VOCEVISTA CAPABILITIES

VoceVista (“Visible Voice”) is a unique Windows 95/98/NT software program for real-time analysis of the singing voice.  VoceVista can display and compare audio signals, audio spectrum analysis, and the Electroglottograph (EGG) in real-time using an ordinary Windows sound card.  VoceVista can analyze and record audio data or can analyze recorded files containing left and right channel audio and EGG data.  Displays are available in many different configurations allowing comparison, analysis, and visual feedback for singing instruction.

VoceVista Spectrum Display

The VoceVista Spectrum Display provides real-time analysis and comparison of the audio spectrum of the singing voice.  Spectrum plots can be stored and compared with real-time data.  Display options allow choosing frequency and spectrum amplitude scales to present the best spectral view of the singing voice.  A moveable cursor allows readout of signal frequency and amplitude.

VoceVista Audio Signal and Electroglottogram Display

The VoceVista Audio Signal and Electroglottogram (EGG) Display provides real-time analysis and comparison of the EGG and audio signals of the singing voice.  Stored signals can be analyzed in detail to observe the fine structure of the audio signals with a millisecond time scale.  A horizontal cursor can be adjusted to the estimated opening and closing points of the glottis in order to measure the Closed Quotient (CQ), or percentage of time in which the glottis is closed.


INITIALIZE SOUND CARD

First, connect an audio data source to the left channel and the EGG data source to the right channel of the stereo jack of your sound card.  Either Line-In or Microphone inputs may be used depending on the signal level expected.  It is always best to turn off your computer before making these connections.

Then you must instruct your Windows sound card to process audio signals.  Windows 95 provides a separate Volume Control program for this purpose.  Choose "Project - Volume Control" from the VoceVista menu.  This will start the Volume Control program.  Then choose "Options - Properties" from the recording control menu.  Then mark the "Recording" button, and under "Show the following volume controls" choose "Line-In," and “Microphone.”

Now when you click “OK” you will see a Recording Control allowing you to adjust the volume for Line-In and Microphone recording.  Select either Line-In or Microphone inputs here depending on the audio source that you intend to use.  It is best not to choose both inputs simultaneously, but to choose one or the other depending on the audio source.

Occasionally this Recording Control will also have an active menu item “Options – Advanced Controls.”  If this menu item is available it should also be selected.  This selection will make available an “Advanced” button on the Recording Control for turning Automatic Gain Control (AGC) on or off.  AGC is often useful to keep the recording level automatically within the correct range.


ANALYZE DATA
ANALYZE AUDIO OR RECORDED DATA

•	TO ANALYZE AUDIO DATA – After connecting the audio and EGG signal sources to your sound card and initializing the sound card as described above, choose "Project-Signal Analysis" from the program menu.

•	TO ANALYZE RECORDED DATA - Choose "Project-File Analysis" from the program menu, and you will be prompted for a file name.  VoceVista files will always have a ".vis" file extension.  Once a recorded file has finished playing, you can restart it again by pressing the space bar.

Note that files to be analyzed by VoceVista must reside on your computer’s hard drive.  Floppy disk drives and CD-ROM drives are not fast enough to support real time analysis by VoceVista.  So in order to analyze recorded data from either floppy disk or CD-ROM, first copy the files to your hard drive before analyzing with VoceVista.

•	TO SELECT ANALYSIS PARAMETERS – Click the “Analysis” button at the lower left corner of the VoceVista display window or press the “A” key to bring up the Analysis Dialog Box for selection of processing and display parameters.

•	TO FREEZE SIGNALS FOR ANALYSIS - While analyzing either audio data or recorded data, click the "Freeze" button at the bottom of the VoceVista window using the mouse.  Running and/or frozen signals are always shown in yellow.  You can also use the space bar to freeze and restart the analysis.

•	TO STORE SIGNALS FOR COMPARISON - While analyzing either audio data or recorded data, click the "Store" button at the bottom of the VoceVista window using the mouse.  Stored signals are always shown in blue.


MEASURING TIME AND FREQUENCY
MEASURE TIME AND FREQUENCY

•	TO MEASURE FREQUENCY - Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse to position the frequency cursor on the Spectrum display.  A readout of signal level (dB) and frequency (Hz) at the cursor position is given at the lower right corner of the Spectrum display.

•	TO MEASURE TIME INTERVALS - Click and hold down the left mouse button at any starting point on either the audio signal or EGG display.  Then as you move the mouse, the time interval (in milliseconds) from this starting point will be shown in the upper right corner of the display window.


