Some phonatory characteristics of singers and nonsingers

Using inverse filtering, voice source characteristics related to vocal £old adductory force, and the first formant frequency, are analyzed in six professional male singers and six male nonsingers repeatedly phonating the syllable /pae:/ in loud and soft phonation at different fundamental frequencies throughout the subjects' ranges. For each voice sample, inverse filtered air flow was recorded and subglottal pressure was determined from the oral pressure during /p/-occlusion. The results show clear differences both between and within the subject groups. Tentatively, these differences are interpreted in terms of differences in the peak glottal area presumably reflecting differences in the glottal adductory force. A specific pattern noted for three of the profes, sional singers could be interpreted as irdicating that these subjects did not increase the adductory force at the highest fundamental frequencies in loud -tion, as was more common among the nonsingers. ~t is assumed that differences noted between singers reflect differences in either singing style or vocal £old pmperties.