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Lower Vocal Tract Morphologic Adjustments Are Relevant for Voice Timbre in Singing
Alexander Mainka1, Anton Poznyakovskiy2, Ivan Platzek3
1Division of Phoniatrics and Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Voice Research Laboratory, Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber, Dresden, Germany.
Plos One
|July 18, 2015
Summary
Male singers adjust their lower vocal tract, lowering the larynx and widening the hypopharynx during singing. These vocal tract changes enhance high-frequency energy, contributing to the singer's formant.
Area of Science:
- Acoustic and Physiological studies of Voice Production
- Vocal Tract Morphology and Acoustics
Background:
- Vocal tract shape significantly influences voice production and timbre.
- The lower vocal tract, including the epilaryngeal tube and hypopharynx, is particularly relevant for voice quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the detailed morphology of the epilaryngeal tube and hypopharynx in male singers during speech and singing phonation.
- To investigate the relationship between vocal tract adjustments and acoustic output, specifically the singer's formant.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to create 3D vocal tract models.
- Long-term average spectrum (LTAS) analysis of audio recordings compared speech-like and classical singing phonations.
- Measurements included larynx height, hypopharyngeal cross-sectional area, and volume.
Main Results:
- Singing phonation showed significant lower vocal tract adjustments compared to speech: larynx lowered by 8 mm, hypopharyngeal area increased by 21.9%, and volume by 16.8%.
- No significant changes were observed in the epilaryngeal portion.
- Increased high-frequency energy in singing correlated with a wider hypopharyngeal area.
Conclusions:
- Classical male singers utilize significant lower vocal tract adjustments to enhance high-frequency energy.
- These morphological changes in the hypopharynx contribute to the production of the singer's formant and characteristic voice timbre.
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