Here you see the videoclips of Neutral with air. The videos are taken using a flexible endoscope inserted via the nose. Stroboscopic light is used so the vibration of the vocal folds can be seen in slow motion. The flashing of the stroboscopic light is triggered using the Laryngograph signal. This is obtained by placing two electrodes placed on the neck over the larynx and the waveform can be seen as a a green moving line at the bottom of the image. When the vocal folds are vibrating and touch each other the green line rises and when they peel apart the line falls creating the change in shape of the waveform.
In the video example below notice the soft, airy character of the sound and the visual appearance and waveform of Neutral with air.
Notice the visible gap between the vocal folds, which is bigger at the back. You can see that the back wall of the larynx is relaxed leaving the larynx open so you can see the vocal folds easily. You can also see the aryepiglottic fold is stretcheded and relaxed and the opening of the larynx (the laryngeal inlet) has a shape of an ‘open’ funnel which is rather wide at the top.
The Neutral with air laryngograph waveform has a sinusoidal shape. This is because there is no contact between the vocal folds due to the gap, which means that a lot of air is added to the sound and the volume is soft. In another example of Neutral with air there is the initial sinusoidal waveform but a brief upward spike indicating momentary closure of the vocal folds.
Sustained single notes in Neutral with air
The first video is a male singing on a sustained single note (C4, 250 Hz) on the vowel EE (as in ‘see’) in Neutral with air.
This video is a female singing on a sustained single note (Bb4, 460 Hz) on the vowel EE (as in ‘see’) in Neutral with air.
Song in Neutral with air
This video is a male singing the first four bars of “Somewhere over the rainbow” in Neutral with air.
This video is a female singing the first four bars of “Somewhere over the rainbow” in Neutral with air.
Glissando in Neutral with air
This video is a male singing a glissando from low pitch to high pitch returning to low pitch again on the vowel AH (as in ‘far’) in Neutral with air. Notice that the waveform stays the same through the Neutral with air pitches – it just gets narrower as the pitch increases.
This video is a female singing a glissando from low pitch to high pitch returning to low pitch again on the vowel EE (as in ‘see’) vowel, in Neutral with air. Notice that the shape of the waveform stays the same through the Neutral with air pitches – it just gets narrower as the pitch increases.
This information comes from a study Visual Vocal Mode Test Study on video, with the title ‘Laryngeal gestures and Laryngograph data associated with the four vocal modes as described in the Complete Vocal Technique method of singing teaching.’ This study has not yet been presented.