Acoustic examination of naturalistic modal and falsetto voice registers

Acoustic characteristics of sustained vocalizations produced in modal and falsetto voice registers are reported for a group of seven adult males. Analysis of the overall intensity of modal and falsetto registers indicated no significant differences between the two registers. However, analysis of the relationship in amplitude of the fundamental (Fo) to the amplitude of the corresponding harmonic (H2) revealed consistent differences between the two registers. During modal register, the amplitude of the Fo was consistently lower compared to H2, while the opposite trend was found for falsetto registers. Discussion focuses on the possible physiological explanations for the acoustic patterns observed in this study.