Hi all, I thought I'd start a thread where people can upload audio clips of their voices and get feedback, in the hope we can all help each other out :)
Anyway, I'll go first... I should point out this is from my first day training my voice.. It's not great but, my "male" voice was pretty andro to begin with.. Anyway take a listen and Id love to hear what people think
http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1 (http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1)
Please feel free to comment, and upload your own clips !
(I use soundcloud.com for a free account, and there is an app for smartphones that's easy to use and simple to share sounds on :) )
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 02:14:55 AM
Hi all, I thought I'd start a thread where people can upload audio clips of their voices and get feedback, in the hope we can all help each other out :)
Anyway, I'll go first... I should point out this is from my first day training my voice.. It's not great but, my "male" voice was pretty andro to begin with.. Anyway take a listen and Id love to hear what people think
http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1 (http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1)
Please feel free to comment, and upload your own clips !
(I use soundcloud.com for a free account, and there is an app for smartphones that's easy to use and simple to share sounds on :) )
wow, sounds REALLY good to me (and I'm a harsh critic) for a beginning shot, just clean it up a little here and there and you're set!^^
And your accent is SEXY! :D
i agree very feminine i thinkits a pass very nice
I think your voice sounds lovely : )
Awww, thanks for the comments everyone :) it would be awesome if a few other people would upload some clips :)
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 03:52:26 AM
Awww, thanks for the comments everyone :) it would be awesome if a few other people would upload some clips :)
Maybe I'll upload something tomorrow : )
Cool, I look forward to hearing it :)
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 03:52:26 AM
Awww, thanks for the comments everyone :) it would be awesome if a few other people would upload some clips :)
what if we actually want a deeper more androgynous voice? Can you actually train your voice to be deeper? :P
Quote from: Ave on September 19, 2012, 08:23:18 AM
what if we actually want a deeper more androgynous voice? Can you actually train your voice to be deeper? :P
YOU certainly can. Margaret Thatcher did it..
Quote from: Felicitá on September 19, 2012, 09:21:37 AM
YOU certainly can. Margaret Thatcher did it..
well yeah, no one wants to sound like minnie mouse :O
Quote from: Ave on September 19, 2012, 09:32:37 AM
well yeah, no one wants to sound like minnie mouse :O
You really are a little pixie!
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 02:14:55 AM
.. Anyway take a listen and Id love to hear what people think
Sounds very good and natural and sexy to boot.
OK - I am always going on about voice, so here is mine (or some of it....). I am well aware that it needs improvement but for everyday use it gets me gendered as female so it goes to show that you do not have to be perfect. It is totally different from my male voice.
http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/brc-voice-1/s-6r3pU (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/brc-voice-1/s-6r3pU)
Quote from: Ave on September 19, 2012, 08:23:18 AM
what if we actually want a deeper more androgynous voice? Can you actually train your voice to be deeper? :P
Ave, this thread is just about getting our voice to a place we're happy with ;) Higer, lower or whatevs makes you happy is all good.
Brc, thanks so much for uploading :) my first impression is that I'm listening to a female speaker :) I do notice a little bit of vocal fry happening, I wonder if perhaps you're tired when you recorded this or it could just be a totally normal feature of your voice. I absolutely love your accent!
Here is my upload : )
http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo (http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo)
Erica, you sound really good :) thanks so much for uploading too! I know what you mean about not knowing what to say lol.... It's the hardest thing about training your voice I find... Talking to yourself while not feeling like a lunatic is a bit of a skill :)
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 04:09:19 PM
Brc, thanks so much for uploading :) my first impression is that I'm listening to a female speaker :) I do notice a little bit of vocal fry happening, I wonder if perhaps you're tired when you recorded this or it could just be a totally normal feature of your voice.
Thanks for the feedback. It was late here (about 8pm or 9pm) and it was a long day at work. I am not sure what 'vocal fry' is but my microphone setup needed a lot of fiddling and the graph at sound cloud looks odd so I think that the recording is probably not very good. The microphone is unpowered, maybe I need a powered one?
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 04:09:19 PM
I absolutely love your accent!
OMG! I hate my accent. I hate it even more in male mode but yours sounds fantastic. Way, way nicer than mine.
Erica - any chance of a longer recording? It sounded good but it was so short....
I'll add a clip in a few hours. I'm fighting a bad cough that still wont go away so, I think I sound like crap no matter what. I have tried changing my voice but I only send up sounding like an old lady, so I stick with my own natural voice. gets me Ma'amed on the phone every time anyway. :P
so far, the clips I've heard are all very passable. ^_^
Off topic: Anyone who is doing voice might like to read this https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,127024.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,127024.0.html) or offer tips to the OP, especially if you have done the Kathe Perez course.
Brc, vocal fry is a term used to describe a quality in a persons voice, it can be totally normal or it can cause damage to the vocal chords, sometimes it's caused by straining your voice or your voice box being "not warmed up" Like when you first wake up in the morning :)
Also, later today I'll upload a sample of me using my old voice, and the "trick" I use to use my new voice... Not that I'm an expert in any way shape or form, and my voice isn't so wonderful that I think I should be showing others.... But maybe it will help some peeps get started :)
Quote from: Isabelle on September 20, 2012, 04:12:08 PM
Brc, vocal fry is a term used to describe a quality in a persons voice, it can be totally normal or it can cause damage to the vocal chords, sometimes it's caused by straining your voice or your voice box being "not warmed up" Like when you first wake up in the morning :)
It was night time so it was well warmed up. My male voice was always coarse and gravelly and I still have a trace of that roughness, but nothing like it was before. Possibly that is what it was. I do not get sore throats so I do not think that I am damaging anything.
Quote from: Isabelle on September 20, 2012, 04:12:08 PMAlso, later today I'll upload a sample of me using my old voice, and the "trick" I use to use my new voice... Not that I'm an expert in any way shape or form, and my voice isn't so wonderful that I think I should be showing others.... But maybe it will help some peeps get started :)
I always like tips and advice. :D
I do not know what you all will make of this....
http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/brc-voice-2/s-kjyfr (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/brc-voice-2/s-kjyfr)
Ok yeah I sound pretty bad here. I have a cold but I do confused the heck out of the internet people when I call and say this is "guy name here" lol :P
0920121825 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqHPqc3efp4&feature=youtu.be#)
Brc, Wowzers that's quite a change! Congrats :)
Snowpaw, you sound really good, passes to me :)
Quote from: Snowpaw on September 20, 2012, 06:33:58 PM
Ok yeah I sound pretty bad here. I have a cold but I do confused the heck out of the internet people when I call and say this is "guy name here" lol :P
0920121825 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqHPqc3efp4&feature=youtu.be#)
Your voice sounds fantastic : )
Quote from: brc on September 20, 2012, 06:10:52 PM
I do not know what you all will make of this....
http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/brc-voice-2/s-kjyfr (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/brc-voice-2/s-kjyfr)
It's totally hard for me to go back down to my old voice. I kind of forget where it is.
Okidokie.... Here's a comparison of my old voice lol.. Also I apologize for the music in the background, it was really quiet and I didn't think my phone mic would pick it up..
http://m.soundcloud.com/natjs/sounds-from-friday-afternoon (http://m.soundcloud.com/natjs/sounds-from-friday-afternoon)
This is totally dorky, but since we are uploading our old voices.... : )
http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo1 (http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo1)
No way I am uploading my old voice but I always wanted to be a voice actor because I can do a lot of off the wall crazy crap. I can do 24's voice from venture brothers flawlessly. It weirds the hell out of my brother when I drop into it :P So coming to my voice I have now wasn't much harder than anything else I've done.
Quote from: Erica on September 20, 2012, 11:33:04 PM
This is totally dorky, but since we are uploading our old voices.... : )
http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo1 (http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo1)
Your voice is amazing :O Same with you Issa :O
Quote from: Snowpaw on September 20, 2012, 11:49:35 PM
Your voice is amazing :O Same with you Issa :O
Yours, too!
Quote from: Erica on September 20, 2012, 11:33:04 PM
This is totally dorky, but since we are uploading our old voices.... : )
http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo1 (http://soundcloud.com/user358203097/memo1)
This is great, Erica.
Quote from: Isabelle on September 20, 2012, 11:06:28 PM
Okidokie.... Here's a comparison of my old voice lol.. Also I apologize for the music in the background, it was really quiet and I didn't think my phone mic would pick it up..
http://m.soundcloud.com/natjs/sounds-from-friday-afternoon (http://m.soundcloud.com/natjs/sounds-from-friday-afternoon)
I found the falsetto technique incredibly risky and helium sounding. I like the natural quality of your voice.
Quote from: Isabelle on September 20, 2012, 11:06:28 PM
Okidokie.... Here's a comparison of my old voice lol.. Also I apologize for the music in the background, it was really quiet and I didn't think my phone mic would pick it up..
http://m.soundcloud.com/natjs/sounds-from-friday-afternoon (http://m.soundcloud.com/natjs/sounds-from-friday-afternoon)
Love your voice and accent! Rwar : )
Thanks for the compliments peoples :) ... I actually thought my voice was better in my first recording lol, I was laying down while I recorded that though, so maybe that has some effect on the muscles? or I'm just not that good at doing it :P anyway, I seem to be passing in day to day life with my voice as it is so its better than nothing I suppose lol
Quote from: Isabelle on September 21, 2012, 04:05:28 AM
I seem to be passing in day to day life with my voice as it is so its better than nothing I suppose lol
Likewise.
I am well aware that mine needs more work, but for daily use it seems to be OK. I am sure we will all improve with more practice.
So here is my voice sample, Sorry it took a while. I really couldnt think of anything to say and I hated hearing myself in the first place. So sorry about that.
http://soundcloud.com/keaira-finlay/memo (http://soundcloud.com/keaira-finlay/memo)
I think you're quite passable Keaira :)
I'm really enjoying hearing all the differnt accents in the thread :) global communities for the win!
Quote from: Isabelle on September 21, 2012, 05:48:11 AM
I think you're quite passable Keaira :)
I'm really enjoying hearing all the differnt accents in the thread :) global communities for the win!
How is it that everyone hears a passable voice and I don't?
I need a hearing test me thinks. lol. I mean it's my normal voice. no training, just what nature gave me. Which is why I'm, baffled.
As you can probably tell, I'm originally from the UK but I've been living in the US for a while.
well, I know people say hrt doesn't affect voice but, I honestly think it does do something, its softens it somehow (not in all cases) My natural speaking voice became much softer, I have no idea if its psychological or physiological
Quote from: Keaira on September 21, 2012, 05:55:45 AM
How is it that everyone hears a passable voice and I don't?
I have not listened to your sample yet (I'm at work and do my posts in between work stuff) but maybe your problem is the same as mine - everyone else's voice sounds better :-\
The grass is always greener.....?
Quote from: brc on September 20, 2012, 06:42:43 AM
Off topic: Anyone who is doing voice might like to read this https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,127024.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,127024.0.html) or offer tips to the OP, especially if you have done the Kathe Perez course.
Updated. The first thing I wanted to do was find my vocal range and see where I can work. This is where I currently stand:
Quote- Natural default pitch: 100 hz
- Current default pitch: 140 hz
- Vocal "break to falsetto" point: 200 hz
- Vocal Range I use for talking: 120-200 hz.
And that is if know how to measure it, which I am not really sure.
My standard voice:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFxEnZ.png&hash=fa817d8573e613598992a37cde9f7d0dce04a1fc)
I don't know if I am physically able to do it, bur A3/220 is beyond my possibilities for now. No samples for now, it's just a man / teen voice, a bit higher pitched than usual.
Crt, are you able to "hum" an A3?
Quote from: Isabelle on September 21, 2012, 07:49:21 AM
Crt, are you able to "hum" an A3?
No. I can only hum up to F3/G3. If I try to get to A3, I notice the falsetto sound and it hurts a lot. I also constant throat mucosity, a deviated septum, nose slightly bent and I can only use one nostril to breath. They are supposed to take some radiographies of it during the next month. And that's why I am so worried about the voice: Not exactly a decent breathing system that really f*cks my outdoor cardio trainings.
Well the good news is its only 2 whole tones from F3 to A3, I'm sure there's a way to do it :) it might help if you upload an audio clip of you just humming up to where your break is, that way people might have a better idea of the problem you're having and hopefully might have some tips for ways you can work around it :)
Quote from: Isabelle on September 21, 2012, 08:00:49 AM
Well the good news is its only 2 whole tones from F3 to A3, I'm sure there's a way to do it :)
Just gently keep pushing at it, but do not strain it, just keep trying to get higher for a few minutes at a time, two or three times a day. Give yourself a few weeks. Patience is the key. Do not rush this.
Quote from: Isabelle on September 21, 2012, 08:00:49 AM
Well the good news is its only 2 whole tones from F3 to A3, I'm sure there's a way to do it :) it might help if you upload an audio clip of you just humming up to where your break is, that way people might have a better idea of the problem you're having and hopefully might have some tips for ways you can work around it :)
Here you go, although as a lot of people, I hate hearing myself. Even if it is only humming.
http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/humming-low-to-high (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/humming-low-to-high)
It hurts so much now. Between yerterday's straining and the flu, I should completely stop for a few days.
PS: Found a great place for practising without fear of being heard:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.certifiedchinesetranslation.com%2Fimg%2FSimultaneous-Interpretation-Equipment-encapsulated-booth.JPG&hash=c5b2f227a9851d21e584aa90c7cfd54d64caffb1)
We only use them twice per year, and they are completely insulated, no sound will come out even if you shout. If nobody is using the room, I can go there during the recess.
Edit: Alright, this is my current voice... Sorry, it is ridiculous (sorry about not being in english)
Deep (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/fotograf-a-espa-ol-real)
The higher I can speak and articulate (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/fotografia-espa-ol-medio2)
I don't think I can do it, at least the pitch. The higher I raise the pitch, the less strenght I have.
Quote from: brc on September 21, 2012, 06:23:17 AM
I have not listened to your sample yet (I'm at work and do my posts in between work stuff) but maybe your problem is the same as mine - everyone else's voice sounds better :-\
The grass is always greener.....?
possibly. Or it could be that I find it too incredible to believe that my own voice is naturally passable.
Quote from: Keaira on September 21, 2012, 12:38:13 PM
possibly. Or it could be that I find it too incredible to believe that my own voice is naturally passable.
It's probably that, tbh up until this thread I didn't believe I sounded anything other than a squeeky lispy gay guy. Sometimes it takes randoms to tell you what you need to hear. Voices are always different, yours sounds very fem, it doesn't have to be incredibly valley girl to sound girly. Take Donna from that 70s show. She has a very normal girl voice and so do you :)
Quote from: Snowpaw on September 21, 2012, 12:44:21 PM
It's probably that, tbh up until this thread I didn't believe I sounded anything other than a squeeky lispy gay guy. Sometimes it takes randoms to tell you what you need to hear. Voices are always different, yours sounds very fem, it doesn't have to be incredibly valley girl to sound girly. Take Donna from that 70s show. She has a very normal girl voice and so do you :)
I guess I really really really lucked out with puberty. I think my voice changed only very slightly.
Quote from: Keaira on September 21, 2012, 12:51:02 PM
I guess I really really really lucked out with puberty. I think my voice changed only very slightly.
Be happy :D Your voice is very very real :)
Agh, I just can't I'm analyzing the pitch in all of your samples, and it so perfect, always over 200 in a natural way. With my natural tone at 100-150 and having to force it to even reach 170-140, I'm seriously f*cked.
I don't know if I can train to get a higher pitch without straining myself. The more I rise, the lower the volume.
Quote from: Crt.rnA on September 21, 2012, 08:27:31 AM
Here you go, although as a lot of people, I hate hearing myself. Even if it is only humming.
http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/humming-low-to-high (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/humming-low-to-high)
It hurts so much now. Between yerterday's straining and the flu, I should completely stop for a few days.
PS: Found a great place for practising without fear of being heard:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.certifiedchinesetranslation.com%2Fimg%2FSimultaneous-Interpretation-Equipment-encapsulated-booth.JPG&hash=c5b2f227a9851d21e584aa90c7cfd54d64caffb1)
We only use them twice per year, and they are completely insulated, no sound will come out even if you shout. If nobody is using the room, I can go there during the recess.
Edit: Alright, this is my current voice... Sorry, it is ridiculous (sorry about not being in english)
Deep (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/fotograf-a-espa-ol-real)
The higher I can speak and articulate (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/fotografia-espa-ol-medio2)
I don't think I can do it, at least the pitch. The higher I raise the pitch, the less strenght I have.
you have a pretty regular male voice, not particularly deep. Also, your voice doesn't have a gravelly undertone so you wouldn't have to work as hard.
The high voice does sound a little minnie mouse-ish.
****Tu ceceo me hace reir! :D
Quote from: Ave on September 21, 2012, 01:10:45 PM
****Tu ceceo me hace reir! :D
Blame my clogged nose... F*ck, I'm deleting them.
Sh*t, do I really do that? Why the f*ck nobody tells me? No, it can't be "ceceo" (swapping c and s). I have seen with the people that do that, and it is impossible to understand them (matadores). I'd have to have been born in the south to achieve that.
Quote from: Snowpaw on September 21, 2012, 12:44:21 PM
It's probably that, tbh up until this thread I didn't believe I sounded anything other than a squeeky lispy gay guy. Sometimes it takes randoms to tell you what you need to hear. Voices are always different, yours sounds very fem, it doesn't have to be incredibly valley girl to sound girly. Take Donna from that 70s show. She has a very normal girl voice and so do you :)
I worry that in conversation my voice sometimes sounds too deep. I don't think it ever does, but I worry about it. I think it can be difficult to divorce yourself from all of the things that you think and worry about yourself.
Quote from: Crt.rnA on September 21, 2012, 01:14:16 PM
Blame my clogged nose... F*ck, I'm deleting them.
Sh*t, do I really do that? Why the f*ck nobody tells me? No, it can't be "ceceo" (swapping c and s). I have seen with the people that do that, and it is impossible to understand them (matadores). I'd have to have been born in the south to achieve that.
nah man, for latin americans the whole lisping thing you do IS a "ceceo". I get that for you "ceceo" refers to what people of Andaluz do, but for us all of you speak funny and we call it "ceceo". :P Don't worry, you don't swap it (but even IF you did, y'all should cut the southeners some slack).
