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Vibrato Effect

Module by: Ed Doering. E-mail the authorEdited By: Erik Luther, Sam Shearman

Summary: Vibrato is a type of low-frequency frequency modulation. Learn about vibrato produced by the singing voice and musical instruments, experiment with the vibrato effect using an interactive LabVIEW VI, and learn how to model the vibrato effect mathematically.

Table 1
LabVIEWq.png This module refers to LabVIEW, a software development environment that features a graphical programming language. Please see the LabVIEW QuickStart Guide module for tutorials and documentation that will help you:
• Apply LabVIEW to Audio Signal Processing
• Get started with LabVIEW
• Obtain a fully-functional evaluation edition of LabVIEW

Overview

Vibrato is a type of low-frequency frequency modulation. After learning about vibrato produced by the singing voice and musical instruments, you will experiment with the vibrato effect using an interactive LabVIEW VI and learn how to model the vibrato effect mathematically.

Physical Vibrato: Singing Voice and Instruments

Vocalists and instrumentalists will introduce vibrato -- a low-frequency variation in pitch -- into long sustained notes primarily to add musical interest. Listeners are drawn to sounds with dynamic (changing) spectral characteristics, and vibrato makes a sustained note sound much more interesting than a constant frequency. Moreover, sustaining a long note at a constant frequency with sufficient accuracy to avoid drifting "out of tune" is challenging for vocalists and wind-based instruments. Vibrato is produced in a variety of ways, depending on the instrument. Trombonists wiggle the slide slightly to change the overall tube length that sets pitch. A violinist will rock his or her left hand that presses the string to slightly alter the effective string length.

Vibrato Demonstration

LabVIEW.png Download and run the LabVIEW VI vibrato.vi to demonstrate the vibrato effect applied to a sinusoidal oscillator. This VI requires the TripleDisplay front-panel indicator. Vibrato normally requires two controls: rate determines how quickly the frequency should fluctuate, and depth establishes the amount of frequency fluctuation. The third control adjusts the pitch of the sinusoidal oscillator.

Modeling the Vibrato Effect

Vibrato is a type of low-frequency frequency modulation. In this section the mathematical equations necessary to model the vibrato effect will be developed. In addition, two important effects associated with the singing voice will be discussed to produce a more realistic model.

Naive Approach

The Figure 1 screencast video develops the mathematical equation needed to model the vibrato effect in perhaps an intuitively-obvious (but unfortunately incorrect) way. After watching the video, try the interactive front panel VI below that is part of the demonstration, then respond to the exercise questions to ensure that you understand the main concepts.

Figure 1: [video] Perhaps "intuitively-obvious" (but incorrect) way to model vibrato
Figure 1 (lfmod_vibrato-eqn-naive.html)

LabVIEW.png Download and run the LabVIEW VI vibrato_naive.vi.

Exercise 1

What is the main auditory effect produced by the intuitively-obvious approach to modeling vibrato?

Solution

The amount of frequency fluctuation (deviation) increases with time rather than remaining constant.

Exercise 2

When modifying the basic sinusoidal oscillator equation, which part -- frequency or phase - requires the most attention?

Solution

Phase; the entire argument to the sine function must be considered as a time-varying phase function ϕ(t) ϕ(t)

Exercise 3

How should the phase function ϕ(t) ϕ(t) be designed to achieve vibrato?

Solution

A ramp function with a superimposed sinusoidal variation.

Correct Approach

The Figure 2 screencast video develops the mathematical equation needed to model the vibrato effect for a constant low-frequency variation.

LabVIEW.png Refer again to the LabVIEW VI vibrato.vi you downloaded earlier.

Figure 2: [video] Correct way to model vibratro
Figure 2 (lfmod_vibrato-eqn-correct.html)

Improved Realism for Singing Voice

Several effects become immediately apparent when listening to an opera singer:

  • Vibrato rate begins slowly then increases to a faster rate; for example, listen to this short clip: sing.wav
  • Vibrato depth increases as the note progresses (listen to the clip again: sing.wav)
  • Loudness (intensity) is initially low then gradually increases (listen to the same clip one more time: sing.wav)
  • The "brightness" (amount of overtones or harmonics) is proportional to intensity (please listen to the same clip one last time: sing.wav)

These effects are also evident when listening to expressive instrumentalists from the strings, brass, and woodwind sections of the orchestra. The mathematical model for vibrato can therefore be improved by (1) making the vibrato depth track (or be proportional to) the intensity envelope of the sound, and by (2) making the vibrato rate track the intensity envelope. Modeling the "brightness" effect would require adding overtones or harmonics to the sound.

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