Voice Activity Detection Method Using Psycho-Acoustic Model Based on Speech Energy Maximization in Noisy Environments
Gab-Keun Choi, Soon-Hyob Kim · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea · 2009
This paper introduces the method for detect voices and exact end point at low SNR by maximizing voice energy. Conventional VAD (Voice Activity Detection) algorithm estimates noise level so it tends to detect the end point inaccurately. Moreover, because it uses relatively long analysis range for reflecting temporal change of noise, computing load too high for application. In this paper, the SEM-VAD (Speech Energy Maximization-Voice Activity Detection) method which uses psycho-acoustical bark scale filter banks to maximize voice energy within frames is introduced. Stable threshold values are obtained at various noise environments (SNR 15 dB, 10 dB, 5 dB, 0 dB). At the test for voice detection in car noisy environment, PHR (Pause Hit Rate) was 100%accurate at every noise environment, and FAR (False Alarm Rate) shows 0% at SNR15 dB and 10 dB, 5.6% at SNR5 dB and 9.5% at SNR0 dB.