arXiv Computation and Language
Aug 31

Auditing Generative Audio Calls for Known-Task Audio-LLM Evaluation

The paper investigates how to evaluate audio‑language models by separating the use of acoustic evidence from the need to invoke a generative audio model. Using a controlled call‑decision framework, the authors compare policies that rely on transcript labels, encoder outputs from CLAP, AST, or WavLM, and optional calls to generative models such as Qwen2‑Audio, Qwen2.5‑Omni, or MOSS‑Audio. Results on the VocalSound dataset show that while transcript‑only accuracy is low (0.296), encoder‑only controls achieve high accuracy (≈0.85) without any generative calls, and adding generative calls yields only a marginal improvement (0.925 vs. 0.921).

By Mengzhe Geng
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 28

Interpretable, Fairly Evaluated Automated L2 Speaking Assessment that Beats the Single-Human Ceiling and Why Pause Encoding Does Not Change LLM Fluency Scores

The paper presents an interpretable, fair, and accurately benchmarked automated system for assessing second‑language English speaking. Using a hybrid of feature‑based speech‑timing metrics and a large language model (LLM) fluency judgment, the system achieves a Spearman correlation of 0.818 with the ICNALE Global Rating Archive, outperforming 81 % of trained human raters. A controlled study shows that encoding pauses into the LLM prompt does not meaningfully affect fluency scores, indicating that the system’s fluency signal derives from measurable speech‑timing features.

By Eichi Uehara
arXiv AI
Jun 10

What Do Deepfake Speech Detectors Actually Hear?

arXiv:2606. 10912v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Deepfake speech detectors often output a single score without explaining why an audio sample is flagged, where in the signal the evidence lies, or what cues drive the decision.

By Vojt\v{e}ch Stan\v{e}k, Veronika Jirmusov\'a, Anton Firc, Kamil Malinka, Jakub Re\v{s}, Martin Pere\v{s}\'ini