Measuring pitch extractors' response to frequency-modulated multi-component signals

Abstract: This article focuses on the research tool for investigating the fundamental frequencies of voiced sounds. We introduce an objective and informative measurement method of pitch extractors' response to frequency-modulated tones. The method uses a new test signal for acoustic system analysis. The test signal enables simultaneous measurement of the extractors' responses. They are the modulation frequency response and the total distortion, including intermodulation distortions. We applied this method to various pitch extractors and placed them on several performance maps. We used the proposed method to fine-tune one of the extractors to make it the best fit tool for scientific research of voice fundamental frequencies.