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Vampola T, Horáček J, Laukkanen AM. Three-Dimensional Finite Element Modeling of the Singer's Formant Cluster Optimization by Epilaryngeal Narrowing With and Without Velopharyngeal Opening. J Voice 2024:S0892-1997(24)00248-0. [PMID: 39218756 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to find the optimal geometrical configuration of the vocal tract (VT) to increase the total acoustic energy output of human voice in the frequency interval 2-3.5 kHz "singer's formant cluster," (SFC) for vowels [a:] and [i:] considering epilaryngeal changes and the velopharyngeal opening (VPO). The study applied 3D volume models of the vocal and nasal tract based on computer tomography images of a female speaker. The epilaryngeal narrowing (EN) increased the total sound pressure level (SPL) and SPL of the SFC by diminishing the frequency difference between acoustic resonances F3 and F4 for [a:] and between F2 and F3 for [i:]. The effect reached its maximum at the low pharynx/epilarynx cross-sectional area ratio 11.4:1 for [a:] and 25:1 for [i:]. The acoustic results obtained with the model optimization are in good agreement with the results of an internationally recognized operatic alto singer. With the EN and the VPO, the VT input reactance was positive over the entire fo singing range (ca 75-1500 Hz). The VPO increased the strength of the SFC and diminished the SPL of F1 for both vowels, but with EN, the SPL decrease was compensated. The effect of EN is not linear and depends on the vowel. Both the EN and the VPO alone and together can support (singing) voice production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Vampola
- Department of Mechanics, Biomechanics and Mechatronics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jaromír Horáček
- Institute of Thermomechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
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Burk F, Traser L, Burdumy M, Richter B, Echternach M. Dynamic changes of vocal tract dimensions with sound pressure level during messa di vocea). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:3595-3603. [PMID: 38038612 DOI: 10.1121/10.0022582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The messa di voce (MdV), which consists of a continuous crescendo and subsequent decrescendo on one pitch is one of the more difficult exercises of the technical repertoire of Western classical singing. With rising lung pressure, regulatory adjustments both on the level of the glottis and the vocal tract are required to keep the pitch stable. The dynamic changes of vocal tract dimensions with the bidirectional variation of sound pressure level (SPL) during MdV were analyzed by two-dimensional real-time magnetic resonance imaging (25 frames/s) and synchronous audio recordings in 12 professional singer subjects. Close associations in the respective articulatory kinetics were found between SPL and lip opening, jaw opening, pharynx width, uvula elevation, and vertical larynx position. However, changes in vocal tract dimensions during plateaus of SPL suggest that perceived loudness could have been varied beyond the dimension of SPL. Further multimodal investigation, including the analysis of sound spectra, is needed for a better understanding of the role of vocal tract resonances in the control of vocal loudness in human phonation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Burk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Plastic Surgery, SRH Wald-Klinikum Gera, Gera, Germany
- Institute of Musicians' Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Louisa Traser
- Institute of Musicians' Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Michael Burdumy
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Bernhard Richter
- Institute of Musicians' Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Matthias Echternach
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munich University Hospital (LMU), Munich, Germany
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Sundberg J, Lã F, Granqvist S. Fundamental frequency disturbances in female and male singers' pitch glides through long tube with varied resistances. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:801-807. [PMID: 37556565 DOI: 10.1121/10.0020569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Source-filter interaction can disturb vocal fold vibration frequency. Resonance frequency/bandwidth ratios (Q-values) may affect such interaction. Occurrences of fundamental frequency (fo) disturbances were measured in ascending pitch glides produced by four female and five male singers phonating into a 70 cm long tube. Pitch glides were produced with varied resonance Q-values of the vocal tract + tube compound (VT + tube): (i) tube end open, (ii) tube end open with nasalization, and (iii) with a piece of cotton wool in the tube end (conditions Op, Ns, and Ct, respectively). Disturbances of fo were identified by calculating the derivative of the low-pass filtered fo curve. Resonance frequencies of the compound VT+tube system were determined from ringings and glottal aspiration noise observed in narrowband spectrograms. Disturbances of fo tended to occur when a partial was close to a resonance of the compound VT+tube system. The number of such disturbances was significantly lower when the resonance Q-values were reduced (conditions Ns and Ct), particularly for the males. In some participants, resonance Q-values seemed less influential, suggesting little effect of source-filter interaction. The study sheds light on factors affecting source-filter interaction and fo control and is, therefore, relevant to voice pedagogy and theory of voice production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Sundberg
- Department of Speech Music and Hearing, KTH (Royal Institute of Technology), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Filipa Lã
- Department of Didactics, School Organization and Special Didactics, Faculty of Education, The National Distance Education University (UNED), Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Svante Granqvist
