F0 Dynamics in Singing: Evidence from the Data of a Baritone Singer

Transitional fundamental frequency (F0) characteristics comprise a crucial part of F0 dynamics in singing. This paper examines the F0 characteristics during the note transition period. An analysis of the singing voice of a professional baritone strongly suggests that asymmetries exist in the mechanisms used for controlling rising and falling. Specifically, the F0 contour in rising transitions can be modeled as a step response from a critically-damped second-order linear system with fixed average/maximum speed of change, whereas that in falling transitions can be modeled as a step response from an underdamped second-order linear system with fixed transition time. The validity of the model is examined through auditory experiments using synthesized singing voice. key words: singing voice, overshoot, transition time, asymmetry, voice synthesizer