Music mixing preferences of cochlear implant recipients: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Music perception and appraisal are generally poor in cochlear implant recipients. Simple musical structures, lyrics that are easy to follow, and clear rhythm/beat have been reported among the top factors to enhance music enjoyment. The present study investigated the preference for modified relative instrument levels in music with normal-hearing and cochlear implant subjects.


METHODS
In experiment 1, test subjects were given a mixing console and multi-track recordings to determine their most enjoyable audio mix. In experiment 2, a preference rating experiment based on the preferred relative level settings in experiment 1 was performed.


METHODS
Experiment 1 was performed with four postlingually deafened cochlear implant subjects, experiment 2 with ten normal-hearing and ten cochlear implant subjects.


RESULTS
A significant difference in preference rating was found between normal-hearing and cochlear implant subjects. The latter preferred an audio mix with larger vocals-to-instruments ratio. In addition, given an audio mix with clear vocals and attenuated instruments, cochlear implant subjects preferred the bass/drum track to be louder than the other instrument tracks.


CONCLUSIONS
The original audio mix in real-world music might not be suitable for cochlear implant recipients. Modifying the relative instrument level settings potentially improves music enjoyment.
* Cochlear Technology Centre Belgium , Mechelen , Belgium.
Wim
W
Buyens
Bas
B
van Dijk
Marc
M
Moonen
Jan
J
Wouters
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001307:Auditory Perception; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000523:psychology*; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000523:psychology*; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio