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Echternach M, Burk F, Köberlein M, Döllinger M, Burdumy M, Richter B, Titze IR, Elemans CPH, Herbst CT. Biomechanics of sound production in high-pitched classical singing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13132. [PMID: 38849382 PMCID: PMC11161605 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62598-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Voice production of humans and most mammals is governed by the MyoElastic-AeroDynamic (MEAD) principle, where an air stream is modulated by self-sustained vocal fold oscillation to generate audible air pressure fluctuations. An alternative mechanism is found in ultrasonic vocalizations of rodents, which are established by an aeroacoustic (AA) phenomenon without vibration of laryngeal tissue. Previously, some authors argued that high-pitched human vocalization is also produced by the AA principle. Here, we investigate the so-called "whistle register" voice production in nine professional female operatic sopranos singing a scale from C6 (≈ 1047 Hz) to G6 (≈ 1568 Hz). Super-high-speed videolaryngoscopy revealed vocal fold collision in all participants, with closed quotients from 30 to 73%. Computational modeling showed that the biomechanical requirements to produce such high-pitched voice would be an increased contraction of the cricothyroid muscle, vocal fold strain of about 50%, and high subglottal pressure. Our data suggest that high-pitched operatic soprano singing uses the MEAD mechanism. Consequently, the commonly used term "whistle register" does not reflect the physical principle of a whistle with regard to voice generation in high pitched classical singing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Echternach
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, LMU University Hospital, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Fabian Burk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Plastic Surgery, SRH Wald-Klinikum Gera, Strasse des Friedens 122, Gera, Germany
| | - Marie Köberlein
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, LMU University Hospital, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Döllinger
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Waldstr. 1, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Burdumy
- Department of Medical Physics, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 60, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Richter
- Institute of Musicians' Medicine, Freiburg University Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine Freiburg University, Elsässer Str. 2m, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ingo R Titze
- Utah Center for Vocology, 240 S 1500 E, Room 206, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Coen P H Elemans
- Vocal Neuromechanics Lab, Sound Communication and Behavior Group, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Christian T Herbst
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
- Janette Ogg Voice Research Center, Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, VA, USA.
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Echternach M, Köberlein M, Döllinger M, Kirsch J, Pilsl T. Does forced whisper have an impact on voice parameters? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024:10.1007/s00405-024-08698-7. [PMID: 38709324 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08698-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There has been the assumption that whispering may impact vocal function, leading to the widespread recommendation against its practice after phonosurgery. However, the extent to which whispering affects vocal function and vocal fold oscillation patterns remains unclear. METHODS 10 vocally healthy subjects (5 male, 5 female) were instructed to forcefully whisper a standardized text for 10 min at a sound level of 70 dB(A), measured at a microphone distance of 30 cm to the mouth. Prior to and following the whisper loading, the dysphonia severity index was assessed. Simultaneously, recordings of high speed videolaryngoscopy (HSV), electroglottography, and audio signals during sustained phonation on the vowel /i/ (250 Hz for females and 125 Hz for males) were analyzed after segmentation of the HSV material. RESULTS The pre-post analysis revealed only minor changes after the intervention. These changes included a rise in minimum intensity, an increase in the glottal area waveform-derived open quotient, and the glottal gap index. However, no statistically significant changes were observed in the harmonic-to-noise-ratio, the glottal- to-noise-excitation-ratio, and the electroglottographic open quotient. CONCLUSION Overall, the study suggests that there are only small effects on vocal function in consequence of a forced whisper loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Echternach
- Division Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology, Munich University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Munich University (LMU), Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Marie Köberlein
- Division Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology, Munich University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Munich University (LMU), Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Döllinger
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jonas Kirsch
- Division Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology, Munich University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Munich University (LMU), Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Theresa Pilsl
- Division Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology, Munich University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Munich University (LMU), Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
