A new post-filter algorithm combined with two-step adaptive beamformer

Abstract

The optimal microphone array, in the sense of minimum mean square errors (MMSE), includes two processing blocks: the minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamformer and the single-channel Wiener filter, which acts as post-filter. In this paper, we propose a new post-filter algorithm based on assumptions that both the noise power attenuation factor (NPAF) and signal power attenuation factor (SPAF) are time invariant in the reverberant room. The algorithm recursively estimates both factors from available measurements and uses them in estimation of the post-filter parameters. Additionally, to overcome the problem of the poor performance of the MVDR beamformer in reverberant conditions, we propose the usage of the two-step (TS) MVDR algorithm. This algorithm improves the robustness of the beamformer and its ability to suppress the interferences using an estimate of the desired speaker transfer function. Although TS MVDR beamformer and proposed postfilter can work separately, or combined with other algorithms, the best performance is obtained when they work together. The performance of the proposed combination of new post-filter algorithm and TS MVDR beamformer is tested in a simulated reverberant room and compared with similar algorithms, which gave rather good results. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.