Perceptual and Acoustical Features of Natural and Synthetic Orchestral Instrument Tones

1999 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. Kendall ◽  
Edward C. Carterette ◽  
John M. Hajda
Keyword(s):  
Musical Training ◽  
Hybrid Technique ◽  
Spectral Variability ◽  
Spectral Centroid ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Great Consistency ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Third Dimension ◽  
Short Signal ◽  
Verbal Attribute

Four experiments were conducted to explore the timbres of natural, continuant orchestral instruments with emulation based on sampling, frequency modulation ( FM) synthesis, and a hybrid consisting of sampling and synthesis techniques combined. Identification of instruments using verbal labels was significantly better for the natural and sampling- based signals than for either FM synthesis or the hybrid technique, a result also found for aural categorization. Perceptual scaling of timbral similarities demonstrated great consistency across a series of independent variables, including musical training, monophonic and stereo presentation, and long versus short signal durations. The first dimension of the classical multidimensional scaling (CMDS) solutions mapped onto long- time- average spectral centroid. The second dimension mapped onto a measure of spectral variability. Little evidence was found for the mapping of attack time or signal duration onto either dimension. A third dimension separated most natural instruments from their emulated counterparts. Experiments using verbal attribute ratings confirmed the correlation of spectral centroid, the first dimension of the perceptual space, and ratings of nasality; the second dimension correlated with spectral variability and modestly correlated with ratings of rich, brilliant, and tremulous. Mismatches of spectral distribution and variability resulted in poor emulations of the natural instruments. Results suggest that further study of centroid and time-variant psychophysical properties is warranted.

scholarly journals The Optical Spectral Slope Variability for 17 Palomar-Green QSOs

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 78-78
Author(s):  
X. Pu ◽  
W. Bian ◽  
K. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Spectral Variability ◽  
Strong Emission ◽  
Spectroscopic Monitoring ◽  
Central Engine ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Photometric Monitoring

Variability phenomenon in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provides a powerful constrain on their central engine. For a long time the long-term multi-wavelength photometric monitoring plays an important role in obtaining the optical variability of QSOs. However, it just monitors the flux variability in a few points in the wavelength which usually consists of many components including continuum and strong emission line (although the photometric data are accurate). So it is necessary to study the optical spectral variability using spectroscopic monitoring data.

scholarly journals X-ray variability in LINERs

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S304) ◽  
pp. 399-402
Author(s):  
Josefa Masegosa ◽  
Lorena Hernández-García ◽  
Isabel Márquez ◽  
Omaira González-Martín
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Spectral Variability ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Variability Pattern ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Public Archives

AbstractOne of the most important features in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is the variability of their emission. Variability has been discovered at X-ray, UV, and radio frequencies on time scales from hours to years. Among the AGN family and according to theoretical studies, Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission Line Region (LINER) nuclei would be variable objects on long time scales. Our purpose is to investigate spectral X-ray variability in LINERs and to understand the nature of these kinds of objects, as well as their accretion mechanism. Chandra and XMM–Newton public archives were used to compile X-ray spectra of LINER nuclei at different epochs with time scales of years. To search for variability we fit all the spectra from the same object with a set of models, in order to identify the parameters responsible for the variability pattern. We found that long term spectral variability is very common, with variations mostly related to hard energies (2-10 keV). These variations are due to changes in the soft excess, and/or changes in the absorber, and/or intrinsic variations of the source.

Perceptual Scaling of Simultaneous Wind Instrument Timbres

1991 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. Kendall ◽  
Edward C. Carterette
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Source Material ◽  
Alto Saxophone ◽  
Wind Instrument ◽  
Individual Differences Scaling ◽  
Third Dimension ◽  
Composite Data ◽  
Verbal Attribute

Timbral similarities among wind instrument duos were studied. Flute, oboe, E♭ alto saxophone, B♭ clarinet, and B♭ trumpet instrumentalists performed in all possible duo pairings (dyads). Source material included B♭4 unisons, unison melody, major thirds, and harmonized melody. Nonunison combinations had each instrument of the pair as the soprano, creating a total of six contexts. Music major and nonmusic major subjects rated the similarity of all possible pairs of dyads in each of the six contexts. Classical multidimensional scaling (MDS) was performed; contexts were treated as " subjects" in an individual differences scaling (INDSCAL) analysis of composite data. The resulting spaces had two stable, interpretable dimensions. From verbal attribute rating experiments ( Kendall & Carterette, in preparation, a), these were identified as " nasal" vs. " not nasal," and " rich" vs. " brilliant." A third dimension was interpreted as "simple" vs. "complex."Extrema in the space were associated with three of the five instruments: Trumpet (brilliant), saxophone (rich), and oboe ( nasal). Data that were amalgamated over contexts and plotted in two dimensions yielded a circumplicial configuration. Implications for orchestration are discussed and a theoretical model of timbre combinations and groupings is presented.