*tambien tenemos una version del "ceceo" aqui, pero es mas lijera y facil de controlar. En NYC suena estran(squiggly line)o. :P
Quote from: Crt.rnA on September 21, 2012, 01:14:16 PM
Blame my clogged nose... F*ck, I'm deleting them.
Sh*t, do I really do that? Why the f*ck nobody tells me? No, it can't be "ceceo" (swapping c and s). I have seen with the people that do that, and it is impossible to understand them (matadores). I'd have to have been born in the south to achieve that.
I think you have a charming voice. Many born-males have to learn and re-train their voices. Look at Annah's videos on YouTube.
Keaira, I love your Orlando quote! I love that movie : )
Quote from: Jamie D on September 21, 2012, 01:29:50 PM
I think you have a charming voice.
I got that one... from my Ex. :( (Why everything reminds me of her?) I hope they will find something on the tests next month.
Come to think about it, even with a normal voice a lot of sounds are failing me, like if there was something stuck there. Sadly, the examination won't happen until october. I wanted to wait for voice training until then, but I am quite desperate.
Edit: The tests are only for alergies and the sinuses. If I want my throat checked, I'll have to pay for it.
Quote from: Ave on September 21, 2012, 01:26:39 PM
the whole lisping thing you do IS a "ceceo".
You just made me look the definition for lisp. I have that? But yes, people are having more problems to understand me. They have increased at the same rate as the constant throat infections... Something must be really wrong.
Quote from: Jamie D on September 21, 2012, 01:29:50 PM
Look at Annah's videos on YouTube.
I am even afraid to look at, it will depress me even more. My range is so limited... I want to have a bit of hope, But.. Getting those cd's, and being able to get over the pitch... If I try to raise it, the spectrograph goes crazy unless I am in my natural tone, and keeping that unstable pitch raised becomes painfuls so quickly. Not even the falsetto is functional.
Quote from: Crt.rnA on September 21, 2012, 08:27:31 AM
Deep (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/fotograf-a-espa-ol-real)
The higher I can speak and articulate (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/fotografia-espa-ol-medio2)
I don't think I can do it, at least the pitch. The higher I raise the pitch, the less strenght I have.
I just listened to these samples. I cannot speak a word of spanish so the recordings are meaningless to me and spanish always sounds very monotone to my ear - much more so than english or french.
Having said that, the second sample is much nearer a feminine tone than the first. I think that the second sample could be used as a basis for a good feminine voice. I would be interested in hearing a recording in english.
Quote from: brc on September 21, 2012, 07:06:16 PM
Having said that, the second sample is much nearer a feminine tone than the first. I think that the second sample could be used as a basis for a good feminine voice. I would be interested in hearing a recording in english.
I had one, but deleted it out of embarrassment, after listening to my own pronunciation. When you work in english but 90% of your colleagues are not native speakers (it is more akin to latin for medieval priests), it is quite difficult to compare to others and see if you are doing it properly. In our department we keep correcting ourselves all the time, but we always need to ask a brit for help when it comes to recording audio messages...
I'll try to upload it tomorrow, but please don't laugh a lot (or don't let me know). The Flu is making it sound even more weird...
Quote from: Crt.rnA on September 21, 2012, 07:14:54 PM
... it is quite difficult to compare to others and see if you are doing it properly.
I think that many of us hear loads of flaws in our voices. When I used to hear recordings of my male voice I was astounded that anyone else liked it. It always sounded hideous to me. My female voice does not sound right to me, Keaira does not like hers either (she said so in her voice sample) and I know MTFs who do not like theirs and one even had surgery to correct it (not that the surgery made any difference I could hear). We are our own worst critics.
Having said that I have found that tweaking my computer setup to get a decent recording has made it a much better system to practice with so this thread has been great for me in that respect.
Crt, I've never used a spectrograph for voice training once. Don't freak yourself out over numbers and notes. I listened to your voice samples.. I'm sorry I don't understand Spanish (the New Zealand public school system isn't that great on languages so I never learned any :( Your higher sample isn't as bad as you seem to think it is. You are dipping into your chest resonance quite often though. With the humming sample you gave, there's nothing wrong with it at all, Actually the 5th note you hum sounds like a good spot for you. Basically hum that note, you seemed to be pretty comfortable hitting it in the recording. Sit in a chair, with your shoulder straight, and look up at the ceiling so that when you make the note your neck muscles feel tighter around your voice box, hum that same note, and practice till you hit it easily, then open your mouth and say "ahhhhh" at that same pitch. Go though the vowels a,e,i,o,u holding that same note :) then try to move to singing words, all just at that one note.
Also, don't worry about people laughing or sounding silly. No one is going to laugh at you, we are all here for the same reason and we all know how hard it can be. I think it's awesome you're training, it took me over almost two years before I was brave enough to even try training. Feel good :) you're doing great!
X
Also, I just wanted to point out that although the thread seems to be being dominated by feminine identifying people's, the masculine identifying people are more than welcome!
Maybe if the thread stays as popular as it has been it could get stickied?
Quote from: Erica on September 21, 2012, 01:33:02 PM
Keaira, I love your Orlando quote! I love that movie : )
I'm glad you know it. ^_^
Quote from: brc on September 21, 2012, 07:29:51 PM
I think that many of us hear loads of flaws in our voices. When I used to hear recordings of my male voice I was astounded that anyone else liked it. It always sounded hideous to me. My female voice does not sound right to me, Keaira does not like hers either (she said so in her voice sample) and I know MTFs who do not like theirs and one even had surgery to correct it (not that the surgery made any difference I could hear). We are our own worst critics.
It's true, I think you are all bonkers. :P
So, since I wasn't happy with my voice sample, I made a new one. ^_^
http://soundcloud.com/keaira-finlay/new-sample (http://soundcloud.com/keaira-finlay/new-sample)
Quote from: Crt.rnA on September 21, 2012, 03:01:25 PM
I am even afraid to look at, it will depress me even more. My range is so limited... I want to have a bit of hope, But.. Getting those cd's, and being able to get over the pitch... If I try to raise it, the spectrograph goes crazy unless I am in my natural tone, and keeping that unstable pitch raised becomes painfuls so quickly. Not even the falsetto is functional.
Take heart. I had many of the challenges you are dealing with. Finally in February of this year I was able to take enough time off to get some major sinus surgery. Not only did it eliminate my recurring migraine headaches, it dramatically opened up my vocal range especially in the upper registers.
The thing to remember is that even if it is difficult right now to practice pitch, that is the least important part of gendering your speaking voice.
You can focus on your intonation, resonance, word choices, rhythm, emotionality, and expressiveness. That way, when the blocked pipes are clear, you will suddenly go from sounding like a woman with a bad head cold, to sounding like an utterly natural woman who doesn't have a bad head cold!
Practicing your female voice with your head stuffed up is great training, as long as you work AROUND the physical limitations. It is like jogging with weights on.
By the way, my daily speaking voice is now a little higher pitched than my mother and all three of my sisters, but I used to speak in a very resonant baritone. My mother and one of my sisters are definite tenors, and the other two sisters are low altos. I mention that because NOBODY misgenders my mother or sisters when they speak. I feel fortunate that I couldn't use higher pitches early on, because I might have gotten complacent and skipped the more important stuff that makes a voice feel male or female.
Quote from: Keaira on September 22, 2012, 04:04:05 AM
It's true, I think you are all bonkers. :P
We are merely all works-in-progress Keaira ;D
Quote from: Keaira on September 22, 2012, 04:04:05 AM
So, since I wasn't happy with my voice sample, I made a new one. ^_^
http://soundcloud.com/keaira-finlay/new-sample (http://soundcloud.com/keaira-finlay/new-sample)
I have some comments on your voice recording which I hope you will find helpful. Listening to it, it seems to me that you modulate more like a woman than a man, your tone shifts are more feminine than masculine and I think that if you could move your pitch up a little then it would smooth out some of the lower tones and feminise it even more. I am working at gradually taking my own voice up another 20Hz or so over the next few months and I want the higher overtones to get louder to put more 'brightness' in my voice as it sounds a bit flat to me at present.
I am quite enjoying making the recordings. This could become a habit...
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi688.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv246%2FKeairaElisabeth%2Fkeairavoice_zps83822496.jpg&hash=d2e41cd369d8b77e2afc7292ff820496f2711bdd)
I hope this helps because I cant tell much about what it shows. lol
Quote from: brc on September 22, 2012, 06:14:33 AM
I am quite enjoying making the recordings. This could become a habit...
Totally! I told Isabelle that this is probably the most fun I've had in a thread, ever : )
Quote from: Erica on September 23, 2012, 03:48:02 PM
Totally! I told Isabelle that this is probably the most fun I've had in a thread, ever : )
I know. Here is my latest... http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/improved/s-ZLchA (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/improved/s-ZLchA)
Also, people my find this youtube video interesting (it is NOT me) http://youtu.be/N0z76RuJUQY (http://youtu.be/N0z76RuJUQY) I find it very hard to understand why someone who could be passable would want a male voice.
Monitoring how my voice will change/"drop" off hormones so here's my day 1 (sort of?) lol
HRT does not reverse the voice changes that puberty does to a male, but my endo, a kind gentleman who has been handling MtFs since 1975, claims that HRT does increase our potential vocal range upwards a bit. How much varies per individual and it still requires practice to get there but HRT may make it easier for someone to reach their target pitch.
Hi,
I have been practicing for a few months now but just recently started using the Overtone Analyzer. I just can't 'hear' myself and need feedback.
It is not my best but not my worst so probably a good version to work from.
Please be honest but gentle on the constructive crits.
http://soundcloud.com/brutzein/voice-oct2012 (http://soundcloud.com/brutzein/voice-oct2012)
Cool beans, will take a listen shortly :) also, yay for the thread staying alive :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s00Kvhl8IuGC (http://vocaroo.com/i/s00Kvhl8IuGC)
This is how I normally talk... I think it sounds like a woman's voice, but not a young woman. It doesn't really match my face...
Sorry for the >-bleeped-<ty mic. :P
Quote from: alyx. on October 05, 2012, 01:39:13 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s00Kvhl8IuGC (http://vocaroo.com/i/s00Kvhl8IuGC)
This is how I normally talk... I think it sounds like a woman's voice, but not a young woman. It doesn't really match my face...
Sorry for the >-bleeped-<ty mic. :P
It was hard to tell because of the short clip and idk what you were saying. :)
Quote from: PaigeMtl on October 04, 2012, 02:07:08 PM
Hi,
I have been practicing for a few months now but just recently started using the Overtone Analyzer. I just can't 'hear' myself and need feedback.
It is not my best but not my worst so probably a good version to work from.
Please be honest but gentle on the constructive crits.
http://soundcloud.com/brutzein/voice-oct2012 (http://soundcloud.com/brutzein/voice-oct2012)
It sounds definitely in the female range and would be seen as female with good cadence. I find it a bit breathy and you could try to move the resonance into your mid mouth to get a richer sound. I think the bit where you say "at 200 hz " is spot on.
Quote from: alyx. on October 05, 2012, 01:39:13 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s00Kvhl8IuGC (http://vocaroo.com/i/s00Kvhl8IuGC)
This is how I normally talk... I think it sounds like a woman's voice, but not a young woman. It doesn't really match my face...
Sorry for the >-bleeped-<ty mic. :P
I agree that it is too short of a clip and the sound is making it difficult to hear properly.
Quote from: sandrauk on October 05, 2012, 04:54:02 AM
It sounds definitely in the female range and would be seen as female with good cadence. I find it a bit breathy and you could try to move the resonance into your mid mouth to get a richer sound. I think the bit where you say "at 200 hz " is spot on.
I was starting to think it was terrible because I wasn't getting any feedback. The old say of 'if you have nothing good to say don't say anything'.
Thanks Sandrauk. I will work on moving the resonance into my mid mouth. I am not sure if you found it to have good cadence or not though?
Hi there
So i have been going to a voice therapist for some time now and this is what se recomend me to talk like. I have no problem at talkning like this but I don't know if it sounds feminine or just like a guy trying to talk like a woman but fails. Also put a short version of my male voice in there for reference... ???
http://soundcloud.com/eloij/emma-with-male (http://soundcloud.com/eloij/emma-with-male)
Wow...here we go! I made a clip if anyone would be willing to listen...thank you so much
http://snd.sc/WuIZve (http://snd.sc/WuIZve)
Paige: yes I think the cadence is working for you, has a nice sing-song feel to it.
Eloij: Pitch is good, but, listening to your voice, it's a higher version of your male voice which is not enough to be fully female. In most circumstances, in the Mall, etc it would get you by without outing you.
Noah: On the vowels (particularly O), your producing a lot of low tones. Maybe speak with the analyzer on to try and minimise those. You could speak with those tones and still come over as female. Don't know if this will work in your territory but I was listening to Martha Stewart this morning http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n1vl9 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n1vl9) and she has a similar tone to you.
Here's some new recordings for you using a hopefully less terrible mic.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0bm5Y4IgM3Z (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0bm5Y4IgM3Z)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0oPDaGHqVma (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0oPDaGHqVma)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0wN2VZMQLDA (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0wN2VZMQLDA)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0foRDN9c2yo (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0foRDN9c2yo)
Well that was an experiance Sound Cloud needs a tutorial.......
Anywho I thought I'd give it a twirl
http://soundcloud.com/cyndigurl45/sounds-from-friday-afternoon-1 (http://soundcloud.com/cyndigurl45/sounds-from-friday-afternoon-1)
Quote from: eloij on October 05, 2012, 09:29:55 AM
Hi there
So i have been going to a voice therapist for some time now and this is what se recomend me to talk like. I have no problem at talkning like this but I don't know if it sounds feminine or just like a guy trying to talk like a woman but fails. Also put a short version of my male voice in there for reference... ???
http://soundcloud.com/eloij/emma-with-male (http://soundcloud.com/eloij/emma-with-male)
I'd like to hear your voice in french as compared to english. That is if I am not mistaken a cute Quebecois accent.
I personally have much more facility articulating in my mother tongue so it makes it easier. I decided to get it where I would like in english hoping that it will be easier to apply it in french afterwards.
Noah : You have the voice of a mature woman. I like it even if it is low.
I get what you mean by wanting your voice and not having the impression of using a fake voice.
I think that no matter what voice that we end up with that sounds truly 'passable' it still comes from us, even if it sounds wrong in our heads or feels awkward. We will probably make it our own and feel comfortable in the end. Can any one that is happy with their new voice confirm this?
Thanks Sandrauk. I really appreciate you taking the time : )
Quote from: PaigeMtl on October 05, 2012, 06:07:56 PM
I'd like to hear your voice in french as compared to english. That is if I am not mistaken a cute Quebecois accent.
I personally have much more facility articulating in my mother tongue so it makes it easier. I decided to get it where I would like in english hoping that it will be easier to apply it in french afterwards.
Actually that cute accent is swedish. But I uploaded a clip of me talking in swedish...
http://soundcloud.com/eloij/memo (http://soundcloud.com/eloij/memo)
Eloij : I hate to write this but your voice still needs some more work. I can here the male in the undertone. Im still knew at learning my voice and it is far from having a decent sound so I can't help on giving cues for exactly what needs to be done but it is what I am hearing.
Quote from: alyx. on October 05, 2012, 01:48:37 PM
Here's some new recordings for you using a hopefully less terrible mic.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0bm5Y4IgM3Z (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0bm5Y4IgM3Z)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0oPDaGHqVma (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0oPDaGHqVma)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0wN2VZMQLDA (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0wN2VZMQLDA)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0foRDN9c2yo (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0foRDN9c2yo)
Yes, a lot of distortion on those recordings.
Wow, thank you all so much for the response. I got inspired after hearing your voices and making my own, so I worked on my voice a little and was surpised by how it was coming along...so I made a new clip. please if you have a minute listen to this and tell me how it is sounding at this stage! Thank you...
http://snd.sc/WDi5Bt (http://snd.sc/WDi5Bt)
Here's mine. I think I'm pretty happy with it. I'm sick at the moment, so I sound a little off: http://soundcloud.com/soundsybil/voice-sample-4/s-1rBJz (http://soundcloud.com/soundsybil/voice-sample-4/s-1rBJz)
I feel okay with coughing, sneezing, giggling, and using conversational sounds like "hmm." I still can't burst into laughter - that one is really tough to work around!
Anyhow, I'd love to hear what other people think. I look forward to anyone's input, thanks!
so i guess i will play this game too!
http://soundcloud.com/mikaela14578/audio-recording-on-sunday-1 (http://soundcloud.com/mikaela14578/audio-recording-on-sunday-1)
Sybil: I wish I sounded like that when I'm not sick...sounds great to me.
Tristan: Either the audio compression or your mic is influencing the result (electronic sounding) so it's difficult to say.
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 02:14:55 AM
Hi all, I thought I'd start a thread where people can upload audio clips of their voices and get feedback, in the hope we can all help each other out :)
Anyway, I'll go first... I should point out this is from my first day training my voice.. It's not great but, my "male" voice was pretty andro to begin with.. Anyway take a listen and Id love to hear what people think
http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1 (http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1)
Please feel free to comment, and upload your own clips !
(I use soundcloud.com for a free account, and there is an app for smartphones that's easy to use and simple to share sounds on :) )
I like it!
I suppose I'm asking if my voice passes, but since I'm rather under the impression that it does, I am also looking for some feedback.
Background: This morning I was feeling insecure. I felt like I sounded and looked like a guy, and while I realize those unhappy thoughts about myself are usually inaccurate, I had to record myself anyway to see for sure. The recording was done in such a way that no effort was put in - if anything, I was almost trying to sound like a guy. My pitch was low, and no special attention was put toward vocal mannerisms. The result? Well, that's up to you to judge.
http://soundcloud.com/kellyanonymous/experimental (http://soundcloud.com/kellyanonymous/experimental)
(Note: Turn your volume down a little. Soundcloud makes things loud.)
My conclusion was that I always sound the same. I can certainly remove a lot of the "body" from the voice featured in the above link, as I added resonance on purpose to give my voice a more masculine sound, in theory, but even then I didn't sound all that different. In fact, if anything, the added resonance only improved the general sound of the voice - at least, over the microphone. I can only hope to assume that the recorded sound is similar or, at best, equivalent to my voice heard live.
