Engineering Mechanics

Proceedings Vol. 18 (2012)

ENGINEERING MECHANICS 2012

Copyright © 2012 Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Prague

 

V. Radolf, A. Nissinen, A. M. Laukkanen, R. Havlík, J. Horáček
pages 1087 - 1102, full text

An inverse method was used to estimate the vocal tract geometry as a 1 D model on the basis of acoustical characteristics of a professional musical singer before and after vocal exercising. The basic geometrical data for the model were obtained from magnetic resonance images (MRI) registered during sustained phonation of vowels [a:], [i:], [u:] produced in naive and professional ways (before and after exercising respectively). The model was used for numerical simulations of the voice signals. The results of simulation were compared to the acoustic recordings. According to the results, a singer’s formant cluster was accomplished after exercising. It seemed to be due to lowering of the larynx and lengthening and narrowing of the epilarynx. The area ratio between the low pharynx and the epilarynx increased for [a:] but decreased for [i:] and [u:] after exercising being between 3.33 and 4.39. There was a qualitative agreement between 3D measurements of MRI and the results of modeling. The results suggest that for a singer’s formant cluster a relatively low pharynx over epilarynx ratio may be sufficient, at least if the larynx lowers.

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