Vocalab

Comparison between VOCALAB and PRAAT

Benefits of PRAAT :

• Free
• Well known in the world of sound processing
• Internal powerful programming language
• Calculates spectrogram
• Extraction of fundamental and formant
• All classical operators ( Jitter, Shimmer , HNR , etc. ..)
• Well suited to the discovery of sound/speech characteristics
• Using the programming language, you may pilot statistical analysis rapidly

Disadvantages of PRAAT :

• No real time feature (recorded first , then display and apply computational tools)
• Not always easy to use : several commands to chain in order to obtain a result
• Complex menus, most commands without interest for speech therapists
• Indicators of voice quality ( shimmer , jitter , APQ , PPQ ) poorly adapted to the context of speech theraphy
• Indicators not easy to comparable to MDVP results using similar computational algorithms
• Noise-sensitive algorithms, delicate algorithm setting requiring good knowledge of sound processing
• No pathological voice database

Comparison between VOCALAB and PRAAT

PRAATVOCALAB 
FreeLow costCost
Web-based supportAvailable; dedicated trainings organized regularlyTraining for speech therapists
Signal processing-oriented interfaceSpeech-therapy-friendly interface with expert therapist on-line resourcesUser-friendly interface
Step-by-step voice analysis with state-of-the-art signal processing algorithms.Real-time voice analysis using speech-therapy optimized signal processingQuick on-device voice analysis
Numerous options, choices of algorithms and parametersStrict minimumSpeech processing parameters
no real-time features. Based on recorded samples.Real-time spectrogram for voice analysis. "before/after" speech representations for objective progress analysisImmediate audio playback with visual feedback
No media libraryHigh-quality voice recordings, media-library of 100 soundHigh-quality voice recordings
none100 sounds in media library and on-line data base of more than 250 pathological voice samplesData base of voices
May be programmedHandling of ambient noise with advanced filtering algorithmsAutomatic cancelation of the ambient noise
Many indicators ; user’s defined parameters may be programmed5 indicators of voice quality optimized for speech therapyVoice Stability Analysis
noneDedicated indicatorVowel Attack evaluation
Vary depending on indicators and operating procedureFixed to 1.0Pathology thresholds
No figure for illustrating the vocal range extraction, No phonetogram availableAnalysis of pitch, range, generation of relevant pictures as well as phonetogram extractionRecording and analysis of text
No direct evaluationDedicated screen, automatic computing of averages and pathology indexAnalysis of S/Z, A/Z ratio
Available through textAvailable through dedicated graphicsAnalysis of mean pitch and pitch range
Non dedicated interface but feasibleMeasurement of the longest you can hold a note, including A/Z and S/Z ratio for in-depth pathology analysis.Measurement of the longest you can hold a note – Maximum Phonation Time (MPT)
No dedicated interface, but can be measuredSinging pitch range analysis, conversion into note range, illustration of voice mechanism using spectrogramSinging pitch range
May be programmed using internal software resources, but no dedicated interface to speech therapy.History of voice indicators, vocal range, pitch, MPT, before, during and after therapy for immediate visualization of progresses in therapy.History of pitch, jitter, shimmer, pitch range, singing pitch range and MPT
Statistical analysis can be performed with good knowledge of internal language andCapability of contributing to the on-line data base of /a/ and /siren/, and interactiveCapability to capitalize analysis results and audio
algorithm control.discussions with speech therapy experts.files
not targeted to speech therapy, no dedicated support in relation with voice therapyCapability of automatic generation of speech-therapy report for the compilation of all speech indicatorsSpeech therapy report

Written by E. Sicard, 11.03.2014