I'm not sure where my pitch is at in the recording, because I haven't checked where I stand on the Hz scale in months. I don't really keep track of my voice, and its progression; perhaps that is a mistake on my part, however, I shall see if I have actually suffered for it.
Your thoughts?
Verdict=pretty! Doesn't sound guyish to me at all, I'd place you at the 200HZ at the least.
Here is my sort of effort. There are times I am more relaxed and tend to sound smoother and all, but with my back tensed up and a little annoyed at the puppy, this is what it is now.
edit: removed link
Quote from: Kelly J. P. on October 08, 2012, 11:27:16 AM
I suppose I'm asking if my voice passes, but since I'm rather under the impression that it does, I am also looking for some feedback.
Background: This morning I was feeling insecure. I felt like I sounded and looked like a guy, and while I realize those unhappy thoughts about myself are usually inaccurate, I had to record myself anyway to see for sure. The recording was done in such a way that no effort was put in - if anything, I was almost trying to sound like a guy. My pitch was low, and no special attention was put toward vocal mannerisms. The result? Well, that's up to you to judge.
http://soundcloud.com/kellyanonymous/experimental (http://soundcloud.com/kellyanonymous/experimental)
(Note: Turn your volume down a little. Soundcloud makes things loud.)
My conclusion was that I always sound the same. I can certainly remove a lot of the "body" from the voice featured in the above link, as I added resonance on purpose to give my voice a more masculine sound, in theory, but even then I didn't sound all that different. In fact, if anything, the added resonance only improved the general sound of the voice - at least, over the microphone. I can only hope to assume that the recorded sound is similar or, at best, equivalent to my voice heard live.
I'm not sure where my pitch is at in the recording, because I haven't checked where I stand on the Hz scale in months. I don't really keep track of my voice, and its progression; perhaps that is a mistake on my part, however, I shall see if I have actually suffered for it.
Your thoughts?
Your voice passes, all I have to say is that beyond passing issues, there's a small nasally quality to it that maybe you could work on. Basically, your voice is all in the front of your mouth and it is kind of muted in the sinus where it would normally resonate, like when you have a stuffy nose or a cold. It's subtle but I think if you try to move the (perceived) center of the voice near the roof of the mouth you will get a fuller and better sounding voice. Good luck :)
Quote from: twit on October 08, 2012, 12:13:09 PM
Here is my sort of effort. There are times I am more relaxed and tend to sound smoother and all, but with my back tensed up and a little annoyed at the puppy, this is what it is now.
http://soundcloud.com/jrd63/a-whiney-twit-whining (http://soundcloud.com/jrd63/a-whiney-twit-whining)
Probably pass but, well the main problem that I hear is the very falsetto-y quality to the voice. My advice would be to work on extending your head voice so you don't have to use falsetto. You could think of head voice as like a rich, trained and supported falsetto.
Quote from: Kelly J. P. on October 08, 2012, 11:27:16 AM
I suppose I'm asking if my voice passes
Totally. I've listened to most of the clips in this thread and you sound about as girlish as any I've heard.
Quote from: pretty on October 08, 2012, 12:17:44 PM
Your voice passes, all I have to say is that beyond passing issues, there's a small nasally quality to it that maybe you could work on. Basically, your voice is all in the front of your mouth and it is kind of muted in the sinus where it would normally resonate, like when you have a stuffy nose or a cold. It's subtle but I think if you try to move the (perceived) center of the voice near the roof of the mouth you will get a fuller and better sounding voice. Good luck :)
I have definitely noticed this, though people don't comment on it - you're actually the first. :P Altogether, I don't really know how to deal with it, since, as far as I know, I haven't really ever spoken any other way.
It could be the mic, or it might just be how I speak, because doing my guy-voice reveals a pretty similar effect.
Guyvoice for reference: http://soundcloud.com/kellyanonymous/guyvoice (http://soundcloud.com/kellyanonymous/guyvoice)
It's possible that my guy-voice is actually more of a butch-lesbian voice. I dare not try harder than this to produce a guy-voice, because I'd be pretty happy with being unable to do a proper male voice - and disuse is the number one way to put an end to being able to do things!
Quote from: Ave on October 08, 2012, 11:34:35 AM
Verdict=pretty! Doesn't sound guyish to me at all, I'd place you at the 200HZ at the least.
Thanks!
Quote from: Lyric on October 08, 2012, 12:25:36 PM
Totally. I've listened to most of the clips in this thread and you sound about as girlish as any I've heard.
I appreciate the input. :3
Quote from: twit on October 08, 2012, 12:13:09 PM
Here is my sort of effort. There are times I am more relaxed and tend to sound smoother and all, but with my back tensed up and a little annoyed at the puppy, this is what it is now.
http://soundcloud.com/jrd63/a-whiney-twit-whining (http://soundcloud.com/jrd63/a-whiney-twit-whining)
I love that subtle drawl!
Quote from: Kelly J. P. on October 08, 2012, 12:34:35 PM
It's possible that my guy-voice is actually more of a butch-lesbian voice. I dare not try harder than this to produce a guy-voice, because I'd be pretty happy with being unable to do a proper male voice - and disuse is the number one way to put an end to being able to do things!
Yup, you just sound like a girl in both audio clips.
Quote from: pretty on October 08, 2012, 12:24:11 PM
Probably pass but, well the main problem that I hear is the very falsetto-y quality to the voice. My advice would be to work on extending your head voice so you don't have to use falsetto. You could think of head voice as like a rich, trained and supported falsetto.
I do better when I am relaxed and my smoking isn't helping much either. I'm going to work on it a bit and also try to drop off the smoking as that does have an effect on it along with messing up my sinuses.
thanks:)
Can we sticky this thread?
..... Go on.... You know you want to :)
X
Jamie, don't smoke. It stunts your boobs for one, and it does horrific things to your vocal chords. Studies have shown smoking can render hrt almost useless.
Kelly j.p, your voice fails. I'm sorry. There is no way I'd believe you're a man in either recording.
Another vote for a sticky!
Quote from: Ave on October 10, 2012, 03:13:39 PM
Another vote for a sticky!
Will third that but this is a slow forum anyway :P
Did any one else notice that half the voice posts always mention they have a cold...why not wait until after it has passed?
I'm not being mean, it's just an observation that made me chuckle a little. ;)
JJ: sounds to me like your on the right track.
Sticky? Has anyone said the "magic word"?
Quote from: Jamie D on October 10, 2012, 07:54:38 PM
Sticky? Has anyone said the "magic word"?
please Missus!
Sorry for the clip being in swedish but i feel mor comfortable with it...
So I have been experimenting now a little and this is the best i could come up with... Not pleased with it by far and probably on the same level as the other ones i posted. I don't know, what do I need to work on?
http://soundcloud.com/eloij/r-st-3 (http://soundcloud.com/eloij/r-st-3)
Quote from: Cyndigurl45 on October 05, 2012, 02:57:59 PM
Well that was an experiance Sound Cloud needs a tutorial.......
Anywho I thought I'd give it a twirl
http://soundcloud.com/cyndigurl45/sounds-from-friday-afternoon-1 (http://soundcloud.com/cyndigurl45/sounds-from-friday-afternoon-1)
Was it that bad?? no takers......
Quote from: Cyndigurl45 on October 11, 2012, 11:37:29 AM
Was it that bad?? no takers......
At the moment it is a no from me, I think you would pass more in a mixed/head voice :) something is just off with the resonance.
Quote from: pretty on October 11, 2012, 12:10:24 PM
At the moment it is a no from me, I think you would pass more in a mixed/head voice :) something is just off with the resonance.
Thank you sweetie, I know 4 seconds it's difficult but I just could think what to say??
Quote from: PaigeMtl on October 10, 2012, 07:00:35 PM
Did any one else notice that half the voice posts always mention they have a cold...why not wait until after it has passed?
I'm not being mean, it's just an observation that made me chuckle a little. ;)
JJ: sounds to me like your on the right track.
I did have a cold. I'm not very sure why I chose to record while I had a cold. Maybe because I was sitting around a lot and had very little else to do. Here's me without a cold: http://soundcloud.com/soundsybil/wikipedia-read/s-J4Ylb (http://soundcloud.com/soundsybil/wikipedia-read/s-J4Ylb)
A lot of other stuff and random background information: the way I start off the track by saying "Parks" is really (super nasally and) unintended for me. I still don't have the best control over my voice; I've been trying to do something with it for only a short while now after getting over losing it before.
Around April, I found a way to lock my vocal cords to give me a pitch I didn't have. It was probably really unhealthy, but it made me sound great, and I quickly discovered how to control my resonance to compliment my new frequency. After a few days, I became unable to perform this properly because my vocal cords became too swollen (or damaged) and I realized that it was something I couldn't keep up or rely on. Although my "loss" was overall probably a good thing, it really depressed me after getting to hear something I felt was very convincing, so I stopped working on my voice altogether and made no progress.
Again around mid to late August, I stopped being shy about voice communication and started using Skype with some of my most trusted and understanding friends while we talked or played video games. They put up with my constant voice shifts and vocal cord strains, offered input when asked, and their presence on the other end gave me something to talk about for hours on end. They were/are all very encouraging and extremely helpful for my voice.
I am also becoming very close to girlfriend status with this guy I've recently been reconnecting with (we're essentially at the stage where we act like there's a relationship and talk about it, but are both nervous to make it official in such a short time), and I have been speaking to him for hours and hours near-daily. My almost-boyfriend says he loves listening to me and it relaxes him a lot (and frequently says very sweet things to me that make my heart skip a beat or two) so it makes it easy and exciting for me to practice and develop.
I'm really proud of how far I've gotten in that time -- with methods that do not feel like they're damaging my voice -- but I know it's not perfect, and I don't have the seamless control over speaking that usually comes with months and years of using your voice. My pitch also needs more work, I think primarily because it has to physically develop over time. I realize my voice most likely passes at this point, but I was feeling sheepish about creating another "critique my voice" thread and taking up more forum space, so I posted it here to share and see the thoughts of others.
Congratulations to anyone who made it through that!
Does my singing voice pass? http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing (http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing)
Okay honestly I hate my voice and I try really hard not to get depressed about it but as much as I want to sing, every time I do and then I think I sound okay until comparing it to the original song which makes me just feel horrible... I keep trying anyway and try to keep in mind that it is actually a really difficult thing to do and there's no reason to feel bad... but. Bleh. I just hate knowing that I will never have as pretty of a voice as a cis girl in the same position as me. If it were just about the pitch it would be okay but erasing a masculine timbre is so hard and strenuous :-\
Sorry to vent :(
Quote from: pretty on October 11, 2012, 01:27:13 PM
Does my singing voice pass? http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing (http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing)
Okay honestly I hate my voice and I try really hard not to get depressed about it but as much as I want to sing, every time I do and then I think I sound okay until comparing it to the original song which makes me just feel horrible... I keep trying anyway and try to keep in mind that it is actually a really difficult thing to do and there's no reason to feel bad... but. Bleh. I just hate knowing that I will never have as pretty of a voice as a cis girl in the same position as me. If it were just about the pitch it would be okay but erasing a masculine timbre is so hard and strenuous :-\
Sorry to vent :(
I can't place a gender on it because it's falsetto. It's as good or as bad as my singing. And I've got a music exam soon where I've got to sight sing and keep stealth! I'm going to get a voice/singing coach so I don't out myself singing to an examiner.
Quote from: PaigeMtl on October 10, 2012, 07:00:35 PM
Did any one else notice that half the voice posts always mention they have a cold...why not wait until after it has passed?
I'm not being mean, it's just an observation that made me chuckle a little. ;)
JJ: sounds to me like your on the right track.
really? i cant say i noticed that.... I know i didn't
Quote from: Kelly J. P. on October 08, 2012, 11:27:16 AM
I suppose I'm asking if my voice passes, but since I'm rather under the impression that it does, I am also looking for some feedback.
Totally female, no question. No one would sir that voice. Being honest no one would sir your "guy" voice clip either tho..
Quote from: pretty on October 11, 2012, 01:27:13 PM
Does my singing voice pass? http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing (http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing)
Okay honestly I hate my voice and I try really hard not to get depressed about it but as much as I want to sing, every time I do and then I think I sound okay until comparing it to the original song which makes me just feel horrible... I keep trying anyway and try to keep in mind that it is actually a really difficult thing to do and there's no reason to feel bad... but. Bleh. I just hate knowing that I will never have as pretty of a voice as a cis girl in the same position as me. If it were just about the pitch it would be okay but erasing a masculine timbre is so hard and strenuous :-\
Sorry to vent :(
damn,
you can reach some pretty high notes! sounds good! The only thing is your singing voice can come off very meek.
Quote from: Ave on October 11, 2012, 10:03:28 PM
damn,
you can reach some pretty high notes! sounds good! The only thing is your singing voice can come off very meek.
Thanks :) I think it is pretty meek.. unfortunately I have to sing in head voice to be comfortably in the same range where a lot of cis girls can just use their chest voice so I don't get that full natural sound :(
Here is a very recent voice recording that I did. I honestly do not like how I sound (the tone is not right?) Any honest recommendations/suggestions is very welcome. The good thing though is that this is becoming a lot easier for me to use my 'feminine voice' more/longer without strain. Thank You in advance.
http://soundcloud.com/emilymi/voice-session-10-12-2012 (http://soundcloud.com/emilymi/voice-session-10-12-2012)
Quote from: JJ on October 12, 2012, 01:09:03 PM
Hey Emily. Your voice sounds fairly good to me. You don't have to worry so much about your inflections (just remember you don't always need to rise in pitch at the end of a sentence, but being English I don't know if that's more of an American thing), and it sounds like you're able to get a decent pitch with good volume - a voice you can speak loudly with and not have it break.
There might be a small amount of male undertone there but I don't know if that's just me being hypercritical due to the fact I'm being asked to critique someone who I know is making an effort to speak a certain way. Probably me being overcritical, so don't worry!
I would say to remember to try to emphasise more with pitch and not volume, and that not every sentence needs to rise in pitch at the end.
I can hear some male undertones still, but then again I am very self critical about myself so I want to try to work on that still. Someone suggested that I start using a spectrogram to help keep my frequency in the right range for females; which I am reading up on now. I am willing to try anything right now and hopefully just make it sound feminine as possible. Thank you though for the suggestions and I will work on that as well.
/Hugs
-Emily
Quote from: EmilyMI on October 12, 2012, 01:40:16 PMI am willing to try anything right now and hopefully just make it sound feminine as possible. Thank you though for the suggestions and I will work on that as well.
/Hugs
-Emily
Hi Emily! I made some pretty quick progress with my voice and I recently explained a lot of the approaches I took when replying in another topic. I'm not sure, but if you're interested in reading them, they may help you: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,128157.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,128157.0.html)
It's a tiny topic, so it won't take any digging to find my post. It's only 3 down.
Quote from: pretty on October 11, 2012, 01:27:13 PM
Does my singing voice pass? http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing (http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/singing)
Okay honestly I hate my voice and I try really hard not to get depressed about it but as much as I want to sing, every time I do and then I think I sound okay until comparing it to the original song which makes me just feel horrible... I keep trying anyway and try to keep in mind that it is actually a really difficult thing to do and there's no reason to feel bad... but. Bleh. I just hate knowing that I will never have as pretty of a voice as a cis girl in the same position as me. If it were just about the pitch it would be okay but erasing a masculine timbre is so hard and strenuous :-\
Sorry to vent :(
Acappella is not easy, but you make it sound easy. That was a Disney song, wasn't it?
Quote from: Jamie D on October 12, 2012, 03:21:43 PM
Acappella is not easy, but you make it sound easy. The was a Disney song, wasn't it?
Yes, it was from The Little Mermaid :)
It was very nice. I cannot hear what you mean by "masculine timbre"
Quote from: Jamie D on October 12, 2012, 04:33:54 PM
It was very nice. I cannot hear what you mean by "masculine timbre"
Thank you :) I tried again...
http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/love-story-karaoke (http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/love-story-karaoke)
But I still hear a boy :'(
Quote from: TessaM on October 13, 2012, 07:22:57 AM
Here no singing no nothing! Its 8 in the morning and I thought id play along :p
http://soundcloud.com/mk5golf/audio-recording-on-saturday (http://soundcloud.com/mk5golf/audio-recording-on-saturday)
Tessa i think your voice sounds good. you play the game well my friend. ;)
Quote from: pretty on October 13, 2012, 02:54:31 AM
Thank you :) I tried again...
http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/love-story-karaoke (http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/love-story-karaoke)
But I still hear a boy :'(
omg so sweet :3. What are you worried about? with your looks + voice I think even I'd be hard pressed to "clock" you (and I'm pretty good at clocking others).
Here's me, the rebel who hasn't done anything to change my voice. I'm probably going to get told I sounds like a guy, but as I state in the clip, this voice works for me..
http://soundcloud.com/kelly-stephen/audio-recording-on-sunday-1 (http://soundcloud.com/kelly-stephen/audio-recording-on-sunday-1)
Quote from: alice89 on October 14, 2012, 11:22:15 AM
Does my voice sound passable?
Male voice. Before transition
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/male-voice (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/male-voice)
Female voice. What it sounds like currently
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/female-voice (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/female-voice)
it's way too falsseto, you have to lower it and make it sound real.
So i'm finally brave enough to post my voice....mind you i have not been working on it long at all (2 weeks), but any advice or brutal criticism is welcome!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s08ET2Mn4nQB (http://vocaroo.com/i/s08ET2Mn4nQB)
Alice, that voice is way too high. You're making the classic 'Minnie Mouse' mistake of trying to speak in too high a pitch. Go to http://www.virtualpiano.net (http://www.virtualpiano.net) and give it a moment to load up. Press the A below middle C. It's the 13th white key from the left (A22 it should say in the display when you press it). That's the note that many MTF voice tutors get their clients to aim for as a baseline to work with. You can go even lower and still be in the female pitch range. Try talking around that pitch and see how it feels for you.
Nadine, the recording is really short and fairly quiet so it's hard to tell.
