Abstract
To date, most speech synthesis techniques have relied upon the representation of the vocal tract by some form of filter, a typical example being linear predictive coding (LPC). This paper describes the development of a physiologically realistic model of the vocal tract using the well-established technique of transmission line modelling (TLM). This technique is based on the principle of wave scattering at transmission line segment boundaries and may be used in one, two, or three dimensions. This work uses this technique to model the vocal tract using a one-dimensional transmission line. A six-port scattering node is applied in the region separating the pharyngeal, oral, and the nasal parts of the vocal tract.
Highlights
The introduction of fast digital signal processors has made possible the construction of computing platforms capable of modelling problems in real time
This paper shows how transmission line modelling (TLM) may be used to model the human vocal tract in such a way that full advantage may be taken of a multi-DSP processing platform built by the authors
The development of a multiprocessor platform commenced with work on a single TMS32020, provided as a development system from Loughborough Sound Images (LSI) [26], supported by a PC host
Summary
The introduction of fast digital signal processors has made possible the construction of computing platforms capable of modelling problems in real time. This presents a challenge in two fields, firstly in the design of the hardware necessary to build such a platform and secondly in the formulation of the problem to be modelled in such a way that it can take full advantage of the processing speed available. TLM simulates the analogue process of the system under study by splitting it into a number of sections which are separated from each other by scattering nodes It can be applied in one, two, or three dimensions depending on the nature of the problem and the accuracy required from the model. The task, cannot be achieved in real-time by a single processor, it is necessary to use a multiprocessor system
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
