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Cameron Martland - ChannelFree

Goals of Amplification
1. To make important sounds audible and comfortable by providing:
frequency specific amplification level specific amplification

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1. Maximize speech understanding 1. Provide high sound quality

Single Channel
First instruments were single channel with some frequency shaping Good sound quality, but reduced flexibility to fit varying dynamic ranges and nonlinear targets

Channels ChannelFreeTM
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Multiple Channels
Multiple channels were developed that were finally able to achieve frequency and level-dependent amplification BUT these systems didnt always sound so good

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Multiple Channels
Why didnt it sound so good? Gain in each channel was varied based on the frequency and intensity of the signal With fast time constants, the contrast between the peaks and valleys of the signal are reduced (i.e. it spectrally smears)
90 80 Output (dB SPL) 70 F1 60 F2 50 40 F3 Amplified with many channel system

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Key
Original vowel /ee/

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Multiple Channels
So the engineers thought again and found... It was possible to achieve less signal degradation via two mechanisms:

Channels ChannelFreeTM
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Slower time constants in each channel Overlapping channels

Slow time constants & multiple channels

Channels

Speed of compression

ChannelFreeTM
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fast

Equal sound quality

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slow low high Number of channels

Slow time constants - Drawbacks

Loss of audibility of soft consonants
Channels ChannelFreeTM
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Errors of undershoot and overshoot

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Overlapping Channels
Channels no longer act independently
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They take into account more of what is happening in their adjacent channels

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Intensity (dB SPL)

Summary

Frequency (Hz)

Overlapping Channels Drawbacks

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What you give with one hand you take with the other:
In other words, what you gain in sound quality you lose with adjustment flexibility

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Multi-channels: The Report Card

Todays multi-channel amplification has overcome problems but has introduced compromises:
Channels ChannelFreeTM
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Single channel sounded good but poor fitting flexibility Multi-channel fast had good fitting flexibility but sounded bad Multi-channel slow sounded better but issues of undershoot and overshoot introduced Multi-channel overlapping sounded better but issues of fitting flexibility introduced

Multi-channels: The Report Card

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ED IX M

What is ChannelFreeTM?
Bernafon engineers looked at the mixed report card of multichannel systems ... and they thought out of the box!

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Divided and recombined sound path

Instead of dividing the signal into many channels...

What is ChannelFreeTM?
They developed ChannelFreeTM: a unique digital signal processing strategy

Channels ChannelFreeTM
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Unbroken ChannelFree sound path

Looks simple but it offers the benefits of multi-channel amplification and more......... without compromises

ChannelFreeTM
No channels and extremely fast processing
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Benefits of no channels
Maximum Speech Understanding
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With ChannelFreeTM, speech is amplified in its entirety therefore the natural structure is preserved Research shows that spectral characteristics are most important for speech understanding
Van Schijndel et al (2001) Boothroyd (1996)

Benefits of no channels
Maximum Speech Understanding
Channels ChannelFreeTM
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90 80 Output (dB SPL) 70 F1 60 F2 50 40 F3

Key
Original vowel /ee/ ChannelFree Amplified with many channel system

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ChannelFreeTM = no spectral smearing

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Clear, natural sound
Channels ChannelFreeTM
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All sounds processed without breaking sound into channels Natural characteristics of sound maintained as with speech - e.g. timbre characteristics of music are maintained

ChannelFreeTM
Extremely fast processing
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Benefits of fast processing

Maximum Speech Understanding
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Average speech carries ~10 phonemes per second ChannelFreeTM analyses and makes gain adjustments 16,000 times per second to capture individual phonemes

Benefits of fast processing

Clear, natural sound
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Using time domain processing, ChannelFreeTM: 1. Analyzes and make adjustments on every sample
Sampling rate is 16,000/second therefore 16,000 analyses and gain adjustments/second Instant response to the environment

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1. Has a fast throughput time

Benefits of fast processing

Clear, natural sound
Channels ChannelFreeTM
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Research shows that long throughput time can interfere with sound quality, especially for own voice Additional research shows that frequencydependent throughput delay reduces sound quality

Proof
Premium class sound quality: NAL study
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Sound quality comparisons of 5 premium class instruments for different input signals Symbio, Diva, Claro, Canta 7 and Triano S Objective measurements were also made to see what correlates with subjective preference (low time delay, low noise) Symbio got highest average rating by hearing impaired subjects for male and female voice, and music* Symbio was significantly preferred for listening in quiet room (normal hearing)
* not statistically significant

ChannelFreeTM The Report Card

ChannelFreeTM is a radical departure from traditional multi-channel amplification. It has no compromises and therefore delivers: Maximum speech understanding Clear, natural sound

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Because: Symbio XT doesn't split sound into channels Symbio XT is extremely fast

ChannelFreeTM The Report Card

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ON TI LU VO RE

ChannelFreeTM Sound Demonstration

ChannelFree

TM

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Anna OBrien - OpenFit