If you haven't done so already, you might want to watch the videos on youtube from CandiFla, they're pretty explanatory about bringing your voice down from your falsetto to a more natural feminine sounding pitch.
Nadine, your voice sounds pretty fem, not sure tho if that is because you are talking super soft or just the recording sounds that way. One of the mistakes I used to make was talking soft/breathy trying to sound feminine, which is does but no one can hear you and you can't speak up or you sound like a guy. Anyway, I think that voice would pass.
Alice, that voice doesn't pass. Sorry but that just sounds like mickey mouse. It's so falsetto that it has zero resonance. Even super high pitched females don't sound like that. IMHO practicing in falsetto is not how to develop a female voice. Pitch is just a small part of sounding female.
Hmm, it seems people have listened to my clip, but no comments?
Quote from: kelly_aus on October 14, 2012, 11:18:57 PM
Hmm, it seems people have listened to my clip, but no comments?
Well, I try to keep an open mind but I also think you get out of your transition what you put into it... unchanged of course your voice is distinctly in the male range and I don't think it would pass to most people.
Obviously it is totally your choice not to change your voice but I am kinda puzzled because, is it really worth being lazy about? ???
Sorry if this post seemed rude :(
Quote from: pretty on October 14, 2012, 11:49:12 PM
Well, I try to keep an open mind but I also think you get out of your transition what you put into it... unchanged of course your voice is distinctly in the male range and I don't think it would pass to most people.
Obviously it is totally your choice not to change your voice but I am kinda puzzled because, is it really worth being lazy about? ???
Sorry if this post seemed rude :(
Not rude at all..
But the point I'll make, is that it 'passes' - except over the phone.. It doesn't cause people to give me any funny looks or anything like that. It doesn't cause people to suddenly start referring to me as male. Can't comment on your location, but where I live, not every women walks around with a perfectly pitched female voice - much in the same way they don't all have a perfect hourglass figure or a 'beautiful' face..
As for lazy? I don't think I am being so. I transitioned to be me - Kelly. And guess what? Without changing my voice, without the extensive FFS some around here told me I'd
require, I live as and am accepted as a woman.
Quote from: kelly_aus on October 15, 2012, 12:13:54 AM
Not rude at all..
But the point I'll make, is that it 'passes' - except over the phone.. It doesn't cause people to give me any funny looks or anything like that. It doesn't cause people to suddenly start referring to me as male. Can't comment on your location, but where I live, not every women walks around with a perfectly pitched female voice - much in the same way they don't all have a perfect hourglass figure or a 'beautiful' face..
As for lazy? I don't think I am being so. I transitioned to be me - Kelly. And guess what? Without changing my voice, without the extensive FFS some around here told me I'd require, I live as and am accepted as a woman.
I guess you are trying to make a point but passing is important to a lot of people and voice is one component of that (of many... a masculine voice isn't guaranteed to get you clocked but it always will help you in that direction). Maybe this is not really the right section to make your point? :) In the does my
voice pass thread it is all about voice and as you said your voice by itself does not pass (not that it would be expected to w/ no changes).
Quote from: kelly_aus on October 15, 2012, 12:13:54 AM
Not rude at all..
But the point I'll make, is that it 'passes' - except over the phone.. It doesn't cause people to give me any funny looks or anything like that.
Which is why I didn't comment. You seem to realize when just your voice is heard, it sounds male.
I lived full time for a couple of years with a fairly male voice (no HRT, no FFS etc either). I do feel once I developed a female sounding voice, I noticed people did treat me slightly different. I didn't have any real problems when I was living full time with a guyish voice, but I do think I have more self confidence, chat people up more without worry now etc. At this point in time I never even think "am I passing?" in any situation. Like before I was afraid to talk to a friend while in the women's bathroom or if another woman asked me something while in there, I was hesitant to respond. I had to modify my behavior because of this. I would avoid starting a casual conversation with strangers because of my voice, which isn't like me at all. I'm a mega extrovert.
And just to be clear -I- feel more confident about myself, someone else it may make zero difference. It
is nice to never be sired on the phone or at drive thru's etc too. I get where people are coming from about "I am me" about not wanting to change their voice. I guess now my new voice IS me, just like I look different than I used to, I sound different now and I like how I sound MUCH better than my old voice.
Quote from: pretty on October 15, 2012, 01:06:40 AM
I guess you are trying to make a point but passing is important to a lot of people and voice is one component of that (of many... a masculine voice isn't guaranteed to get you clocked but it always will help you in that direction). Maybe this is not really the right section to make your point? :) In the does my voice pass thread it is all about voice and as you said your voice by itself does not pass (not that it would be expected to w/ no changes).
My point is that is
does 'pass'..
Quote from: pretty on October 13, 2012, 02:54:31 AM
Thank you :) I tried again...
http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/love-story-karaoke (http://soundcloud.com/user963959415/love-story-karaoke)
But I still hear a boy :'(
Sorry, Pretty, you don't come even close to a boy voice!
Me, on the other hand ...
Quote from: kelly_aus on October 13, 2012, 05:26:42 PM
Here's me, the rebel who hasn't done anything to change my voice. I'm probably going to get told I sounds like a guy, but as I state in the clip, this voice works for me..
http://soundcloud.com/kelly-stephen/audio-recording-on-sunday-1 (http://soundcloud.com/kelly-stephen/audio-recording-on-sunday-1)
Kelly, I
looooooovvvvvveeeeee your accent! And if it works for you, great!
Confusion.
If you know it passes, why are you asking if it passes?
Alice, I've responded to your pm :)
Pretty, you sound as cute as a button however, Taylor Swift makes me crave acts of misanthropic violence. :P
Nadine, the clip is suuuuper short but from what I heard you sound female to me :) post a longer one maybe?
TessaM, I just watched your YouTube clip on voice. I was wondering if you're not busy later can we please get married?
Quote from: TessaM on October 13, 2012, 07:22:57 AM
Here no singing no nothing! Its 8 in the morning and I thought id play along :p
http://soundcloud.com/mk5golf/audio-recording-on-saturday (http://soundcloud.com/mk5golf/audio-recording-on-saturday)
Your voice is feminine and charming.
And I love your laugh at the end.
I'm not going to lie, I'm super excited after reading the comments about my voice! I guess I didn't realize how short the clip was, so I'll be sure to put a longer one up when I get home. And I think it came across as quiet because I do have a tendency to move my mic upwards toward my forehead for some odd reason when i talk haha.
Quote from: kelly_aus on October 15, 2012, 02:29:15 AM
My point is that is does 'pass'..
It may be possible that people are just being polite to you - it would explain why you don't pass over the phone. Your voice definitely sounds male... which is to be, obviously, expected when you don't put any work into it. If how you expressed yourself in a more feminine way, using pitch to modulate as opposed to volume, it would help... though, your voice would still sound male - perhaps "flamboyant", but it's a step up.
The problem is with how your voice is coming from your chest, full of body and strength. That is the defining feature of a male voice - many females have low voices, but they are still unmistakably female because of where their voice is coming from, and how much 'voice' there is.
So, I would say your voice does not pass. Whether you want it to pass or not is certainly decided by your surroundings, and if you don't feel you need to put any work into it, then chances are you feel that way because you don't have anyone in your life that makes trouble for you for it. You are probably very grateful for that fact. It's very fortunate that the people in your life treat you as a woman despite your history and voice.
So, my best wishes go to you.
Quote from: TessaM on October 15, 2012, 11:58:25 AM
This thread is arguably more important than the other "do i pass" threads. Voice is everything!
Keep in mind though that it is not everything for some here and they may feel a little put off by statements like that.
Please give me some feedback if you have a minute...thank you!
http://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-3 (http://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-3)
Quote from: Jaime on October 15, 2012, 12:06:57 PM
Keep in mind though that it is not everything for some here and they may feel a little put off by statements like that.
The primary purpose of this thread is to provide support and tips to each other however, the secondary purpose is to ask each other the simple question "does my voice pass?" It's not a philosophical discussion on the nature of passing for people who're "full time" and know their voice passes or don't care either way. It's not that those discussions aren't valuable, it's just not what the thread is for. Luckily, making new threads is free, if you want to offer thoughts or pose questions as to wether it matters if your voice "passes" then by all means start a thread about it :) It seems like a discussion that people have varying opinions on and would certainly be an interesting dialouge.
Quote from: Noah on October 15, 2012, 02:37:12 PM
Please give me some feedback if you have a minute...thank you!
http://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-3 (http://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-3)
The pitch and resonance is fine. The problem (what makes it sound male) is the monotone and the inflection is wrong. Women use pitch for inflection, guys use volume. It's a bit too stacatto, a womens voice is more smooth. The sounds from one word blend into the next, more like singing.
An example, a guy would say "Ah ha" in two distinct sounds with a sharp start to the H in the second word, almost with a "catch" to it. A woman would say it more like "AhHa" with the start of H soft and more breathy. This is actually a great short phrase to practice to smooth out your voice and add a little breathyness too it. Obviously a little breathyness goes a long way :)
wow ok, this is all new to me - thank you for that detailed response!
I don't even know what pitch and resonance are, and I even tried googling them! I think pitch is how high or low the voice is? Perhaps resonance is how much vibration or deepness is in my voice?
I can work on the monotone easily. But I am scared of sounding like some weird super girly sing songy type person. The last thing I want is a voice that sounds contrived or super girly.
How do you use pitch for inflection??
I understand turning it from staccato to fluid...that makes sense....
You simply change the pitch (usually up) for emphasis rather than raising the volume. It's why you can't have your top pitch your "speaking" pitch, you need headroom for inflection. And you don't want to super exaggerate sing songy but most women have a fairly sing songy way of speaking. Close your eyes and listen to women speaking on TV. They don't sound contrived and you won't either. Listen to the patterns they use to say specific types of phrases. It's like a song, they use the same notes to say the same type words/phrases depending on the number of syllables. It's best to practice 2-3 word phrases (maybe a list of the same "type" and then string them together into sentences.
And yes pitch if how high or low and resonance is the amount of vibration/overtone to your voice. Our voice is not a single wave of sound but is multiple waves mixed together. It's why early computer generated voices sounded so odd, they were a single wave of sound. Women have less over tone to their voice because it's mostly generated in the head, a guys voice comes from their chest and has a lot of resonance. Pitch isn't the "tell" on gender, the resonance is.
Another thing that is great practice. Find some sound clips of a woman's voice that you like and is around your target pitch. Short 2-3 word phrases are best. listen to the clip, then record your voice and listen back to both. Keep working on your recording until you sound like the clip. It's easy to compare where your inflection is wrong etc listening to back to back clips
Quote from: Noah on October 15, 2012, 02:37:12 PM
Please give me some feedback if you have a minute...thank you!
http://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-3 (http://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-3)
It's a bit low, in my opinion, and there's a little bit of extra resonance in it. If I heard you over the phone, I'd suspect you were trans, but possibly cis female. Monotony is a slight problem, too. I disagree on the inflection point a little bit, because I have met plenty of women who speak like men - their voices are beautiful, and you could never think they were guys, but they talk like guys because that's just who they are.
Once the basic sound of your voice is in line, nothing else matters. Monotony and inflection are excusable if your voice passes... though, it's true that they are not optimal. They add femininity, but the pitch and resonance are, exclusively, what decides how someone genders it.
My suggestion is to sing along with bands who have a really high usual pitch. You stretch your range by reaching beyond it. If you like melodic rock, Within Temptation has a lovely album called Silent Force. Take a listen if you like. :)
I think voice is like many things about being trans, sure females can get away with "talking like a guy" and still sound female just like they could shave their head and still look female. Passing, be it your appearance or your voice, is all about stacking up enough clues to tip the scales one way or the other. The more things we can check off, the less likely they will be to question it and dissect the details. Like you said, their voice is a bit low and a bit of resonance, if the inflection was more in the female range etc, it would tip the scales in the female direction. What first jumps out to me is they way they are talking, not "their voice".
Ad just curious too, why would we want to continue to "talk like men" when that clearly isn't who most of us strive to be? I guess it's the same reason I see so many MTF who stand,walk,sit etc like men? I never understood that either.
That last bit seems like a discussion for another thread, but it certainly is a good one - and I have plenty to say on it.
As far as My voice goes - thanks for all the input. I feel confused now about what to work on. Is my voice TOO low to pass female? What is more important, working on my pitch AND resonance, or just resonance? Or are both acceptable and I need to focus on inflection...or everything. Haha, sorry - it just seems a little subjective after seeing varied opinion. I guess thats the point, its about finding the balance so that even subjectively my voice always passes female? Oh bother..
Quote from: Noah on October 16, 2012, 11:11:35 AM
That last bit seems like a discussion for another thread, but it certainly is a good one - and I have plenty to say on it.
As far as My voice goes - thanks for all the input. I feel confused now about what to work on. Is my voice TOO low to pass female? What is more important, working on my pitch AND resonance, or just resonance? Or are both acceptable and I need to focus on inflection...or everything. Haha, sorry - it just seems a little subjective after seeing varied opinion. I guess thats the point, its about finding the balance so that even subjectively my voice always passes female? Oh bother..
honestly, it would sound better with a higher pitch. And this doesn't even take a lot of work...
Quote from: Noah on October 16, 2012, 11:11:35 AM
As far as My voice goes - thanks for all the input. I feel confused now about what to work on. Is my voice TOO low to pass female?
My honest knee jerk wasn't that the resonance/pitch "was male" but the speech pattern is. That is what jumped out at me. A slightly higher pitch wouldn't hurt if it doesn't end up sounding strained + you need to leave some headroom for your pitch to rise and fall some. So you either would have to work for "perfect" pitch and resonance and stay monotone, or else fine tune the pitch and resonance slightly and adopt a more female speech pattern. The best advice I can give is spend some time listening to like TV news women with your eyes closed and study how their speech flows.
I'm sure a speech therapist could listen to you in real time and help guide you but if you are doing this on your own, you will have to study these patterns for yourself. There is a lot to how consonants are produced in our mouths etc that are different between the genders. It's these details IMHO that gender voice, not so much the pitch. The resonance does have to be reined in, mainly by raising your voice box/adams apple when you speak plus using a "face voice" not a chest voice. You can feel this when it's right, like your face buzzes when you speak instead of your chest.
JJ, I agree. My voice isn't that high in pitch, I put my effort into resonance and using the so called "head voice" someone told me recently I sound like Ladi6 (she's an rnb artist) she has a deep but velvety voice. I took it as a compliment :) if only I could sing like her lol
Noah, if I want to make my voice sound like yours, the tongue is flattened and pressed against the teeth at the back also the lips are widened . This moves the resonance to the top of the throat. This may be your natural position and you may be doing it without knowing. Try speaking with your tongue longer and thinner and at the bottom of your mouth to leave room at the top of the mouth for resonancee
Quote from: sandrauk on October 17, 2012, 05:35:09 AM
Noah, if I want to make my voice sound like yours, the tongue is flattened and pressed against the teeth at the back also the lips are widened . This moves the resonance to the top of the throat. This may be your natural position and you may be doing it without knowing. Try speaking with your tongue longer and thinner and at the bottom of your mouth to leave room at the top of the mouth for resonancee
This was an awesome tip. My voice is already very passable and I'm improving it all the time, but I never realized I was even doing that with my tongue (keeping it lower in the mouth). That'll definitely help me with control to know, thank you.
Alright boys and girls. My turn. Be kind.
http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/janet-susans (http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/janet-susans)
And it is my normal voice.
Ms. OBrien,
Interesting choice for a reading piece! I really had to turn up the volume to hear you. Your voice sounds very androgynous to me. If I had no preconception of it belonging to a trans person, I would have thought it was a slightly older middle-aged woman's voice -- I think this is due in large part to your voice coming off to me as very kind or gentle.
Oh, and for what it's worth, I find your reading skills to be very pleasant!
I am using my web cam microphone.
And now for comparison.
The voice of doom.
http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/audio-recording-on-wednesday (http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/audio-recording-on-wednesday)
Ouch that hurt!
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on October 17, 2012, 06:13:59 PM
I am using my web cam microphone.
And now for comparison.
The voice of doom.
http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/audio-recording-on-wednesday (http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/audio-recording-on-wednesday)
Ouch that hurt!
I enjoyed both recordings. The first recording sounded like my friend Janet - I always like listening to you. You have a pleasant woman's voice. The second recording sounded like my friend Janet if she was trying to sound like her brother Burt. My sisters sound like that when they are trying to sound like a man.
That reminds me, this week I had to talk with my landlord on the phone. He is a very curmudgeonly traditionalist vietnamese patriarch. My wife has always made me deal with him because he is so naturally sexist, he bullies and charies any woman he is talking to, but is respectful and cooperative with men. He doesn't know about my transition. I had a devil of a time trying to stay in some semblance of my "male" voice when I was talking with him.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on October 17, 2012, 05:56:33 PM
Alright boys and girls. My turn. Be kind.
http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/janet-susans (http://soundcloud.com/janet-obrien/janet-susans)
And it is my normal voice.
I think the volume is a bit low, probably when recording, but I love it!
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on October 17, 2012, 06:13:59 PM
And now for comparison.
Impressive, I really like your female voice.
So I have been working on my voice a lot more recently and im hoping its starting to go in the right direction and less falsetto.
Female
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/bfvsf (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/bfvsf)
Male
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/sets/m-f/ (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/sets/m-f/)
Alice, you're getting there :) still a bit too high though I think. Maybe try lowering your pitch by about 3 or 4 notes?
I have lowered my voice. How is this?
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-165-3gp (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-165-3gp)
Quote from: alice10 on October 20, 2012, 06:17:13 PM
I have lowered my voice. How is this?
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-165-3gp (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-165-3gp)
MUCH better than the falsetto voice! Now you need to work at removing some of the resonance but you are on the right track now.
Yay lol. I am having so much trouble finding the right spot with less resonance. I can easily talk with my adams apple pulled up and my pitch all over the place. Gah I feel like I am so close I just can't figure it out lol
Yes very close. Sounds very good.
Try slides, like say ah and go from a middle pitch as high as you can without "cracking" into falsetto. That will give you and idea of how high you can go without the zero resonance/falsetto mickey mouse voice.
