Multiparametric Analysis of Voice at Madhya and Taara Sthayi in Indian Carnatic Singers

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to document the vocal parameters in Madhya sthayi and Taara sthayi in Indian Carnatic singers. The study deployed a prospective, observational, repeated-measures group design. The study comprised 15 trained Carnatic singers with a senior degree in Carnatic singing. Participants were asked to sing an ascending glide and descending glide from Madhya sthayi to Taara sthayi and back to the Madhya sthayi. The acoustic and the cepstral parameters were extracted at Madhya sthayi and Taara sthayi. As a part of spectral measures, harmonic amplitude differences were calculated at both registers of singing. The results showed that the average fundamental frequency at Madhya sthayi was equal to G# (C3 on the musical scale). At Taara sthayi, the average fundamental frequency was corresponding to F# (C4 on the musical scale). Among the acoustic measures, namely range of fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and all the spectral measures, showed significantly higher mean values at Taara sthayi. The mean values of harmonic-to-noise ratio and the cepstral peak prominence were significantly higher at Madhya sthayi. The present study results captivate the attention of voice pathologists to develop pitch-specific normative data for the evaluation of voice in Carnatic singers.