sound analysis software

I called SOUNDVIEW today and talked to Charles Kim. He's the technical
person at Peabody Digital Soundworks. He says the software can show the
sound spectrum but can't break a sound up into its component voices. He
said, for instance, it wouldn't work with a symphony orchestra.

He mentioned that he didn't know of any software that could do that.

[Rick Tagawa:]
> I called SOUNDVIEW today . . . the software
> can show the sound spectrum but can't break
> a sound up into its component voices . . . for
> instance, it wouldn't work with a symphony orchestra.
>
> He mentioned that he didn't know of any software
> that could do that.

Brian McLaren gave me a very thorough explanation
of why it can't be done with our present technology.
I can't explain most of it, but I recall that he said
there are apparently 3 main ways we process
the differentiation of separate voices and their
pitches.

When his website finally goes online, be ready
to ask him (or send him a snail mail).

- Monzo

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On Fri, 5 Mar 1999, Joseph L Monzo wrote:

> From: Joseph L Monzo <monz@juno.com>
>
> [Rick Tagawa:]
> > I called SOUNDVIEW today . . . the software
> > can show the sound spectrum but can't break
> > a sound up into its component voices . . . for
> > instance, it wouldn't work with a symphony orchestra.
> >
> > He mentioned that he didn't know of any software
> > that could do that.
>
> Brian McLaren gave me a very thorough explanation
> of why it can't be done with our present technology.
> I can't explain most of it, but I recall that he said
> there are apparently 3 main ways we process
> the differentiation of separate voices and their
> pitches.

A few years ago someone singled out Paul McCartney's wife singing backup
vocals off-key and released it for humor value.

I think that was made possible by her voice being specifically off key
though.

-Bram

I sent a friend of mine your message for comment. He is well versed in
matters concerning frequency discrimination.
The following is his comment.
Lewis

The only way I know to do this is to use a linear array of detectors and
clock the detectors in phase so that you pinpoint a
source. This would allow you to zero in on a particular player in an
orchestra. This would not work with a
a typical (stereo) recording, the trick is having the multiple detector
(phase) info. A DFT would separate a bass from a
piccolo, but it would not distinguish between two violins. The simplest
scheme is two highly directional mikes, one scanning the
x direction and one scanning the y direction. Note that I am emphasizing
the recording end of it. It would be extremely difficult to
use electronics to pull a single voice out of a stereo recording of a group.
Again, you would have to use a phasing technique.

Dan CC

-----Original Message-----
From: tuning@onelist.com at Internet
Sent: Friday, March 05, 1999 7:25 PM
To: tuning@onelist.com at internet
Subject: [tuning] sound analysis software

From: Joseph L Monzo <monz@juno.com>

[Rick Tagawa:]
> I called SOUNDVIEW today . . . the software
> can show the sound spectrum but can't break
> a sound up into its component voices . . . for
> instance, it wouldn't work with a symphony orchestra.
>
> He mentioned that he didn't know of any software
> that could do that.

Brian McLaren gave me a very thorough explanation
of why it can't be done with our present technology.
I can't explain most of it, but I recall that he said
there are apparently 3 main ways we process
the differentiation of separate voices and their
pitches.

When his website finally goes online, be ready
to ask him (or send him a snail mail).

- Monzo

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

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