User`s guide
Burg Method
5-51
Burg Covariance Modified Covariance Yule-Walker
Characteristics
Does not apply 
window to data
Does not apply 
window to data
Does not apply 
window to data
Applies window to 
data
Minimizes the 
forward and 
backward prediction 
errors in the 
least-squares sense, 
with the AR 
coefficients 
constrained to satisfy 
the L-D recursion
Minimizes the 
forward prediction 
error in the 
least-squares sense
Minimizes the 
forward and 
backward prediction 
errors in the 
least-squares sense
Minimizes the 
forward prediction 
error in the 
least-squares sense
(also called 
“Autocorrelation 
method”)
Advantages
High resolution for 
short data records
Better resolution than 
Y-W for short data 
records (more 
accurate estimates)
High resolution for 
short data records
Performs as well as 
other methods for 
large data records
Always produces a 
stable model
Able to extract 
frequencies from data 
consisting of p or more 
pure sinusoids
Able to extract 
frequencies from data 
consisting of p or more 
pure sinusoids
Always produces a 
stable model
Does not suffer 
spectral line-splitting
Disadvantages
Peak locations highly 
dependent on initial 
phase
May produce unstable 
models
May produce unstable 
models
Performs relatively 
poorly for short data 
records
May suffer spectral 
line-splitting for 
sinusoids in noise, or 
when order is very 
large
Frequency bias for 
estimates of sinusoids 
in noise
Peak locations 
slightly dependent on 
initial phase
Frequency bias for 
estimates of sinusoids 
in noise
Frequency bias for 
estimates of sinusoids 
in noise
Minor frequency bias 
for estimates of 
sinusoids in noise
Conditions for 
Nonsingularity
Order must be less 
than or equal to half 
the input frame size
Order must be less 
than or equal to 2/3 
the input frame size
Because of the biased 
estimate, the 
autocorrelation 
matrix is guaranteed 
to positive-definite, 
hence nonsingular










