- Department: Electronic Engineering
- Module co-ordinator: Dr. Frank Stevens
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
This module provides an introduction to the fundamentals of audio signal processing, acoustics, and psychoacoustics. The theory covered will be supported with practical design and implementation.
Occurrence | Teaching cycle |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
Subject content aims:
This module aims to introduce students to the following areas of theory and practical application:
Audio signals: sound sources and wave propagation; decibel scales.
Signal conversion: microphones, sampling, quantisation.
Practical application of signal processing
Fundamentals of room acoustics
The structure and operation of the human auditory system.
Perception of pitch, loudness, and timbre.
Human perception of sound in three dimensions including inter-aural time delay (ITD), inter-aural intensity delays (IID) and the head related transfer function (HRTF).
Spatial audio systems, including stereo, amplitude panning, ambisonics, wavefield synthesis, binaural audio.
Graduate skills aims:
To develop report writing skills
To be able to specify, design, implement, test, and review a process in software
To increase understanding of acoustic theory with regard to rooms and instruments.
To develop understanding of human hearing in relation to music
Subject content learning outcomes
After successfully completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe the fundamental properties of sound in relation to audio signals and acoustic systems.
Describe the principal hearing mechanisms for sound source localisation in the context of spatial audio system design.
Describe the principal hearing mechanisms relating to perception of pitch, timbre, loudness and auditory streaming.
Explain the theory of signal representation in time and frequency domains, the Fourier series, the Fourier transform, the short-time Fourier transform.
Explain the practical and theoretical application of audio signal processing, including the sampling theorem, linear time-invariant systems, convolution, the z-transform.
Evaluate the acoustic and psychoacoustic features of different sounds.
Design, analyse and simulate basic digital filters.
Design a binaural audio system in MATLAB.
Design a demonstration of a psychoacoustic phenomenon in MATLAB
Graduate skills learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
Apply numeracy skills
Demonstrate problem solving
Assess and review progress
Demonstrate independent learning research skills
Apply written communication skills.
Apply analytical skills
Demonstrate autonomous task planning and implementation
Digital Sound and Sampling
Binaural audio systems
Convolution
The Fourier Transform
Block-based audio processing
Audio filtering
Introduction to psychoacoustics
Structure of the human auditory system
Perception of pitch, loudness, and timbre
Masking
Spatial hearing and auditory localisation
Timbral analysis
Time- and frequency- domain audio analysis
MATLAB audio synthesis and processing
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Departmental - aural assessment Binaural Audio Demonstration and Report |
N/A | 60 |
Departmental - aural assessment Psychoacoustic Phenomenon Demonstration and Report |
N/A | 40 |
None
Binaural Audio Demonstration - The students develop a binaural audio demonstration in MATLAB, making use of multiple sounds source, auralisation, filtering and other signal processing methods to create c. 30-second long soundscape example. This is accompanied with a technical report covering the relevant theory underpinning the demonstration, and offering a commentary on the conception, design, implementation, and evaluation of the finished product.
Psychoacoustic Phenomenon Demonstration - The students use MATLAB to synthesise audio examples demonstrating a chosen psychoacoustic phenomenon. This work will be based on the students’ own research into their chosen phenomenon. A report will be submitted explaining this phenomenon, offering a review of relevant literature, and presenting a time- and frequency- domain analysis of the output audio
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Departmental - aural assessment Binaural Audio Demonstration Reassessment |
N/A | 60 |
Departmental - aural assessment Psychoacoustic Phenomenon Demonstration Reassessment |
N/A | 40 |
Formative Feedback
Regular lab sessions will allow students to work through some lab scripts and set exercises, after which they will use those sessions to work on their assessments. In these sessions they will receive verbal help and feedback on their design and implementation.
Workshops throughout the term will be used to address questions/problems from students to support the lectures and lab sessions.
Emails to the Module Coordinator with Questions / Comments will be answered as soon as possible.
A formative assessment, where students write a short (2-3 pages) document investigating the acoustic properties of a musical instrument will take place in this module, with hand-in week 5 and feedback in week 7. Students will receive written individual feedback on their report and there will be a group feedback session workshop.
Summative Feedback
For each summative assessment, students will receive an individual feedback sheet. This sheet will contain a mark breakdown in terms of the areas being assessed, and personalised feedback including suggestions for improvement. These suggestions will be in terms of the work itself, and advice for future assessments.
Howard DM and Angus JAS, (2009). Acoustics and psychoacoustics, 4th Ed., Oxford: Focal Press.
Smith JO, Mathematics of the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) with Audio Applications. CCRMA
Vorländer, M. Auralization. Springer International Publishing, 2020.
Zolzer, U., Ed., (2011) DAFX: Digital Audio Effects, 2nd Ed. John Wiley and Sons Ltd., ISBN 13 978-0470665992