Short Time Fourier Transform - invertible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the invertibility of the Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and whether the original signal can be fully recovered from its transformed representation. Participants explore the implications of windowing and modulation in the context of the STFT and its inverse.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant references Wikipedia, stating that the STFT is invertible and the original signal can be recovered using the Inverse STFT.
  • The same participant questions whether the true original data can be recovered, given the modulation introduced by the window function.
  • Another participant poses a hypothetical scenario involving a time-varying signal multiplied by a Gaussian, questioning the recoverability of the original signal.
  • A later reply confirms that the multiplication referred to is element-wise, suggesting a clarification of the earlier discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the complete recoverability of the original signal from the STFT, with multiple viewpoints and questions raised about the implications of modulation and windowing.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the mathematical or conceptual uncertainties surrounding the invertibility of the STFT, particularly in relation to the effects of windowing and modulation on signal recovery.

jiapei100
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Short Time Fourier Transform -- invertible?

On Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-time_Fourier_transform"

The STFT is invertible, that is, the original signal can be recovered from the transform by the Inverse STFT.

However, it's also said


It can be seen, comparing to above that windowed "grain" or "wavelet" of x(t) is

http://www.visionopen.com/iGabor.png

the inverse Fourier transform of X(τ,ω) for τ fixed.


That is to say, Gabor is invertible, it's able to obtain the original signal, but modulated.

original signal is obviously x(t),
w(t-τ) is the window function used to extract a local signal within this window,
which can also be looked on as a kind of modulation.

Therefore, in the above function (attached picture),
x(t)w(t-τ) can be computed, from the Gabor transformed data,
But, I'm dropping questions to ask, whether the true original data x(t) can be finally recovered?
as it's declared by Wiki itself
The STFT is invertible, that is, the original signal can be recovered from the transform by the Inverse STFT.


Can anybody help to make me clarified?


Best Regards
JIA Pei
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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I'll answer your question by asking you another question.

Let's say I have a time-varying signal. I multiply it by a gaussian then send it to you. Will you be able to recover the original signal?
 


Sorry for my stupidity.

Your word "multiply" hints me. !

This is a "element-wise" multiplication! Right? Yes, it should be.

Thanks for your answering to clarify my doubts.

Best Regards
JIA Pei


IttyBittyBit said:
I'll answer your question by asking you another question.

Let's say I have a time-varying signal. I multiply it by a gaussian then send it to you. Will you be able to recover the original signal?
 


Yes, it's element-wise.
 

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