Models and analysis of vocal emissions for biomedical applications

This book of Proceedings collects the papers presented at the 3rd International Workshop on Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications, MAVEBA 2003, held 10-12 December 2003, Firenze, Italy. The workshop is organised every two years, and aims to stimulate contacts between specialists active in research and industrial developments, in the area of voice analysis for biomedical applications. The scope of the Workshop includes all aspects of voice modelling and analysis, ranging from fundamental research to all kinds of biomedical applications and related established and advanced technologies

Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications

The International Workshop on Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications (MAVEBA) came into being in 1999 from the particularly felt need of sharing know-how, objectives and results between areas that until then seemed quite distinct such as bioengineering, medicine and singing. MAVEBA deals with all aspects concerning the study of the human voice with applications ranging from the newborn to the adult and elderly. Over the years the initial issues have grown and spread also in other fields of research such as occupational voice disorders, neurology, rehabilitation, image and video analysis. MAVEBA takes place every two years in Firenze, Italy. This edition celebrates twenty-two years of uninterrupted and successful research in the field of voice analysis

A novel framework for high-quality voice source analysis and synthesis

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The analysis, parameterization and modeling of voice source estimates obtained via inverse filtering of recorded speech are some of the most challenging areas of speech processing owing to the fact humans produce a wide range of voice source realizations and that the voice source estimates commonly contain artifacts due to the non-linear time-varying source-filter coupling. Currently, the most widely adopted representation of voice source signal is Liljencrants-Fant's (LF) model which was developed in late 1985. Due to the overly simplistic interpretation of voice source dynamics, LF model can not represent the fine temporal structure of glottal flow derivative realizations nor can it carry the sufficient spectral richness to facilitate a truly natural sounding speech synthesis. In this thesis we have introduced Characteristic Glottal Pulse Waveform Parameterization and Modeling (CGPWPM) which constitutes an entirely novel framework for voice source analysis, parameterization and reconstruction. In comparative evaluation of CGPWPM and LF model we have demonstrated that the proposed method is able to preserve higher levels of speaker dependant information from the voice source estimates and realize a more natural sounding speech synthesis. In general, we have shown that CGPWPM-based speech synthesis rates highly on the scale of absolute perceptual acceptability and that speech signals are faithfully reconstructed on consistent basis, across speakers, gender. We have applied CGPWPM to voice quality profiling and text-independent voice quality conversion method. The proposed voice conversion method is able to achieve the desired perceptual effects and the modified speech remained as natural sounding and intelligible as natural speech. In this thesis, we have also developed an optimal wavelet thresholding strategy for voice source signals which is able to suppress aspiration noise and still retain both the slow and the rapid variations in the voice source estimate

Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications

The MAVEBA Workshop proceedings, held on a biannual basis, collect the scientific papers presented both as oral and poster contributions, during the conference. The main subjects are: development of theoretical and mechanical models as an aid to the study of main phonatory dysfunctions, as well as the biomedical engineering methods for the analysis of voice signals and images, as a support to clinical diagnosis and classification of vocal pathologies

Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications

The Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions with Biomedical Applications (MAVEBA) workshop came into being in 1999 from the particularly felt need of sharing know-how, objectives and results between areas that until then seemed quite distinct such as bioengineering, medicine and singing. MAVEBA deals with all aspects concerning the study of the human voice with applications ranging from the neonate to the adult and elderly. Over the years the initial issues have grown and spread also in other aspects of research such as occupational voice disorders, neurology, rehabilitation, image and video analysis. MAVEBA takes place every two years always in Firenze, Italy

Testing procedures and acquisition systems for contact sensor¿based vocal monitoring devices

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Computational Investigations of the Fluid-Structure Interaction During Phonation: The Role of Vocal Fold Elasticity and Glottal Flow Unsteadiness

