Unintelligible radio dramas: to apply psychoacoustic testing to better understand the requirements of listeners

Complaints about unintelligible speech on TV drama is becoming a common complaint, with recent examples including Jamaica Inn, Poldark and SS-GB. Speech intelligibility research has traditionally focussed on transmission problems, but the recent examples demonstrate some problems are caused by mumbling and whispering by actors. In this project you will apply psychoacoustic testing to better understand the requirements of listeners. You will apply statistics and machine learning (e.g. deep nets) to model the effects of accents and poor elocution. From there, you will produce meters than can be used by sound engineers to monitor the intelligibility of dialogue and so improve TV sound.
EligibilityCandidates should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an area relevant to the subject. In all cases a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification or other evidence of research skills and experience is preferred but not essential.
FundingApplication where funding can be secured from other sources will be accepted at any time. For further information visit: www.salford.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/research-degree-fees-and-funding
Further information and applyingFor further information, please contact Dr Trevor Cox at [Email Address Removed]

For more information on research within the School of Computing Science & Engineering and to make an application please visit: www.salford.ac.uk/research/sirc/postgraduate-research