SPEECH AND AUDIO CODECS

Presenter: Ronald Mulinde

Outline
Introduction to audio codecs.

Classification of audio codecs.

Performance evaluation of codecs.

Introduction.
Definition Codec = coder + decoder

A coder transforms input signals into a suitable

form for transmission or storage purposes, using as few bits as possible where as maintaining a perceptually acceptable quality after process decoding process.

Introduction

Requirements of a good codec.

Low bit rate. Good perceived quality.
4

Types of audio codecs

Waveform Coders
Independent of the input signal type. In general they provide a good reconstruction

quality only in case of medium-high bit-rate

Example ADPCM a 32kbit/s
5

Types of audio codecs

Source coders/vocoders

Based

on speech production and perception

models.
Allow one to obtain a decent quality even with very-

low bit-rates .
Example: Federal Standard LPC-10 Vocoder a 2.4

kbit/s

Types of audio codecs

Hybrid coders

These are definitely more complex techniques.

More effective at medium-low bit-rates. Example: RPE-LTP a 13 kbit/s used in the full-rate

GSM in 1990

Performance evaluation of audio codecs

Bit-rate (in general expressed in terms of kbit/s) Quality of decoded signals (subjective or objective

measures) MIPS)

Complexity of the algorithm (for instance, given in

Delay (algorithmic) introduced by coding+decoding

processes

Robustness

interferences

to

channel

transmission

errors,

to

Performance evaluation of audio codecs .

Performance evaluation of audio codecs

As subjective quality measure MOS (Mean Opinion Score)

DRT (Diagnostic Rhyme Test).

As objective measure: SNR, PESQ, or other distances
10

SUBJECTIVE MEASURES (MOS)

Mean Opinion Score (MOS)

MOS scale 1. Bad 2. Poor 3. Fair 4. Good 5. Excellent

11

Example using MOS

Comparison of PCM, ADM and DPCM based on the bit

rate.

12

OBJECTIVE MEASURES
SNR long term, SEGSNR (short term), PESQ.

13

THANK YOU

14