Hi Laura,
As the previous discussion showed, it is not always straightforward to full=
y understand the equipment-related issues - even for the experienced expert=
s. So, there is no reason to worry about the lack of (initial) experience..=
.
<<I will be analyzing simple parameters such as length, high and low freque=
ncy (well, maybe not high frequency anymore), rate of delivery, etc. No wor=
k like this has been done before; the only study looking at their song foun=
d a slower rate (due to longer gaps between songs).
I am encouraged to hear that you feel like I can examine frequencies below =
6khz safely - I believe that as well. If you have any thoughts about what a=
spects of the song I could and could not safely measure, that might give me=
some ideas that I haven't already thought of.>>
Yes, I agree that you could safely measure at least a number of temporal pa=
rameters (rate of delivery, total duration of the song, the time interval f=
rom the beginning of the song to the pronounced 2.8 kHz element close to th=
e end) and a few frequency parameters (the exact (mean) frequency of that 2=
.8 kHz element and maybe the minimum frequency of the harsh section at the =
beginning).
Theoretically, one could also try to measure the mean spectrum of first har=
sh part of the song (peak frequency, bandwidth, quartiles and wiener entrop=
y), but these parameters would probably be too much affected by the specifi=
c recording conditions (the frequency response of a parabolic microphone is=
not perfect and depends on how it is aimed relative to the singing bird).=
Bye the way, I would guess that the mp3 compression (exept of course the li=
mitation set by the 6 kHz low-pass filter effect) has no signifinat effect =
on the frequency parameters.
There is also a gentle amplitude modulation during the first 200 ms of the =
song. In the recording that you posted I can count three amplitude peaks (t=
hese become more evident on the waveform after high-pass filtering). Maybe =
this is something that differs between dialects.
Best wishes and good luck with your study,
Raimund
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