Lab Equipment Suggestions

[John Neuhoff <jneuhoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I am currently finishing up my Ph.D. in experimental psychology
(specializing in auditory perception), and have recently accepted a tenure
track faculty position at Lafayette College.  I have a budget of about
$12,000 to establish a research lab.  My research has focused on the
perception of Doppler shifted tones, and tones that change in both frequency
and intensity over time (see my web page for more info), and I also have an
interest in 3-D auditory displays.

I am looking for suggestions for lab equipment to purchase.  In the past I
have used a MIDI interface with a PC, a MIDI sequencing program, and a
synthesizer to present stimuli and collect real time responses.  Subjects
listen to tones and track changes in pitch for example by moving the pitch
bend wheel on the synthesizer.  These movements are recorded via MIDI, and
using Cakewalk 4.0 I can write the data to a text file.  This shows me in
real time how subjects perceive changes in the stimuli.

Some of the drawbacks to this approach are:

1. Randomizing stimulus presentation is very tedious.
2. Responses tend to be subject to ceiling and floor effects due to the
limited range of motion of the pitch wheel.

Are there better ways to explore this and other areas?  Can you recommend
vendors? In particular I am looking for any hardware or software that you
find particularly good, useful, and/or inexpensive including:


-Sound measurement/analysis tools (hardware and software)
-Editing tools
-Speakers, headphones, amplifiers, synthesizers
-Virtual auditory equipment
-Sound Cards
-Response interfaces
-Other tools for studying music perception

Thanks,

-John
_________________________________________________________
John Neuhoff                    Main Office: 216-672-2166
Department of Psychology        Lab:         216-672-7834
Kent State University           Fax:         216-672-3786

e-mail:jneuhoff@phoenix.kent.edu
   WWW:http://phoenix.kent.edu/~jneuhoff/neuhoff.htm