Process / pipelinePsychoacoustics
Bark and Mel Scales
Bark and Mel scales are perceptual frequency scales that map physical frequency (Hz) to perceived pitch and auditory perception. Formalized by Zwicker (Bark, 1961) and Stevens (Mel, 1937), these non-linear scales reflect how the human ear processes sound. Bark scale divides hearing into 24 critical bands; Mel scale models pitch perception. Both are essential for audio feature extraction, speech processing, and designing audio systems that align with human hearing.
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Sources
- Zwicker, E. (1961). Subdivision of the audible frequency range into critical bands. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 33(2), 248–248. DOI: 10.1121/1.1908631 ↗
- Stevens, S. S., Volkmann, J., & Newman, E. B. (1937). A scale for the measurement of the psychological magnitude pitch. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 8(3), 185–190. DOI: 10.1121/1.1915893 ↗
- Moore, B. C. J. (2012). An Introduction to the Psychology of Hearing (6th ed.). Academic Press. ISBN: 978-0123914232