RECORDING AUDIO DATA
RECORD AUDIO DATA

•	TO RECORD DATA - After starting to analyze audio and EGG data, click the "Record" button at the bottom of the VoceVista window.  You will first be prompted to enter a file name for the recording.  Thereafter, when you click the Record button, audio and EGG data will be recorded to this file.  Note that you must click the Record button again after entering the file name in order to begin sending audio data to the named file.  Don't try to record direct to floppy disk, but instead record to a file on your hard drive in order to achieve the needed recording speed.  VoceVista recorded files will have a file extension of ".vis".

•	TO STOP RECORDING DATA - The recorded file will be closed and saved when you click the "Stop Record" button.  (Note that there may be a delay of a few seconds before the program control buttons are active after you have stopped recording)  Thereafter when you click the Record button, the original named file will be reopened, and new data will be added to the end of the file.


SAVE OR PRINT VOCEVISTA DISPLAY
SAVE OR PRINT THE VOCEVISTA DISPLAY

•	TO PRINT THE DISPLAY - After freezing the display, choose "Print Window" from the main program menu.

•	TO SAVE A COLOR BITMAP OF THE DISPLAY - After freezing the display, choose "Save Bitmap" from the main program window.  You will first be prompted for a file name, and then the Save Bitmap dialog box will give you a choice of colors and magnification.  Choose "Windows Colors" to save a color bitmap, or choose "Black and White" to save a bitmap with only black and white colors.  Choose a magnification factor to increase the size of the bitmap as needed for publication.


EXIT PROGRAM

You will not be able to close the VoceVista program until its operation has been stopped.  Click the "Stop" button with the mouse, or press the “ESC” key.  Then close the VoceVista window or choose "Project-Exit" from the program menu.


ANALYSIS DIALOG BOX

The Analysis Dialog Box provides controls for selecting the processing, display, and comparison parameters of VoceVista.  The Analysis Dialog Box is made available by clicking the “Analysis” button at the lower left corner of the VoceVista display window or by pressing the “A” key.  Once you have made selections of processing, display, and comparison parameters, click the “OK” button or press the “Enter” key to close the Analysis Dialog Box.  Click any control on the image below for a complete description of its function.


PROCESSING CONTROLS

These controls are available from the Analysis Dialog Box.  Click the “Analysis” button or press the “A” key to bring up these controls.

•	Spectrum Type - The type of spectrum analysis to be performed.  You can choose either the spectrum of the audio signal (Audio), or a spectrum representing the difference in harmonic levels between the audio and EGG signals (Difference).  This difference spectrum appears to be a measure of the effect of the resonances or formants of the vocal tract.

•	Bandwidth - The bandwidth of the frequency spectrum analysis.  You may choose bandwidth in Hz or bandwidth as a percentage of the measured fundamental frequency F0 of the audio signal.

•	Spectrum Average (Count) - The number of consecutive spectrum samples averaged together before display.

•	Processing Update Period - The measured time for one complete processing and display cycle while the program is running.  Use this value with Spectrum Average count (above) to determine the time period over which spectrum samples are averaged to produce the spectrum display.  Averaging time period is equal to (Spectrum Average count)*(Processing Update Period).

•	Spectrum Amplitude Scale - The height in dB of the Spectrum display.  You have a choice of from 5dB to 120dB for the spectrum amplitude scale.

•	Spectrum Freq Range (kHz) - The frequency range of the spectrum display.

•	Audio Segment (msec) - The length in milliseconds of the Audio Signal and EGG display.

•	Audio Polarity – Polarity switch for the audio signal.

•	Glottogram Polarity - Polarity switch for the EGG signal.

•	F0 Measurement – Switch to turn on or off the measurement and display of F0.


DISPLAY CONTROLS

These controls are available from the Analysis Dialog Box.  Click the “Analysis” button or press the “A” key to bring up these controls.

•	Spec, Audio, Glottogram - Display the audio signal, the frequency spectrum, and the EGG in a three pane window.  Select with the F1 Key.

•	Audio, Glottogram – Display the audio signal and the EGG in a two pane window.  Select with the F2 Key.

•	Glottogram - Display only the EGG.  Select with the F3 Key.

•	Spectrum - Display only a frequency spectrum.  Select with the F4 Key.

