Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody
Published on: September 27, 2024
Cepstral Characteristics of Voice in Indian Female Classical Carnatic Singers
Radish Kumar Balasubramanium1, Anuradha Shastry1, Mausam Singh1
1Department of Audiology & SLP, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka 575001, India.
Background:
The cepstral measures are gaining attention in the voice analysis as it is reported to be strong predictor of voice impairments. As singer's voice is reported to be present with more harmonics, it can be hypothesized that there would be an increase in the value of cepstral parameters. Also, little is known about the cepstral characteristics of voices in Indian classical Carnatic singers; and hence, the present study was undertaken with an aim to characterize the singer's voice using cepstral measures.
Methods:
Thirty Indian female classical Carnatic singers and 30 nonsingers participated in the study. Phonation of vowel /a/ was recorded at their habitual pitch and loudness. The cepstral peak prominence and smoothened cepstral peak prominence were analyzed using the Hillenbrand algorithm available in Speech Tool software. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for each group. Obtained scores were analyzed using independent t test.
Results:
Mean raw scores were found to be increased in classical Carnatic singers in comparison with nonsingers. Results of independent t test revealed significant difference between the means of singers and nonsingers for both the cepstral measures at P < 0.05.
Conclusions:
The present study investigated the cepstral characteristic of voice in singers and nonsingers. Results revealed that there was a significant difference between the means of singers and nonsingers indicating that cepstral parameters were higher among the singers in comparison with nonsingers. The obtained results were attributed to the harmonic organization in the voices of singers.
Related Concept Videos
Larynx
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids,...
Characteristics of Series Resonant Circuit
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract IV: Auscultation
Breath Sounds
Breath sounds are categorized into vesicular, bronchovesicular, and bronchial.
Concept of Resonance and its Characteristics
IR Spectrum Peak Splitting: Symmetric vs Asymmetric Vibrations
Perception of Sound Waves
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...

