Re: Wavelet discussion

[Jont Allen <jba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Linda A. Seltzer wrote:
>
> > > Another advantage
> > > of wavelet filtering is its property of separating bands with quality
> > > factor (Q) constant over the frequency axis, in a way the basilar membrane
> > > in
> > > the inner ear also resolves frequency bands. This property makes wavelets
> > > closer to ear's acoustic pre-processing, on stages before neural
> > > processing.
> >
> > Is the nature of the advantage that (1) a person examining wavelet
> > analysis output is observing "how the ear experiences the sound", or (2)
> > the method is more economical by ignoring detail that goes beyond
> > the resolving properties of the ear, or (3) both?
>
> I'd be interested in any pointers to journal articles or web site
> research presentations or books on this topic.
>
> Linda Seltzer
> lseltzer@phoenix.princeton.edu

In my opinion, a big thing is being made of a small thing
here. The ear is similar to a bank of 1/3 oct filters.
That is all there is to it. Some wavelets also have this
property. The problem with wavelets is that their frequency
response is not part of their definition. The user does not
attend to the frequency response of the wavelet, and therefore,
its filtering properties are, well, unknown. This is not an
ideal situation.

There is a little bit of the Emperor's new clothes syndrome
about wavelets I'm afraid. If I'm wrong, I would like to hear
about it.

Jont Allen