Real-Time Interaural Time Delay Estimation via Onset Detection

Abstract

Reliable real-time estimation of the interaural time delay of a sound source is difficult in the presence of noise and reverberation. However, the psychoacoustical precedence effect suggests that accurate estimation is possible by concentrating on the first-arriving sound. This paper introduces a novel real-time estimation method inspired by the precedence effect. First, the arrival of first-arriving sound is detected by performing a hypothesis test based on local approximation of the binaural signal with exponentially decaying sinusoids, which effectively model the shape of a sound onset. After detection, the interaural time delay is directly retrieved from the phase shift of the approximating sinusoids. The local model approximation is done with efficient recursions by parameterization of the model with autonomous linear state-space models, making the algorithm implementable in real-time.

SyncNet: Using Causal Convolutions and Correlating Objective for Time Delay Estimation in Audio Signals

“…The estimators based on Signal Processing methods [7,8] are considered more explainable, and thus hold higher potential for fine tuning and debugging [9,10,13]. Deep Learning based techniques, on the other hand, mostly lack explainability.…”

“…The Frequence-Sliding GCC (FS-GCC) algorithm [12] tries to resolve the issue by using sliding windows to analyze the cross-power spectrum phase, and thus, capturing the estimate-features in frequency bands. Elizabeth R. et al [13] performs onset detection by locally approximating a relevant autonomous linear state-space model (LSSM) to estimate temporal delays based on the precedence effect. An interesting deep learning based approach [14] has also been proposed as an alternative to the FS-GCC; it consists of a U-Net fully convolutional denoising autoencoder that is fed by the extracted representations from the FS-GCC itself.…”

Real-Time Feature Extraction From Electrocochleography With Impedance Measurements During Cochlear Implantation Using Linear State-Space Models

“…In a next step, it will be important to precisely determine these features by fitting a global CM model. In this context, the LCR and phase estimation of the CM ALSSM are indispensable [35], [36].…”

Study of Generalized Phase Spectrum Time Delay Estimation Method for Source Positioning in Small Room Acoustic Environment

“…This task is relevant for many applications, including those which are related to signal source localization [ 1 ]. The position of the object can be determined on the straight line [ 2 , 3 ], on the plane [ 4 , 5 ], and in space [ 6 , 7 , 8 ] depending on the location and the number of sensors.…”