News & Events
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New Sales Engineer: Matthew Miller
Listen has expanded its Sales team with the addition of Matthew Miller as a sales engineer on the West Coast. Based in the San Francisco area, Matthew will be the main point of contact for our customers in California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada. Matthew brings a combination of engineering and sales experience to the Listen team with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and almost ten years’ experience in technical sales. In addition to listening to music, Matthew enjoys creating beats and recording songs, particularly in hip-hop and R&B genres. He also loves spending time with his wife and daughters, collecting cards, and gaming. Matthew can be reached at mmiller@listeninc.com.
SoundCheck 16.1 Released – New Frequency Trigger for Open Loop Testing
Listen is excited to announce the release of SoundCheck 16.1. This minor release, which contains some exciting new features, is available free of charge to all registered users of SoundCheck 16.0.
Most significant is the inclusion of a new frequency trigger. This allows frequency-based triggering of acquisition from an external source using a pilot tone at the beginning of a test sweep. This allows for improved accuracy over previous level-based triggering when capturing responses from a device where you don’t have direct access to the microphone or speaker, especially in noisy environments. This technique optimizes open loop test methods for smart speakers and other voice-controlled devices such as smart phones, robots, automotive audio, smart thermostats, hearables and more. You can view a short video explaining this feature here:
We also have a free measurement sequence using the frequency trigger that can be downloaded from our website so that you can test it out right away! View Sequence.
SoundCheck now also fully integrates with the Mentor A2B interface for testing automotive audio connected via the Analog Devices A2B digital bus. The Mentor Analyzer, which handles the transmission of signal in to and out of the bus, is viewed as an ASIO interface by SoundCheck, enabling SoundCheck to read/write to the device and therefore analyze any transducer connected to the A2B bus. A custom VI permits control of the Mentor A2B interface configuration via SoundCheck. This means that it can be controlled from within a SoundCheck sequence, for example loading configurations and starting/stopping ASIO streams. This makes it an ideal R&D or production line test solution for automotive audio, or for anyone testing transducers connected via A2B bus. More.
Also available (additional cost) with this new release are two optional sequences – background noise simulation to the ETSI ES 202 396-1 standard, and the TIA-920B dual-bandwidth telephone test standard.
The background noise simulation sequence (part number 3121) is a cost-effective alternative to dedicated background noise generation systems. It calibrates a 4.1 speaker array to conform with the ETSI ES 202 396-1 Standard, providing an equalized, calibrated playback solution to stress devices in a standardized and repeatable way. The sequence includes a library of real world binaural recordings from the standard, and custom or user-defined binaural recordings may also be used. Applications of this sequence include evaluating ANC, noise suppression, voice recognition testing, SNR optimization of microphones, beamforming directionality studies of microphone arrays and more. More.
The TIA-920B sequence (part number 3111) tests to the TIA-920B dual-bandwidth standard that applies to both narrowband (NB) and wideband (WB) devices. It also allows a choice between Free Field (FF) and Diffuse Field (DF) as the Listener Reference Point (LRP). The current release measures digital communications devices with handset features, according to TIA-920.110-B and speakerphones, according to TIA-920.120-B. Support for headset measurements, according to TIA-920.130-B will be added in a future release. More.
SoundCheck/Mentor A2B for Auto Audio
We are excited to announce that SoundCheck fully integrates with the Mentor A2B interface for testing automotive audio connected via the Analog Devices A2B digital bus. The Mentor Analyzer, which handles the transmission of signal in to and out of the bus, is viewed as an ASIO interface by SoundCheck, enabling SoundCheck to read/write to the device and therefore analyze any transducer connected to the A2B bus. A custom VI permits control of the Mentor A2B interface configuration via SoundCheck. This means that it can be controlled from within a SoundCheck sequence, for example loading configurations and starting/stopping ASIO streams. This makes it an ideal R&D or production line test solution for automotive audio, or for anyone testing transducers connected via A2B bus. Contact your Listen sales engineer for more information.
Please see our knowledgebase article for download links and installation instructions.
New DSP Engineer: Rahul Shakya
Listen welcomes on board our new DSP Engineer, Rahul Shakya. Rahul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and Mathematics from Trinity College, Hartford, and an MSc and a PhD in Electrical Sciences and Computer Engineering from Brown University. Rahul brings strong Audio DSP skills to his role at Listen, with several years’ experience as a graduate and post-doctoral researcher at Brown University where he worked on a diverse range of and DSP, Speech and audio processing research topics.
