Evaluating the Influence of Warmup on Singing Voice Quality Using Acoustic Measures

Vocal warmup is generally accepted as vital for singing performance. However, only a limited number of studies have evaluated this effect quantitatively. In this study, we evaluated the effect of vocal warmup on voice production, among young female singers, using a set of acoustic parameters. Warmup reduced frequency-perturbation (p < 0.001) and amplitude-perturbation values (p < 0.05). In addition, warmup increased singer's formant amplitude (p < 0.05) and improved noise-to-harmonic ratio (p < 0.05). Tone-matching accuracy, however, was not affected by warmup. The effect of vocal warmup on frequency-perturbation parameters was more evident among mezzo-soprano singers than it was among soprano singers. It was also more evident in the low pitch-range than in the higher pitch-ranges (p < 0.05). The results of this study provide valid support for the advantageous effect of vocal warmup on voice quality and present acoustic analysis as a valuable and sensitive tool for quantifying this effect.     

Singing power ratio: Quantitative evaluation of singing voice quality

This paper presents a parameter for objectively evaluating singing voice quality. Power spectrum of vowel sound / a / was analyzed by Fast Fourier Transform. The greatest harmonics peak between 2 and 4 kHz and the greatest harmonics peak between 0 and 2 kHz were identified. Power ratio of these peaks, termed singing power ratio (SPR), was calculated in 37 singers and 20 nonsingers. SPR of sung / a / in singers was significantly greater than in nonsingers. In singers, SPR of sung / a / was significantly greater than that of spoken / a /. By digital signal processing, power spectrum of sung / a / was varied, and the processed sounds were perceptually analyzed. SPR had a significant relationship with perceptual scores of “ringing” quality. SPR provides an important quantitative measurement for evaluating singing voice quality for all voice types, including soprano.     

Acoustic concomitants of emotional expression in operatic singing: The case of lucia in Ardi gli incensi

Two excerpts from the cadenza in Ardi gli incensi from Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor were acoustically analyzed for five recorded versions of the cadenza by Toti dal Monte, Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Joan Sutherland, and Edita Gruberova. These acoustic parameters of the singing voices were correlated with preference and emotional expression judgments, based on pairwise comparisons, made by a group of experienced listener-judges. In addition to showing major differences in the voice quality of the five “dive” studied, the acoustic parameters suggested which vocal cues affect listener judgments. Two component scores, based on a factorial-dimensional analysis of the acoustic parameters, predicted 84% of the variance in the preference ratings.     

Acoustic analysis of the singing and speaking voice in singing students

The singing power ratio (SPR) is an objective means of quantifying the singer's formant. SPR has been shown to differentiate trained singers from nonsingers and sung from spoken tones. This study was designed to evaluate SPR and acoustic parameters in singing students to determine if the singer-intraining has an identifiable difference between sung and spoken voices. Digital audio recordings were made of both sung and spoken vowel sounds in 55 singing students for acoustic analysis. SPR values were not significantly different between the sung and spoken samples. Shimmer and noise-to-harmonic ratio were significantly higher in spoken samples. SPR analysis may provide an objective tool for monitoring the student's progress.     

An Exploration of Skin Acceleration Level as a Measure of Phonatory Function in Singing

Two kinds of fluctuations are observed in phonetogram recordings of singing. Sound pressure level (SPL) can vary due to vibrato and also due to the effect of open and closed vowels. Since vowel variation is mostly a consequence of vocal tract modification and is not directly related to phonatory function, it could be helpful to suppress such variation when studying phonation. Skin acceleration level (SAL), measured at the jugular notch and on the sternum, might be less influenced by effects of the vocal tract. It is explored in this study as an alternative measure to SPL. Five female singers sang vowel series on selected pitches and in different tasks. Recorded data were used to investigate two null hypotheses: (1) SPL and SAL are equally influenced by vowel variation and (2) SPL and SAL are equally correlated to subglottal pressure (P(S)). Interestingly, the vowel variation effect was small in both SPL and SAL. Furthermore, in comparison to SPL, SAL correlated weakly to P(S). SAL exhibited practically no dependence on fundamental frequency, rather, its major determinant was the musical dynamic. This results in a non-sloping, square-like phonetogram contour. These outcomes show that SAL potentially can facilitate phonetographic analysis of the singing voice.     

Patterns of breath support in projection of the singing voice

Recordings of the rib cage and abdominal motions and acoustic output were obtained from five professional opera singers during performance of an aria recorded with two levels of voice projection. The condition of greater projection resulted in a significant increase in the acoustic power in the frequency band 2-4 kHz, relative to the power in the 0-2 kHz band, and a decrease in the mean expiratory flow, implying a move to more efficient vocalization with the greater projection. Also, the condition of greater projection resulted in a larger rib cage, particularly in the lateral dimension, but only a small decrease in the abdominal lateral dimension, suggesting that the greater abdominal support required for a larger projection is obtained by increased activation of abdominal muscles acting medially.     

