Abstract
ObjectiveThis paper introduces BioVoice, a user-friendly software tool for the acoustical analysis of the human voice. It estimates more than 20 acoustical parameters with advanced and robust analysis techniques specifically developed for different vocal emissions, from the newborn to the adult and the singer. MethodsBioVoice performs both time and frequency analyses, detecting the number, length, and percentage of voiced and unvoiced segments and computing fundamental frequency (F0), formant frequencies (F1-F3), noise level, and jitter. The software tool computes the melodic shape of F0 out of 12 basic shapes and allows performing perceptual analysis in newborn and child voice. In the singing voice case, formants up to F5 are computed as well as the quality ratio and parameters concerning vibrato and its regularity. Colour figures and Excel tables show F0, the spectrogram with formants, voiced segments, and quality ratio. ResultsExamples of voice analysis in adults, children, newborns, and singers are presented. They show the specific capabilities and the high performance of BioVoice also as compared to another existing software tool. SignificanceBioVoice is a free user-friendly software tool for voice analysis that implements new estimation techniques. Basic parameters are computed as well as new ones specifically developed for newborn cry and singing voice analysis, not available with current software tools. ConclusionsBioVoice is capable to deal with low to high pitched voices implementing dedicated tools. Thanks to its simple and intuitive interface, colour figures and Excel tables, it is a valuable tool suitable also for the inexperienced user.
Highlights
The analysis of the human voice has been and is still challenging, due to its high variability across gender, age, pathological or emotional state of human beings
This study presents and explains a user-friendly software tool for the acoustical analysis of the human voice named BioVoice
Biovoice esti mates more than 20 acoustical parameters with advanced and robust analysis techniques for different vocal emissions, from the newborn to the adult and the singer
Summary
The analysis of the human voice has been and is still challenging, due to its high variability across gender, age, pathological or emotional state of human beings. Applications mainly concern clinical aspects such as hoarseness and in general the quality of the voice as related to pathol ogies of the vocal folds. Somewhat more recently, there is a growing interest in the relationship between voice and neurological conditions. This correlation is relevant, as voice production is strictly dependent on the correct functioning of the vocal folds and of several areas of the central nervous system. Thanks to the sophisticated human auditory apparatus, perceptual analysis is the first and basic approach for the assessment of voice quality, the most used scale being the GIRBAS scale [1]. The need for an objective evaluation of voice quality soon proved fundamental, in order to minimize the errors due to perceptual and, individual analysis
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