Spectral features related to the auditory perception of twang-like voices

Abstract

Background

To the best of our knowledge, studies on the relationship between spectral energy distribution and the degree of perceived twang-like voices are still sparse. Through an auditory-perceptual test we aimed to explore the spectral features that may relate with the auditory-perception of twang-like voices.

Methods

Ten judges who were blind to the test’s tasks and stimuli rated the amount of twang perceived on seventy-six audio samples. The stimuli consisted of twenty voices recorded from eight CCM singers who sustained the vowel [a:] in different pitches, with and without a twang-like voice. Also, forty filtered and sixteen synthesized-manipulated stimuli were included.

Results and conclusions

Based on the intra-rater reliability scores, four judges were identified as suitable to be included in the analyses. Results showed that the frequency of F₁ and F₂ correlated strongly with the auditory-perception of twang-like voices (0.90 and 0.74, respectively), whereas F₃ showed a moderate negative correlation (–0.52). The frequency difference between F₁ and F₃ showed a strong negative correlation (–0.82). The mean energy between 1–2 kHz and 2–3 kHz correlated moderately (0.51 and 0.42, respectively). The frequency of F₄ and F₅, and the energy above 3 kHz showed weak correlations. Since the spectral changes under 2 kHz have been associated with the jaw, lips, and tongue adjustments (i.e. vowel articulation) and a higher vertical laryngeal position might affect the frequency of all formants (including F₁ and F₂), our results suggest that vowel articulation and the laryngeal height may be relevant when performing twang-like voices.

Keywords:

• Voice manipulation & synthesis
• spectral analysis
• physiology of singing
• nonclassical singing
• brassy voice
• contemporary commercial music singing

Acknowledgements

We would like to sincerely acknowledge to the participants (singers and judges) for their meticulous work and commitment with the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.