• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.380-387
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• 2008

This paper presents a karaoke system employing a vocal region detection algorithm based on the vocal characteristics. In the proposed system, an input song is classified into vocal and instrumental regions using the vocal region detection algorithm. Then, a vocal removal method is applied only to the vocal region. To detect vocal region, a classification algorithm is designed based on the vocal characteristics in the TICFT (twice iterated composite Fourier transform) domain. For vocal removal, vocal components are extracted from a band pass filtered vocal region and they are subtracted from the original song, yielding a vocal removed song. The performance of the proposed method is measured on four different songs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2007

This study aims to analyze the voices of the patients with voice disorders including vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold cyst and vocal nodule/polyp in the aspect of acoustic phonetics. This study intends to collect subsidiary acoustic data in order to make a speech treatment and an standardization of vocal disorders. Subjects and Methods: The subjects of this study were 64 adult patients who underwent indirect laryngoscopy and laryngostroboscopy, and were diagnosed as vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold cyst or vocal nodule/polyp. Experimental group consisted of 20 patients who were diagnosed as vocal fold paralysis, 21 patients who were diagnosed as vocal fold cyst and had the average age of 42.0 $({\pm}10.03)$ ; and 23 patients who were diagnosed as vocal nodule/polyp and had the average age of 40.9 $({\pm}13.75)$. For the methodology of this study, the patients listed above were asked to sit in a comfortable position at intervals of 10cm apart from the patient's mouth and a microphone, and subsequently to phonate a vowel sound /e/ for the maximum phonation time with natural tone and vocal volume then the sound was directly inputted on a computer. During recording, sampling rate was set to 44,100Hz and the 1-second area corresponding to stable zone except the first and the last stage of waveform of the vowel sound /e/ vocalized by the individual patients was analyzed. Results: First, there was no statistically significant difference in jitter and shimmer between vocal fold paralysis and vocal fold cyst, while there was highly statistically significant difference in them between vocal fold paralysis and vocal nodule/polyp. Second, looking into the mean values obtained from NNE, HNR and SNR results associated with noise ratio, the disease showing the most abnormal characteristics was vocal fold paralysis, followed by cyst and nodule/polyp in order. For NNE, there was statistically significant difference between vocal nodule/polyp, and cyst or paralysis. In other words, it was found that the NNE of vocal nodule/polyp was weaker than that of cyst or paralysis. Similarly, HNR and SNR also showed the same characteristics; there was statistically significant difference between vocal fold paralysis and vocal fold cyst or nodule/polyp, and HNR and SNR values of vocal fold paralysis were lower than those of vocal fold cyst or nodule/polyp. Conclusion: For vocal fold paralysis, the abnormal values of acoustic parameters associated with frequency, amplitude and noise ratio were statistically significantly higher than those of vocal fold cyst and nodule/polyp. This finding suggests that the voices of the patients with vocal fold paralysis are the most severely injured due to less stability of vocal fold movement, asymmetry and incomplete glottic closure. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the acoustic parameters of tremor among vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold cyst and vocal nodule/polyp. Further studies need to ascertain reasonable acoustic parameters with various vocal disorders as well as to clarify the correlation between acoustics-based objective tools and subjective evaluations.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in acoustic characteristics after drinking alcoholic beverages and singing in order to establish guidelines for vocal hygiene of both singers and non-singers. 21 university students (10 males and 11 females) vocalized /a/ before drinking, after drinking and after singing. Changes in vocal range and acoustic characteristics were analyzed by Dr. Speech 4.0 (Tigers Electronics). No significant difference was observed in vocal range following drinking. However, there was statistically significant changes in vocal range after singing. We may infer that appropriate amount of singing functioning as vocal warm-up, rather than drinking alone, resulted in improvement in their abilities to lengthen vocal folds. This is directly related to the ability to produce high-pitched sounds. Changes in jitter in female voices after singing was the only acoustic factor that was significant. Changes in Shimmer and NNE was not significant either after drinking nor singing. Subjects who were judged to perform better in singing were marked by minimum acoustic changes, which may due to their well-trained vocal fold function. The results of this study may address the necessity for vocal function exercises for the patients with neurogenic voice disorders including dysarthria. The need for more extensive research with a larger number of subjects including professional voice users is also addressed.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.157-177
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• 1998

