A pulse noise detection algorithm using phase scattering

One of the most difficult problems that appears during the process of archival sound restoration is the detection and reduction of the pulse type noise. This kind of noise is the result of contamination or damage to the analog record material. Pulse interference detection algorithms are prone to false positive results. Therefore, to ensure high reliability of the pulse detection process, more than one algorithm should be used and then the results of these algorithms should be analyzed using advanced methods, including intelligent algorithms. The paper presents the pulse detection algorithm based on the phase scattering. Since the Dirac impulse and white noise have the same amplitude part of their spectra, the phase scattering transforms the pulse to the noise. Then a pulse can be detected by comparing the envelope of the original and processed signals. The proposed algorithm has been tested using synthetic test signals as well as a fragment of the archival recording on the damaged record. The directions of further research are outlined.