete functionality of a Digital Audio Workstation. He also designed and built the hardware, creating a stand-alone hardware device with unencumbered visuals and haptics.
Evans' gave the Keynote Presentation (Nov, 2025) at the UK Microconference held by the Society for Music Production Research. Founded by lecturer, author and scientist Tim Canfer, the conference was a unique fusion at the intersection of formal pedagogy and commercial music. In addition to his two PhD theses, he has published papers on topics ranging from user interfaces for microtonal performance, to his Apple-sponsored innovations in virtual, online music collaboration.
Bill worked informally with SpectraLayers creator Robin Lobel, before teaming up with as co-designer of SpectraLayers 6, a reimagining of the TEC-nominated, advanced AI audio software. Bill proposed a move to primarily an ARA plugin, to integrate tightly with the DAW as a native editor. He additionally proposed an evolution to the interface, and collaborated with Lobel on innovative new features.
Evans arranging a worldwide distribution deal with Steinberg, and created the launch's marketing materials, including the website. In following versions, visionary Lobel continued his long history of innovation, racking up additional TEC Award nominations. It is now included with every copy of both Cubase Pro and Pro Tools.
More recently (2023), Evans worked with industry visionary Frank Simmerlein, engineer Michael Spork, and Steinberg co-founders Karl Steinberg and Manfred Rürup, on Steinberg's new live companion to Cubase, VST Live.
In 2008, Evans began assembling Flying Colors, his vision for a progressive pop supergroup. He recruited keyboardist Neal Morse, guitarist Steve Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Dave LaRue, and producer Peter Collins. Portnoy brought in Hollywood Records' Casey McPherson as the lead vocalist. As executive producer, manager and audio engineer, Bill worked with the musical luminaries to release the band's critically-acclaimed studio albums and concert films, including the #1-charting Live in Europe.