•	Toggle Display - This control allows you to switch between two different display options designated Spectrum Display #1 and Spectrum Display #2.  Each of these options recalls a stored configuration of Spectrum Type (Audio or Difference), Bandwidth (Hz or %F0), and Average Count.  The configuration for each display option is saved each time you adjust Spectrum Type, Bandwidth, or Average Count.  You can also toggle the display options using the F5 key.


COMPARISON MODES

These controls are available from the Analysis Dialog Box.  Click the “Analysis” button or press the “A” key to bring up these controls.

•	Disabled - No display comparison between input signals and stored signals.  Select with the F6 Key

•	Above/Below - The display window is split into upper and lower sections comparing the input signal with the stored signal.  Stored signals are blue, input signals are yellow.  Select with the F7 Key.

•	Overlay - The input signals are overlayed onto the stored signals.  Stored signals are blue, input signals are yellow.  Select with the F8 Key.


ARROW KEY ASSIGNMENT
ARROW KEY ASSIGNMENTS

These controls are available on the Analysis Dialog Box.  Click the “Analysis” button or press the “A” key to bring up these controls.

•	The Up/Down arrow keys can be used to move the EGG Closed Quotient cursor, or to move the frequency cursor on the spectrum display.  Choose between modes by using CTRL-F7 (or click on the toggle button) to switch between the two.  For slower scrolling, hold down the Shift key while using the Up/Down arrows.

•	The Left/Right arrow keys can be used to scroll the audio signal and EGG together, or to scroll the audio signal alone.  Choose between modes by using CTRL-F8 (or click on the toggle button) to switch between the two.  For faster scrolling, hold down the Shift key while using the Left/Right arrows.


KEYBOARD ASSIGNMENTS

•	"A" - Display the Analysis Dialog Box for selection of display and analysis parameters

•	"F" - Freeze a signal for analysis.  The spacebar can also be used for this purpose

•	"S" - Store a signal for comparison

•	"R" - Begin or Stop recording real-time signals from microphone and EGG

•	"Stop" or "Esc" - Stop analyzing recorded or real-time signals

•	F1 - Choose a three pane display of Spectrum, Audio, and Glottogram

•	F2 - Choose a two pane display of Audio and Glottogram

•	F3 - Choose a single pane display of the Glottogram

•	F4 - Choose a single pane display of the Audio Spectrum

•	F5 - Toggle between Spectrum Display #1, and Spectrum Display #2

(See Display Controls)

•	F6 - Disable comparison of stored signals

•	F7 - Compare stored signals in an over/under display format

•	F8 - Compare stored signals in an overlay format

•	CTRL F7 - Toggle the Up/Down arrows to control either the EGG closed quotient cursor or the Spectrum display cursor

•	CTRL F8 - Toggle the Left/Right arrows to control scrolling of either the audio signal and EGG signal together, or the audio signal alone

•	Left/Right arrows - Fast scrolling of audio signal and EGG.  For slower scrolling, hold down the Shift key while using the Left/Right arrows

•	Up/Down arrows - Fast scrolling of either the EGG cursor or the Frequency cursor.  For slower scrolling, hold down the Shift key while using the Up/Down arrows


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND INSTALLATION

•	VoceVista requires Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT 4.0.

•	VoceVista will run satisfactorily with a 120 MHz Pentium processor.  However, a 200 MHz (or better) Pentium II processor is recommended.

•	VoceVista runs best with 16MB or more of RAM memory.  More memory is always desirable and will improve the program’s speed of operation.

•	In order to analyze audio data, a Windows compatible sound card must be installed.

•	Note that files to be analyzed by VoceVista must reside on your computer’s hard drive.  Floppy disk drives and CD-ROM drives are not fast enough to support real time analysis by VoceVista.  So in order to analyze recorded data from either floppy disk or CD-ROM, first copy the files to your hard drive before analyzing with VoceVista.

•	VoceVista is designed for use with 256 colors. Use of more that 256 colors is not recommended because of the speed penalty incurred in real-time display update.

•	To install VoceVista just copy vvista.exe, vvista.hlp, and vvista.cnt to any convenient directory on your hard drive.  You may then also create a shortcut to vvista.exe for display on your desktop.


TECHNICAL SUPPORT

All questions or requests for technical support should be forwarded to Donald G. Miller at the University of Groningen as follows:

D.G. Miller fax/phone: +31 50 363 2688
Groningen Voice Research Lab e-mail: d.g.miller@med.rug.nl
Department of Medical Physiology University of Groningen
Bloemsingel 10
NL 9712 KZ Groningen
the Netherlands http://www.med.rug.nl/bmt-ao/don.htm