Alice, that's awesome :) such a massive improvement :) I heard that as a female voice, possibly a touch too deep but honestly it's fine, my voice is around that same pitch as yours and I get on fine :) keep practicing you're doing great :)
Yay!! Finally getting there. Thank you Isabelle! :)
I ordered some delivery by phone today and got sir'd... :(
Now I'm feeling a little discouraged because I have practice every day for the past 5 months now.
Maybe my hunger gave me a deeper voice ;)
I'm sorry Paige. That has to be frustrating. Stay strong and continue to practice.
So here is an update on what my voice sounds like. Opinions please!
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-168-3gp (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-168-3gp)
You're sounding great, Alice.
Awesome, Thank you Ms. OBrien!
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on October 26, 2012, 01:44:40 PM
You're sounding great, Alice.
That is a huge improvement Alice
Thank you!
Quote from: bev2 on October 26, 2012, 01:49:29 PM
That is a huge improvement Alice
Is there anything specific I need to change about it? For the most is goes from about 170-220.
That range is fine. Mine is around 180 to 200Hz and it works OK. Try yours out in public and you will notice the difference in how people treat you.
You have got it 80% right. Unfortunately the last 20% takes lots and lots and lots of practice, but 80% is good enough for daily use.
Well done.
What is the last 20%?
Quote from: alice10 on October 26, 2012, 03:32:31 PM
What is the last 20%?
The first 80% is the difference between awful and good
The last 20% is the difference between good and perfect.
The average female pitch is 221Hz but where you are is perfectly acceptable. My wife speaks at around 180Hz. The flow, the intonation, the word choice, the female laugh, the female giggle, the female cough. "Brightness" in the upper frequencies - sharp tones, clear annunciation.
None of these are
needed. You have a workable, usable voice now. Practice will improve it, but it never hurts to improve. Listen critically to recordings of you. Ideally record a GG saying a sentence and then you say it and listen to the differences and eliminate them.
Work! Work! Work! Work!
A girl's work is never done..... but you have already come a long way.
I was wondering about the female cough laugh etc. Will that get better over time?
Quote from: alice10 on October 26, 2012, 04:25:13 PM
I was wondering about the female cough laugh etc. Will that get better over time?
It can do. Mine is slowly changing and developing.
Quote from: alice10 on October 26, 2012, 04:25:13 PM
I was wondering about the female cough laugh etc. Will that get better over time?
a simple thing that helps the cough from being clearly a mans is just smile when you cough. The shape of your mouth seems to affect this sound a lot.
Quote from: Stephe on October 26, 2012, 06:25:31 PM
a simple thing that helps the cough from being clearly a mans is just smile when you cough. The shape of your mouth seems to affect this sound a lot.
This ^ is a very good tip for you, Alice, you should try varying your voice by smiling while you talk. I think your voice would be improved by pushing your lips forward and pouting. The sound seems to be coming from the sides of your mouth, almost in your cheeks
You know how I hate this, but I need to try it again. A friend I come out to and that I talk to him through live told that my voice does not really sound like a guy's, and the GD therapist I visited on monday said that she would not be able to gender me correctly on the phone, and that I could do it. I don't exactly believe that , and you know that I have no confidence and my most common phrase is "I can't do it, I'll never be able, it's impossible". This two recordings have the voice I use when I don't feel confident or I am plainly scared. They obviously don't sound as female and I am not trying anything, but it is just my default voice, without trying to force the pitch, intonate or do anything.
Spanish:
http://snd.sc/PylfHn (http://snd.sc/PylfHn)
English:
http://snd.sc/Y7x2fP (http://snd.sc/Y7x2fP)
No text reading or anything, so it does not sound very well, I don't even know what to say. I know, it sucks, and it is even worse than in real life. I'll probably delete them in a few hours.
I have a bad tendency to tighten my throat when talking, and almost not letting air pass. I know I can get to 200 on raw sounds and sing in the 200 range, but I don't know how to transfer that to talking. No matter what I try, I alwayst start on 100, and I can't seem to avoid dropping there with each consonant.
Trying an A-B-C... to assure myself I can reach a certain pitch and start high.
http://snd.sc/PyoWNi (http://snd.sc/PyoWNi)
I'm leaving it on lesson 1-10 for today, half an hour and already quite tired. Although not with quality, what I have clear is that I can reach an acceptable pitch, but I don't know how to put it in normal talking. What I don't get is why my pitch seems to go down so much con the finish of each syllable. It does not seem to happen to other analyzed people. Probably just how my throat is...
Quote from: Apple Seed on October 27, 2012, 12:01:51 PM
English:
http://snd.sc/Y7x2fP (http://snd.sc/Y7x2fP)
I'm leaving it on lesson 1-10 for today, half an hour and already quite tired. Although not with quality, what I have clear is that I can reach an acceptable pitch, but I don't know how to put it in normal talking. What I don't get is why my pitch seems to go down so much con the finish of each syllable. It does not seem to happen to other analyzed people. Probably just how my throat is...
Sorry but no one would mistake that for anything other than a male voice.
Speech in a complex learned behavior. Trying to get a female sounding voice is at least as hard as someone say who is from France and moved to the USA learning to remove ALL of their french accent from their english speech. It takes many months of daily practice to even get decent at this and that is if you can figure out what to do and what you are doing wrong etc.
Quote from: Stephe on October 27, 2012, 02:49:58 PM
Sorry but no one would mistake that for anything other than a male voice.
That's what I was expecting to hear, thanks. I hate when people lie trying to make you feel better. Obviously, I have done less than two hours of practice in like two months.
The good news is that I can pull the larynx up for head resonance without problems. But I won't go very far without voice strenghtening, breathing techniques, etc. It things advance, I'd probably have yo cough up some cash for voice therapy sessions in a future. Also, talking in person with other TS's could help, on the support groups, for example.
Quote from: Apple Seed on October 27, 2012, 02:59:25 PM
That's what I was expecting to hear, thanks. I hate when people lie trying to make you feel better. Obviously, I have done less than two hours of practice in like two months.
The good news is that I can pull the larynx up for head resonance without problems. But I won't go very far without voice strenghtening, breathing techniques, etc. It things advance, I'd probably have yo cough up some cash for voice therapy sessions in a future. Also, talking in person with other TS's could help, on the support groups, for example.
Learning to breath with your diaphragm is the very first step. Women use a lot more air speaking than men do and if you "chest breath", you won't have enough air to do it correctly. And I do try to give honest feedback on voice, unlike photographs, voice recordings do for the most part sound either male or female. I've heard very few voices that you can't tell one way or the other..
Quote from: Stephe on October 27, 2012, 05:20:57 PM
Learning to breath with your diaphragm is the very first step
On july I discovered that a friend happened to be a speech therapist (reconsidering another career after losing client after client), and when i asked her on tips... "Can you do the diaphragmatic respiration? That is basic to avoid accidents with the voice and having more power"
That would have explained why when we got to the party area they could easily shout to make themselves understood, but mine was impossible. I wondered how they could raise their voice so easily without straining it.
Anyways, I a believe I am not going to succeed, I guess it does not matter to keep trying. I don't think I'll attain anything, But I'll try give it a bit of work every day.
http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/2012-10-28-metabarons (http://soundcloud.com/altus-3/2012-10-28-metabarons)
I don't know if my throat is directly damaged. Between the excessive mucosity, and my ears completely pressure blocked today, it feels as if not enough air can pass. I need to keep doing the breathing exercises in the meantime... At least I hope that getting dental braces will help me with pronunciation.
So another update. http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-173-3gp (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-173-3gp)
I think I'm right where I need to talk now. I think I just need to smooth this out. Its hard to stay in this spot constantly. I am going to train a lot and see if it gets better
Yes that is a lot better Good Job, Alice
Alice, you've come a really really long way in a really short time :) so awesome ! I'm really happy for you :)
Yay! Thank you so much all! :)
Thank you! :) I haven't really tried but I can definitely add volume to it.
MUCH better! That would totally pass. And the more you use it, the stronger it gets. At first I couldn't use my female voice for more than 10 minutes or so, now I can talk for hours. Diaphragm breathing helps with volume a lot too.
http://soundcloud.com/user279598735/voice-1 (http://soundcloud.com/user279598735/voice-1)
o_o
so
I think it sounds good. Very passable.
how much work do I need to do on my voice?
http://soundcloud.com/michelle_666/testingthevoice (http://soundcloud.com/michelle_666/testingthevoice)
Sounds like you are using chest resonance, which can make your voice sound more masculine. Many women have a more masculine voice. Try to get your voice to resonate more in the head. Otherwise is sounds good.
Take two.
http://soundcloud.com/michelle_666/untitled2 (http://soundcloud.com/michelle_666/untitled2)
Much better. Do you feel the difference?
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 11, 2012, 11:33:44 AM
Much better. Do you feel the difference?
I do feel a difference. How passable is it?
It is close. A little more inflection, I am thinking.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 11, 2012, 01:11:59 PM
It is close. A little more inflection, I am thinking.
Inflection?
Alteration in pitch or tone of the voice. Think sing song. Rise and fall of the voice. Listen to women speak and you should hear it.
OK. I am still working on my voice so here are two samples. The explanation is in the tracks.
Sample 1 - abnormal http://snd.sc/ZqI0Oa (http://snd.sc/ZqI0Oa)
Sample 2 - normal http://snd.sc/Q6K915 (http://snd.sc/Q6K915)
The first does sound a little forced. The second definitely sounds more natural. And you sound like a Lot of English women I have heard.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 11, 2012, 04:59:20 PM
The first does sound a little forced. The second definitely sounds more natural. And you sound like a Lot of English women I have heard.
Thank you.
Do you think I should work towards raising the pitch more or stick with my current level? Being 50 I do not want a schoolgirl's voice....
You have the same tone and inflection as my BFF, who lives in Cornwall. She is 25+ years post-op and no one has ever questioned her. I would just stay with your current level. At 50, one might expect a lower voice. Just listen to Her Majesty.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 12, 2012, 10:28:16 AM
You have the same tone and inflection as my BFF, who lives in Cornwall. She is 25+ years post-op and no one has ever questioned her. I would just stay with your current level.
Ok, thanks.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 12, 2012, 10:28:16 AMAt 50, one might expect a lower voice. Just listen to Her Majesty.
I refuse to learn 'Received Pronunciation' like HMQ. :D
Quote from: bev2 on November 12, 2012, 10:58:51 AM
Ok, thanks.
I refuse to learn 'Received Pronunciation' like HMQ. :D
LOL. But she does have a deeper voice.
Hi, I've been really working on my voice for about 6 weeks now. I know it's far from perfect but could you tell me what you think?
http://soundcloud.com/janet_1/best-attempt-at-a-female-voice (http://soundcloud.com/janet_1/best-attempt-at-a-female-voice)
OK Janet (Cute name BTW), no fair claiming your sister's voice as your. Actually it sound female. Maybe just need a little more inflection and you are there.
Ok I think I finally have my voice where it needs to be. I can comfortably talk like this
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-001-3gp-1 (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-001-3gp-1)
Sounds very good. One thing I found is that is ones smiles when talking in come across a lot better. You sound tired, Hon.
Awesome. I did get up about 1 1/2 hour ago so maybe it is why. I can't wait for my voice to just naturally come and not have to worry anymore.
It sounds really good. You have a nice ring to your voice.
aw thanks :)
I closed my eye and yes Alice, that sounds female. It will take a while before this becomes natural but it will.
Okay, here's mine.
First, female voice:
http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday (http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday)
And for comparison, where I started:
http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday-1 (http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday-1)
I look forward to any advice and tips you may have for me.
Thanks for listening!
Paige
Sounds like you have a little chest reverb, but otherwise it sounds good.
Quote from: PaigeM on November 18, 2012, 04:19:44 PM
Okay, here's mine.
First, female voice:
http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday (http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday)
And for comparison, where I started:
http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday-1 (http://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/audio-recording-on-sunday-1)
I look forward to any advice and tips you may have for me.
Thanks for listening!
Paige
It's not bad but as you said it still needs some work. It's too sharp edged still. It's still got the staccato sound to it. Needs to be softened/more breathy. especially consonants like the P sound. Try to make the P float out of your mouth like a bubble :) Another tough one is saying "ah ha" with the start of the "ha" soft/breathy. I bet I said that phrase a thousand times. Also sounds too chesty and not head voice still. Swallow, feel the adams apple up high and then say a few words holding it there. you should feel a "buzz" in your head when you do. The range is good and sounds natural. Not falsetto sounding at all.
That said, it wouldn't shock me to hear that voice if I saw you in person (and wouldn't make me question your gender) but I might think high pitched guy on the phone.
I think Paige's voice passes, especially if I was looking at her while she was speaking. Even slight variations in the tone can be overcome with speech patterns. Many ftms with deep voices that still have feminine speech patterns can give themselves away if it's coupled with a non-passing/andro appearance.
OK - no reason for posting this....
http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/yet-another-sample/s-navNN (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/yet-another-sample/s-navNN)
Quote from: bev2 on November 19, 2012, 04:10:13 PM
OK - no reason for posting this....
http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/yet-another-sample/s-navNN (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/yet-another-sample/s-navNN)
This is sounding pretty good! It's a touch "staccato" still, work of softer "edges" to each syllable. More breathy to smooth them out? Clearly you don't want too much breathyness, a little goes a long way.
Quote from: Janet_UK on November 16, 2012, 06:34:25 AM
Hi, I've been really working on my voice for about 6 weeks now. I know it's far from perfect but could you tell me what you think?
http://soundcloud.com/janet_1/best-attempt-at-a-female-voice (http://soundcloud.com/janet_1/best-attempt-at-a-female-voice)
I think you sound great!
Quote from: alice10 on November 16, 2012, 12:13:23 PM
Ok I think I finally have my voice where it needs to be. I can comfortably talk like this
http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-001-3gp-1 (http://soundcloud.com/user569717311/voice-001-3gp-1)
You sound great too!
Thanks for the feedback and tips! I appreciate the honesty. I have been told it sounds okay face-to-face, but the phone and drive-thru speakers are my nemeses ;D
Quote from: PaigeM on November 20, 2012, 06:04:27 PM
Thanks for the feedback and tips! I appreciate the honesty. I have been told it sounds okay face-to-face, but the phone and drive-thru speakers are my nemeses ;D
You know you got it when you get ma'amed at the drive thru and on the phone.
I could use some help! I'm very early on in my voice training. I've been following the advice from Kathe Perez's CDs, as well as the hodgepodge of tips I've picked up online (head voice, mixed breathiness, raising the larynx, smiling a little, standing on one leg...) This has taken me to a point where I think I've made progress, but the male voice is still somehow coming through, and I'm not sure how to banish it.
warning: Australian accent ahead!
http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/harvard-sentences (http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/harvard-sentences)
I've said these sentences so many times now, I think I can recite them by heart...
Quote from: Stranger on November 25, 2012, 03:00:25 PM
I could use some help! I'm very early on in my voice training. I've been following the advice from Kathe Perez's CDs, as well as the hodgepodge of tips I've picked up online (head voice, mixed breathiness, raising the larynx, smiling a little, standing on one leg...) This has taken me to a point where I think I've made progress, but the male voice is still somehow coming through, and I'm not sure how to banish it.
warning: Australian accent ahead!
http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/harvard-sentences (http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/harvard-sentences)
I've said these sentences so many times now, I think I can recite them by heart...
That's not bad, it does sound a bit too high a pitch/strained. Also a few times you would dip into the male range, which is hard not to do. Maybe try a slightly lower pitch?
I just came across this thread which is very loaded for me. I had been a radio performer years ago before transistioning, and bowed out rather than try to move forward. Well, to heck with that ! I am going to work it up and post some un-altered auditions. I would REALLY like to go back to voice over work again... but I am admitting here I am scared. I'll try to post soon...
Wish me luck...
Lexi-
Quote from: Stephe on November 25, 2012, 07:09:28 PM
That's not bad, it does sound a bit too high a pitch/strained. Also a few times you would dip into the male range, which is hard not to do. Maybe try a slightly lower pitch?
Thanks so much for giving feedback. I did another recording, attempting to lower the pitch to more consistently be around A3. I didn't get much improvement yet: I can still hear the strain and the wavering range, I have trouble controlling the breathiness, and some of the sentences came out just plain bad. But I can't imagine the appropriate muscles have been strengthened much after one week of practice, so I'll just keep at it!
http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/round-two (http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/round-two)
and to Lexi - good luck!
More Harvard Sentences. :)
I've been working on adding more breathiness to my voice to try and soften it. Am I on the right track?
http://snd.sc/QH5gr3 (http://snd.sc/QH5gr3)
Stephe, I would love to hear a sample of your voice. Is there one already here that I have missed?
Thanks,
Paige
Both you ladies sound very good.
A variation on a theme. Here are three recordings of list 1 (The Birch canoe... etc). The first recording is at 200Hz to 220Hz, the second at 180Hz to 200Hz and the last at 160Hz to 180Hz.
Now, we are often saying here that pitch is less important than resonance and intonation so which of these three 'passes' best?
200-220Hz http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/list1-200hz-to-220hz/s-qR7Hg (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/list1-200hz-to-220hz/s-qR7Hg)
180-200Hz http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/list1-180hz-to-200hz/s-UBANI (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/list1-180hz-to-200hz/s-UBANI)
160-180Hz http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/list1-160hz-to-180hz/s-brlza (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/list1-160hz-to-180hz/s-brlza)
They all sound female to me. The lowest just sounds like you are tired.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 26, 2012, 05:36:17 PM
They all sound female to me. The lowest just sounds like you are tired.
It was very difficult to get my voice that low without male resonance creeping back. I should do a male one, just for laughs!
Hey. Voice has always been one of those things which has made me feel locked into the wrong gender role. But I've read a ton of the threads here today, and it's actually pretty encouraging. It seems like it will take a lot of work, and that I'll have to focus on aspects of my voice that I've never even thought of before (like resonance), but it seems very doable to get marked improvement, given the stories the experienced ladies here tell.
If anyone cares to indulge me, I threw up a soundcloud page with some recordings. This is the day-to-day voice I use most of the time right now.
Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings, as I already know that my voice won't pass as female. I never really intended this voice to be female, and I've done zero work on this so far, so I know what to expect. I'm actually hoping for honest suggestions from some of the people who are good at breaking down why a voice isn't passing. What do you think is my biggest problem, that I should focus on primarily? Pitch? Breathing? Resonance?
http://soundcloud.com/kupcakevoice (http://soundcloud.com/kupcakevoice)
Thank you!
Actually you do sound female, at least to me. Even though you sound like you are ether tired or giving over something, which you are.
That's good. I think.
I'm not sure whether that's comforting or confusing. I feel like I was born halfway sometimes. I kinda feel like I live that way too. Half the clothes I wear are girl's clothes (mostly gender neutral types of clothes, though), largely because they fit me better (tops particularly). The pants would fit me better, too, but I'm 5'8" and a lot of my height is in my legs, so length is an issue. Honestly, nobody seems to notice or care, and as a student, I deal with a lot of people at pretty close range. I have a fair amount of range in my voice, too. Sometimes I switch my voice depending on who I'm talking to, and I only realize it after I start to speak.
Quote from: Jamison on November 19, 2012, 07:10:18 AM
I think Paige's voice passes, especially if I was looking at her while she was speaking. Even slight variations in the tone can be overcome with speech patterns. Many ftms with deep voices that still have feminine speech patterns can give themselves away if it's coupled with a non-passing/andro appearance.
Oh my, I so needed to read that tonight. I'd hug you if I could Jamison.
I recently ordered Kathe Perez's mp3s because I am so discouraged with how I hear my voice.
I still use it during the day but I have no idea how it is received.
Quote from: PaigeMtl on November 29, 2012, 06:26:16 PM
I still use it during the day but I have no idea how it is received.
How do people treat you? I spent 4 hours clothes shopping last night. I talked to lots of sales assistants and spent a lot of time in ladies' changing rooms. I always make a point of talking to the lady in charge of the changing room, even if it is just to tell her how many articles of clothing I am taking in and I have
never been addressed as male or been told to use a different changing room. On that basis my voice must work well enough.
If you have a general experience like that then your voice must work well enough too. Having said all that, I am still working more improvements for mine.
before tonight, I really have put zero work into voice, as I just haven't had much privacy lately. I hear my voice on a daily basis on the radio, so it's a little bit of a dysphoria smack in the face.. It's gotta go!!
http://soundcloud.com/galenluv/first-try-voice (http://soundcloud.com/galenluv/first-try-voice)
http://soundcloud.com/galenluv/audio-recording-on-friday (http://soundcloud.com/galenluv/audio-recording-on-friday)
Heather, the first one is better than the original, but while it is better I think you are still talking in your chest. Sorry Love but it still sounds male.
Your original voice sounds like mine, very deep. But it can change. I should know because mine did.
BTW, can yous say "I am your Father, Luke" (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-9.gif&hash=42bd2ee88d4ddc91007b3b25799f543e9ee358f1)
Quote from: bev2 on November 30, 2012, 02:13:59 AM
How do people treat you?
I thought about this and here is my conclusion:
I am a kind, confident and attractive person even though I am not 'passable' so people tend to feel good around me. It is possible that when I speak with my feminine voice my confidence takes a few steps back and this is heard through my voice.
It will crack, quiver and not project as much. People who don't know me don't really don't share their opinion but those who do can't help but compare to what it used to be (so their opinion is biased and untrust worthy but still important to me, ah the dilemma).
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 30, 2012, 11:28:37 AM
Heather, the first one is better than the original, but while it is better I think you are still talking in your chest. Sorry Love but it still sounds male.
Your original voice sounds like mine, very deep. But it can change. I should know because mine did.
BTW, can yous say "I am your Father, Luke" (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-9.gif&hash=42bd2ee88d4ddc91007b3b25799f543e9ee358f1)
LOL! Thanks hahaha. I can, in fact, say that.. But I don't sound like James Earl Jones hah.
Yeah, I just made a baseline to work from. I literally hadn't invested even 20 seconds into practicing before recording. I'm sure I'll make progress, but it's scary because the voice I hear, and the voice everyone else hears is so different in so many ways.
Again, I hear myself on the radio pretty much daily, so it's a constant reminder
Quote from: Stranger on November 26, 2012, 09:07:46 AM
Thanks so much for giving feedback. I did another recording, attempting to lower the pitch to more consistently be around A3. I didn't get much improvement yet: I can still hear the strain and the wavering range, I have trouble controlling the breathiness, and some of the sentences came out just plain bad. But I can't imagine the appropriate muscles have been strengthened much after one week of practice, so I'll just keep at it!
http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/round-two (http://soundcloud.com/user90683091/round-two)
and to Lexi - good luck!
That's MUCH better IMHO!
Quote from: Kupcake on November 27, 2012, 04:14:17 AM
Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings, as I already know that my voice won't pass as female.
http://soundcloud.com/kupcakevoice (http://soundcloud.com/kupcakevoice)
Thank you!
That's really pretty good, maybe work on the resonance a bit but it's not far from "passable" at all IMHO.
OK - working on the nose resonance and lifting the base pitch 20Hz to 200Hz. I can feel the vibration in the nose much better now, especially if I put my finger on my nose when talking.
http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/improving-nose-resonance-and/s-rF8we (http://soundcloud.com/brc2012/improving-nose-resonance-and/s-rF8we)
When does this process of improvement ever stop?
There you go, Mum. And I always figure it is a neverending session. I do the head vibration, because if I do the nose I sneeze violently.
This place needs a 'like' button
Today I was talking with my wife and complained about how bad my voice sounds now after a week of a bad chest cold and cough. "...and this IS my girl voice" I said. "Really?" "Yes. Here, let me do my guy voice so you can hear the difference." When I started talking with my old normal guy voice, it sounded like Edward James Olmos, to a T. I quoted a few things from the old Miami Vice. Our german shorthair dog was on the bed, and started to whimper and get afraid until I changed back to my girl voice and she was sure the scary guy voice wasn't coming back. We both laughed, and Sonya (the dog) kept staring at me as if to say "who in the **** was that and what did he do with Maddie there for a second?"
Thanks Maddie. Thanks a lot.
Now I'm imagining you and Ms. OBrien driving down the streets of Miami in a convertible, while In the Air Tonight plays, with Ms. OBrien loading shells into her double-barreled shotgun.
And bizarre mental images are like catchy songs. They're impossible to get out of your head once planted. :P
A funny thing happened to me the other night. I met a friend of a friend for the first time. Her and I were chatting over a drink and she mentioned she was gay and into helping out at some local lgbt thing, I said " oh that's great, I'm actually a trans person and blah blah" She didn't believe me so I said ....(in my old voice) "do you believe me when I talk like this?" Meaning for it to be a humorous shock but nope.... She said "I don't get it, you just sound like a girl trying to sound like a man... Do you want to become a man?"
All of the samples i find here, people speak a whole lot better than I do. If you feel like being suffocated feeling
my strain, don't kill me :P . Any way give me an honest feedback, and tips to improve.
https://soundcloud.com/anita-sv/do-i-pass
Anita, you sound a lot like other Indian women I have heard.
Is anyone still here? ;)
I've been working very diligently on my voice since my last post here. I'm really trying to get rid of the last traces of chest resonance, with varying degrees of success. I'm pleased with how it sounds today, so I thought I would upload a sample for critique: https://soundcloud.com/paige-mcneal/voice-sample-2012-12-16-001
Thanks for listening,
Paige
Much much better. Paige. I would not ever tag you as anything but female.
Thanks, Janet! :D
I actually got "ma'amed" at the drive thru the other day, so I guess there is hope!
Paige
Yep, that sounds great :) And doesn't sound strained at all.
Thank you!
paige! amazing....may I ask how you have succeeded in removing the chest resonance? it makes ALL the difference, and I can'tseem to master it...I need guidance...x
Noah, I don't know about the technique others use to remove chest resonance but one thing I find helpful is tilting my head back, so I'm looking at the ceiling, then swallow, you'll notice your voice box get very tight in this position. This is how you need to hold your voice box, it limits the vibrations to the upper throat area as opposed to the chest. Next you just need to raise your pitch. Not by much, just a little combined with a tightened voice box seems to do the trick. In the last few months I've been doing a lot if speaking in front of groups of people, without a microphone. This has been a really awesome "sink or swim" type training situation. I'm not saying "my" way is the right way but, it seems to work without any trouble at all.
Noah, I watched a series of videos with Andrea James on YouTube. Mind you, I did not find her "Finding Your Feminine Voice" DVD helpful at all for me, but these videos of a consultation with a client gave me some great tips that are helping me to refine my technique. The biggest help for me was getting more breath into the voice.
The first video is here: Finding Your Female Voice Consultation Pt 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbTtASux7ys&list=FLDfnA7Q1dUsExUvcV7wfodg#)
Hope that helps!
Paige
Hi. I've been trying to do this for at least 2 hours over the past 3 days and I still seem to sound terrible. In one, I take all the bass out of my voice and elevate my pitch beyond the female threshold. I thought that was all it took to sound female but it still sounds bad, like a man trying to sound like a female. The other one is more relaxed, but I have more bass in my voice there so it is probably farther from being female. Please help!!! Any advice or criticism??
no bass:
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/catherine-no-bass
some bass:
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/somebasscatherine
RiverSong. Interesting name. Happen to be a Doctor Who fan?
OK first one is definitely falsetto. Trying too hard.
Second one is more chest vibration. More male.
You need to find a balance between the two.
Kathe Perez (http://www.youtube.com/user/tgvoice) has helped many TG women.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on December 19, 2012, 07:15:46 AM
RiverSong. Interesting name. Happen to be a Doctor Who fan?
Yea, it's a Doctor Who reference. River is one of my favorite characters.
Hi all.
Created a quick recording of myself for comments and criticism. Still early days for me, so feel free to be hard on me.
https://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice1 (https://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice1)
Quote from: sam79 on December 19, 2012, 08:14:30 PM
Hi all.
Created a quick recording of myself for comments and criticism. Still early days for me, so feel free to be hard on me.
https://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice1 (https://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice1)
Still sounds like it's originating from your chest.
You should feel the the same "buzz" in your head as when you hum. You have to feel in in your face or it's gonna sound like a male. One good practice is to say (humm the N&M) NIM-NIM ONE, NIM_NIM TWO etc. this get's the sound being created in your head and just slide into the work. Just stay monotone. Doing this helped me a lot. Also the swallow, feel your adams apple up night and then say a couple of works. I started with very short phrases, repeating them over and over.
Quote from: Stephe on December 19, 2012, 09:04:26 PM
Still sounds like it's originating from your chest.
You should feel the the same "buzz" in your head as when you hum. You have to feel in in your face or it's gonna sound like a male. One good practice is to say (humm the N&M) NIM-NIM ONE, NIM_NIM TWO etc. this get's the sound being created in your head and just slide into the work. Just stay monotone. Doing this helped me a lot. Also the swallow, feel your adams apple up night and then say a couple of works. I started with very short phrases, repeating them over and over.
It's strange. I do know what you mean about sounding chesty... I do hear a male when playing back the recording. What's strange is that my AA is fully up ( as when swallowing ), and my nose if buzzing along while I talk.
I'll play around with it some more...
Okay so...thank You Paige and Isabelle for the great guidance with resonance...I feel like I am making progress but not sure...definitely a HUGE difference to my last file I uploaded....let me know
https://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-4
Noah your website is very well put together btw, just wanted to say I liked it. Oh and wow and your voice sounds chipper and very female.
Hey Anita!
I'm glad I'm not the only Indian here (mom is Indian, father is Parsi). If you can count me as one, that is . . . Have you ever heard the term ABCD? That's me!
I think you're doing pretty good. You actually sound like a lot of my Aunties. I wouldn't really be able to tell the difference.
A lot of Indian women speak with a slightly different voice, and I think you're pretty close to matching. They also tend to have a different overall tone. I can't really describe it. I guess the easiest way to explain it is that a lot of American women tend to use a more "girly" voice throughout their whole lives. Most Indian women, on the other hand, have a much more full-bodied, womanly voice. It's not less feminine, just a little more mature-sounding. People have this strange idea that voices are all completely natural and purely the product of biology. Culture contributes so much to it, though.
The only comment I would make is that I can detect a little bit of your strain on a few syllables here and there, but that's mainly because you told us to listen for it. Honestly, things like pitch and resonance are very important. But in my opinion, the most important thing? Making the voice sound natural and unforced, and you only get that through patience and diligence. I think whatever you're doing has you on the right track. Just keep practicing.
WOW! Noah, you like a woman I know, Lucille Sorella. You should not have any problems.
Thank you both! And Shawn, I appreciate that you checked out my site...its very important to me! I appreciate the feedback. It feels great to hear that my voice has made true progress! :)
Quote from: Noah on December 20, 2012, 11:06:45 AM
Thank you both! And Shawn, I appreciate that you checked out my site...its very important to me! I appreciate the feedback. It feels great to hear that my voice has made true progress! :)
Yep, it sounds great! :)
Quote from: Isabelle on December 17, 2012, 02:10:23 AM
Noah, I don't know about the technique others use to remove chest resonance but one thing I find helpful is tilting my head back, so I'm looking at the ceiling, then swallow, you'll notice your voice box get very tight in this position. This is how you need to hold your voice box, it limits the vibrations to the upper throat area as opposed to the chest. Next you just need to raise your pitch. Not by much, just a little combined with a tightened voice box seems to do the trick. In the last few months I've been doing a lot if speaking in front of groups of people, without a microphone. This has been a really awesome "sink or swim" type training situation. I'm not saying "my" way is the right way but, it seems to work without any trouble at all.
I have a question about the voice box (I guess you'd call it a mechanical question!)
When I
raise my voice box, my pitch goes up. Because my male speaking voice was already fairly high (around 150hz), it only takes a little "up" to get to 220hz, and past that I sound a little forced and silly.
When I
tighten my voice box, the strain and concentration seem to make it harder to control my pitch, and I'm not sure if I'm actually improving my resonance as a result. Here's a sample of me reading the first line of the nearest book (One Hundred Years of Solitude) three times. The first time, I tried constantly to keep it tight; the second time, I relaxed the tightness; the third time, I deliberately slackened those muscles while I spoke at pitch.
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/solitude
Personally, I think the first one sounds too high-pitched, but I still want to improve on the resonance of the other attempts...
So I guess my question is: how do we manage the precarious relationship between pitch, resonance, and the position of the voice box? Is it possible I'm just moving it in the "wrong" way? basically I just try to hold it at the height of a swallowing arc (allowing enough space to breathe!).
If anyone can help out, I will be giddy and delighted :)
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/solitude
Quote from: Noah on December 20, 2012, 12:16:05 AM
Okay so...thank You Paige and Isabelle for the great guidance with resonance...I feel like I am making progress but not sure...definitely a HUGE difference to my last file I uploaded....let me know
https://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-4
Noah, I listened to your newest recording and then your older ones again, and I think your progress is amazing! Keep it up!
Paige
Quote from: Stranger on December 21, 2012, 11:03:34 PM
Personally, I think the first one sounds too high-pitched, but I still want to improve on the resonance of the other attempts...
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/solitude
The first does sound strained, the second is closer to my ears. Not far off with practice.
Thanks Stephe. I guess I'm still hoping to stumble across a technique that brings about that "ah-ha" moment, the one that makes the difference between "possibly a girl with an odd voice" and "yep, that's a girl" :)
I've read so much about raising the voicebox for resonance, but when I consciously move mine all I really seem to do is raise the pitch. When I speak so that I really feel the vibrations in my forehead, my pitch then becomes far too high; when I go back down to the right pitch, I feel it mostly in my throat... tricky!
I do probably need to stop comparing my voice to that of my cis GF. I record us alongside, note that our pitch is close (actually hers slightly lower) but her voice sounds so much more compact, and come away convinced I'm nowhere near.
It takes a lot of practice and may be difficult to understand, but try speaking from the back of your throat above your vocal cords. It really takes a lot of talking to do that effortlessly. Once you do, you can mix that with tightening your vocal cords, speaking towards the front of your face, and making your throat smaller (moving your voice box up a bit higher).
There's so much to it. You just have to learn each one at a time until you're awesome at it and then learn to mix them all together. Just use your voice as much as you can and play around with it a lot!
Just don't hurt yourself, or the damage will build up and lower the quality of your voice.
Quote from: Stranger on December 22, 2012, 05:08:16 PM
Thanks Stephe. I guess I'm still hoping to stumble across a technique that brings about that "ah-ha" moment, the one that makes the difference between "possibly a girl with an odd voice" and "yep, that's a girl" :)
Breathing is critical, you have to breath from your diaphram. Most guys chest breath. It changes how much air volume you have to work with. Women use more air to talk with, they speak longer between breaths and it just "flows". Guys speak very stacatto. Short and choppy. To the point. Women are usually more wordy to say the same thing. It's so much more than just pitch. I still close my eyes and listen to the TV news to women and men and try to pick of what is different.
Thanks Sybil, I'll play around with the location of my voice in my head, see how I go!
Those are good tips, Stephe, thank you. I do generally breathe from the diaphragm, but I find myself running short of breath anyway, as I'm trying so hard to juggle everything that I forget to inhale again! I'll be sure to focus on taking deeper, regular breaths. As for the pattern of male speech, that is very true: my brother and father both speak in the monotone manner you describe, and it's very striking when you stop and listen to it. Fortunately, I never quite fell into as badly, probably from growing up with exclusively female friends (and reading too much campy Victorian literature as a child...)
Now, off to talk to myself!
edit: I thought it might be more helpful if I attached a clip of myself just talking, as opposed to reading from something. I noticed that my style of delivery is quite different when I'm reading from a script:
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/ramble
Quote from: Stranger on December 23, 2012, 05:10:25 AM
edit: I thought it might be more helpful if I attached a clip of myself just talking, as opposed to reading from something. I noticed that my style of delivery is quite different when I'm reading from a script:
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/ramble
I cannot find that clip.
Also, feel free to wave your hands around when talking and loosen up your face muscles too. Women also express themselves very physically with visible emotion and gestures and it is surprising just how much of that creeps into your voice.
Stranger, I think you've got your pitch waaaaay to high. It's making you sound quite falsetto. The goal isn't to speak in a high pitch, the goal is to limit your resonance and raise your pitch just enough. Most women's voices aren't all that higher than men's in pitch. It's the difference between chest and head voice that gets a voice gendered one way or the other.
