Preference-Based Learning in Audio Applications: A Systematic Analysis

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Broukhim, Aaron, Shen, Yiran, Ammanabrolu, Prithviraj, Weibel, Nadir
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Broukhim, Aaron
Shen, Yiran
Ammanabrolu, Prithviraj
Weibel, Nadir
author_facet Broukhim, Aaron
Shen, Yiran
Ammanabrolu, Prithviraj
Weibel, Nadir
contents Despite the parallel challenges that audio and text domains face in evaluating generative model outputs, preference learning remains remarkably underexplored in audio applications. Through a PRISMA-guided systematic review of approximately 500 papers, we find that only 30 (6%) apply preference learning to audio tasks. Our analysis reveals a field in transition: pre-2021 works focused on emotion recognition using traditional ranking methods (rankSVM), while post-2021 studies have pivoted toward generation tasks employing modern RLHF frameworks. We identify three critical patterns: (1) the emergence of multi-dimensional evaluation strategies combining synthetic, automated, and human preferences; (2) inconsistent alignment between traditional metrics (WER, PESQ) and human judgments across different contexts; and (3) convergence on multi-stage training pipelines that combine reward signals. Our findings suggest that while preference learning shows promise for audio, particularly in capturing subjective qualities like naturalness and musicality, the field requires standardized benchmarks, higher-quality datasets, and systematic investigation of how temporal factors unique to audio impact preference learning frameworks.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_13936
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Preference-Based Learning in Audio Applications: A Systematic Analysis
Broukhim, Aaron
Shen, Yiran
Ammanabrolu, Prithviraj
Weibel, Nadir
Sound
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Despite the parallel challenges that audio and text domains face in evaluating generative model outputs, preference learning remains remarkably underexplored in audio applications. Through a PRISMA-guided systematic review of approximately 500 papers, we find that only 30 (6%) apply preference learning to audio tasks. Our analysis reveals a field in transition: pre-2021 works focused on emotion recognition using traditional ranking methods (rankSVM), while post-2021 studies have pivoted toward generation tasks employing modern RLHF frameworks. We identify three critical patterns: (1) the emergence of multi-dimensional evaluation strategies combining synthetic, automated, and human preferences; (2) inconsistent alignment between traditional metrics (WER, PESQ) and human judgments across different contexts; and (3) convergence on multi-stage training pipelines that combine reward signals. Our findings suggest that while preference learning shows promise for audio, particularly in capturing subjective qualities like naturalness and musicality, the field requires standardized benchmarks, higher-quality datasets, and systematic investigation of how temporal factors unique to audio impact preference learning frameworks.
title Preference-Based Learning in Audio Applications: A Systematic Analysis
topic Sound
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.13936