Analysis and Evaluation of a Voice-Training Program in Future Professional Voice Users

The goal of this study is to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of a voice-training program. Twenty-three professional voice users received voice training for 2 years and vocal hygiene education for 1 year. The voice-training program consisted of lectures, technical workshops, and vocal coaching. The European Laryngological Society (ELS) protocol, including the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), was applied before and after, respectively, 9 and 18 months of voice training. A questionnaire on daily habits was presented at study onset and after 18 months. The DSI improvement is more significant after 9 months (P=0.005) than it is after 18 months (P=0.2). On the other hand, the perceptual evaluation remained unchanged after 9 months, whereas it improved significantly after 18 months. The results of the daily habit questionnaire are disturbing: the prevalence of smoking, vocal abuse, stress, and late meals were not influenced by the lectures and remained high. This study emphasizes the need for a well-organized voice-training program that is most effective after 9 months. Regarding the low effectiveness of the vocal hygiene program, the concept needs revision.     

Breathing muscle activity and subglottal pressure dynamics in singing and speech

Previous studies have indicated that the diaphragm may contribute to the accomplishment of the quick and precise subglottal pressure changes required during singing. The present investigation compares data collected from simultaneously recorded electromyograms from breathing muscles and transdiaphragmatic pressure during singing as well as during nonsense and emphatic speech.     

神光Ⅱ间接驱动内爆实验ArX射线谱线模拟研究

ICF内爆物理研究中,示踪元素X射线谱诊断方法是推测内爆压缩温度、 密度以及燃料混合状态的有效方法.针对其中的非平衡物理过程, 研制了非局域热动平衡(non-LTE)下一维谱线输运程序Alpha.程序以辐射流体计算给出的温度、 密度等量为输入条件,求解细致组态(DCA)模型下的原子动力学方程和辐射输运方程, 自洽给出谱线不透明度,和成像面上的X射线谱分布.
利用该程序,模拟了神光Ⅱ装置上的掺Ar靶丸内爆示踪元素X射线谱诊断实验, 研究结果表明,谱线的自吸收效应影响发射的X射线谱的强度和形状, 谱线的宽度对自吸收效应的强弱也有影响.因此,在对X射线谱的数值模拟中应该考虑自吸收效应. 另外,与LTE近似下的发射谱的比较表明, LTE近似下,等离子体电离度大～1, 发射谱的形状与non-LTE的结果不同,且LTE近似下,谱线的强度比non-LTE的谱线强度大5-10倍, 采用LTE近似是不合适的.     

Changes in the spectrum and polarization of polychromatic partially coherent electromagnetic beams in the turbulent atmosphere

The polychromatic partially coherent electromagnetic Cosh-Gaussian (EChG) beam is introduced and taken as a typical example of polychromatic partially coherent electromagnetic beams. Based on the unified theory of coherence and polarization, the expressions for the spectrum and the degree of polarization of polychromatic partially coherent EChG beams in the turbulent atmosphere are derived, and the conditions for keeping polarization invariance and for determining the position where the degree of polarization becomes zero along the propagation path are also given. It is shown that the normalized spectrum is close to the normalized source spectrum due to turbulence. The reasonable physical explanation of spectral shift is given. On the other hand, the bandwidth does not affect the degree of polarization, and the degree of polarization tends to the value at the source plane due to turbulence in the long-propagation distance limit. The spectrum and polarization of polychromatic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (EGSM) beams and electromagnetic Gaussian (EG) beams in turbulence are treated as special cases of polychromatic partially coherent EChG beams.     

Objective and subjective evaluation of acoustic comfort in classrooms: A comparative investigation of vernacular and modern school classroom in Kerala

This paper reports a comparative investigation on acoustic comfort of classrooms in vernacular and modern school buildings in tropical warm humid climate. In this type of climate the intrusion of external noise into the classrooms along with cross ventilation is unavoidable. Preliminary investigation on the evaluation of acoustic comfort carried in secondary schools located in Kollam district of Kerala State in India have been reported. As a step ahead, in order to understand the performance of vernacular school classroom in comparison with that of a modern classroom, an initial survey was conducted in classrooms of ten vernacular and 10 modern schools. Further a detail investigation was carried out in a vernacular and modern school building located in the same site. The study was conducted by measuring the two important acoustic parameters viz., background noise and reverberation time which affect the acoustical comfort in the classrooms. The level of satisfaction of the users was evaluated through questionnaires distributed to teachers and students. The result of the scientific analysis was compared to user’s response. The study reveals that modern classrooms are more preferred than vernacular classrooms acoustically, by the teachers and students. The study also confirms a strong need of improving the acoustical comforts in the classrooms.     

