Free-field sound measurements of the Caribbean steelpan - an application of cepstrum analysis

High-speed digital computers and sophisticated digital signal processing software now make it possible to obtain anechoic measurements without the use of an anechoic room. We present the results of a preliminary investigation into the use of cepstrum analysis to determine the echo-free sound dispersion characteristics of a musical instrument - the Caribbean steelpan. A brief review of the theory behind cepstrum analysis and a detailed discussion of the data obtained by using this technique are presented.