- Division of Speech and Language Pathology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Fleischer M, Rummel S, Stritt F, Fischer J, Bock M, Echternach M, Richter B, Traser L. Voice efficiency for different voice qualities combining experimentally derived sound signals and numerical modeling of the vocal tract. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1081622. [PMID: 36620215 PMCID: PMC9822708 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1081622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Concerning voice efficiency considerations of different singing styles, from western classical singing to contemporary commercial music, only limited data is available to date. This single-subject study attempts to quantify the acoustic sound intensity within the human glottis depending on different vocal tract configurations and vocal fold vibration. Methods: Combining Finite-Element-Models derived from 3D-MRI data, audio recordings, and electroglottography (EGG) we analyzed vocal tract transfer functions, particle velocity and acoustic pressure at the glottis, and EGG-related quantities to evaluate voice efficiency at the glottal level and resonance characteristics of different voice qualities according to Estill Voice Training®. Results: Voice qualities Opera and Belting represent highly efficient strategies but apply different vowel strategies and should thus be capable of predominate orchestral sounds. Twang and Belting use similar vowels, but the twang vocal tract configuration enabled the occurrence of anti-resonances and was associated with reduced vocal fold contact but still partially comparable energy transfer from the glottis to the vocal tract. Speech was associated with highly efficient glottal to vocal tract energy transfer, but with the absence of psychoactive strategies makes it more susceptible to noise interference. Falsetto and Sobbing apply less efficiently. Falsetto mainly due to its voice source characteristics, Sobbing due to energy loss in the vocal tract. Thus technical amplification might be appropriate here. Conclusion: Differences exist between voice qualities regarding the sound intensity, caused by different vocal tract morphologies and oscillation characteristics of the vocal folds. The combination of numerical analysis of geometries inside the human body and experimentally determined data outside sheds light on acoustical quantities at the glottal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Fleischer
- Department of Audiology and Phoniatrics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Fiona Stritt
- Medical Center, Institute of Musicians’ Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Fischer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Bock
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Echternach
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, LMU Klinikum, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Richter
- Medical Center, Institute of Musicians’ Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Louisa Traser
- Medical Center, Institute of Musicians’ Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Young K, Sweeney T, Vos RR, Mehendale F, Daffern H. Evaluation of noise excitation as a method for detection of hypernasality. APPLIED ACOUSTICS. ACOUSTIQUE APPLIQUE. ANGEWANDTE AKUSTIK 2022; 190:108639. [PMID: 35300323 PMCID: PMC8872831 DOI: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2022.108639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Hypernasality is a disorder where excess nasal resonance is perceived during speech, often as a result of abnormal coupling between the oral and nasal tracts known as velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). The most common cause of VPI is a cleft palate, which affects around 1 in 1650 babies, around ⅓ of whom have persistent speech problems after surgery. Current equipment-based assessment methods are invasive and require expert knowledge, and perceptual assessment methods are limited by the availability of expert listeners and differing interpretations of assessment scales. Spectral analysis of hypernasality within the academic community has resulted in potentially useful spectral indicators, but these are highly variable, vowel specific, and not commonly used within clinical practice. Previous works by others have developed noise excitation technologies for the measurement of oral tract transfer functions using resonance measurement devices (RMD). These techniques provide an opportunity to investigate the structural system abnormalities which lead to hypernasality, without the need for invasive measurement equipment. Thus, the work presented in this study adapts these techniques for the detection of hypernasality. These adaptations include augmentation of the hardware and development of the software, so as to be suitable for transfer function measurement at the nostrils rather than the mouth (nRMD). The new method was tested with a single participant trained in hypernasal production, producing 'normal' and hypernasal vowels, and the recordings validated through a listening test by an expert listener and calculation of nasalance values using a nasality microphone. These validation stages indicated the reliability of the captured data, and analysis of the nRMD measurements indicated the presence of a systematic difference in the frequency range 2 to 2.5 kHz between normal and hypernasal speech. Further investigation is warranted to determine the generalisability of these findings across speakers, and to investigate the origins of differences manifesting in the transfer functions between conditions. This will provide new insights into the effects of nasal tract coupling on voice acoustics, which could in turn lead to the development of useful new tools to support clinicians in their work with hypernasality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kat Young
- AudioLab, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of York, UK