scholarly journals Pengukuran Objek 2 Dimensi Dengan Menggunakan Kamera Berbasis LabVIEW

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
Khairul Amri ◽  
Ruzita Sumiati
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Labview Software ◽  
The Third ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Size Dimension ◽  
Recorded Image ◽  
Third Dimension

Quality Control (QC) is one of the most important components in the manufacturing process. The aim is to determine whether a product is feasible to market. One aspect of QC is the size / dimension of the object to be made. If the size is still within the range of tolerance, then it has passed the QC in terms of size, but if not then it includes a failed product. The problem encountered is that it takes a long time to take measurements, especially objects in the third dimension where each part is different as microdrill, zipper etc. To overcome this weakness, a CCD camera is used as a sensor to record images and then use LabVIEW software to analyze the size of the recorded image. This is a preliminary study so that it is only done for objects with two dimensions with square and circular shapes. From the research that has been done, the measurement with the camera gives results that are almost the same as the use of calipers where the standard deviation fluctuates from 0.3 to 23.8 for circles and 0.54 to 32.05 for squares. Furthermore, the time needed to do one measurement process with the camera ranges from 201 ms to 338 ms whereas using the calipers takes 3 to 5s

scholarly journals Musical expertise shapes functional and structural brain networks independent of absolute pitch ability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Leipold ◽  
Carina Klein ◽  
Lutz Jäncke
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Musical Training ◽  
Brain Networks ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
Absolute Pitch ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Large Scale Networks ◽  
Structural Networks

AbstractProfessional musicians are a popular model for investigating experience-dependent plasticity in human large-scale brain networks. A minority of musicians possess absolute pitch, the ability to name a tone without reference. The study of absolute pitch musicians provides insights into how a very specific talent is reflected in brain networks. Previous studies of the effects of musicianship and absolute pitch on large-scale brain networks have yielded highly heterogeneous findings regarding the localization and direction of the effects. This heterogeneity was likely influenced by small samples and vastly different methodological approaches. Here, we conducted a comprehensive multimodal assessment of effects of musicianship and absolute pitch on intrinsic functional and structural connectivity using a variety of commonly employed and state-of-the-art multivariate methods in the largest sample to date (n = 153 female and male human participants; 52 absolute pitch musicians, 51 non-absolute pitch musicians, and 50 non-musicians). Our results show robust effects of musicianship in inter- and intrahemispheric connectivity in both structural and functional networks. Crucially, most of the effects were replicable in both musicians with and without absolute pitch when compared to non-musicians. However, we did not find evidence for an effect of absolute pitch on intrinsic functional or structural connectivity in our data: The two musician groups showed strikingly similar networks across all analyses. Our results suggest that long-term musical training is associated with robust changes in large-scale brain networks. The effects of absolute pitch on neural networks might be subtle, requiring very large samples or task-based experiments to be detected.Significance StatementA question that has fascinated neuroscientists, psychologists, and musicologists for a long time is how musicianship and absolute pitch, the rare talent to name a tone without reference, are reflected in large-scale networks of the human brain. Much is still unknown as previous studies have reported widely inconsistent results based on small samples. Here, we investigate the largest sample of musicians and non-musicians to date (n = 153) using a multitude of established and novel analysis methods. Results provide evidence for robust effects of musicianship on functional and structural networks that were replicable in two separate groups of musicians and independent of absolute pitch ability.

scholarly journals The Photometric and Spectral Variability of the Planetary Nebula IC 4997

1989 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
E.B. Kostyakova
Keyword(s):  
Planetary Nebula ◽  
Planetary Nebulae ◽  
Spectral Variability ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Time Variations ◽  
Photoelectric Observations ◽  
Brightness Decrease ◽  
Colour Indices ◽  
Observation Period

Among the planetary nebulae showing noticeable long-time variations of brightness (see our foregoing contributed paper; Astron. Circ. USSR, No. 1430, 3, 1986, and earlier publications) the young stellar planetary IC 4997 is the most prominent. Our photoelectric observations revealed its rather surprising behaviour. During 1968–85 its total UBV-brightness was monotonously decreasing, especially in filter V: the reduction of the value Δv amounted ∼ 0m.5–0m.6. The colour indices of the planetary showed that during the observation period the object as a whole, became definitely bluer. In 1985–86 our observations revealed an unexpected stop of mentioned brightness decrease, but in 1987 the object appeared to start brightening.

