Overview

 

Fast Track is meant to address some common problems that arise when tracking formants (in no particular order):

 

What analysis parameters should be used for a given sound?

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Fast track automatically attempts multiple analyses, evaluates them all and returns the winners. This saves the researcher substantial time. Crucially, all of the alternative analyses are saved for easy corrections.

How can I verify that my analysis is correct? Especially if I need extremely reliable measurements?

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Images are generated showing the winning analysis, and comparing all candidate analyses, for visual verification.

Where should I measure the formants? Is the measurement reproducible?

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By default Fast track measures every 2 ms, resulting in a smooth track. Data can be aggregated across sounds in a consistent manner after analysis. Crucially, information about the whole contour is maintained, meaning that the researcher can choose to measure another time point without having to re-analyze anything.

If I think there is an error, how can I fix it?

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How can I manually edit otherwise good track with just one bad section?

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Is my correction of errors reproducible?

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Can I modify the behavior of the functions so suit my specific needs?

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Can the analyses be carried out by people without much training (e.g., undergraduate researchers)?

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