Black-and-white portrait of a bald man wearing rectangular dark sunglasses and a white sports T-shirt with 'ALIEN INSTRUMENTS' and an alien-head logo on it. He has a slight smile and a visible tattoo on his neck. The background is a soft, out-of-focus studio gradient.

Samuel John Prouse

Owner

Alien Instruments

About Me

I'm a music technologist with a lifelong passion for sound and synthesizers, shaped by the energy of the 1980s. After years of DJing, building rigs, and performing, I made the leap into formal study in 2008. Around the same time, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and registered visually impaired, which brought unexpected challenges but also shaped my focus on accessibility in music technology.

Through my academic journey—earning a BA Hons and MSc—I explored the intersection of sound, design, and inclusion. I've developed skills in C++ and interface design, particularly around visual accessibility, and continue to contribute ideas through the Music Accessibility Standard group. My aim is to help shape a more inclusive future for music-making tools and technologies.

Sessions

  • Workshop 5: Interactive Panel: Accessibility in Audio Tech
    13:30 - 17:00 UTC | Monday 10th November 2025 | Bristol 3
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced

    As audio production techniques and technologies evolve, so too must the ways we think about accessibility. To improve inclusion in music-making, it is essential that access is evaluated throughout the design of audio technology, not as an add-on or afterthought. Building on ADC24’s ‘Inclusive Design in Audio Products: Why, Why, How?’ workshop, this symposium comprises a series of sessions that will unpick the systematic barriers to accessibility within audio, and highlight solutions that you can embed into your projects.  Throughout the afternoon, disabled musicians, accessibility consultants, and representatives from organisations driving change will share insights into the opportunities for a […]

  • Building Inclusive Audio Tools: Accessibility with ARIA, WCAG, and Real-World Projects
    09:00 - 09:50 UTC | Wednesday 12th November 2025 | Bristol 3
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced

    In this talk, I will demonstrate how accessibility is not a feature, but a foundation—especially in audio software. Using a mature front-end toolkit and WAI-ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes, I’ll show how developers can build interfaces that are both powerful and inclusive, without compromising on complexity or creativity. Drawing from a range of audio projects I’ve built—synthesizers, sequencers, and sound design tools—I’ll walk through how ARIA roles, properties, and states can be applied effectively. I’ll share practical examples of making sliders, dropdowns, mod matrices, and other complex UI components screen reader–friendly. The aim is to demystify accessibility and prove […]