Not sure why the clip didn't work, bev2, sorry about that. Agreed about the motions! I should certainly move my face more (my hands are all over the place - I've some experience university lecturing and tutoring, where it's nearly impossible to avoid picking up the habit!)
Isabelle, you're right about the pitch... I get uncomfortably aware myself of my voice rising too high as I go to talk. I just have so much trouble raising my voice box (for better resonance) without pushing the pitch way up. Is this a little better?
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/pitch
Quote from: Stephe on December 23, 2012, 01:00:13 AM
Breathing is critical, you have to breath from your diaphram. Most guys chest breath. It changes how much air volume you have to work with. Women use more air to talk with, they speak longer between breaths and it just "flows". Guys speak very stacatto. Short and choppy. To the point. Women are usually more wordy to say the same thing. It's so much more than just pitch. I still close my eyes and listen to the TV news to women and men and try to pick of what is different.
What Stephe says here really is very important and way too often overlooked. It took me a long time to realize how important it was myself because I'm naturally a stomach breather and was never a chest breather. Trying to teach my friends, however, made me realize how much they were struggling.
My realization of it and taking control of it was also the key to very genuine yelling and laughter. Listen to Stephe!
Oh, and it is a very difficult thing to manipulate subconsciously (for yelling and laughter), so please try not to become discouraged if it takes a while to get it. Our voices are all about dedication, but it's magical when you finally get there and feels worth every frustrating, embarrassing moment.
Stranger,
The clip you have titled "Ramble" sounds the best to me. I think what you need to work the most on is your resonance. Try keeping your voice towards the back of your throat (up high) and making your voice travel across the top of your mouth towards your nose. Please note that I said towards your nose, not into it! Talking into your nose creates a bad habit of sounding nasally. I initially fell into this trap because it was the first time my voice became passable, but eventually learned how to work around it.
It would also be helpful to try and pull the front of your throat in a little (this is part of raising your voice box; there's a back end part too, but the front is a bit more significant I find). Generating almost the entirety of your voice from your vocal cord area (as high as you can get it in the general area, not the pitch) helps a lot with resonance, the rest of it is where you point the sounds in your face.
I find it helps if you speak with the tip if your tongue closer to your front teeth, but that could just be my personal mouth shape. I feel like I'm overwhelming with information at this point -- in any case, I hope it was helpful!
I think the "Ramble" clip sounds most female.
Sybil has several good tips.
Here's a sample of what I sound like for anyone who's curious: https://soundcloud.com/sound-sybil/introductoryvoice
Wow! You sound really feminine. Great job on your voice!
Paige
Great voice. Not even a hint of your past.
Thanks! I'm really happy with where it's at. I finally started to be able to laugh and yell and do caricatures about a month and a half ago, so I've been really excited.
Sybil, you sound lovely, and your wisdom is very very appreciated.
Unfortunately, my attempts today have been pretty hopeless! Gosh I'm finding it hard to project upwards into my head, for resonance, without increasing my pitch as well. Perhaps if I break down what I'm doing, it'll help you ladies pinpoint what I'm doing wrong? (if you're not sick of me already!)
I've recorded myself doing three versions of that stupid birch canoe:
1. in my regular male voice
2. shifting it up to the correct pitch (A3) but not trying to change the resonance
3. trying to project further up and back in my head, and then push forwards as I speak.
The results:
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/three
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/32176511/three.png)
As you can see+hear, step 3 also causes my pitch to go up too far, but the resonance in 2 is all wrong. Sorry if my inability to get it is frustrating (I know it is for me!), and I know the answer is probably just practice, but it's tough! I don't have anyone to give me feedback because my GF is away with family, so I really appreciate the help I'm getting here :)
EDIT: Is this more like the kind of resonance I should be trying to get, or is it on the wrong track? I've completely lost touch with what's right or wrong :/
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/anothercanoe
I wanted to post again in order to offer some words of encouragement and a link:
I started working on my voice in late August. It's taken me until early December to develop the voice from the clip I posted above. I'm very good with it, but some days I have great voice days and other days I have decent days (that clip I'd say is somewhere between decent and great for me, leaning towards decent). And even though I'm always very passable with my voice, I'm still working at it and trying to get it exactly where I want it to be. It takes time, and I had to learn to become very comfortable with that fact before my progress really started to climb.
A lot of developing your voice is about forming the habit and being very familiar with how sound feels in your mouth. I know that must simply sound like I'm saying to practice, but to me, it feels like there's a greater element than that -- than just practice; it's something about developing intimacy with how you speak. The best analogy I can think of is how each musician plays his or her instrument in their own way, regardless of their level of expertise. They spend hours looking for the methods to play the sounds and tones that they like and that feels right to them, not just to play well, but to express themselves in their own eloquence.
Here's a link that a friend showed me yesterday. It's from a girl who's offering some tips on learning your voice. I really love her video because when I started out, I used many of the same ideas that she's talking about there. I think it's wonderful advice for beginners, and aside from just seeming like a very pleasant person, I feel she does a great job explaining all of it: Transgender Voice Lesson 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IJSo_uApts#)
I wish you all continued luck in your endeavors!
Thank you again Sybil. I'll watch the video later today!
I especially appreciate the encouragement. I hope I wasn't irritating anyone with my persistent pursuit of feedback: I'm just anxious because I'm on the RLE, prior to being permitted hormone treatment. Even though my voice wasn't ready, I didn't want to miss the chance for HRT (I'm 28, not too old, but certainly not at the point where I want to miss opportunities). Because I live in a conservative Bible belt part of my country, I spend a lot of my time very, very quiet. It's hard for me, being a naturally chatty person, and more than a little scary. :) Thanks again.
Quote from: Stranger on December 25, 2012, 04:45:03 PM
It's hard for me, being a naturally chatty person,
I am too. It was REAL hard for me to be quiet :P
You're welcome, Stranger, and it's okay -- I don't think you're irritating anyone. This thread is here for support and feedback. I think you should post as many times as you need to. People who care post here, and every voice posted has the opportunity to help someone else.
Sybil is right, post as much and and often as you like :) I started this thread cause I absolutely hated voice training and was scared to even try. Posting and getting feedback is great cause we all go through this process so we can all help each other out. And the best part is, it's free :)
Thank you all so much! You've made me feel better about what was a very silent Christmas :P
I think watching that last video caused me to "get it" a little better, and I'm quite happy about today's exercises. I'll practice for a few weeks, then post how I'm doing and see what you all think :)
Thanks for those finding your female voice links earlier in this topic!
Speaking in A note makes a massive difference, even just 20hz below sounds way worse when I listen back to recordings :O
Maybe one day soon I will have some progress to post here.
Hi everyone, I'm new here. This is a very useful thread. Please let me know if you think this voice is workable. I know its kinda rough around the edges...
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/audio-recording-on-saturday
At first blush it sounds androgynous to me. Like you are trying to sound female. You might want to try to be a little more sing-song.
Quote from: katiew88 on January 05, 2013, 11:35:13 AM
Hi everyone, I'm new here. This is a very useful thread. Please let me know if you think this voice is workable. I know its kinda rough around the edges...
That is not at all bad. There is a touch of chest resonance in there, but it is a good start.
Katie, you sound at the very least androgynous to me. If you look feminine as well, I like to think you'll be fine :)
I said a few weeks ago I'd post my progress. Unfortunately, I haven't really improved, as you can hear from another round of Harvard Sentences (so sick of them!)
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/harvard-again
Not deterred, though, I'll keep at it!
Quote from: Stranger on January 06, 2013, 07:23:31 PM
Unfortunately, I haven't really improved, as you can hear from another round of Harvard Sentences (so sick of them!)
Maybe have a brief read of this...
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,133260.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,133260.0.html)
Thanks bev, that's fascinating. I read somewhere too about something similar involving the 'd' sound - it being more of a 't' in the female speaker, or something like that. I've been trying to keep my tongue up there as best I can, but as I'm simultaneously trying to push it around to get that resonance, right now I mostly just end up tongue-tied! :P
On the bright side, even though my "female" voice still sounds male, I've had no problems out in public so far. I'm sure I'm regularly identified as transgender, yet I've been overwhelmingly treated as a woman, which is a great relief and encourages me to chatter away regardless!
Quote from: Stranger on January 07, 2013, 03:35:04 AM
Thanks bev, that's fascinating. I read somewhere too about something similar involving the 'd' sound - it being more of a 't' in the female speaker,
Yes - I would agree with that. They are pronounced very clearly by females unlike the mumble males use for them.
Quote from: Stranger on January 07, 2013, 03:35:04 AMI've been trying to keep my tongue up there as best I can, but as I'm simultaneously trying to push it around to get that resonance, right now I mostly just end up tongue-tied! :P
:) Practice, practice....
Quote from: Stranger on January 07, 2013, 03:35:04 AM
On the bright side, even though my "female" voice still sounds male, I've had no problems out in public so far. I'm sure I'm regularly identified as transgender, yet I've been overwhelmingly treated as a woman, which is a great relief and encourages me to chatter away regardless!
I came to the conclusion some time ago, that as long as you sound remotely female then that is enough to trigger most people into treating you as female. Voice is an amazingly strong trigger.
Keep it up, keep listening to yourself and eventually it will come right. I love having the confidence to be able to open my mouth without having everyone in earshot looking round to see why there is a bloke's voice coming out of a woman's mouth. That really spooks people.
2012 12 30 21 56 34 289 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8r0qUGnyocA#)
I think this video is better than just my voice.
Stephe!! Thank you so much for your feedback last time. Very much appreciated.
I've spent some time figuring out what I was doing wrong, and have had some coaching. I'm still in *early early* days, but am apparently on the right track. This is what I sound like now ( with a mostly stuffed nose ).
https://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice2
Hi, back again since last time I posted here I have practiced every day with my computer, my spectrogram and myself.
So I have been using the videos posted earlier, that consult from the finding your female voice woman. I have to say she is real great. Since I have practiced on and off with other techniques before and gotten nowhere.
Anyway:
Harvard sentences group 1:
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/5daysorso/s-LLsnx
(It is private but with that link it should work, please let me know if it does not.)
I am finding it hard to relax and sound a bit overly "received pronunciation" though being in the UK it could be worse! I normally try to sound more common since, most people round "ere" don't like you to be too posh ;)
Anyway I would really appreciate some feedback.
--
Maybe approaching good enough to go around in public dressed up and not stress about speaking? This having to speak to people business is what stresses me the most since I know I can look decent.
Thanks!
Hi! I am still working on my voice...thank you for all your previous feedback, and your advice...it is you guys who have given me the tools to really find my voice...in this clip I give two female voices that I can't decide between...and my male voice for comparison...x
https://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-5
Im no pro but the first one sounds better to me.
Noah, The first one sounds much better and much more natural. Good work!
Paige
Noah, I don't hear anything wrong with your daily voice. Sounds good to me.
Seras and Sam79, maybe it is because the microphone is too close, but you both sound too breathy and that makes it seem that your voice is too forced. They both sound so close.
Thanks for listening. I will try a couple more over the next few days. One with the mic further and one with the mic further and less breath :)
Please don't be to mean lol
Regular voice: http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-sunday-morning (http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-sunday-morning)
Female voice: http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-sunday-morning-1/s-k9MH7 (http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-sunday-morning-1/s-k9MH7)
Noah, I'm so jealous! ;)
A third test for me... Please be kind, I'm still new to this voice.
http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice3 (http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice3)
Angelique, your "male" voice is actually not too far off from being fine, all you need to do is learn to close your throat off a little to remove the chest resonance (the deeper tone) Your female version is ok but your pitch is too high, you don't need to have a high pitched voice to sound like a girl, it's just the resonance that does that. Your natural voice is high enough to pass.
no? nothing?... k..
This is Harvard sentences again. It is a lot easier to say these for some reason. I think because I have practiced the specific lines several times. This is the whole of the first 3 groups, I have removed the mic from down my throat and also increased the pitch a little. I think it is better but I really need outside opinions.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/1-3-day-7-late-attempt2/s-XGoXa
Don't be kind, be honest!
---
Angelique, I think you try to hard your too squeaky.
Keaira, your the opposite. Your pitch is too low, also as I have said before I am noob at this voice stuff having only just dedicated myself to it a week ago but the resonance does not sound so good to me either. You tried working through Andrea James online consult videos? That is how I made the above recording. My regular voice is a bass but I can now pull a steady mid range tenor low range alto at about 200-220hz. Even if the other aspects need work.
PS your link does not work for me Sam.
Angelique: Your normal voice is so close. You only need to have more head resonance to be right there. Your female voice sounds to squeaky.
Seras: That is the best so far. Maybe read just a little slower and enunciate more.
Cool, thanks :)
Quote from: Keaira on January 13, 2013, 06:44:56 AM
no? nothing?... k..
Soft spoken, lovely Scottish accent.
Still some chest resonance evident. Don't feel bad, I have that problem too.
Keep working on it - what Isabelle suggested for Angelique up the page.
Any comments on my voice3 sample? Still only a couple of weeks into it.
Quote from: sam79 on January 14, 2013, 01:25:12 AM
Any comments on my voice3 sample? Still only a couple of weeks into it.
Your link doesn't seem to work :(
Sam79, you may have set your soundcloud recording as private.
You can change the setting, or just record a new one.
Quote from: Isabelle on January 13, 2013, 04:51:14 AM
Angelique, your "male" voice is actually not too far off from being fine, all you need to do is learn to close your throat off a little to remove the chest resonance (the deeper tone) Your female version is ok but your pitch is too high, you don't need to have a high pitched voice to sound like a girl, it's just the resonance that does that. Your natural voice is high enough to pass.
I agree that while the "female" voice does pass, it does sound slightly too high and unnatural, but I don't think the "male" voice would be high enough to consistently pass for somebody Angelique's age even though it doesn't sound too masculine. For a more mature woman, a deeper voice without the chest resonance can work, but for someone younger, I think it sounds better when the pitch is raised at least a few tones, probably somewhere in between the "male" and "female" voice.
What it also allows you to do if you lower the overall voice a bit is to vary your pitch more as women tend to vary their pitch, particularly when surprised/questioning something etc. If you're already speaking high it's difficult to do that, but for me, what sets apart a reasonably good feminine voice from a completely passable one, where you would never think the voice was male in a million years, is when there is more variation in pitch and occasionally using higher tones. Of course some women might sound more masculine or monotone and that's fine if that fits in more with your identity, but I would imagine the objective of most people here is to get their voice to sound completely feminine.
For the older woman who is having trouble raising the pitch - Hilary Devey is a good person to imitate!
Hilary Devey (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROi_dvOF3SU#)
Hi again.
So I have been trying to practice speaking without using the Harvard sentences since I have my next gender appointment very soon and need to be able to say stuff that I am not reading. To this end I have uploaded another sound clip. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. I think some bits of this sound alright, however I think I am speaking too fast. As told before I think I need to speak more clearly and carefully, course that did not come through in this recording :P
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/freestyle3
Took me a couple attempts before this to get pitch up but other than that this was no warm up exercises or anything. Just straight into speaking.
Interestingly though when speaking freely I have a much less rigid speaking style. Sounds more like my regular accent which I think is good.
Thanks again for any feedback, I find it really hard to judge myself :-\
Sorry about the issues with the previous recording... Not sure exactly what happened.
Here's another sample: https://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice3
I'm about 2 weeks into this voice, and it doesn't really sound very feminine to me, but judge for yourself.
Here's another recording. I've been practicing n tried doing wat y'all said so tell me wat y'all think.
http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-tuesday-morning/s-Cn7yb (http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-tuesday-morning/s-Cn7yb)
Quote from: sam79 on January 14, 2013, 08:37:09 PM
Sorry about the issues with the previous recording... Not sure exactly what happened.
Here's another sample: https://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice3
I'm about 2 weeks into this voice, and it doesn't really sound very feminine to me, but judge for yourself.
Samantha, I was able to hear three recordinds, and I can readily recognize the improvement.
Your latest two recording sound a bit ... forced ... but show where you are headed. Keep working on it. And while you are at it, listen as often as possible to how ciswomen speak. They often end their sentences raising their pitch.
Quote from: Angélique LaCava on January 15, 2013, 12:13:38 AM
Here's another recording. I've been practicing n tried doing wat y'all said so tell me wat talk think.
http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-tuesday-morning/s-Cn7yb (http://soundcloud.com/ang-lique-lacava/sounds-from-tuesday-morning/s-Cn7yb)
Angelique, I do hear a difference between your first "girl" voice recording, and your new one. And that is just a couple of days. Keep it up! (Sorry for the dreadful pun.)
Quote from: Seras on January 14, 2013, 08:26:51 PM
Hi again.
So I have been trying to practice speaking without using the Harvard sentences since I have my next gender appointment very soon and need to be able to say stuff that I am not reading. To this end I have uploaded another sound clip. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. I think some bits of this sound alright, however I think I am speaking too fast. As told before I think I need to speak more clearly and carefully, course that did not come through in this recording :P
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/freestyle3
Took me a couple attempts before this to get pitch up but other than that this was no warm up exercises or anything. Just straight into speaking.
Interestingly though when speaking freely I have a much less rigid speaking style. Sounds more like my regular accent which I think is good.
Thanks again for any feedback, I find it really hard to judge myself :-\
Check your public/private settings, dear. I got the same error on got on Sam's earlier effort.
I even logged into my own soundcloud account, without being able to access your audio file.
Quote from: Pleasingly Plump Jamie D on January 15, 2013, 03:19:15 AM
Samantha, I was able to hear three recordinds, and I can readily recognize the improvement.
Your latest two recording sound a bit ... forced ... but show where you are headed. Keep working on it. And while you are at it, listen as often as possible to how ciswomen speak. They often end their sentences raising their pitch.
Thank you for the feedback and comments. My voice is certainly a little forced right now ;) I've just organised some time to call a cis female friend on a regular basis to work on the conversational aspect, and I'll be trying to learn from her too.
Quote from: Pleasingly Plump Jamie D on January 15, 2013, 03:25:07 AM
Check your public/private settings, dear. I got the same error on got on Sam's earlier effort.