Seminar: Smarter Measurements for Smarter Speakers – Denmark
Smarter speakers require smarter test methods!
Learn how to test smart speakers, robots, voice-controlled automotive audio and other IoT devices in our practical half-day seminar taught by industry expert Steve Temme of Listen, Inc., with additional information on microphone and hardware products for testing these devices from G.R.A.S.
Although acoustic testing of smart speakers and other voice-activated devices presents challenges such as injecting and extracting response signals, time delays, and triggering the system using voice commands, it is still possible to measure the same parameters as traditional loudspeakers, In addition we can also measure microphone array performance, speakerphone performance and more.
We demonstrate how to do this, focusing on:
- Stimulating and capturing responses from a device where you don’t have direct access to the microphone or speaker (open loop testing).
- Delays, asynchronous stimulus / acquisition, and working with the ‘cloud’
- Testing with real world signals such as speech and music, and how to analyze results from these test stimuli
- Voice Recognition – key word spotting, wake word testing, directionality, and the effect of background noise on voice recognition performance
- Telephony – testing smart speakers for hands-free calling
- Microphones, artificial mouths and other hardware for smart speaker testing
There is no charge for this one-day seminar and lunch will be provided. There will also be a factory tour of G.R.A.S. Space is limited, so please RSVP today.
Location and Date:
Holte (Copenhagen area), Denmark. Friday September 28th, 2018 – 9.00am – 3.00pm. GRAS Sound & Vibration A/S, Skovlytoften 33, DK-2840 Holte, Denmark
Agenda (9am-3.00pm)
- Introduction
- Equipment for Smart Speaker Testing
- Listen Product Overview
- GRAS Product Overview
- Choosing the right microphone for smart speaker testing environments (far field vs near field vs unconventional environments)
- When to use a Mouth Simulator vs Head and Torso Simulator for testing
- Open Loop Testing
- What is ‘open loop’ testing?
- Can you really measure frequency response and harmonic distortion in an open loop?
- Using Frequency Shifting to time align asynchronous stimuli and response
- Working with cloud based services
- Testing with Real World Signals
- How to use real voice and / or non test tones to evaluate acoustic performance
- Analysis techniques used for evaluating non test tone stimuli
- Voice Recognition
- Key Word spotting / Wake Up word testing
- Room effects, environmental distractors, and SNR…how they affect voice recognition performance
- Measuring directionality
- Networking lunch
- Telephony
- What voice quality metrics are important for speakerphones?
- Challenges of testing speakerphones in different environments
- GRAS Factory tour (optional)
SoundCheck 16 New Features Video
In this short 10 minute video, sales engineer Les Quindipan gives a brief overview and demonstration of the new features and functionality of SoundCheck 16.
Seminars in UK and Germany: The Challenges of Testing Speech Controlled Audio Systems
Your devices got smarter. Did your test system?
Learn how to implement open loop tests for both playback and recording in a range of devices including smart speakers, automotive audio, robots, IoT devices and more in this practical half-day seminar.
Open loop testing (testing devices where inputs and outputs are independent) enables many types of smart devices and their components to be tested in various formats and situations including:
- Smart speakers, smart watches and other smart devices
- Microphone arrays
- Speech recognition systems with microphones
- In-vehicle audio systems
- Audio devices/systems with no physical inputs or outputs
- Testing in noisy environments
We explain how to measure the same parameters as traditional loudspeakers, discussing such challenges as injecting and extracting response signals, time delays, and triggering the system using voice commands. We also demonstrate how to measure microphone array performance, speakerphone performance and more. Course content includes:
- Stimulating and capturing responses from a device where you don’t have direct access to the microphone or speaker (open loop testing).
- Delays, asynchronous stimulus / acquisition, and working with the ‘cloud’
- Testing with real world signals such as speech and music, and how to analyze results from these test stimuli
- Voice Recognition – key word spotting, wake word testing, directionality, and the effect of background noise on voice recognition performance
- Telephony – testing smart speakers for hands-free calling
There is no charge for this one-day seminar and lunch will be provided. Space is limited, so please RSVP today.