An electroglottography (EGG) was used to investigate the function of the vocal folds during their vibration. In this study, four Korean native speakers and 10 vocal polyp patients were selected. To investigate the dynamic change of EGG waveforms for the three-way distinction of Korean stops, a DSP-Sona graph model 5500, a Rino- Laryngeal stroboscope, a CSL model 4300B and a Laryngograph were used. An EGG Model 4338 was used to exam the vocal polyp of patients' voices during high, low, comfortable pitch production. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of Korean stop consonants in relation to pitch and to observe laryngeal movement during vocal fold vibration and speech production. The basic data accumulated during this research can be applied in clinical treatment. The results are as follows: on the Korean stop consonants, the aspirated stop is the highest in the GOT and PC1. On the angle of vowel contour, the angle of lenis is smaller than the angle of heavily aspirated and glottalized stops. The fundamental frequency is lowest at the lenis stop, In vocal polyp patients', the low pitch range is smaller than in normal speakers'. The pitch break and the vocal fry were observed. The jitter and OQ value are higher in vocal polyp patients than in those of normal speakers'.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.147-154
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of voice improvement when vocal training, which relaxes the vocal contact, is applied to children with vocal nodules. Subjects included 20 5- to 12-year-old boys with vocal nodules in Otolaryngology and for whom voice therapy had been advised. The vocal therapy was conducted for 40 minutes per a week for a total of eight times. Results were evaluated by videostroboscopy, auditory-perceptual evaluation of GRBAS Scale, aerodynamic test, and acoustic analysis before and after therapy. As a result, first, the size of vocal nodules was reduced and the unstable pattern of vocal contact was improved. Glottic closure was increased and Phase symmetry was decreased during vocal vibration. Mucosal wave was increased and muscle tension of the larynx was reduced. Second, auditory-perceptual evaluation showed that subjects' overall quality of voice improved. GRBAS Scale Evaluation showed that the characteristics of the subjects' voice which were rough, breathy, and strained and breathy were reduced after therapy. Third, the measurements of acoustic parameters showed a statistically significant improvement. The fundamental frequency of the subejects' voice was increased and values of Jitter and Shimmer, NHR, [H1-H2] decreased. Fourth, the maximum phonation time of children was increased. These results imply that vocal relaxation training conducted in this study has a very positive effect to improve the voice of children with vocal nodules.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.95-107
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• 2012

As BTX-A, which has been known to be the most effective treatment for ADSD, is not effective in treating vocal tremors, voice assessment must be employed to perform differential diagnosis of SD and vocal tremor in an accurate fashion. In this study, the characteristics of vocal changes after botulinum toxin injection were compared by analyzing the voice characteristics resulting from the presence of vocal tremors using objective analysis devices, with the aim of helping to provide prognoses and to determine remedial effects in clinical cases comprising patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia accompanied by voice tremors. Respiratory function tests, aerodynamic analysis, electroglottography (EGG), acoustic analysis, auditory perception tests, and K-VHI had been conducted at intervals of four, eight, and twelve weeks before and after injection, targeting a group of 17 ADSD female patients (a ADSD group of four with vocal tremor and a ADSD group of 13 without voice tremor). For average FVC and FEV1, the T group showed statistically significant low averages compared with the NT group, whereas the T group showed statistically significant high average ATRI compared with the NT group. In addition, the T group showed a statistically significant Fatr, lower than that of the NT group. For the ADSD group of patients with voice tremor, their vocal tremor remained unchanged despite noticeable decrease in wringing voices. In other words, as the vocal tremor and wringing voices are two distinctive features, there is a need for the two features to be targeted separately for differential diagnosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 2015

