title: Overdrive and Edge as Refiners of "Belting"?: An Empirical Study Qualifying and Categorizing "Belting" Based on Audio Perception, Laryngostroboscopic Imaging, Acoustics, LTAS, and EGG.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to study the categorizations "Overdrive" and "Edge" from the pedagogical method Complete Vocal Technique as refiners of the often ill-defined concept of "belting" by means of audio perception, laryngostroboscopic imaging, acoustics, long-term average spectrum (LTAS), and electroglottography (EGG).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty singers were recorded singing sustained vowels in a "belting" quality refined by audio perception as "Overdrive" and "Edge." Two studies were performed: (1) a laryngostroboscopic examination using a videonasoendoscopic camera system (Olympus) and the Laryngostrobe program (Laryngograph); (2) a simultaneous recording of the EGG and acoustic signals using Speech Studio (Laryngograph). The images were analyzed based on consensus agreement. Statistical analysis of the acoustic, LTAS, and EGG parameters was undertaken using the Student paired t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two modes of singing determined by audio perception have visibly different laryngeal gestures: Edge has a more constricted setting than that of Overdrive, where the ventricular folds seem to cover more of the vocal folds, the aryepiglottic folds show a sharper edge in Edge, and the cuneiform cartilages are rolled in anteromedially. LTAS analysis shows a statistical difference, particularly after the ninth harmonic, with a coinciding first formant. The combined group showed statistical differences in shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio, normalized noise energy, and mean sound pressure level (P ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "Belting" sounds can be categorized using audio perception into two modes of singing: "Overdrive" and "Edge." This study demonstrates consistent visibly different laryngeal gestures between these modes and with some correspondingly significant differences in LTAS, EGG, and acoustic measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Queen's Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. Electronic address: julian.mcglashan@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGlashan
authors.affiliation: Department of Business Communication, Aarhus University, Jens Chr. Skous vej 4, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mathias Aaen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thuesen
authors.affiliation: Complete Vocal Institute, Kultorvet, Hausergade 3, 5th Floor, 1128 K, Denmark.
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sadolin
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D063346:Singing; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D049489:Stroboscopy; D013997:Time Factors; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Belting; Complete Vocal Technique; Laryngostroboscopic imaging; Long-term average spectrum