J. Stephen Downie

Bio: J. Stephen Downie is an academic researcher from University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. The author has contributed to research in topics: Music information retrieval & Digital library. The author has an hindex of 30, co-authored 164 publications receiving 4135 citations. Previous affiliations of J. Stephen Downie include University of Western Ontario & National Center for Supercomputing Applications.

The 2007 MIREX Audio Mood Classification Task: Lessons Learned

Abstract: Recent music information retrieval (MIR) research pays increasing attention to music classification based on moods expressed by music pieces The first Audio Mood Classification (AMC) evaluation task was held in the 2007 running of the Music Information Retrieval Evaluation eXchange (MIREX) This paper describes important issues in setting up the task, including dataset construction and ground-truth labeling, and analyzes human assessments on the audio dataset, as well as system performances from various angles Interesting findings include system performance differences with regard to mood clusters and the levels of agreement amongst human judgments regarding mood labeling Based on these analyses, we summarize experiences learned from the first community scale evaluation of the AMC task and propose recommendations for future AMC and similar evaluation tasks

Evaluation of Multiple-F0 Estimation and Tracking Systems.

Abstract: Multi-pitch estimation of sources in music is an ongoing research area that has a wealth of applications in music information retrieval systems. This paper presents the systematic evaluations of over a dozen competing methods and algorithms for extracting the fundamental frequencies of pitched sound sources in polyphonic music. The evaluations were carried out as part of the Music Information Retrieval Evaluation eXchange (MIREX) over the course of two years, from 2007 to 2008. The generation of the dataset and its corresponding ground-truth, the methods by which systems can be evaluated, and the evaluation results of the different systems are presented and discussed.

The Music Information Retrieval Evaluation eXchange: Some Observations and Insights

Abstract: Advances in the science and technology of Music Information Retrieval (MIR) systems and algorithms are dependent on the development of rigorous measures of accuracy and performance such that meaningful comparisons among current and novel approaches can be made. This is the motivating principle driving the efforts of the International Music Information Retrieval Systems Evaluation Laboratory (IMIRSEL) and the annual Music Information Retrieval Evaluation eXchange (MIREX). Since it started in 2005, MIREX has fostered great advancements not only in many specific areas of MIR, but also in our general understanding of how MIR systems and algorithms are to be evaluated. This chapter outlines some of the major highlights of the past four years of MIREX evaluations, including its organizing principles, the selection of evaluation metrics, and the evolution of evaluation tasks. The chapter concludes with a brief introduction of how MIREX plans to expand into the future using a suite of Web 2.0 technologies to automated MIREX evaluations.

Evaluating a simple approach to music information retrieval : conceiving melodic n-grams as text

Abstract: Taking our cue from those printed thematic catalogues that have reduced the amount of music information represented we developed, and then evaluated, a Music Information Retrieval (MIR) system based upon the intervals found within the melodies of a collection of 9354 folksongs. We believe that there is enough information contained within an interval-only representation of monophonic melodies that effective retrieval of music information has been achieved. We extended the thematic catalogue model by affording access to musical expressions found anywhere within a melody. To achieve this extension we fragmented to the melodies into length-n subsections called n-grams. The length of these n-grams and the degree to which we precisely represent the intervals are variables analyzed in this thesis. N-grams form discrete units of melodic information much in the same manner as words are discrete units of language. Thus, we have come to consider them " musical words. " This implies that, for the purposes of music information retrieval, we can treat them as " real words " and thereby apply traditional text-based information retrieval techniques. We examined the validity of our " musical word " concept in two ways. First, a variety of informetric analyses were conducted to examine in which ways the informetric properties of " musical words " and " real words " are similar or different. Second, we constructed a collection of " musical word " databases using the famous text-based, SMART information retrieval system. A group of simulated queries was run against these databases. The results were evaluated using the normalized precision and normalized recall measures. Results indicate that the simple approach to music information retrieval examined in this study shows great merit. Acknowledgements The writing of a thesis is a long and arduous task. Only with the support of others can anyone survive the ordeal. Fortunately, I have been blessed with an abundance of support from advisors, family, friends and colleagues. This thesis owes its existence to their kindness, patience, and encouragement. and Dr. Robert Wood for their guidance and advice. I also wish to thank Dr. Bernd Frohmann for his assistance above-and-beyond the call of duty. I also thank the late Dr. Jean Tague-Sutcliffe for ensuring, despite her grave illness, that my thesis work would continue to thrive in her absence. Drs. Shane Dunne and Mark Kinnucan are thanked for the never-ending generosity they have shown me in the sharing of their expertise. Kevin …

Content-based multimedia information retrieval: State of the art and challenges

Abstract: Extending beyond the boundaries of science, art, and culture, content-based multimedia information retrieval provides new paradigms and methods for searching through the myriad variety of media all over the world. This survey reviews 100p recent articles on content-based multimedia information retrieval and discusses their role in current research directions which include browsing and search paradigms, user studies, affective computing, learning, semantic queries, new features and media types, high performance indexing, and evaluation techniques. Based on the current state of the art, we discuss the major challenges for the future.

Looking for Information: A Survey of Research on Information Seeking, Needs and Behavior

Abstract: Abbreviated Contents Figures and Tables Preface Introduction and Examples Concepts Relevant to Information Behavior Models, Paradigms, and Theories in the Study of Information Behavior Methods for Studying Information Behavior Research Results and Reflections Appendix: Glossary Appendix: Questions for Discussion and Application References Index

Invisible colleges : diffusion of knowledge in scientific communities

Abstract: No wonder you activities are, reading will be always needed. It is not only to fulfil the duties that you need to finish in deadline time. Reading will encourage your mind and thoughts. Of course, reading will greatly develop your experiences about everything. Reading invisible colleges diffusion of knowledge in scientific communities is also a way as one of the collective books that gives many advantages. The advantages are not only for you, but for the other peoples with those meaningful benefits.

Sweet Anticipation: Music and the Psychology of Expectation

Abstract: A theory of expectations is used to explain how music evokes various emotions for readers interested in cognitive science and evolutionary psychology as well as music. The psychological theory of expectation that David Huron proposes in "Sweet Anticipation" grew out of experimental efforts to understand how music evokes emotions. These efforts evolved into a general theory of expectation that will prove informative to readers interested in cognitive science and evolutionary psychology as well as those interested in music. The book describes a set of psychological mechanisms and illustrates how these mechanisms work in the case of music. All examples of notated music can be heard on the Web. Huron proposes that emotions evoked by expectation involve five functionally distinct response systems: reactive responses (which engage defensive reflexes); tension responses (where uncertainty leads to stress); predictive responses (which reward accurate prediction); imaginative responses (which facilitate deferred gratification); and appraisal responses (which occur after conscious thought is engaged). For real-world events, these five response systems typically produce a complex mixture of feelings. The book identifies some of the aesthetic possibilities afforded by expectation, and shows how common musical devices (such as syncopation, cadence, meter, tonality, and climax) exploit the psychological opportunities. The theory also provides new insights into the physiological psychology of awe, laughter, and "spine-tingling chills." Huron traces the psychology of expectations from the patterns of the physical/cultural world through imperfectly learned heuristics used to predict that world to the phenomenal qualia experienced by those who apprehend the world.