Speech analysis systems: an evaluation.

Performance characteristics are reviewed for seven systems marketed for acoustic speech analysis: CSpeech, CSRE, ILS-PC, Kay Elemetrics model 5500 Sona-Graph, MacSpeech Lab II, MSL, and Signalyze. The characteristics reviewed include system components, basic capabilities (signal acquisition, waveform operations, analysis, and other functions), documentation, user interface, data formats and journaling, speed and precision of spectral analysis, and speed and precision of fundamental frequency analysis. Basic capabilities are also tabulated for three recently introduced systems: the Sensimetrics SpeechStation, the Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Lab (CSL), and the LSI Speech Workstation. In addition to the capability and performance summaries, this article offers suggestions for continued development of speech analysis systems, particularly in data exchange, journaling, display features, spectral analysis, and fundamental frequency analysis.