Project Proposal

Deep Audio Classifier with Python : TensorFlow

2. Team Members
Satyam Nagpure (16)

Atharva Palande (03)

3. Abstract
This project aims to develop a deep learning-based audio classifier using Python and TensorFlow
to detect and classify Capuchin bird calls. The primary objective is to automate the identification
of these bird calls from raw audio data, which can aid in biodiversity monitoring and conservation
efforts.

The methodology involves converting audio signals into waveforms, transforming them into
spectrograms, and training a deep neural network for classification. Spectrograms serve as input
to a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which learns patterns specific to Capuchin bird calls.

The expected outcome is a high-accuracy model capable of distinguishing bird calls from
background noise, facilitating real-time monitoring in natural habitats. This is crucial for ecological
research and species conservation, where manual identification is labor-intensive and error-
prone. Deep learning enables robust, scalable, and automated analysis of large audio datasets,
significantly improving the efficiency of bioacoustic research.

4. Problem Statement
Developing Deep Audio Classifier with python and tensorflow identification of Capuchin bird
calls.

 Convert audio data to waveform

 transform waveform to spectrogram
 classify capuchin bird calls
Key Challenges and Constraints:

1. Noisy Data: Audio recordings often contain overlapping sounds from other species,
environmental noise (wind, rain), and human activities, making classification difficult.

2. Variability in Calls: Capuchin bird calls may exhibit variations due to different
environmental conditions, individual differences, or changes in vocalization over time.

3. Limited Labeled Data: Training a deep learning model requires a substantial amount of
labeled audio data, which can be scarce or imbalanced.

4. Computational Complexity: Processing large audio files, converting them into

spectrograms, and training deep models require significant computational power and
memory.

5. Real-time Processing: Deploying the model for real-time classification in field

applications demands efficiency and low-latency predictions.

5 Objectives
key goals of the project in bullet points.

 Develop an automated deep learning model to classify Capuchin bird calls from audio
recordings.

 Convert raw audio data into waveforms and transform them into spectrograms for feature
extraction.

 Train a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) using spectrogram images to identify bird
calls accurately.

 Handle noisy data effectively by applying filtering and augmentation techniques.

 Optimize the model for real-time processing to enable efficient deployment in field
applications.

 Improve classification accuracy by experimenting with different deep learning

architectures and hyperparameters.

 Evaluate model performance using appropriate metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and
F1-score.

 Facilitate biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts by providing an efficient tool

for bird call detection.
6. Methodology
1. Model Architecture

The project will utilize a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to classify Capuchin bird calls
from spectrogram images. CNNs are well-suited for this task because spectrograms are visual
representations of audio signals, and CNNs excel in image classification.

 Input Layer: Spectrogram images of bird calls.

 Convolutional Layers: Extract spatial and frequency-based features from

spectrograms.

 Pooling Layers: Reduce dimensionality while preserving essential features.

 Fully Connected Layers: Learn high-level representations for classification.

 Output Layer: Softmax activation function for binary/multi-class classification.

2. Training Strategy

 Loss Function:

o Binary Cross-Entropy (for two classes: bird call vs. noise).

o Categorical Cross-Entropy (if detecting multiple bird species).

 Optimizer: Adam optimizer for adaptive learning rate control.

 Evaluation Metrics: Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and F1-score to assess model

performance.

3. Hyperparameter Tuning

The following hyperparameters will be tuned to improve model performance:

 Learning rate: Experiment with values (e.g., 0.001, 0.0001) using a learning rate
scheduler.

 Batch size: Test different values (e.g., 16, 32, 64) for optimal performance.

 Number of filters in CNN layers: Adjust to capture important features.

 Kernel size: Optimize for best feature extraction.

 Dropout rate: Apply dropout (e.g., 0.2–0.5) to prevent overfitting.

4. Data Preprocessing Techniques

 Convert Audio to Waveform: Load audio files and normalize waveforms.

 Transform Waveforms into Spectrograms: Use Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT)

or Mel Spectrograms for frequency analysis.

 Noise Reduction: Apply filters to remove background noise and unwanted frequencies.