| | | | - Rebecca R. Vos
- Speech and Audio Processing, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Felicity Mehendale
- Global Cleft Lip and Palate Research Programme, Global Health Research Centre, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Helena Daffern
- AudioLab, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of York, UK
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Köberlein M, Birkholz P, Burdumy M, Richter B, Burk F, Traser L, Echternach M. Investigation of resonance strategies of high pitch singing sopranos using dynamic three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 150:4191. [PMID: 34972262 DOI: 10.1121/10.0008903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Resonance-strategies with respect to vocal registers, i.e., frequency-ranges of uniform, demarcated voice quality, for the highest part of the female voice are still not completely understood. The first and second vocal tract resonances usually determine vowels. If the fundamental frequency exceeds the vowel-shaping resonance frequencies of speech, vocal tract resonances are tuned to voice source partials. It has not yet been clarified if such tuning is applicable for the entire voice-range, particularly for the top pitches. We investigated professional sopranos who regularly sing pitches above C6 (1047 Hz). Dynamic three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging was used to calculate resonances for pitches from C5 (523 Hz) to C7 (2093 Hz) with different vowel configurations ([a:], [i:], [u:]), and different contexts (scales or octave jumps). A spectral analysis and an acoustic analysis of 3D-printed vocal tract models were conducted. The results suggest that there is no exclusive register-defining resonance-strategy. The intersection of fundamental frequency and first vocal tract resonance was not found to necessarily indicate a register shift. The articulators and the vocal tract resonances were either kept without significant adjustments, or the fR1:fo-tuning, wherein the first vocal tract resonance enhances the fundamental frequency, was applied until F6 (1396 Hz). An fR2:fo-tuning was not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Köberlein
- Medical Faculty of the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg Institute for Musicians' Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Music Freiburg, Elsässer Straße 2m, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Birkholz
- Institute of Acoustics and Speech Communication, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Burdumy
- Department of Medical Physics, Radiology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Germany
| | - Bernhard Richter
- Medical Faculty of the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg Institute for Musicians' Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Music Freiburg, Elsässer Straße 2m, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Burk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Louisa Traser
- Medical Faculty of the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg Institute for Musicians' Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Music Freiburg, Elsässer Straße 2m, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Echternach
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
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Echternach M, Herbst CT, Köberlein M, Story B, Döllinger M, Gellrich D. Are source-filter interactions detectable in classical singing during vowel glides? THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:4565. [PMID: 34241428 DOI: 10.1121/10.0005432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In recent studies, it has been assumed that vocal tract formants (Fn) and the voice source could interact. However, there are only few studies analyzing this assumption in vivo. Here, the vowel transition /i/-/a/-/u/-/i/ of 12 professional classical singers (6 females, 6 males) when phonating on the pitch D4 [fundamental frequency (ƒo) ca. 294 Hz] were analyzed using transnasal high speed videoendoscopy (20.000 fps), electroglottography (EGG), and audio recordings. Fn data were calculated using a cepstral method. Source-filter interaction candidates (SFICs) were determined by (a) algorithmic detection of major intersections of Fn/nƒo and (b) perceptual assessment of the EGG signal. Although the open quotient showed some increase for the /i-a/ and /u-i/ transitions, there were no clear effects at the expected Fn/nƒo intersections. In contrast, ƒo adjustments and changes in the phonovibrogram occurred at perceptually derived SFICs, suggesting level-two interactions. In some cases, these were constituted by intersections between higher nƒo and Fn. The presented data partially corroborates that vowel transitions may result in level-two interactions also in professional singers. However, the lack of systematically detectable effects suggests either the absence of a strong interaction or existence of confounding factors, which may potentially counterbalance the level-two-interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Echternach
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munich University Hospital (LMU), Marchioninistrasse 15, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Christian T Herbst
- Antonio Salieri Department of Vocal Studies and Vocal Research in Music Education, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marie Köberlein
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munich University Hospital (LMU), Marchioninistrasse 15, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Brad Story
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85718, USA
| | - Michael Döllinger
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School Waldstrasse 1, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
| | - Donata Gellrich
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munich University Hospital (LMU), Marchioninistrasse 15, Munich, 81377, Germany
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