Data from: Lower vocal tract morphologic adjustments are relevant for voice timbre in singing

The vocal tract shape is crucial to voice production. Its lower part seems particularly relevant for voice timbre. This study analyzes the detailed morphology of parts of the epilaryngeal tube and the hypopharynx for the sustained German vowels /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/ by thirteen male singer subjects who were at the beginning of their academic singing studies. Analysis was based on two different phonatory conditions: a natural, speech-like phonation and a singing phonation, like in classical singing. 3D models of the vocal tract were derived from magnetic resonance imaging and compared with long-term average spectrum analysis of audio recordings from the same subjects. Comparison of singing to the speech-like phonation, which served as reference, showed significant adjustments of the lower vocal tract: an average lowering of the larynx by 8 mm and an increase of the hypopharyngeal cross-sectional area (+ 21:9%) and volume (+ 16:8%). Changes in the analyzed epilaryngeal portion of the vocal tract were not significant. Consequently, lower larynx-to-hypopharynx area and volume ratios were found in singing compared to the speech-like phonation. All evaluated measures of the lower vocal tract varied significantly with vowel quality. Acoustically, an increase of high frequency energy in singing correlated with a wider hypopharyngeal area. The findings offer an explanation how classical male singers might succeed in producing a voice timbre with increased high frequency energy, creating a singer`s formant cluster.file format DescriptionLTAS dataMRI_subject_1MRI subject 1.zipMRI_subject_2MRI subject 2.zipMRI_subject_3MRI subject 3.zipMRI_subject_4MRI subject 4.zipMRI_subject_5MRI subject 5.zipMRI_subject_6MRI subject 6.zipMRI_subject_7MRI subject 7.zipMRI_subject_8MRI subject 8.zipMRI_subject_9MRI subject 9.zipMRI_subject_10MRI subject 10.zipMRI_subject_11MRI subject 11.zipMRI_subject_12MRI subject 12.zipMRI _subject_13MRI subject 13.zi