Human voice production arises from the biomechanical interaction between vocal fold vibrations and airflow dynamics. Changes in vocal fold stiffness can lead to changes in vocal fold vibration patterns and further changes in voice outcomes. A good knowledge of the cause-and-effect relationship between vocal fold stiffness and voice production can not only deepen the understanding of voice production mechanisms but also benefit the treatment of voice disorders associated with vocal fold stiffness changes. This constitutes the first objective of this dissertation. The second objective of this dissertation is to further examine the range of validity of the quasi-steady assumption of glottal flow during phonation. The assumption is of vital importance for phonation modeling since it enables to eliminate the unsteady aspects of glottal flow, which greatly simplifies the flow modeling. A three-dimensional flow-structure interaction model of voice production is employed to investigate the effects of vocal fold stiffness parameters on voice production. The vocal fold is modeled as the cover-ligament-body structure with a transversely isotropic constitutive relation. Stiffness parameters in both the transverse plane and the longitudinal direction of each layer of the vocal fold are systematically varied. The results show that varying the stiffness parameters has obvious monotonic effects on the fundamental frequency, glottal flow rate and glottal opening, but has non-monotonic effects on the glottal divergent angle, open quotient and closing velocity. Compared to the transverse stiffness parameters, the longitudinal stiffness parameters generally have more significant impacts on glottal flows and vocal fold vibrations. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis reveals that the stiffness parameters of the ligament layer have the largest effect on most output measures. Next, flow-structure interaction simulations are carried out to study the effect of fiber orientation in the conus elasticus on voice production. Two continuum vocal fold models with different fiber orientations in the conus elasticus are constructed. The more realistic fiber orientation (caudal-cranial) in the conus elasticus is found to yield smaller structural stiffness and larger deflection at the junction of the conus elasticus and ligament than the anterior-posterior fiber orientation, which facilitates vocal fold vibrations and eventually causes a larger peak flow rate and higher speed quotient. The generated voice is also found to have a lower fundamental frequency and smaller spectral slope. Finally, the validity of the quasi-steady assumption for glottal flow is systematically examined by considering the voice frequency range, complexity of glottal shapes and air inertia in the vocal tract. The results show that at the normal speech frequency (~ 100 Hz), the dynamics of the quasi-steady flow greatly resembles that of a dynamic flow, and the glottal flow and glottal pressure predicted by the quasi-steady approximation have very small errors. However, the assumption produces huge errors at high frequencies (~ 500 Hz). In addition, air inertia in the vocal tract can undermine the validity of the assumption via the nonlinear interaction with the unsteady glottal flow. The role of glottal shapes in the validation is found to be insignificant

Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications

The International Workshop on Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications (MAVEBA) came into being in 1999 from the particularly felt need of sharing know-how, objectives and results between areas that until then seemed quite distinct such as bioengineering, medicine and singing. MAVEBA deals with all aspects concerning the study of the human voice with applications ranging from the neonate to the adult and elderly. Over the years the initial issues have grown and spread also in other aspects of research such as occupational voice disorders, neurology, rehabilitation, image and video analysis. MAVEBA takes place every two years always in Firenze, Italy. This edition celebrates twenty years of uninterrupted and succesfully research in the field of voice analysis

A novel framework for high-quality voice source analysis and synthesis

The analysis, parameterization and modeling of voice source estimates obtained via inverse filtering of recorded speech are some of the most challenging areas of speech processing owing to the fact humans produce a wide range of voice source realizations and that the voice source estimates commonly contain artifacts due to the non-linear time-varying source-filter coupling. Currently, the most widely adopted representation of voice source signal is Liljencrants-Fant's (LF) model which was developed in late 1985. Due to the overly simplistic interpretation of voice source dynamics, LF model can not represent the fine temporal structure of glottal flow derivative realizations nor can it carry the sufficient spectral richness to facilitate a truly natural sounding speech synthesis. In this thesis we have introduced Characteristic Glottal Pulse Waveform Parameterization and Modeling (CGPWPM) which constitutes an entirely novel framework for voice source analysis, parameterization and reconstruction. In comparative evaluation of CGPWPM and LF model we have demonstrated that the proposed method is able to preserve higher levels of speaker dependant information from the voice source estimates and realize a more natural sounding speech synthesis. In general, we have shown that CGPWPM-based speech synthesis rates highly on the scale of absolute perceptual acceptability and that speech signals are faithfully reconstructed on consistent basis, across speakers, gender. We have applied CGPWPM to voice quality profiling and text-independent voice quality conversion method. The proposed voice conversion method is able to achieve the desired perceptual effects and the modified speech remained as natural sounding and intelligible as natural speech. In this thesis, we have also developed an optimal wavelet thresholding strategy for voice source signals which is able to suppress aspiration noise and still retain both the slow and the rapid variations in the voice source estimate.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Relationship of the cricothyroid space with vocal range in female singers

It is well documented that the cricothyroid (CT) space opens and closes with changes in pitch, narrowing with rising pitch and widening with falling pitch. Indeed, cricothyroid approximation surgery, a procedure where the CT space is deliberately made smaller, is used in male to female transgender subjects to successfully elevate vocal pitch. The present study focuses on investigating the relationship between the anterior CT space at rest and vocal range in female singers. Laryngeal dimensions (anterior CT space and heights of the thyroid and cricoid cartilages) were measured using ultrasound in 43 healthy, classically trained, female singers. Potential associations with and between age, ethnicity, anthropometric indices (height, weight, body mass index), neck dimensions (circumference and length), vocal data (practice and performance vocal range, lowest and highest practice and performance notes) along with usual speaking fundamental frequency were also explored. The main finding was that mezzo-sopranos have a significantly wider resting CT space than sopranos (11.6 mm versus 10.4 mm; P=0.007). Mezzo-sopranos also had significantly lower ‘lowest and highest’ performance notes and speaking fundamental frequencies than sopranos. Furthermore, there was a weak but significant negative correlation between the magnitude of the anterior CT space and the lowest performance note (r=-0.448; P=0.003) but there was no significant correlation with either the highest performance note or vocal range. These results suggest there is a relationship between the CT space and the lowest note a female can sing. This was evident in the correlation of a small CT space with a higher ‘lowest performance note’. It appears that the CT space influences how low female singers can sing, but not how high they can sing