Journal of Voice
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 12-20, March 2003

The Effect of Noise on Computer-Aided Measures of Voice: A Comparison of CSpeechSP and the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program Software Using the CSL 4300B Module and Multi-Speech for Windows☆

  • Cecyle Perry Carson

      Affiliations

    • University of Wyoming, Division of Communicative Disorders, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to Cecyle Perry Carson, Associate Professor, University of Wyoming, Division of Communicative Disorders, P.O. Box 3311, Laramie, WY 82071-3311, USA
    • ,
  • Dennis R.-S Ingrisano

      Affiliations

    • Speech Science Laboratory, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, USA
    • ,
  • K.Donald Eggleston

      Affiliations

    • University of Wyoming, Division of Communicative Disorders, Laramie, Wyoming, USA

Accepted 13 May 2002.

Abstract 

Summary: The effect of noise on computer-derived samples of voice was compared across three different hardware/software configurations. The hardware/software systems included a stand-alone A/D converter (CSL Module 4300B) coupled to a custom Pentium PC used in conjunction with the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) software, and a Creative Labs A/D converter coupled to the same custom PC under software control of MDVP/Multispeech and CSpeechSP. Voice samples were taken from 10 female subjects, then mixed with computer fan noise creating three different signal-to-noise (S/N) levels. Mixed signals were analyzed on the three hardware/software systems. Results revealed that fundamental frequency was most resistant to the degradation effect of noise across systems; jitter and shimmer values, however, were more variable across all configurations. Jitter and shimmer values were significantly higher under certain S/N levels for the MDVP 4300B based system as compared to MDVP for Multi-Speech and CSpeechSP. The findings punctuate the need for sensitivity to recording environments, careful selection of hardware/software equipment arrays, and the establishment of minimal recording conditions (>25dBA S/N) for voice sampling and analysis using computer-assisted methods.

Keywords:  Perturbation , Noise effects , Voice analysis , Hardware/software configurations

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

☆ Presented in part at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Washington, DC, 2000.

PII: S0892-1997(03)00031-6

doi:10.1016/S0892-1997(03)00031-6

Journal of Voice
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 12-20, March 2003

Article Tools