Speech Intelligibility Improvement by Sound Recording Techniques

Speech intelligibility studies have modelised the influences of the acoustical features of the room and/or the properties of the voice signal and/or the electroacoustical characteristics of the loudspeakers on scores. A complementary element is added here: the sound recording system. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that sound recording microphone techniques can modify intelligibility scores: monophonic techniques (with an omnidirectional and a cardioïd microphones) and a stereophonic O.R.T.F one. The sense and the extent of the variation are discussed: scores are increased when recordings are listened. The experimental conditions are recalled [1] but new results are obtained leading to a new detailed analysis. A discussion is started up concerning the reliability of intelligibility tests in an auralization approach.