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Affordable/simple audio hardware for psychoacoustic experiments?



Dear list,
Just a brief introduction: I'm Lorenzo Picinali, I work at LIMSI (CNRS, Orsay, France) and I'm a Phd student at the DMU (Music, Technology and Innovation Research Centre, Leicester, UK) on research themes liked to the spatial perception of sounds and to the simulation of three dimensional soundscapes through headphones or loudspeakers array.
About the audio hardware for psychoacoustic experiments, if you want to use the onboard sound interface (it might not be an high quality one, but for restricted budget, it might be ok), I'd suggest to connect the stereo line output to a multichannel headphones amplifier such as a Samson one (the best you can get for that price...) or a Presonus one (a bit more expensive). 
While, if you want to buy an external audio interface, I'd suggest an  ECHO one (PCMCIA) or a M-Audio or Edirol (USB): they are not really high quality ones, but they do their job! Then, of course, if you want to drive more than a pair of headphones, you need an headphones amplifier (as I was saying before). 
Best Regards

Lorenzo Picinali


--
Lorenzo Picinali
PhD Student
Music, Technology and Innovation Research Centre
0116 2551551, internal 6770
Clephan Building CL0.19
De Montfort University
Leicester




-----Original Message-----
From: AUDITORY - Research in Auditory Perception on behalf of AUDITORY automatic digest system
Sent: Fri 7/6/2007 5:01 AM
To: AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: AUDITORY Digest - 4 Jul 2007 to 5 Jul 2007 (#2007-148)
 
There are 7 messages totalling 334 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. Affordable/simple audio hardware for psychoacoustic experiments?
  2. Open Position for a young research engineer (M/F) in Auralization (Liege,
     Belgium)
  3. Listening Test Speech Data
  4. Research Audiologist Position at Cochlear Americas
  5. Online listening tests and psychoacoutics experiments with large N
  6. post-doctoral position in auditory cognition
  7. Program for running adaptive procedure

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:    Thu, 5 Jul 2007 09:58:05 +0200
From:    Daniel Oberfeld <oberfeld@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Affordable/simple audio hardware for psychoacoustic experiments?

Dear list,

in some of our undergraduate labs in Experimental Psychology, the 
students conduct simple psychoacoustic experiments like measuring a 
detection or a discrimination threshold.
To reduce the blocking of our laboratories by these courses, we want to 
purchase a simple computer setup (Matlab-based) on which the students' 
experiments can be run.

The most simple and most cost effective solution would be to connect the 
headphones (e.g. Sennheiser HDA200, which give you some sound insulation 
even outside a sound-insulated chamber) directly to the soundcard/ 
digital-to-analog converter. Does anybody here have experience with such 
a setup and could recommend a device with low noise but sufficient 
output power to drive low-impendance headphones? A stereo device would 
do, but four or more audio channels would be preferable.

Or alternatively, do you know an affordable (i.e., non-TDT) low-noise 
headphone amplifier you could recommend?

Kind regards,

Daniel


-- 
Dr. Daniel Oberfeld-Twistel
Johannes Gutenberg - Universitaet Mainz
Department of Psychology
Experimental Psychology

Staudingerweg 9
55128 Mainz
Germany

Phone ++49 (0) 6131 39 22423
Fax   ++49 (0) 6131 39 22480
http://www.staff.uni-mainz.de/oberfeld/

------------------------------

Date:    Thu, 5 Jul 2007 15:00:55 +0100
From:    Peter Lennox <P.Lennox@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Open Position for a young research engineer (M/F) in Auralization (Liege, Belgium)

I think "young" means "cheap"...

Dr. Peter Lennox
S.P.A.R.G.
Signal Processing Applications Research Group
University of Derby
http://sparg.derby.ac.uk  
Int. tel: 3155

>>> Toth Laszlo <tothl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 28/06/2007 08:20:41 >>>
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007, Richard H. wrote:

> Is age discrimination legal in Belgium?

Having seen age discrimination in EU-funded projects as well, it seems
to
me that age discrimination is legal in Europe. Probably they think that
it
is a positive discrimination?

               Laszlo Toth
        Hungarian Academy of Sciences         *
  Research Group on Artificial Intelligence   *   "Failure only begins
     e-mail: tothl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx            *    when you stop
trying"
     http://www.inf.u-szeged.hu/~tothl        *

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email 
______________________________________________________________________

------------------------------

Date:    Thu, 5 Jul 2007 16:08:31 +0100
From:    Dermot Campbell <dermot.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Listening Test Speech Data

Dear List,

As the topic is fresh now may be a good time to request some information 
on this area.