Evaluation of high hydrostatic pressure effects on bovine red blood cells and platelets

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the stability of red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets. Bovine blood cells (n=5) were treated with the pressure of 55, 110, 154 and 220 MPa at 25 °C for 5 min. Light microscopy, atomic force microscopy and flow cytometry studies revealed that RBCs were morphologically stable up until the 220 MPa pressure treatments, at which surface modifications were observed. The platelets were found to be less stable than RBCs. HHP application did not cause any significant change in the signal intensity, band area and frequency values of the infrared bands with the exception that a significant variation was observed in the area of the cholesterol band. No statistically significant variations were observed in the secondary structure elements due to HHP treatment according to the artificial neural network study based on the FTIR data.     

超高压碳化钨顶砧新结构的设计与研究

基于高压顶砧设计原理——大质量支撑原理,借助有限元仿真技术,开展了一体式超高压碳化钨顶砧新结构的设计与研究工作。研究结果表明,采用圆角技术以及凹形支撑区技术,设计出的新结构顶砧能够降低传统碳化钨顶砧拐角处的应力集中效应,同时为碳化钨顶砧提供足够的侧向支撑作用,从而大幅提高顶砧的性能;一体式超高压碳化钨顶砧的传压效率较传统顶砧升高58.5%、破裂几率较传统顶砧降低33%、获得的极限腔体压力较传统顶砧升高44.2%,达到9.56GPa。为大腔体、超高压环境下物质新结构与性质研究、新型功能材料的设计与合成研究提供了一种易于操作的可行性方案。     

Acoustical Comparison Between Samples of Good and Poor Vibrato in Singers

The purpose of this research was to analyze samples of frequency vibrato taken from recordings of eight different singers, which were classified as examples of good or poor singing. The samples were analyzed by a software package, which makes use of the linear prediction coding (LPC) method to determine the time varying rate and extent of the frequency vibrato wave. Four parameters, which relate to the periodicity of the samples, were extracted from the time varying rate and extent and investigated in order to verify or reject the hypothesis that the best vibrato samples were the most symmetric ones. Ten samples per singer were analyzed, 5 good and 5 poor, for a total of 80 samples. The results show that the samples judged as good were the most periodic ones.     

Studies on nano suspensions of silver sol and redispersed nanocrystallite silver in aqueous and alcoholic media

Nanocrystallite silver and silver sol were prepared and characterized by UV-visible spectra, XRD, TEM and HRTEM. The crystallite silver is re-dispersed in two different media, namely, water and alcohol and sonicated before ultrasonic investigation. The silver sol was used as such. Three different models for the propagation of ultrasound through two phase media are compared in these three different types of nano suspensions. Effect of particle size and medium on ultrasonic velocity (U), compressibility (κ) impedance (Z) and viscous relaxation time (τ) is studied. The particle concentration range was 0.2-1 v/v. Density and viscosity of the dispersion and sol are measured at different particle volume fractions. Effective density and ultrasonic velocity are computed by Urick, Kuster and Toksöz and Urick and Ament models and compared with experimental velocities. Values of effective density obtained by using Urick and Urick and Ament equations closely agree with experimental results of density while Urick's equation prediction of velocity is in close agreement with the experimental velocities. This comes as a surprise in view of the large density difference between the medium and suspended particle and suggests the possibility of the balancing effect of the inertial and viscous forces operating in the suspension.     

The Visual/Kinesthetic Effects of Melodic Contour in Musical Notation as it Affects Vocal Timbre in Singers of Classical and Music Theater Repertoire

The purpose of this investigation was to obtain information from professional singers active in performing of both classical and music theater repertoire with regard to the visual/kinesthetic effect of melodic contour in musical notation as it affects vocal timbre. The evaluation of data gathered during the study indicates that there is reason to investigate the resulting postural shifts of the head and neck because they are guided by visual maps of melodic contour and its inversion. Significantly, it was discovered that the tone quality produced when a singer's head and neck postures followed the natural melodic contour of the melody was in no case considered to be the most pleasing of the conditions studied and that, in many cases, the tone quality produced when a singer's head and neck postures followed a map of the inversion of the melodic contour was judged to be much improved. The results of the study also indicate that the development of new technology for the general teaching studio, designed to address these effects, may be useful to these singers.     

人工神经网络在车辆声学分类中的应用

传统反向传播(BP,Back-Propagation)算法虽然解决了多层感知器的收敛问题,但是训练时间长、收敛速度慢。本文针对训练样本分布状态未知的问题,提出了一种有效的加速收敛方法,即对不同的训练样本选择不同的学习率。将这种改进的BP算法应用到履带车与轮式车的声学分类中,明显提高了算法的收敛速度、泛化能力及稳定性,并可根据需要调整两种车辆的识别率。