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Kraxberger F, Näger C, Laudato M, Sundström E, Becker S, Mihaescu M, Kniesburges S, Schoder S. On the Alignment of Acoustic and Coupled Mechanic-Acoustic Eigenmodes in Phonation by Supraglottal Duct Variations. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1369. [PMID: 38135960 PMCID: PMC10740796 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10121369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sound generation in human phonation and the underlying fluid-structure-acoustic interaction that describes the sound production mechanism are not fully understood. A previous experimental study, with a silicone made vocal fold model connected to a straight vocal tract pipe of fixed length, showed that vibroacoustic coupling can cause a deviation in the vocal fold vibration frequency. This occurred when the fundamental frequency of the vocal fold motion was close to the lowest acoustic resonance frequency of the pipe. What is not fully understood is how the vibroacoustic coupling is influenced by a varying vocal tract length. Presuming that this effect is a pure coupling of the acoustical effects, a numerical simulation model is established based on the computation of the mechanical-acoustic eigenvalue. With varying pipe lengths, the lowest acoustic resonance frequency was adjusted in the experiments and so in the simulation setup. In doing so, the evolution of the vocal folds' coupled eigenvalues and eigenmodes is investigated, which confirms the experimental findings. Finally, it was shown that for normal phonation conditions, the mechanical mode is the most efficient vibration pattern whenever the acoustic resonance of the pipe (lowest formant) is far away from the vocal folds' vibration frequency. Whenever the lowest formant is slightly lower than the mechanical vocal fold eigenfrequency, the coupled vocal fold motion pattern at the formant frequency dominates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Kraxberger
- Institute of Fundamentals and Theory in Electrical Engineering (IGTE), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 18/I, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Christoph Näger
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics (LSTM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 4, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (C.N.); (S.B.)
| | - Marco Laudato
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, FLOW Research Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Osquars Backe 18, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.L.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Elias Sundström
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, FLOW Research Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Osquars Backe 18, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.L.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Stefan Becker
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics (LSTM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 4, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (C.N.); (S.B.)
| | - Mihai Mihaescu
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, FLOW Research Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Osquars Backe 18, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.L.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Stefan Kniesburges
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstraße 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Stefan Schoder
- Institute of Fundamentals and Theory in Electrical Engineering (IGTE), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 18/I, 8010 Graz, Austria;
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Barrientos E, Cataldo E. Estimating Formant Frequencies of Vowels Sung by Sopranos Using Weighted Linear Prediction. J Voice 2023:S0892-1997(23)00322-3. [PMID: 38000960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.10.018] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
This study introduces the weighted linear prediction adapted to high-pitched singing voices (WLP-HPSV) method for accurately estimating formant frequencies of vowels sung by lyric sopranos. The WLP-HPSV method employs a variant of the WLP analysis combined with the zero-frequency filtering (ZFF) technique to address specific challenges in formant estimation from singing signals. Evaluation of the WLP-HPSV method compared to the LPC method demonstrated its superior performance in accurately capturing the spectral characteristics of synthetic /u/ vowels and the /a/ and /u/ natural singing vowels. The QCP parameters used in the WLP-HPSV method varied with pitch, revealing insights into the interplay between the vocal tract and glottal characteristics during vowel production. The comparison between the LPC and WLP-HPSV methods highlighted the robustness of the WLP-HPSV method in accurately estimating formant frequencies across different pitches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Barrientos
- Postgraduate Program in Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering (PPGEET), R. Passo da Pátria, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Edson Cataldo
- Postgraduate Program in Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering (PPGEET), R. Passo da Pátria, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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Näger C, Kniesburges S, Tur B, Schoder S, Becker S. An Investigation of Acoustic Back-Coupling in Human Phonation on a Synthetic Larynx Model. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1343. [PMID: 38135934 PMCID: PMC10740801 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10121343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the human phonation process, acoustic standing waves in the vocal tract can influence the fluid flow through the glottis as well as vocal fold oscillation. To investigate the amount of acoustic back-coupling, the supraglottal flow field has been recorded via high-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) in a synthetic larynx model for several configurations with different vocal tract lengths. Based on the obtained velocity fields, acoustic source terms were computed. Additionally, the sound radiation into the far field was recorded via microphone measurements and the vocal fold oscillation via high-speed camera recordings. The PIV measurements revealed that near a vocal tract resonance frequency fR, the vocal fold oscillation frequency fo (and therefore also the flow field's fundamental frequency) jumps onto fR. This is accompanied by a substantial relative increase in aeroacoustic sound generation efficiency. Furthermore, the measurements show that fo-fR-coupling increases vocal efficiency, signal-to-noise ratio, harmonics-to-noise ratio and cepstral peak prominence. At the same time, the glottal volume flow needed for stable vocal fold oscillation decreases strongly. All of this results in an improved voice quality and phonation efficiency so that a person phonating with fo-fR-coupling can phonate longer and with better voice quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Näger