Locations and Dates:
UK: Tuesday Sept 25th, Sharnbrook Hotel, Bedford, England. The Sharnbrook Hotel, Park Lane (off A6), Sharnbrook Bedfordshire MK44 1LX. Note: If you need to stay here overnight, tell them you are with the ACSoft group to take advantage of a discounted rate.
Germany: Thursday Sept 27th, NH München Ost Conference Center, Einsteinring 20, 85609 Aschheim, Germany.
Full Agenda (9am-4.00pm)
- Introduction to Open Loop Testing
- What is it?
- What Kinds of Analysis Can Be Done?
- Classic Acoustic Testing: Frequency Response and Distortion
- Stimulus Signals
- Distortion Methods: THD, THD+N, Rub & Buzz (Squeak & Rattle), Perceptual Rub & Buzz, Non-Coherent Distortion
- Classic Acoustic Testing: Frequency Response and Distortion
- Mixing Digital and Analog Units
- Capturing Signals Asynchronous to the Stimulus
- Dealing with Triggering, playback and recording Delays, digital clock Resampling, and corresponding Frequency Shift
- Open Loop Applications for Playback
- Smart Devices
- Frequency Response and Distortion
- Directionality
- Automotive
- 6 Mic Tree for Audio Tuning
- Distortion methods
- HATS for Impulse Response Testing @ seated position
- Smart Devices
- Networking Lunch
- Open Loop Applications for Recording
- Smart Devices
- Frequency Response and Distortion
- Voice Recognition
- Directionality
- Automotive
- Frequency Response and Distortion (general and to ITU P.11xx)
- SNR placement study
- Impulse Response function from HATS mouth -> microphone
- Directionality
- Smart Devices
- Handsfree Communications
- Terminology for Handsfree Communications
- Introduction to Telephony Metrics
- GRAS Product Overview
- Choosing the right microphone for your application (far field vs near field vs unconventional environments)
- When to use a Mouth Simulator vs Head and Torso Simulator for testing
Presenters:
Steve Temme – Listen, Inc.
Cupertino SoundCheck Training – Sept 10-11, 2018
Unleash your audio test skills with our popular 2 day SoundCheck training course in Cupertino, CA on Sept 10-11.
In this class, we start with the basics – how to set up your system, calibrate your hardware and use the virtual instruments. We then focus on how to develop and modify test sequences, starting with stimulus, analysis and display options, and progressing to more advanced functionality such as sequence loops and jumps, statistics, and advanced post-processing. The class is a combination of classroom-style teaching and hands on practical sessions, so that when you leave the class you will be ready to go in practice as well as in theory.
This hands-on class covers all the major features of SoundCheck version 16, including writing sequences, test signals, analysis, distortion measurements and more. The class is a combination of presentations interspersed with hands-on exercises to ensure that you are comfortable with all the concepts and methods taught before you leave the classroom. Although no previous SoundCheck experience is assumed, the course still offers plenty to users familiar with writing basic sequences. Content includes:
- Overview of SoundCheck software
- Software Options
- Hardware
- Configuring audio interfaces and external equipment
- Listen Certified Sound Cards
- Calibration
- Calibration of different DUT types (telephones, speakers, etc.)
- Virtual instruments
- Spectrum Analyzer, RTA, Multi-meter, Signal Generator, Oscilloscope
- Virtual Instruments – hands-on
- Online forum, bug and wish lists
- SoundCheck Steps & Sequences
- Philosophy & Architecture
- Creating and editing SoundCheck Test Sequences and Steps
- Using the Sequence Wizard
- Stimulus & Acquisition Step details
- Basic analysis
- Display
- Data Management Hands-on
- Limits
- Sequence Development – hands-on
- Printing
- Serial numbers
- Autosave and recall
- Messages – user prompts, calling external devices
- Post-processing
- Sequence Development (part 2) – hands-on
- Statistics
- Sequence loops and jumps
- Advanced sequence development
Course presenters: Mark Latshaw, Cam Ruffle-Deignan – Listen, Inc.
Cost: $950 ($665 with valid SoundCheck support contract)
Location / Dates / Time
Hilton Garden Inn, 10741 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014
Sept 10-11, 2018. Coffee / snacks / sign-in starts at 8:00 AM and the training course runs from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day.
