ARL STEP

Now Version 1.08!

Audio Research Labs' STEP (Subjective Training and Evaluation Program) is a computer-controlled system for audio presentation and subjective evaluation of speech or audio quality. It supports the following widely-accepted test methodologies:

ITU-R Recommendation BS.1116, “Methods for the subjective assessment of small impairments
in audio systems including multichannel sound systems"
ITU-R Recommendation BS.1534, “MUlti-Stimulus test with Hidden Reference and Anchor (MUSHRA)”
ITU-R Recommendation BS.1284 (Two-comparison forced-choice) tests with 5-point or 7-point grading scales
Two-comparison forced-choice A/B/X tests

STEP is also a valuable tool for audio codec developers. Its

Training mode

can be used to get a quick assessment of the quality impact of varying one or more coder parameters (where each parameter variation is a different "system under test").

STEP supports subjective evaluation of multichannel audio signals in environments ranging from acoustically controlled multi-channel multi-loudspeaker listening rooms, to soundbooths with headphones, to your office with multimedia speakers or headphones. Subjective evaluations can be directly loaded into a spreadsheet for easy data analysis. STEP is available for Windows XP platforms and works with any sound card that supports DirectSound or ASIO drivers.

STEP was developed by a group of former Bell Laboratory acoustics and signal processing engineers. It is typically used in conjuction with an acoustically controlled listening environment, in which signals are presented via headphones or loudspeakers. The test environment must provide a video screen (e.g. LCD) for the listener to view the STEP graphical control panel and a mouse for the listener to interact with the panel. A keyboard can be used as an alternative to the mouse for switching between stimuli.

The STEP application and associated STEP signal demonstation package includes:

STEP executable
STEP users manual
A set of diagnostic files to calibrate level and identify signal channel to loudspeaker mapping
A set of mono, stereo and 5.1 demonstration files
Example output score files and corresponding Excel Pivot Table analysis

All demonstration files are ready-to-go tests that showcase all capabilities of STEP.

STEP Version 1.07 has the following new features:

Improved Score File format. Now it is extremely easy to load score files directly into Microsoft Excel, create a pivot table and plot the test results
Support for A/B/X test format
Support for muting on transition from one item to another. Mute intevals are selectable, from 0 ms to 500 ms
Mono signal files can play as stereo signals (i.e. to L and R speakers)
Better set of example signal files

ARL STEP is available for Windows platforms

Price : $299.00

Click here to purchase STEP.