Multichannel Fast-Acting Dynamic Range Compression Hinders Performance by Young, Normal-Hearing Listeners in a Two-Talker Separation Task

Stone MA, Moore BCJ, Füllgrabe C, Hinton AC. Multichannel Fast-Acting Dynamic Range Compression Hinders Performance by Young, Normal-Hearing Listeners in a Two-Talker Separation Task. J Audio Eng Soc. 2009;57(7/8):532-546. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=14833

@article{Stone2009_14833,
  author = {Stone, Michael A. and Moore, Brian C. J. and Füllgrabe, Christian and Hinton, Andrew C.},
  title = {{Multichannel Fast-Acting Dynamic Range Compression Hinders Performance by Young, Normal-Hearing Listeners in a Two-Talker Separation Task}},
  journal = {Journal of the Audio Engineering Society},
  volume = {57},
  number = {7/8},
  pages = {532--546},
  year = {2009},
  month = jul,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=14833}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Multichannel Fast-Acting Dynamic Range Compression Hinders Performance by Young, Normal-Hearing Listeners in a Two-Talker Separation Task
AU  - Stone, Michael A.
AU  - Moore, Brian C. J.
AU  - Füllgrabe, Christian
AU  - Hinton, Andrew C.
T2  - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
J2  - J. Audio Eng. Soc.
VL  - 57
IS  - 7/8
SP  - 532
EP  - 546
PY  - 2009
DA  - 2009/07/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=14833
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - Because of the well-known benefits of dynamic range compression, sound engineers routinely use this tool as a normal part of their professional activities. Hearing aid designers also use compression. However, compression can impede perception of independent sound sources in a complex aural environment. When normal young listeners were given the task of recognizing keywords from two simultaneous talkers, their performance worsened when compression was applied to the mixed signal. Even when performance remained unchanged, the cognitive load, as measured using a secondary task, increased significantly. The results indicate that excessive compression can lead to increased listening effort.
ER  -