Analysis of voice register transition focused on the relationship between pitch and formant frequency (original) (raw)
Related papers
A measurement study on voice instabilities during modal-falsetto register transition
Acoustical Science and Technology, 2016
When one of the dominant harmonics (the fundamental frequency and its harmonic components) is close to the first formant frequency, the effect of the source-filter interaction can induce voice register transition, in which the vocal-fold vibration becomes unstable and the pitch jumps abruptly. We investigated the relationship between the dominant harmonics, the first formant frequency, and the pitch jump width in the modal-falsetto transition to examine the effect of sourcefilter interaction. We measured temporal patterns of the fundamental frequency and the first formant when subjects performed rising glissandi with /a/ and /i/ vowels. For the /a/ vowel, there were weak proximity relationships between the dominant harmonics and first formant during the transition, indicating that source-induced transition occurred. For the /i/ vowel, in contrast, the fundamental frequency was regularly close to the first formant in the transition, indicating that the acoustically induced transition was caused by the source-filter interaction. Additionally, it was found that the difference between these two mechanisms had little influence on the pitch jump width. Finally, we concluded that the source-filter interaction is a contributory factor of the modal-falsetto transition, in agreement with foregoing studies.
Vocal Fold Vibration and Phonation Start in Aspirated, Unaspirated, and Staccato Onset
Journal of Voice, 2011
Singers learn to produce well-controlled tone onsets by accurate synchronization of glottal adduction and buildup of subglottal pressure. Spectrographic analyses have shown that the higher spectrum partials are present also at the vowel onset in classically trained singers' performances. Such partials are produced by a sharp discontinuity in the waveform of the transglottal airflow, presumably produced by vocal fold collision. Study Design. After hearing a prompt series of a triad pattern, six singer subjects sang the same triad pattern on the vowel /i/ (1) preceded by an aspirated /p/, (2) preceded by an unaspirated /p/, and (3) without any preceding consonant in staccato. Methods. Using high-speed imaging we examined the initiation of vocal fold vibration in aspirated and unaspirated productions of the consonant /p/ as well as in the staccato tones. Results. The number vibrations failing to produce vocal fold collision were significantly higher in the aspirated /p/ than in the unaspirated /p/ and in the staccato tones. High frequency ripple in the audio waveform was significantly delayed in the aspirated /p/. Conclusions. Initiation of vocal fold collision and the appearance of high-frequency ripple in the vowel /i/ are slightly delayed in aspirated productions of a preceding consonant /p/.
2009
Studies of speech source-filter interaction usually investigate the effect of the speech transfer function (loading) on vocal fold vibration and the voice source. In this study we explore how vocal fold mechanics affect the transfer function throughout the glottal cycle, with emphasis on the closed phase. Coupling between the subglottal and supraglottal airways is modulated by the laryngeal impedance. Although coupling is generally thought to occur only during the open phase of vocal fold vibration, a posterior glottal opening and the vocal fold tissue itself can allow sound transmission, thereby introducing coupling during the closed phase as well. The impedance of the vocal fold tissue at closure is shown to be small enough to permit coupling throughout the phonatory cycle, even in the absence of a posterior glottal opening. Openand closed-phase coupling is characterized using mathematical models of the subglottal and supraglottal airways, and the parallel laryngeal impedances of the membranous glottis, posterior glottal opening, and vocal fold tissue. Examples from sustained vowels are presented, using synchronous recordings of neck skin acceleration, laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy, electroglottography, and radiated acoustic pressure.
Source-filter interaction in phonation: A study using vocal-tract data of a soprano singer
Acoustical Science and Technology, 2019
We simulated acoustic interaction between the voice source system in the larynx and the acoustic filter of the vocal tract. The vocal tract of a soprano was first scanned in three dimensions using magnetic resonance imaging while she produced four musical notes (A3, E4, D5, and A5) with /a/ and /i/. These images were used to simulate voice production, including the vibratory motion of the vocal folds and the behavior of glottal airflow. Images for the /i/ vowel were used in the simulation, because a good proximity relationship was found between the fundamental frequency and the first impedance peak of the vocal tract. The simulation results revealed that the fundamental frequency (vibration frequency of the vocal folds) was decreased to a large extent by the interaction especially when their natural frequency was in the proximity of the impedance peak. In a specific case, the acoustic load of the vocal tract exerted on the vocal folds changed as a result of the interaction, so the vibratory motion was effectively assisted. These interaction effects were also examined in terms of the phase relation among the temporal waveforms of the glottal variables.
Journal of Voice, 2010
Vocal fold oscillation patterns in vocal register transitions are still unclarified. The vocal fold oscillations and the open quotient were analyzed with high-speed digital imaging (HSDI) and electroglottography (EGG) in 18 male untrained subjects singing a glissando from modal to the falsetto register. Results reveal that the open quotient changed with register in both HSDI and EGG. The in-class correlations for different HSDI and EGG determinations of the open quotient were high. However, we found only weak interclass correlations between both methods. In 10 subjects, irregularities of vocal fold vibration occurred during the register transition. Our results confirm previous observations that falsetto register is associated with a higher open quotient compared with modal register. These data suggest furthermore that irregularities typically observed in audio and electroglottographic signals during register transitions are caused by irregularities in vocal fold vibration.
Analysis of voice perturbations using an asymmetric model of the vocal folds
Journal of The Acoustical Society of America, 2007
A mathematical model was developed to investigate possible causes of jitter and shimmer. The model builds from the classic, lumped element, two-mass model of Ishizaka and Flanagan. Bilateral asymmetry was incorporated into the model to facilitate the simulation of physiological and aerodynamic imbalances in the larynx. The aerodynamic driving forces on the vocal folds were derived from empirical pressure data that were obtained from a scaled-up Plexiglas model of a typical male human larynx, called M5. The mathematical model is based on ten, second-order, nonlinear, coupled, ordinary differential equations that were solved simultaneously using the software Mathematica. The solutions were analyzed graphically and numerically to identify perturbations in the fundamental frequency and amplitude of the glottal airflow. Jitter and shimmer were quantified using the jitter factor and the amplitude variability index.
2011
In-depth study on laryngeal biomechanics and vocal fold vibratory patterns reveal that a single vibratory cycle can be divided into two major phases, the closed and open phase, which is subdivided into opening and closing phases. Studies reveal that the relative time course of abduction and adduction, which in turn is dependent on the relative relaxing and tensing of the vocal fold cover and body, to be the determining factor in production of a particular vocal register like the modal (or chest), falsetto, glottal fry registers. Studies further point out Electroglottography to be particularly suitable for the study of vocal vibratory patterns during register changes. However, to date, there has been limited study on quantitative parameterization of EGG wave form in vocal fry register. Moreover, contradictory findings abound in literature regarding effects of gender and vowel types on vocal vibratory patterns, especially during phonation at different registers. The present study ende...
Interaction of vocal fold and vocal tract oscillations
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We study the mechanical feedback coupling between the human vocal folds and vocal tract (VT) by simulating fundamental frequency glides over the lowest VT resonance. In the classical sourcefilter theory of speech production, the vocal folds produce a signal which is filtered by the resonator, vocal tract without any feedback. We have developed a computational model of the vocal folds and the VT that also includes a counter pressure from the VT to the vocal folds. This coupling gives rise to new computational observations (such as modal locking) that can be established experimentally.