The aim of this listening test is to compare the perceptual similarity between the original recording and a model of musical instrument sounds.

Sound Representations

There are many different possible representations of sounds. Some representations sound different from the original recording, depending on the model. The mp3 compression is a popular example of a lossy encoding that may sound different from the original. One important aspect of sound representations is the perceptual similarity between the original sound and its representation.

The Test

In this listening test you will be asked to compare the perceptual similarity between the original recording and a representation for musical instrument sounds. Below, you will find a table with 20 lines. Each line contains

  • the original sound;
  • the model.
 Notice that each line has different versions of the same sound. These versions might sound different from one another, but they come essencially from the same recording.

Framework

For each line of the table, you will hear two sounds. The original recording and the model.

Listen once to all the sounds to get used to the range of differences between them. Only after listening to all of the sounds once should you start the test.

Perceptual Similarity

When we judge the perceptual similarity of sounds, we are trying to assess how close the sounds are on the perceptual plane. In other words, we want to determine if they sound the same or different. Naturally, when they sound different we can additionally judge how different, just a little or a lot.

Your Task

Your task is to listen to the original sound and to the model and rate their perceptual similarity using the scale given

  • identical;
  • slightly different;
  • fairly different;
  • significantly different;
  • very different.

Before taking the test, listen once to all the sounds to get used to the range of differences

Recommendations

  • Check that the Flash plugin works correctly and the sound level is properly set;
  • Use headphones;
  • Do the test in a quiet place;
  • Before running the test, do not hesitate to send me an e-mail if you have questions.

Thank you for participating! This experiment won't take you more than 5 minutes.

Sound original model identical slightly
different		 fairly
different		 significantly
different		 very
different
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Some information about you

Listening conditions

Did you use headphones? yes no

Did you listen to all the sounds once before taking the test? yes no

Expertise (are you familiar with a domain related to music, such as acoustic signal processing, music technology, ... ?) yes no

Age

E-mail address and name

Comments

Sending

Before sending please check that all the files of the main experiment got an answer.

Click on "submit" to send your result!!