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The language of sound search: Examining User Queries in Audio Search Engines

Benno Weck, Frederic Font

TL;DR

Search queries from two sources are analysed, indicating that survey queries are generally longer than Freesound queries, suggesting users prefer detailed queries when not limited by system constraints.

Abstract

This study examines textual, user-written search queries within the context of sound search engines, encompassing various applications such as foley, sound effects, and general audio retrieval. Current research inadequately addresses real-world user needs and behaviours in designing text-based audio retrieval systems. To bridge this gap, we analysed search queries from two sources: a custom survey and Freesound website query logs. The survey was designed to collect queries for an unrestricted, hypothetical sound search engine, resulting in a dataset that captures user intentions without the constraints of existing systems. This dataset is also made available for sharing with the research community. In contrast, the Freesound query logs encompass approximately 9 million search requests, providing a comprehensive view of real-world usage patterns. Our findings indicate that survey queries are generally longer than Freesound queries, suggesting users prefer detailed queries when not limited by system constraints. Both datasets predominantly feature keyword-based queries, with few survey participants using full sentences. Key factors influencing survey queries include the primary sound source, intended usage, perceived location, and the number of sound sources. These insights are crucial for developing user-centred, effective text-based audio retrieval systems, enhancing our understanding of user behaviour in sound search contexts.

The language of sound search: Examining User Queries in Audio Search Engines

TL;DR

Search queries from two sources are analysed, indicating that survey queries are generally longer than Freesound queries, suggesting users prefer detailed queries when not limited by system constraints.

Abstract

This study examines textual, user-written search queries within the context of sound search engines, encompassing various applications such as foley, sound effects, and general audio retrieval. Current research inadequately addresses real-world user needs and behaviours in designing text-based audio retrieval systems. To bridge this gap, we analysed search queries from two sources: a custom survey and Freesound website query logs. The survey was designed to collect queries for an unrestricted, hypothetical sound search engine, resulting in a dataset that captures user intentions without the constraints of existing systems. This dataset is also made available for sharing with the research community. In contrast, the Freesound query logs encompass approximately 9 million search requests, providing a comprehensive view of real-world usage patterns. Our findings indicate that survey queries are generally longer than Freesound queries, suggesting users prefer detailed queries when not limited by system constraints. Both datasets predominantly feature keyword-based queries, with few survey participants using full sentences. Key factors influencing survey queries include the primary sound source, intended usage, perceived location, and the number of sound sources. These insights are crucial for developing user-centred, effective text-based audio retrieval systems, enhancing our understanding of user behaviour in sound search contexts.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 11 sections, 3 figures, 3 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Method
  3. Online survey
  4. Data sources
  5. Participation and Participant welfare
  6. Query log analysis
  7. Results
  8. Survey results
  9. Query log analysis
  10. Discussion and Limitations
  11. Conclusions and Future work

Figures (3)

  • Figure 1: Schematic of the survey workflow: A participant is prompted with a randomly chosen stimulus, asked to provide a search query and indicate aspects that influenced their query. In a subsequent step, a simulated search result is presented together with the stimulus to elicit an updated query.
  • Figure 2: Distribution of aspects chosen by survey respondents to indicate what they considered important when searching for sounds.
  • Figure 3: Distribution of topics found in the top 1,000 search queries submitted on Freesound.