Real-time extraction of vocal quality parameters from electroglottographic signals
Akira Hasegawa, James J. Mahshie, Eugene Herbert, Fred D. Brandt, Marguerite Mars, James M. Pickett · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1984
This paper reports the second phase of our efforts to efficiently and effectively parametrize the electroglottographic (EGG) signal for monitoring and modification of deaf speech. The first phase [real-time extraction of the voice fundamental frequency (F0)] was reported at a previous meeting. Our EGG, pneumotachographic, and cinematographic observation of the vocal fold movement revealed systematic changes in the duration of the vocal fold contact with respect to characteristics of the individual movement cycle. Reduced contact typically reflects breathier voices, which are common among deaf speakers. The parameter extraction system under development consists of an EGG, a linear phase high pass filter, a custom-made signal conditioner/parameter extractor, and a PDP 11/34A computer. Additional hardware is used for display and storage of the extracted parameters. Details of the extraction scheme and the results of modification of vocal quality using the visual display will be presented. [Study supported by the National Institute of Handicapped Research and the Gallaudet Research Institute.]