PARAPET - Programmable Audio Recording And Playback Editing Tool

PARAPET was a minicomputer-based software application used for research in PsychoAcoustics at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri.

Description

PARAPET was implemented in Data General Nova 1200 Assembler, and utilized the CID designed analog to digital to analog conversion subsystem, digital I/O laboratory interface, and hard disk system of the RAP III laboratory computer. The PARAPET application used a Microterm serial ASCII terminal for its primary user interface presentation, and the digital I/O and audio interfaces comprised the user interface for a variety of laboratory experiments with both human and animal subjects.

PARAPET featured a full audio recorder and editor, allowing sound to be recorded in multiple channels in 12 bit resolution at up to a 44kHz sampling rate. In addition, recorded audio could be stored as objects, which could then be accessed, played back, and programmatically sequenced via what was essentially the equivalent of a modern playlist. In addition, the audio playback could be synchronized with digital output events, facilitating a variety of experimental procedures.

Reference

Hakkinen, M.T. & Engebretson, A.M. (1978). PARAPET (Programmable Audio Recording And Playback Editing Tool): A general utility program for RAP-III. In Central Institute for the Deaf Research Periodic Progress Report No. 22 (pp. 30). St. Louis: Central Institute for the Deaf.