Separation of underdetermined audio mixtures is often performed in the Time-Frequency (TF) domain by masking each TF element according to its target-to-mixture ratio. This work uses sigmoidal functions to map the target-to-mixture ratio to mask values. The series of functions used encompasses the ratio mask and an approximation of the binary mask. Mixtures are chosen to represent a range of different amounts of TF overlap, then separated and evaluated using objective measures. PEASS results show improved interferer suppression and artifact scores can be achieved using softer masking than that applied by binary or ratio masks. The improvement in these scores gives an improved overall perceptual score; this observation is repeated at multiple TF resolutions.
This document was originally published at the 137th AES Convention, Los Angeles, October 2014.
The paper was written in collaboration with Toby Stokes (PhD), Chris Hummersone, Tim Brookes (University of Surrey).
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