MUS 305 / ECE 412: Computational Musicology, Audio DSP & Binaural Psychoacoustics
Target Faculty: Music Conservatories, Audio Engineering, Signal Processing (DSP) & Cognitive Psychology
ERIC Statutory Topic Alignment: Social Studies and Social Science Education; Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education
Primary Dataset: DS-5 (limewire-audio-dsp-mir-bpm-8d-psychoacoustics-dataset.csv) · Monograph: LimeWire-Vol8 & Vol9
1. Theoretical Core
Spectral-flux onset detection and autocorrelation BPM tempo tracking; 12-pitch-class chromagram correlation against Krumhansl-Schmuckler key profiles and Camelot wheel mapping. Spatial psychoacoustics: Interaural Time Difference (ITD), Interaural Level Difference (ILD), and pinna HRTF filtering in 360-degree 8D audio. Varispeed resampling (Sped Up / Nightcore) vs phase-vocoder time-stretching and Slowed + Reverb RT60 decay.
2. Zero-Install Browser Laboratory Assignment (Lab Manual #5: MIR Tempo/Key Benchmarking, 8D Binaural HRTF Synthesis & Formant Shift Analysis)
- Measure ground-truth vs detected BPM and Camelot key across 10 multi-genre stems via https://limewire.com/tools/bpm-key-finder and compare against DS-5.
- Synthesize a 360-degree rotating binaural track via https://limewire.com/tools/8d-audio-converter and compute maximum ITD (microseconds) for a 0.18m head radius.
- Generate a 1.25x Sped Up edit and a 0.85x Slowed + Reverb edit via https://limewire.com/tools/sped-up-audio, and slice a normalized transient clip via https://limewire.com/tools/soundboard-maker.
3. Required Browser Tools (Zero Local Setup / Chromebook Compatible)
- https://limewire.com/tools/bpm-key-finder
- https://limewire.com/tools/8d-audio-converter
- https://limewire.com/tools/sped-up-audio
- https://limewire.com/tools/soundboard-maker
- https://limewire.com/tools/audio
4. Verified Instructor Answer Key
Q1 Answer: Using Woodworth's spherical head formula, max ITD at azimuth 90 deg (pi/2) for radius r=0.09m and c=343 m/s is (r/c)*(theta + sin(theta)) = (0.09/343)*(1.5708 + 1.0) = 674 microseconds. Q2 Answer: Coupled 1.25x resampling shifts pitch upward by 12 * log2(1.25) = +3.863 semitones and scales vocal formants F1-F3 by 1.25x.