Abstract
Purpose
Vocal vibrato is a singing technique that involves periodic modulation of fundamental
frequency (fo) and intensity. The physiological sources of modulation within the speech mechanism
and the interactions between the laryngeal source and vocal tract filter in vibrato
are not fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if
differences in the rate and extent of fo and intensity modulation could be captured using simultaneously recorded signals
from a neck-surface vibration sensor and a microphone, which represent features of
the source before and after supraglottal vocal tract filtering.
Method
Nine classically-trained singers produced sustained vowels with vibrato while simultaneous
signals were recorded using a vibration sensor and a microphone. Acoustical analyses
were performed to measure the rate and extent of fo and intensity modulation for each trial. Paired-samples sign tests were used to analyze
differences between the rate and extent of fo and intensity modulation in the vibration sensor and microphone signals.
Results
The rate and extent of fo modulation and the extent of intensity modulation were equivalent in the vibration
sensor and microphone signals, but the rate of intensity modulation was significantly
higher in the microphone signal than in the vibration sensor signal. Larger differences
in the rate of intensity modulation were seen with vowels that typically have smaller
differences between the first and second formant frequencies.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that the rate of intensity modulation at the source prior
to supraglottal vocal tract filtering, as measured in neck-surface vibration sensor
signals, was lower than the rate of intensity modulation after supraglottal vocal
tract filtering, as measured in microphone signals. The difference in rate varied
based on the vowel. These findings provide further support of the resonance-harmonics
interaction in vocal vibrato. Further investigation is warranted to determine if differences
in the physiological source(s) of vibrato account for inconsistent relationships between
the extent of intensity modulation in neck-surface vibration sensor and microphone
signals.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 11, 2021
Accepted:
August 23,
2021
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2021 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
