Acoustic characterization of an averaged vocal tract model based on the MRI data of professional tenors

Probst J, Lodermeyer A, Fattoum S, Echternach M, Becker S, Kniesburges S (2019)


Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2019

Publisher: International Commission for Acoustics (ICA)

Book Volume: 2019-September

Pages Range: 1788-1794

Conference Proceedings Title: Proceedings of the International Congress on Acoustics

Event location: Aachen DE

ISBN: 9783939296157

DOI: 10.18154/RWTH-CONV-239588

Abstract

Human speech is created in the larynx and the vocal tract. For vowels, the basic sound is generated by the oscillating vocal folds and filtered by the vocal tract to produce the typical formants. In the present study, we investigate the influence of the vocal tract on phonation. Based on Magnet Resonance Imaging (MRI) data, the acoustic behavior of the vocal tract can be characterized using numerical and experimental models. However, previous studies only analyzed single vocal tracts that were directly obtained from individuals. To investigate the basic influence of the vocal tract on phonation, a vocal tract model is necessary that shows preferably little individual but the typical acoustic characteristics of the specific vowel. Hence, we computed an average vocal tract geometry based on six simplified individual vocal tracts that were extracted from MRI images of professional tenors. The resulting vocal tract model was evaluated in an experimental setup including artificial vocal folds. The comparison with the tenors' vocal recordings shows that the model reproduces the acoustic properties well. Hence, the average vocal tract model presented here is suitable for future investigations of the influence of the vocal tract on phonation.

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APA:

Probst, J., Lodermeyer, A., Fattoum, S., Echternach, M., Becker, S., & Kniesburges, S. (2019). Acoustic characterization of an averaged vocal tract model based on the MRI data of professional tenors. In Martin Ochmann, Vorlander Michael, Janina Fels (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Congress on Acoustics (pp. 1788-1794). Aachen, DE: International Commission for Acoustics (ICA).

MLA:

Probst, Judith, et al. "Acoustic characterization of an averaged vocal tract model based on the MRI data of professional tenors." Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress on Acoustics: Integrating 4th EAA Euroregio, ICA 2019, Aachen Ed. Martin Ochmann, Vorlander Michael, Janina Fels, International Commission for Acoustics (ICA), 2019. 1788-1794.

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