Instantaneous Frequency Explorer

Live Script exploring methods to estimate the instantaneous frequency of a quasi-harmonic signal.
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Updated 17 Jul 2025

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This educational Live Script explores methods for extracting the instantaneous frequency from a noisy frequency-modulated signal. The methods include the Hilbert transform, a simplified Hilbert transformation I call the Dilbert transform, zero-crossing rate, short-term fast Fourier transforms (FFT), and a classic FM demodulating scheme. A supplied zero-crossing rate function with interpolation of the zero-crossing time is compared to the MATLAB zerocrossrate function. Dilbert is competitive with Hilbert in accuracy, but FM demodulation wins at low signal-to-noise ratio.
This script may interest students and instructors in physics and other STEM fields. 'Try this' suggestions, coding "Challenges," hyperlinks, and references are included for further exploration. Additional educational Live Scripts by the author are available here.

Cite As

Duncan Carlsmith (2025). Instantaneous Frequency Explorer (https://nl.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/181513-instantaneous-frequency-explorer), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

MATLAB Release Compatibility
Created with R2025a
Compatible with any release
Platform Compatibility
Windows macOS Linux

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InstantaneousFrequencyExplorer folder

Version Published Release Notes
1.0.1

Minor label fix.

1.0.0