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 4, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Stefan Kniesburges
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstrasse 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bogac Tur
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstrasse 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Schoder
- Aeroacoustics and Vibroacoustics Group, Institute of Fundamentals and Theory in Electrical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Stefan Becker
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 4, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
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Zhang Z. The influence of source-filter interaction on the voice source in a three-dimensional computational model of voice production. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:2462-2475. [PMID: 37855666 PMCID: PMC10589054 DOI: 10.1121/10.0021879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this computational study is to quantify global effects of vocal tract constriction at various locations (false vocal folds, aryepiglottic folds, pharynx, oral cavity, and lips) on the voice source across a large range of vocal fold conditions. The results showed that while inclusion of a uniform vocal tract had notable effects on the voice source, further constricting the vocal tract only had small effects except for conditions of extreme constriction, at which constrictions at any location along the vocal tract decreased the mean and peak-to-peak amplitude of the glottal flow waveform. Although narrowing in the epilarynx increased the normalized maximum flow declination rate, vocal tract constriction in general slightly reduced the source strength and high-frequency harmonic production at the glottis, except for a limited set of vocal fold conditions (e.g., soft, long vocal folds subject to relatively high pressure). This suggests that simultaneous laryngeal and vocal tract adjustments are required to maximize source-filter interaction. While vocal tract adjustments are often assumed to improve voice production, our results indicate that such improvements are mainly due to changes in vocal tract acoustic response rather than improved voice production at the glottis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyan Zhang
- UCLA School of Medicine, 31-24 Rehabilitation Center, 1000 Veteran Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90095-1794, USA
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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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Echternach M, Nusseck M, Strasding M, Richter B. Differences of Electroglottographical Contact Quotients between Connected Speech and Sustained Phonation in Clinical Measurement of Voice. J Voice 2023:S0892-1997(23)00077-2. [PMID: 36941166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.02.020] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In clinical practice, sustained phonation is mostly used for acoustic voice measurements, while perceptual evaluation is based on connected speech. Since sustained phonation could be associated with the use of the singing voice, and since vocal registers are more relevant for singing rather than speech, it is unclear if vocal registers contribute to observable vocal fold contact differences between sustained phonation and speech. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sustained phonation (vowel [a] on comfortable pitch and loudness) and connected speech (German text: Der Nordwind und die Sonne) were analyzed for 1216 subjects (426 with and 790 without dysphonia) using the Laryngograph system (combining electroglottography and audio recordings). From these samples, fundamental frequency (ƒo), contact quotient (CQ), sound pressure level (SPL) and frequency perturbation (jitter first for sustained and cFx for connected speech) were evaluated. RESULTS Compared to connected speech, the values of ƒo and SPL were higher for sustained phonation. For female voices, ƒo difference was greater than for male voices. At the same time, and only for the females, CQ was lower for the sustained phonation, indicating a register difference. CONCLUSION In order to achieve a better comparability, sustained phonation should be standardized regarding the ƒo and SPL values in correspondence to the ƒo and SPL range of reading a text. This should also reduce the risk of using a different register for different types of phonation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Echternach
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Munich University Hospital (LMU), Munich, Germany.
| | - Manfred Nusseck
- Institute of Musicians' Medicine, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Malin Strasding
- Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Université de Genève, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Richter
- Institute of Musicians' Medicine, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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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,*Correspondence: Mario Fleischer,
| | | | - 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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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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