Voice Classification by Means of Long-Term Speech Spectra

This article summarizes the results for a total of 189 female and 63 male university students (mean age 23 and 26 years, respectively) from the following vocal capacity tests: measurement of (1) vital capacity, (2) average airflow in phonation (on [o:]), (3) maximum duration of sustained blowing, (4) maximum phonation time (on [o:, z:]), (5) maximum duration of [s:], (6) the ratio of the duration of [s:] to [z:] (s/z ratio), (7) phonation quotient (the ratio between vital capacity and maximum phonation time), (8) the lowest possible tone, (9) mean fundamental frequency (F0) in normal and loud text reading and in shouting, (10) difference between the lowest tone and mean F0 in text reading and in shouting, (11) F0 range in text reading, (12) equivalent sound level of normal and loud reading and of shouting in maximum loudness, (13) phonetogram (voice range profile) and (14) long-term average spectrum of text reading. Voice quality is also evaluated perceptually, and additionally, data on subjects’ self-reported vocal fatigue symptoms in general or after a vocally loading task were collected. The value of these measurements from the point of view of assessment of vocal capacity will be discussed.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Vocal Capacity of Finnish University Students

Leino

Laukkanen

Ilomäki

et al. 2008

“…Some studies have analyzed a frequency band restricted to frequencies be low 3 kHz [3,20,21], while others have extended this band up to even 16 kHz [22][23][24], Likewise, the existing studies have produced great variations in the delimitation of the fre quency interval to be employed when carrying out the measurements: consequently, investi gators have chosen: a constant frequency range [21], a logarithmic scale that stimulates the response of the human car [23], or the areas of the spectrum with a clear acoustic and physiological correlation [11], However, the majority of the studies mentioned have uti lized these systems of measurement in orderto compare normal and pathological voices or to determine postsurgical effects. Very few inves tigators have centered their work specifically on speaker recognition.…”

Section: Le Spectre Moyen à Long Terme En Tant Quementioning

confidence: 99%

The Long-Term Average Spectrum as a Measure of Voice Stability

Mendoza

Muñoz²,

Naranjo³

1996

This paper aims at providing a methodological answer to the topic of voice stability. Seventeen experimental subjects read a standard text 5 times during a 2-week period. The data were obtained through the Long-Term Average Spectrum and were analyzed with a twofold procedure: (i) analysis of the absolute energy values at different frequency points throughout the length of the spectrum, and (ii) analysis of the relative values obtained by subtraction of each of two consecutive frequency values analyzed. The results obtained with the first procedure indicate that the differences that exist between the various sessions are centered mainly in the frequencies below 0.6 kHz and in the area of 4 kHz, following a linear tendency. The fact that the differences between sessions disappear when employing relative measures may indicate that the utilization of these measures eliminates the sources of systematic or aleatoric error can be introduced during a recording or in the period of time between two consecutive recording sessions.

“…We must also keep in mind that pneumotachography cannot always be consid ered as physiological enough and does not contribute any information on the acoustic qualities of the voice. Therefore, many au thors used spectral analysis [5], Others used long-time average spectrum analysis (LTAS) [6][7][8][9], But the question remains whether voice quality is suitable to become a singer, an actor or a speaker by profession. We tried to answer one part of the question several years ago by considering the fatigue after a standard vocal loading test as a parameter of voice quality.…”

Section: Paramètres D'évaluation Acoustiques De La Voix De Futurs Promentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic Parameters for the Evaluation of Voice of Future Voice Professionals

Novák

Vokřál²

1995

The authors tried to establish quantitative and qualitative acoustic parameters of a good voice, suitable for future voice professionals. In their work they used long-time average spectrum analysis (LTAS) and three-dimensional analysis of periodicity (3D-PAN). They consider the regression straight line of formant regions and the parameters offered by 3D-P AN – jitter first of all – as the main acoustic parameters for the evaluation of voice quality and draw attention to the fact that acoustic parameters represent only one part of the evaluation of voice quality.