Im looking for some reasonably recent wideband speech databases that 
would be suitable to test with the PEAQ algorithm. Really, Im looking 
for speech files with a reference speech file and a degraded version of 
the reference speech file. It is preferrable to have known subjective 
data on such speech files also. Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Dermot.

------------------------------

Date:    Thu, 5 Jul 2007 16:02:17 +0000
From:    Stoph Long <stophlong@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Research Audiologist Position at Cochlear Americas

Hello,=0A=0A  There is an audiologist position here at Cochlear Americas=0A=
in Denver in the research group (working with me, Chris van den Honert, Zac=
h Smith,=0ASean Lineaweaver, Wendy Parkinson, and others) that we are looki=
ng to fill.=0APlease do forward this to qualified potential candidates.  We=
'd really love to=0Alocate a great CI audiologist to add to our research te=
am.=0A=0A  Here are the details:=0A=0A=0ATITLE:      Research Audiologist  =
      DEPARTMENT:  Research=0A=0A=0A=0ASUMMARY: The Research Audiologist is=
 responsible for performing tasks=0Ain support of research activities carri=
ed out within the Department of=0AResearch.  These activities focus primari=
ly on the scientific study of=0Aperception by human cochlear implant recipi=
ents.  The Research=0AAudiologist also participates to varying extents in r=
elated=0Adepartmental activities such preparation of regulatory submissions=
,=0Asupport of other departmental functions, and customer=0Aassistance. Spe=
cific tasks include (but are not limited to)=0Arecruitment and counseling o=
f prospective research subjects,=0Acollection of data (e.g. speech receptio=
n scores or psychophysical=0Ameasures), data analysis, and written or oral =
presentation of results.=0AThe Research Audiologist interacts closely with =
other Research=0ADepartment staff and clinical/academic collaborators to pa=
rticipate in=0Athe specification of custom research software, design and ex=
ecution of=0Astudy protocols, and preparation of scientific publications.=
=0A=0AThe Research Audiologist must possess excellent clinical skills and b=
e=0Acomfortable working with human subjects in a research environment.  He=
=0Aor she must have experience working with cochlear implant recipients,=0A=
and have excellent verbal and written communications skills.=0A=0A=0ADUTIES=
 & RESPONSIBILITIES:=0A=0A1.     Carry out experimental protocols with huma=
n subjects, including collection of experimental speech reception and psych=
ophysical data=0A2.     Recruit and counsel prospective study participants=
=0A3.     Organize and schedule subject visits to Cochlear laboratory facil=
ities=0A4.     Assist with preparation of regulatory submissions=0A5.     A=
ssist in monitoring and achieving compliance with regulatory requirements=
=0A6.     Assist with analysis and written or oral reporting of experimenta=
l data=0A7.     Consult with clinical collaborators with regard to clinical=
 management of study participants=0A8.     Assist in the design and specifi=
cation or selection of experimental protocols and measurement tools=0A9.   =
  Assist in preparation of reports, presentations, or publications of exper=
imental results=0A10.     Provide relevant clinical and human interface exp=
ertise regarding experimental hardware and software=0A11.     Serve as advo=
cate for experimental study participants=0A12.     Consult with other depar=
tmental functions as needed=0A13.     Other duties as required.=0A=0AMINIMU=
M QUALIFICATIONS:=0A=0AMasters Degree or equivalent in Audiology or Hearing=
 Science.=0ACertificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology or equivalent.=
=0AMinimum of 2 years experience working with cochlear implant=0Arecipients=
.  Working knowledge of Nucleus programming software and=0ANucleus implant =
products.=0A=0A=0ACONTACT:=0A=0ANiki Wollan=0AStaffing Specialist=0ACochlea=
r Americas=0A400 Inverness Parkway, Ste. 400=0AEnglewood, CO  80112=0Anwoll=
an@xxxxxxxxxxxx=0A303.524.7171 direct=0A=0A=0A------------------=0A=0AWarm =
Regards,=0A=0AChristopher Long=0ADirector of Auditory Perception Research=
=0ACochlear Americas=0Aclong@xxxxxxxxxxxx=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=09=09=0A__________=
_________________________________________________ =0AAll New Yahoo! Mail =
=96 Tired of unwanted email come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you. http:/=
/uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

