Real-time audio signal capture and processing using MATLAB object oriented programming

Abstract

In MATLAB programming language the real-time audio processing functions are usually simulated in non-real-time due to a lack of real-time audio programming support. As a result the real-time audio signal capture and processing functionalities are usually implemented in other programming languages and cannot utilize the extensive signal processing functionalities provided by MATLAB. In this paper we introduce a MATLAB real-time signal processing framework based on MATLAB timer object and audiorecorder object. The proposed processing framework serves as an alternative solution for real-time programming implementation and demonstration. In our proposed processing framework the timer object is implemented to handle the looping of processing cycle, schedule the signal processing tasks, and handle the error processing. The audio capturing/processing functionality is implemented in the timer cycle by using two audiorecorder objects that read the audio streaming data and feed a segment of data to signal processing alternatively. The proposed framework achieves satisfactory real-time performance with no missing audio frames when a short audio delay setting of 10ms is applied. Several application examples of our proposed framework are also demonstrated.