Object Coding of Harmonic Sounds Using Sparse and Structured Representations

Gregory Cornuz; Emmanuel Ravelli; Pierre Leveau; Laurent Daudet
DAFx-2007 - Bordeaux
Object coding allows audio compression at extremely low bit-rates, provided that the objects are correctly modelled and identified. In this study, a codec has been implemented on the basis of a sparse decomposition of the signal with a dictionary of InstrumentSpecific Harmonic atoms. The decomposition algorithm extracts “molecules” i.e. linear combinations of such atoms, considered as note-like objects. Thus, they can be coded efficiently using notespecific strategies. For signals containing only harmonic sounds, the obtained bitrates are very low, typically around 2 kbs, and informal listening tests against a standard sinusoidal coder show promising performances.
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