A new voice conversion technique through vector quantization and spectrum mapping is proposed. This technique is based on mapping codebooks which represent the cor respondencebetween different speakers' codebooks. The mapping codebooks for spectrum parameters, power values, and pitch frequencies are separately generated using training utterances.This technique makes it possible to precisely control voice individuality.The performance of this technique is confirmed by spectrum distortion and pitch frequency difference. To evaluate the overall performance of this technique, listening tests are carried out on two kinds of voice conversions:one between male and female speakers, the other between male speakers. In the male-to-female conversion experiment, all converted utterances are judged as female, and in the male-to-male conversion, 57% of them are identified as the target speaker.
In this paper, the durational characteristics of Japanese are statistically analyzed with the aim of establishing a fine duration setting rule. First, a statistical duration control model is formulated through factor analysis on a large-scale isolated-word database (5240 words).Second, using 282 fluently spoken connected speech utterances, segmental durations calculated by this model are compared with measured durations. Error analysis made clear the existence of the following sentence-level duration effects: ( 1 ) Prepausal lengthening is greater than simple word-final lengthening; and (2) shorter durations are found in sentence-final position in read sentences than in the other positions. By incorporating these effects into the durationsetting rules, the prediction error for sentence•/were reduced to the same level as for isolated words.
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