Course detail

Bioacoustics

FSI-RBKAcad. year: 2012/2013

Bioacoustics is dealing with human organs and the organs of the next living creature of which their function is connected to an using of acoustic waves summary of an acoustics using. Bioacoustics is dealing especially by the human voice generation and by the hearing perception. The source voice is generated by the vocal folds and is adapted when is going through the vocal tract. The source voice differs when it is generated in whisper or in aloud. The source voice is a cause of the formant excitation of individual vowels according the set up of the vocal tract. The formants are the natural frequencies of the vocal tract.
The other organ using the acoustic waves properties and vibro-acoustic systems anywise is a hearing system. The hearing apparatus catches the acoustic waves from surrounding environment and by means of complicated electrical-mechanical system them transformed into signals which are sent further into brain.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Pavel Švancara, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics (ÚMTMB)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will receive very valuable information during study of acoustics subject about the two very important human organs. The first is the vocal tract and second is the hearing system which is ranges among fundamental senses. Students will meet not with the correct function of the both organ, but also with many their faults and defects.

Prerequisites

Fundamentals of acoustics:
acoustic wave, acoustic quantities (pressure, intenzity, power), acoustic cavities, acoustic signal spectra, experimental analysis of the acoustic quantities, acoustic fields, spectral and modal properties of acoustic cavities.
Mathematics:
matrix algebra, linear algebra, trigonometrical functions, programming on computers,computer modeling of mechanical structure.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

The classified accreditation is prescribed for the subject.
The claims for accreditation:
100 % attendance on the exercises. In case of the orderly excused absence is necessary to solve a alternate problem. Accreditation is carried out by means of the written test at the term end. The test consists of the three questions covered a very important areas of the acoustics subject. Participation on the exercises is compulsory. Head of exercises carry out continuous check of student’s presence , their activity and fundamental knowledge. A not excused presence in the exercise is a reason not to give the accreditation. Definite form of the fulfilment of these claims defines the head of exercises in the term begin.

Course curriculum

1. Acoustic vibration, acoustic modes of the close and open tubes
2. The windbrass instruments
3.-4. Vocal tract organ, spectral and modal properties
5. Voice analysis, vowel formants
6.-7. Vocal folds function
8. Compensatory voice sources, electrolaryng, compensatory vocal folds
9.-10.Hearing system, cochlea
11.-12. Source defects of the hearing system
13.Skull, transmission properties

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The human vocal tract is a unique “musical instrument” which is able to generate a sound of various frequency (tone) composition and in consequence of this reality it serves for communication among people. The hearing system enables a frequency analysis of received sound by means of special inner ear function – cochlea.
In the BIOACOUSTICS subject the attention will be devoted to the both problems given above. The function both organs will be analysed theoretically, by the computer modeling by means of finite element method and further by the experiments.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The inspection of the education is carried out systematically, on the exercises the presence will be written in the student’s list. A student’s preparedness for the education is carried out continuously and individually in the students, or by the short test. In case of orderly excused missing presence it is necessary to fulfil the missing items and optionally to solve some compensatory examples. A missing experimental exercises it is necessary to compensate in the alternate time.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

I. R. Titze: Principles of Voice Production, Prentice Hall, 1994 (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N3901-2 Master's

    branch M-IMB , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Pavel Švancara, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Acoustic vibration, acoustic modes of the close and open tubes
2. The windbrass instruments
3.-4. Vocal tract organ, spectral and modal properties
5. Voice analysis, vowel formants
6.-7. Vocal folds function
8. Compensatory voice sources, electrolaryng, compensatory vocal folds
9.-10.Hearing system, cochlea
11.-12. Source defects of the hearing system
13.Skull, transmission properties

Computer-assisted exercise

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Pavel Švancara, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Acoustic modes of the close and open tubes
2. The windbrass instruments, spectra
3.-4. Vocal tract organ, spectral and modal properties
5. Experimental voice analysis, vowel formants
6.-7. Vocal folds function, human source voice
8. Compensatory voice sources, electrolaryng, compensatory vocal folds
9.-10.Cochlea, computer modeling
11.-12. Source defects of the hearing system, simulation
13.Skull, transmission properties