Transforming Perceived Vocal Effort and Breathiness Using Adaptive Pre-Emphasis Linear Prediction

Abstract--This paper presents a technique to transform high-effort voices into breathy voices using adaptive pre-emphasis linear prediction (APLP). The primary benefit of this technique is that it estimates a spectral emphasis filter that can be used to manipulate the perceived vocal effort. The other benefit of APLP is that it estimates a formant filter that is more consistent across varying voice qualities. This paper describes how constant pre-emphasis linear prediction (LP) estimates a voice source with a constant spectral envelope even though the spectral envelope of the true voice source varies over time. A listening experiment demonstrates how differences in vocal effort and breathiness are audible in the formant filter estimated by constant pre-emphasis LP. APLP is presented as a technique to estimate a spectral emphasis filter that captures the combined influence of the glottal source and the vocal tract upon the spectral envelope of the voice. A final listening experiment dem...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: TASLP
• Authors: K. I. Nordstrom, George Tzanetakis, Peter F. Driessen
• Keywords: Spectral Emphasis Filter, Spectral Envelope, TASLP 2008, Vocal Effort