Improved pitch detection algorithm employing temporal structure investigation of the speech waveform

Abstract

The paper examines the performance of several versions of the parallel processing method of pitch period estimation of speech, highlighting the limitations of each. An improved algorithm, based on the temporal investigation of the speech waveform, is described and evaluated. It is shown to offer improved performance in both long term pitch period estimation accuracy, and cycle to cycle accuracy. A new method of evaluating the performance of pitch detection algorithms, based on measuring their stability with respect to variation of the time origin of the input speech, is also described.