HYBRID TECHNIQUE FOR ECG SIGNAL COMPRESSION USING PARALLEL AND CASCADE METHOD

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (01) ◽  
pp. 1950022
Author(s):  
K. S. Surekha ◽  
B. P. Patil
Keyword(s):  
Wavelet Transforms ◽  
Continuous Monitoring ◽  
Discrete Wavelet ◽  
Ecg Signal ◽  
Hybrid Technique ◽  
Compression Technique ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Cascade Method ◽  
Parallel Technique ◽  
Better Than

The recording of electrical activity of the heart by using electrodes is known as electrocardiography (ECG). In long time monitoring of ECG, a huge amount of data needs to be handled. To handle the situation, an efficient compression technique which can retain the clinically important features of ECG signal is required. The continuous monitoring of this signal requires a large amount of memory. Hence, there is a requirement of compression. The compression of ECG signal using transforms in cascade is explored to incorporate the added advantages of both the transforms. This paper presents compression of ECG signal by hybrid technique consisting of cascade and parallel combination of discrete cosine transform (DCT) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). The simulation is carried out using MATLAB tool. Various wavelet transforms are used for the testing purpose. The performance measures used are Percent square mean Root Difference (PRD) and CR to validate the results. The methodology using cascade combination proved to be better than the parallel technique in terms of Compression Ratio (CR). The highest CR achieved is 28.2 in the method using DCT and DWT in cascade. Different DWTs are used for the testing purpose. The parallel method shows the improved PRD as compared to the cascade method.

Acoustical Correlates of Timbre and Expressiveness in Clarinet Performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Barthet ◽  
Philippe Depalle ◽  
Richard Kronland-Martinet ◽  
Søølvi Ystad
Keyword(s):  
Root Mean Square ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Spectral Centroid ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Musical Excerpts ◽  
Clarinet Performance ◽  
Recorded Performances ◽  
Attack Time

This study deals with the acoustical factors liable to account for expressiveness in clarinet performances. Mechanical and expressive performances of excerpts from Bach's Suite No. II and Mozart's Quintet for Clarinet and Strings were recorded. Timbre, timing, dynamics, and pitch descriptors were extracted from the recorded performances. The data were processed using a two-way analysis of variance, where the musician's expressive intentions and the note factors were defined as the independent variables. In both musical excerpts, a strong effect of the expressive intention was observed on the timbre (attack time, spectral centroid, odd/even ratio), timing (intertone onset intervals) and dynamics (root mean square envelope) descriptors. The changes in the timbre descriptors were found to depend on the position of the notes in the musical phrases. These results suggest that timbre, as well as timing and dynamics variations, may mediate expressiveness in the musical messages transmitted from performers to listeners.

Perceptually Correlated Parameters of Musical Instrument Tones

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Beauchamp
Keyword(s):  
Musical Training ◽  
Musical Instrument ◽  
Sound Synthesis ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Music Culture ◽  
Spectral Centroid ◽  
The Time Domain ◽  
Musical Signals ◽  
Musical Sounds ◽  
Correlated Parameters

AbstractIn Western music culture instruments have been developed according to unique instrument acoustical features based on types of excitation, resonance, and radiation. These include the woodwind, brass, bowed and plucked string, and percussion families of instruments. On the other hand, instrument performance depends on musical training, and music listening depends on perception of instrument output. Since musical signals are easier to understand in the frequency domain than the time domain, much effort has been made to perform spectral analysis and extract salient parameters, such as spectral centroids, in order to create simplified synthesis models for musical instrument sound synthesis. Moreover, perceptual tests have been made to determine the relative importance of various parameters, such as spectral centroid variation, spectral incoherence, and spectral irregularity. It turns out that the importance of particular parameters depends on both their strengths within musical sounds as well as the robustness of their effect on perception. Methods that the author and his colleagues have used to explore timbre perception are: 1) discrimination of parameter reduction or elimination; 2) dissimilarity judgments together with multidimensional scaling; 3) informal listening to sound morphing examples. This paper discusses ramifications of this work for sound synthesis and timbre transposition.

Behaviorism at fifty

1984 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. F. Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Mental States ◽  
The Body ◽  
Private Events ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
The World ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Experimental Analyses ◽  
The Universe

AbstractEach of us is uniquely subject to certain kinds of stimulation from a small part of the universe within our skins. Mentalistic psychologies insist that other kinds of events, lacking the physical dimensions of stimuli, are accessible to the owner of the skin within which they occur. One solution often regarded as behavioristic, granting the distinction between public and private events and ruling the latter out of consideration, has not been successful. A science of behavior must face the problem of privacy by dealing with events within the skin in their relation to behavior, without assuming they have a special nature or must be known in a special way.The search for copies of the world within the body (e.g. the sensations and images of conscious content) has also had discouraging results. The organism does not create duplicates: Its seeing, hearing, smelling, and so on are forms of action rather than of reproduction. Seeing does not imply something seen. We know that when we dream of wolves, no wolves are actually there; it is harder to understand that not even representations of wolves are there.Mentalistic formulations create mental way stations. Where experimental analyses examine the effects of variables on behavior, mentalistic psychologies deal first with their effects on inferred entities such as feelings or expectations and then with the effects of these entities on behavior. Mental states thus seem to bridge gaps between dependent and independent variables, and mentalistic interpretations are particularly attractive when these are separated by long time periods. The practice confuses the order of events and leads to unfinished causal accounts.

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