 Data Augmentation:

o Add Gaussian noise.

o Time-shifting and time-stretching.

o Pitch shifting to enhance model generalization.

7. Dataset Description
1. Source

 The dataset will be sourced from publicly available bioacoustic datasets or manually
collected recordings of Capuchin bird calls.

 Data is available of Kaggle : https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/kenjee/z-by-hp-unlocked-

challenge-3-signal-processing

2. Size and Format

 Size: A balanced dataset with sufficient positive (Capuchin bird calls) and negative
(other sounds) samples will be used. For details audio files that will be used will be 3
seconds each.

 Format: Audio files in WAV format (preferred for quality preservation).Annotations in

CSV or JSON format, containing metadata such as species name, timestamp, and
duration.
3. Preprocessing Steps

 Audio Cleaning:

o Convert all audio to a standard sampling rate (e.g., 16 kHz or 44.1 kHz).

o Normalize amplitude to ensure uniform loudness across samples.

 Segmentation:

o Split long recordings into fixed-length (e.g., 3–5 seconds) clips.

o Label each segment as Capuchin call or background noise.

 Feature Extraction:

o Convert waveforms into Mel Spectrograms using Short-Time Fourier

Transform (STFT).

o Apply Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) for further feature

representation.

 Noise Reduction:

o Use bandpass filtering to remove irrelevant frequencies.

o Apply denoising techniques to eliminate background noise like wind or human

voices.

8. Tools and Technologies

Libraries for Deep Audio Classifier (Python + TensorFlow)

1. Core Libraries:

 numpy – Efficient numerical computations and array handling.

 pandas – Handling metadata, annotations, and organizing datasets.

2. Audio Processing & Feature Extraction:

 librosa – Load audio, convert to waveform, compute spectrograms (Mel spectrogram,

MFCCs).

 scipy – Signal processing operations (Fourier Transform, filtering).

 soundfile – Read/write audio files in various formats.

3. Deep Learning & Machine Learning:

 tensorflow – Build and train deep learning models (CNNs for spectrogram classification).

9. Expected Outcomes
Anticipated Results:

 A trained deep learning model capable of accurately classifying Capuchin bird calls
from raw audio recordings.

 Achieve a high classification accuracy (~90% or more) on a well-prepared dataset.

 Robust handling of background noise and variability in bird calls through proper
preprocessing and augmentation.

Performance Benchmarks:

 Accuracy: ≥ 90% on validation/test data.

 Precision & Recall: High values indicating effective bird call detection with minimal
false positives/negatives.

Real-World Applications:

1. Wildlife Conservation & Monitoring

o Helps researchers track Capuchin bird populations without manual listening.

o Supports biodiversity studies by automating species detection.

2. Bioacoustics Research

o Provides data for analyzing bird call patterns, migration, and behavioral studies.

o Contributes to long-term ecological monitoring.

3. Environmental Impact Assessment

o Monitors changes in bird populations due to deforestation, climate change, or

habitat loss.

o Helps conservation organizations take proactive measures.

 4. Citizen Science & Mobile Apps

o Can be integrated into mobile applications for bird enthusiasts and researchers.

o Enables real-time audio classification in the field.

10. Challenges and Risks

1. Dataset Limitations

 Challenge: Limited availability of labeled Capuchin bird calls or imbalanced datasets

(more background noise than bird calls).

2. Overfitting Issues

 Challenge: The model may memorize training data instead of generalizing well to new
recordings.

3. Noisy and Unstructured Audio Data

 Challenge: Environmental noise, overlapping sounds, or inconsistent recording

conditions can degrade accuracy.

11. References
Cite all relevant research papers, datasets, and tools used.

Research Papers on Audio Classification & Bird Call Detection

 Hershey, S., Chaudhuri, S., Ellis, D.P.W., et al. (2017). CNN Architectures for Large-
Scale Audio Classification. IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and
Signal Processing (ICASSP). DOI: 10.1109/ICASSP.2017.7952132

 Piczak, K. J. (2015). Environmental Sound Classification with Convolutional Neural

Networks. IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing
(MLSP). DOI: 10.1109/MLSP.2015.7324337

Github Repository:

https://github.com/SatyamNagpure21/DeepAudioClassification