title: 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.
abstract: 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 (>25 dBA S/N) for voice sampling and analysis using computer-assisted methods.
authors.affiliation: University of Wyoming, Division of Communicative Disorders, Laramie 82071-3311, USA. ckperry@uwyo.edu
authors.forename: Cecyle Perry
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Dennis R S
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ingrisano
authors.forename: K Donald
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Eggleston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D014833:Voice Quality