Background and Objectives : Aerodynamic analysis is an examination which provides information regarding various vocalization measures indicating laryngeal efficiency. Voice evaluation using such examination must be capable of distinguishing between normal to abnormal voice. It also observes variables on aerodynamic characteristics by gender in regards to patients of vocal disorders, especially of vocal cord paralysis and vocal polyp, and compares the conditions before and after surgery. This paper therefore, seeks to build a framework for establishing standard levels of aerodynamical characteristic on vocal disorders. Subjects and Methods : The study was intended for a total number of 20 patients with vocal polyp or unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Those with the vocal polyp underwent laryngomycroscopy surgery and the vocal cord paralysis, vocal fold injection using Restylane. Aerodynamic analysis fulfilled the Maximum sustained Phonation (MXPH) and Voicing Efficiency (VOEF) by using PAS Model 6600 (KayPENTAX, USA). Results : In MXPH, increase in PHOT were evident with vocal polyp after surgery. As for patients with vocal cord paralysis, MAXDB, MEADB, DHODB, PHOT all have increased and MEAP, PEF, MEAF decreased after surgery. In VOEF, patients with vocal cord paralysis who underwent surgery showed increase in MAXDB, MEADB, DHODB, FET100, ARES, but decreases in PEF, TARF. Conclusion : Overall, it can be concluded that patients with the vocal polyp and vocal cord paralysis seemed to get closer to the normal values after than before surgery in majority of measures. This confirms that the function of their vocal cord has improved nearly to normality through operations.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2013

Voice disorders are most common in female teachers due to work-related vocal demands; however, only a few studies tried to evaluate individual risk factors with work-related risk factors to diagnose voice disorders. This study evaluated sixty-seven female elementary teachers (36 with voice disorders and 31 without voice disorders) to compare their vocal misuse, overuse, and vocal hygiene behaviors. Total Voice Handicap Index scores and VHI subscale (P, E, F) scores were not significantly different between two groups (p>0.05) and there was no relationship between VHI and acoustic measures (p>0.05). Loud talking, talking in noisy situations, and excessive speaking were significantly more frequent in female teachers with voice disorders (p<0.05) and thereby these overuse and misuse behavioral patterns were identified as risk factors to develop voice disorders in female teachers. Also, hydration was the most common behavior for vocal hygiene when experiencing vocal fatigue; however, hydration with hot green tea or coffee and throat clearing were often misused for vocal hygiene. This study found that female teachers from both groups presented higher voice handicap regardless of voice disorders. This study suggests a multidimensional voice assessment protocol is required to reflect voice problems in teachers and a vocal education program may be important to improve vocal hygiene knowledge and behavioral changes in female teachers.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.157-166
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of contemporary vocalization and songs in order to learn various vocal methods in musical vocal classes and apply them to students. Musical vocalization methods change and evolve according to the demands of the times. Today, the characteristics of contemporary musicals cannot be limited to anyone genre, and the genre of music as well as the style of work are derived from several genres and coexist. 'The Girl in 14G,' the subject of this study, is a song that appeared in the album of Kristin Chenoweth, a famous American musical actress who uses various vocal techniques. Jeanine Tesori composed this song with various vocal techniques such as Classical, Jazz, Belting, and Mixed Voice to express New York's representative music genres of Broadway Musical, Metropolitan Opera and East Village Jazz. The development of the song consists of a difficult process in which one actor has to act across three different characters in three musical styles and singing methods. Singing 'The Girl in 14G' requires a lot of effort and practice as it is necessary to acquire various vocal techniques, which makes it a good text for students and actors in the educational perspective. As a result, this study confirmed that this song is a representative piece with a solid musical and dramatic composition and is a good example that shows the convergence characteristics of contemporary musical vocal techniques.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 1999

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to systematically analyze and compare the acoustic characteristics of vocal major students with vocal nodule when singing. Materials and Methods : Ten sopranos with vocal nodule, who have never been treated due to voice problems, were the subject group. Twenty healthy sopranos major students were the control group for this study. The vocal nodule was confirmed by stroboscopy and the acoustic and electroglottographic analysis was conducted on be groups. Additionally, an inquiry on usual voice problems during speaking and singing were performed on each of the groups. Results : The vowel /a/ was spoken and sung by sopranos of each group. There were no significant differences in Fo, jitter, shimmer, NHR at speaking and singing in either group. We did not register any significant differences of closed quotient and speed quotient in electroglottography for both groups at singing, but speed quotient was increased in subject group at speaking(p＜0.05). And the sopranos with nodule demonstrated voice fatigue(70%), strained and tired voice after long period of performance and conversation(60%) on inquiry. Conclusions : Although they had a vocal nodule, this group, who had a long period of voice training, did not present any differences in acoustic and electroglottographic problems during short performance, but, the vocalists noticed delicate voice problems after a long performance. We conclude that the voice training teacher and laryngologist must initiate voice management and speech therapy for vocal nodule, even if there is no specific abnormality in acoustic analysis.