------------------------------

Date:    Thu, 5 Jul 2007 19:03:54 +0200
From:    Henkjan Honing <honing@xxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Online listening tests and psychoacoutics experiments with large N

These are indeed some of the the standard tricks I was referring =20
to :-) See references mentioned in my earlier posting and review =20
papers by authors like Reips [1].

hh

[1] Reips, U. (2002) Internet-Based Psychological Experimenting. =20
Social Science Computer Review, Vol. 20, No. 3, 241-249


On 4 Jul 2007, at 13:27, Bruno L. Giordano wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am not in online testing, but I find the topic rather interesting.
>
> A few issues pop out:
>
> [1] Variability of presentation conditions. Improvement: equalize =20
> signals or
> audio playback using data from an initial quick-and-dirty =20
> measurement of
> detection thresholds at different frequencies. A way can also be =20
> found to
> roughly tell apart the participant-specific sensitivity from the =20
> frequency
> response of the audio playback chain.
>
> [2] Attention level. Improvement: interleave experimental trials with
> auditory detection trials. If the reaction time in any of the =20
> detection
> trials exceeds a given acceptable threshold, the experiment is =20
> terminated
> and data is not considered.
>
> [3] The same person could participate to the experiment more than =20
> once. This
> might not be ideal. Improvement: [a] the participant gives an email =20=

> address,
> and the system checks whether substrings of the address have =20
> already been
> submitted for participation; [b] a different http address for the =20
> experiment
> is sent to the mailbox of each of the participants (e.g., the online
> executable is given a different name for each of the participants).
>
> Cheers,
>
>    Bruno
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Bruno L. Giordano, Ph.D.
> Music Perception and Cognition Laboratory
> CIRMMT http://www.cirmmt.mcgill.ca/
> Schulich School of Music, McGill University
> 555 Sherbrooke Street West
> Montr=E9al, QC H3A 1E3
> Canada
> Office: +1 514 398 4535 ext. 00900
> http://www.music.mcgill.ca/~bruno/








____________________________________________________________

Dr. H. Honing
Music Cognition Group
Institute for Logic, Language, and Computation (ILLC)
Cognitive Science Center Amsterdam (CSCA)
Universiteit van Amsterdam
I http://www.hum.uva.nl/mmm/

____________________________________________________________

------------------------------

Date:    Thu, 5 Jul 2007 13:44:56 -0400
From:    "Yale E. Cohen" <Yale.E.Cohen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: post-doctoral position in auditory cognition

Post-doctoral position: auditory cognition in nonhuman primates

A postdoctoral position is available to study the neural basis of
auditory cognition in nonhuman primates.  The focus of the
laboratory is on how our brains represent features of communication signals,
especially higher-order features.  Our main technique is single-unit recording
in awake animals performing behavioral tasks.
Behavioral analyses and computational modeling also consitute an
important component of our work. Suitable backgrounds include vision,
audition, oculomotor, or other areas of systems neuroscience.
Experience with electrophysiological recording and skills in
quantitative analysis and programming are a plus.  Send CV and names
of 2-3 references to Dr. Yale E. Cohen, 6207 Moore Hall, Dept. of
Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755,
yec(at)dartmouth.edu.  If emailing, send plain text cover
email in addition to any enclosures.


---
Yale E. Cohen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience
6207 Moore
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755

E-mail: yec@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone: 603 646 0532
FAX: 603 646 1419
URL: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~psych/people/faculty/cohen.html

------------------------------

Date:    Thu, 5 Jul 2007 17:06:01 -0400
From:    Vidya Ganesh <ganesh.vidya@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Program for running adaptive procedure

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Hi everbody,
    I am wondering if there is a PC-based program for running an adaptive
paradigm.   We do not have the hardware, so will have to route the signal
through the sound card.  Any ideas?  The stimuli will be speech and
speech-shaped noise.  Any feedback will be appreciated.
    Thanks,
       Vidya

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<div>Hi everbody,</div>
<div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I am wondering if there is a PC-based program for running an adaptive paradigm.&nbsp;&nbsp; We do not have the hardware, so&nbsp;will have to route the signal through the sound card.&nbsp; Any ideas?&nbsp; The stimuli will be speech and speech-shaped noise.&nbsp; Any feedback will be appreciated.
</div>
<div>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Thanks,</div>
<div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vidya<br clear="all"><br><br><br>&nbsp;</div>

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End of AUDITORY Digest - 4 Jul 2007 to 5 Jul 2007 (#2007-148)
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