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Technique for "tuning" vocal tract area functions based on acoustic sensitivity functions.
1Speech Acoustics Laboratory, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. bstory@u.arizona.edu
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|March 9, 2006
Summary
This study introduces a novel method to adjust vocal tract area functions for speech synthesis. The technique iteratively refines vocal tract shapes to achieve target formant frequencies more accurately.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Speech Science
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Accurate vocal tract area functions are crucial for realistic speech synthesis.
- Previous methods may lack precision in achieving target acoustic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an iterative technique for modifying vocal tract area functions.
- To improve the accuracy of formant frequencies in synthesized speech.
Main Methods:
- Calculating acoustic sensitivity functions for a given vocal tract area function.
- Using scaling coefficients derived from the difference between desired and current formant frequencies.
- Summing scaled sensitivity functions to perturb the area function iteratively.
Main Results:
- The developed method generates new area functions with formant frequencies closer to desired values.
- Iterative refinement leads to improved acoustic accuracy.
Conclusions:
- This technique offers an effective way to modify vocal tract area functions for speech production.
- The iterative approach provides a systematic method for achieving target formant frequencies.