I even logged into my own soundcloud account, without being able to access your audio file.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/freestyle3/s-xB5k7
I think this link works.
Still private but this link should allow access. It is how I had my last 2.
Quote from: Seras on January 15, 2013, 07:24:05 AM
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/freestyle3/s-xB5k7
I think this link works.
Still private but this link should allow access. It is how I had my last 2.
Yes, that works! And you do not sound like you have "stick up [your] ass" at all! ::)
Improvement happens slowly, though.
Quote from: sam79 on January 15, 2013, 04:30:56 AM
Thank you for the feedback and comments. My voice is certainly a little forced right now ;) I've just organised some time to call a cis female friend on a regular basis to work on the conversational aspect, and I'll be trying to learn from her too.
That's a great idea!
Well, here's my best attempt nowadays. The good news: no more Harvard Sentences! This is proving incredibly difficult for me, and I'm obviously still a long way off, so any comments will be gratefully absorbed :)
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/voice
what I'm working on nowadays: keeping my voicebox up "high and back", and not going too high in my pitch (because when I push up and high I have a habit of pushing my voice up to go with it...)
Paige,
I think the pitch is only slightly low and that there is still a bit too much resonance, but it's getting pretty close! I think you could pass on that pitch just fine if you eliminated the extra resonance (a small amount of resonance is still good; all women have it -- it's how a voice carries and has a discernible shape when speaking).
I may be wrong, and I am sorry if I am, but it sounds to me like it takes a lot of effort for you to maintain that voice. If this is the case, then I would recommend that you continue to try and keep speaking in it until it's comfortable for you. The elasticity of your voice will expand naturally as a result.
Stranger,
I think your voice might need a higher pitch and to spend less time brushing up against your nose. Have you tried resonating in the front of your chin while speaking from the high back side of your throat? It might make your pitch control easier.
Seras,
I think your resonance needs the most work. I get the impression that your voice is still spending a lot of time in your chest; have you tried to really squeeze the entirety of your voice into your head? I think a higher pitch with your voice in particular may also help hide some of your extra resonance, too.
Angélique,
I think your voice sounds really good! I would consider lowering it ever-so-slightly, though. The more you use your voice, the more you'll become comfortable with it and shaping it how you prefer. I really think you're on the right track and have a good grasp on what to do, and that the kinks will work themselves out over time.
Sam,
I think resonance is likely your largest obstacle. It sounds like your voice spends a lot of time in your throat (particularly the front) and bounces around in your mouth a bit. I'd like to suggest trying to make it feel as though your voice emanates from the top of your throat and funnels only through the middle of your mouth (over the center of your tongue), towards the front of your teeth.
I'm sorry if anything I said to anyone was off-putting or seemed too harsh, my only intent is to be helpful and I did try to phrase my insight as gently as possible. I'm also only speaking from my own experiences and experimentation with sounds, so hopefully what I've suggested is something that travels well between individuals. Good luck to all of you!
Thanks Sybil. I figured that out and been trying to work on that but it helps to have someone else agree that I am working on the correct aspect right now.
You are right about higher pitch hiding the bad resonance too. If I push up the pitch just to where it is on the edge of uncomfortable it is approaching passable, I think. However If I drop it down just to even 160-170hz I sound very much like a man.
---
I figured out a good technique though which seems to help. So I have been practicing with that today. Hopefully I will have some good progress soon!
Quote from: Sybil on January 17, 2013, 01:45:41 PM
Stranger,
I think your voice might need a higher pitch and to spend less time brushing up against your nose. Have you tried resonating in the front of your chin while speaking from the high back side of your throat? It might make your pitch control easier.
Thanks so much (again!) for your feedback. Is it possible that some of the nasal quality you're referring to is from my Australian accent, which (unfortunately) has a habit of broadening and "noseifying" my vowels? (you should hear me say the word 'water'... waaaah-tah. gross.)
The best pitch level is tough for me to figure out. I haven't much trouble going higher and lower on the spectrograph, but recordings I did around A3/220mhz I was told here were 'way way too high', and I could see their point. I tend to focus on speaking just below A3 (~200) for fear that my higher-pitched sound is ridiculous. I'll do another recording today at several pitches, experimenting with your resonating tip too, and maybe you can let me know what you think :)
Hi Sybil. Thank you for the comments and feedback. :-)
I've started to put in further effort. I find that singing along to some Adele songs where I can match the pitch is really helping to loosen up, and warm up my voice. After.that, it sounds alot less forced, and there's more range while speaking. Listening back to recordings from the last few days really shows a huge difference, sounds much more feminine.
So I'll keep that up for another week and then upload a new sample.
As promised: pitch up!
https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/voiceup
One of these days I'll get the hang of this, I swear...
So lately I've been super self-conscious about my voice because I just feel like I can't judge myself, like at all, and I just feel really worried that I have been making an absolute fool of myself when I talk to people. I don't know anything else to do than let y'all give me the business, I mean truth.
Oh, um ADD takes over toward the end of this thing because I kept getting distracted by flaws that I was hearing, so sorry about that :).
https://soundcloud.com/user552616740/blah (https://soundcloud.com/user552616740/blah)
Jen, you sound fine. Like many other cis-girls I have heard.
Stranger, to me a wee bit high on the high ends But otherwise very good.
Thanks Janet. Too high huh? I always think it's way too low. This is my problem, I'm just so clueless.
Not to be a smartass or anything but just so you do not get the wrong idea Jen, I think Ms OBrien was saying Stranger's voice was too high, not yours. ;)
Anyway I listened too and you sound good to me!
Oh lol. I did say I was clueless didn't I? ha I was like why is she calling me a stranger???
Quote from: Jen on January 17, 2013, 09:03:33 PM
Oh lol. I did say I was clueless didn't I? ha I was like why is she calling me a stranger???
Not you silly. (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-3.gif&hash=f49e2f86761323f2abd9c33941920389dbb3b10f)
I know my name can confuse things, but I just love how in the upper left of the forums it says "Hello Stranger".
Thanks for the feedback Ms. OBrien! My voice progress has been like a see-saw: too low, then too high, then too low, then too high :)
Out of curiosity, do you have any thoughts about the lower pitched sample I posted just before? https://soundcloud.com/user90683091/voice
There you go, Stranger. Much better. Not quite as high, much more fluid.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've been trying to practice but it can definitely get a bit discouraging. I think i've been reverting back to my old voice at school and no one seems to be making a fuss about it. So i'm not sure if people know and don't care or if they really are clueless about my original gender. In any case this is another clip of how I sound. Not really sure if i've improved at all from my earlier clip...
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/audio-recording-on-saturday-2
Trying to work on my resonance some.
I found a little trick on the net it seems to work a bit I think, moving up the vibration from my chest to higher up in my throat. However I need to practice it a lot more. Anyway it would be nice if anyone could give this a little listen and let me know if it sounds any better than my previous sound clips in terms of resonance. Since I do not want to be barking up the wrong tree.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/sets/day-14ish/s-cFrDT
Here is my previous for comparison:
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/1-3-day-7-late-attempt2/s-XGoXa
I think it sounds a bit better to me but I find it hard to judge myself.
PS Be warned the trick I learned is involving a weird cartoon voice which is present in the first track of that set :P
much better, Seras. Now you sound like a woman.
Awesome. Thanks!
I will keep practicing and hopefully I will get it so I can keep it solid :)
Here you go, first attempt for me when I played it back was shocking. Since then I have been practicing trying to figure out how to do it at will. Which makes it harder to do I think but necessary if you want to figure it out fully. I suggest at first saying it along with the recording while also recording yourself. Or at least that is what I found easiest,
It feels kinda different in your throat when you use it. Maybe like a cone of sound above your voice box is a good description.
http://jackie1677.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/section-4c-finding-your-female.html (http://jackie1677.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/section-4c-finding-your-female.html)
Stranger,
I feel that the criticism over your voice being too high or too low may be a misinterpretation of resonance as pitch. Both your medium and high pitches sound normal to me now that I've had a chance to compare them.
Raising the pitch in your voice seemed to force you to heighten the bottom line of your resonance. This was the same issue I had -- resonance was my biggest problem, and I had a difficult time discerning what it was in the beginning because I hadn't developed a good pitch range. You seem to be able to change your pitch very freely and that's wonderful. Resonance is all about technique as opposed to practice (as is the case with pitch); I would spend a lot more time on resonance. What you said about voice being a cone at the top of your vocal cords is exactly what I experience, too, so I think you're definitely on the right track.
Paige,
Yep! Pushing your voice up above your throat is really helpful, though it takes some getting used to. As Stranger said, it helps to think of your voice as a cone that originates above your throat.
Jen,
I think your voice is just fine!
Seras,
I think your latest clip is much better. You really seem to be on the right track.
Katie,
When you hit high notes/pitches, I feel your voice sounds more passable than when you hit low notes/pitches. Have you tried examining what it is you're doing when you hit high notes and applying some of that to your low notes? I know it's been stated several times in this thread, but I'd like to suggest that you try and tuck the entirety of your voice into your mouth and try to originate it from the back, just above your throat.
Quote from: Seras on January 13, 2013, 08:37:11 AM
Keaira, your the opposite. Your pitch is too low, also as I have said before I am noob at this voice stuff having only just dedicated myself to it a week ago but the resonance does not sound so good to me either. You tried working through Andrea James online consult videos? That is how I made the above recording. My regular voice is a bass but I can now pull a steady mid range tenor low range alto at about 200-220hz. Even if the other aspects need work.
Amazingly, I can get a Ma'am every time. ^_^
I really need some help with the resonance in my voice... ( relinked )
http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice3 (http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice3)
As per the last sample, I've got good control over breathy-ness and pitch, all of course for naught without control over resonance. My voice has not changed significantly since the last sample, except that it's getting much easier to keep the pitch a bit higher for longer periods of time.
I also tried Seras' trick... didn't seem to work for me. The best I can do so far is to really 'HAAA' what I'm saying as per the "Finding your female voice" DVD. That really really breathy speech results in the most non-male sound I seem to be able to make. I gather my voice is very pinched at that time, and I can feel muscles in my neck quite tense. I just can't isolate specifically what it is which eliminates the male sound in my voice.
You used the video right Sam? Tried saying it along with it? For me just doing the old guy voice was hard without listening at the same time. Maybe I am just lucky but that video really clicked with me.
girl you look fierce,
You've seriously got nothing to worry about. I think you sound awesome.
Quote from: girl you look fierce on January 21, 2013, 01:09:56 PM
I am gonna post my voice again cause lately I'm not sure about it and wondering if I need to like actually practice it and learn more stuff? I checked and the formants are p similar to an audiobook I have that's read by a girl... but is it just me who thinks my voice sounds a little weird or does it actually?
https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/12113-1 (https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/12113-1)
(I was reading from an Ikea catalog lol)
You sound great :)
Quote from: girl you look fierce on January 21, 2013, 01:09:56 PM
I am gonna post my voice again cause lately I'm not sure about it and wondering if I need to like actually practice it and learn more stuff? I checked and the formants are p similar to an audiobook I have that's read by a girl... but is it just me who thinks my voice sounds a little weird or does it actually?
https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/12113-1 (https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/12113-1)
(I was reading from an Ikea catalog lol)
You have nothing, nada, zero, zilch, to worry about.
Your voice is, well ... pretty.
Quote from: girl you look fierce on January 21, 2013, 01:09:56 PM
I am gonna post my voice again cause lately I'm not sure about it and wondering if I need to like actually practice it and learn more stuff? I checked and the formants are p similar to an audiobook I have that's read by a girl... but is it just me who thinks my voice sounds a little weird or does it actually?
https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/12113-1 (https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/12113-1)
(I was reading from an Ikea catalog lol)
You sound fantastic.
I started voice training by myself from 3 Dec. Mainly based on some materials from China and Japan. "两声で"(duel-voice) singers are very popular in Asia among the public, and that kind of training is not restricted to TS folks.
I still have no idea of the resonance for English. I can mimic your words, but actually I am using a resonance mode that is very different, even when in male voice.
Today's exercise:
https://soundcloud.com/user137231406/2013-01-22
Sorry some parts of it are in Mandarin or Wuu Chinese. Just never mind the contents. In fact it is only some random bubbling or poem. I have to practice English, Mandarin, and Wuu Chinese, each having distinct resonance modes... three times of job to do. :-\
I am having trouble pronouncing long u (like the 'oo' in 'boot'). Every time I come up with a long u sound, I turn back to male voice, and it will even affect a few of the following syllables.
Quote from: Seras on January 21, 2013, 12:30:52 PM
You used the video right Sam? Tried saying it along with it? For me just doing the old guy voice was hard without listening at the same time. Maybe I am just lucky but that video really clicked with me.
I did use the video but couldn't quite follow along.
Tonight though, once I actually stopped and read all the information on that page, then I understood what was being attempted. I've been able to get my throat into that position without going old-miner-mode or falsetto, and WOW. I won't say that I sound female yet, but I certainly have made progress, and don't sound male. :o
Will upload a recording in a couple of days once I have had time to practice some more.
Quote from: girl you look fierce on January 22, 2013, 02:25:17 PM
Well obviously I have trouble judging w/ Chinese, especially on the Wuu part but I think your voice is really good aside from a slight thing I'm hearing, which I'm not sure about again cause my ear is best with English, but anyway yeah I think there's a sort of breathiness there, that sounds kind of forced, maybe if you just relax a bit from the point you're at it will be perfect!
Good luck Sylvannus and hope I could help! :)
Thank you for your advice. You are right, I have put too much stress to my voice trying to maintain an unnecessarily high pitch. I will try to focus on the resonance instead.
Been meaning to record and expose myself to critique for a few days now. Please be kind but truthful and critical.
My first attempt for review and advice (https://soundcloud.com/ebbixx/130122-voice-trial-one).
Ok, so I've been playing around today, practising altering different muscles. I've successfully been able to tighten the muscles on the top of my voice box, and this removes just about all resonance. It's actually kinda funny talking like that in my male voice, sounds like I sucked on a deeper-pitch helium balloon ;).
Anyway, after minimal practice, here's a new sample:
http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice4 (http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice4)
I think the pitch is too high, but I can fiddle around with that later.
Quote from: Elspeth on January 22, 2013, 04:29:28 PM
Been meaning to record and expose myself to critique for a few days now. Please be kind but truthful and critical.
My first attempt for review and advice (https://soundcloud.com/ebbixx/130122-voice-trial-one).
For a first attempt that is actually pretty good. It sounded a bit unnatural, because you were reading. It would be nice to hear you just conversing, so we can hear how your voice changes tone and inflection.
I know that voice teachers often have student read things aloud, but I don't think that is necessarily a good thing.
Quote from: sam79 on January 23, 2013, 06:16:10 AM
Ok, so I've been playing around today, practising altering different muscles. I've successfully been able to tighten the muscles on the top of my voice box, and this removes just about all resonance. It's actually kinda funny talking like that in my male voice, sounds like I sucked on a deeper-pitch helium balloon ;).
Anyway, after minimal practice, here's a new sample:
http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice4 (http://soundcloud.com/samc79/voice4)
I think the pitch is too high, but I can fiddle around with that later.
I listened to all three, and hear steady improvement.
I don't consider my voice to be particularly good, but I've become pretty confident in it and seem to pass most of the time. Having said that, I'm still looking to improve it because I tend to get misgendered on the phone more than I'd like to, and I think my voice is what gets me read more often than anything else at this point.
What actually prompted me to post this was stumbling across an old set of recordings I made when I was just starting out on my voice. Listening to where I started compared to where I am now blew me away and I wanted to share. If anyone has feedback other than that I say "um" entirely too much, I would love to hear :)
https://soundcloud.com/kmtests/voice-progress
Quote from: Elspeth on January 22, 2013, 04:29:28 PM
Been meaning to record and expose myself to critique for a few days now. Please be kind but truthful and critical.
My first attempt for review and advice (https://soundcloud.com/ebbixx/130122-voice-trial-one).
I'm not an expert at all, but I feel like you're on the right track. I felt where the pitch dropped a little, like near the 41-45 second mark, it sounded more natural to me. Maybe you could experiment with using that pitch a little bit and see how it sounds?
I did 2 "ranges" just following Candi's method best I could and tried to talk a bit in what I felt was natural..
https://soundcloud.com/alyssa-mu/voicing-training-take-1
https://soundcloud.com/alyssa-mu/ts-voice-training-second-take
It's my first serious attempt at getting it right and not just something I put on quickly, so I really just want to know if I'm on the right track..
And if there is a specific time index that sounded good so I can aim for that as a target?
Hard to tell even from my own recordings..
Thanks!
Quote from: Aleah on January 25, 2013, 04:00:19 PM
I did 2 "ranges" just following Candi's method best I could and tried to talk a bit in what I felt was natural..
https://soundcloud.com/alyssa-mu/voicing-training-take-1
https://soundcloud.com/alyssa-mu/ts-voice-training-second-take
Around 1:20 on the second take you seem to be getting into a space where less of the male resonance is present. I would focus, in general, on getting rid of the resonance, rather than focusing on a particular pitch range, in part because everyone's voice box is different. Also, it's really the resonance that sends the wrong message... "normal feminine" voices can span a pretty wide range of pitches... I really don't quite understand the emphasis on specific pitches, except as a confirmation that you're in the right general range.
Getting rid of that resonance is a tough thing to do... I still am finding myself slipping into it. As you say during the recording, it is hard to hold in that range until you've practiced a lot, and that's probably why most people suggest working on this for a long, long time, to get to a point where practice makes it easier to stay there without straining or damaging things.
I visualize placing the voice further back, towards the inside (or back) of my throat, once I've found the right spot. The further back and away from the front the voice "feels" the better the recordings tend to sound and the more they seem to resemble what I am hoping to achieve over time.
Quote from: kaellexi on January 24, 2013, 10:06:39 PM
Wow, that's amazing. I love your new voice... I think it's really cute and pretty sexy too. Sounds completely natural.
Here is a tip Aleah, move your mic away from your mouth :P
There was a lot of interference.
However this is something I am also guilty of though hopefully not in these recordings:
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/da19recording4/s-ABR28
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/day19attempt8freechat9/s-vxF8v
If anyone could give me any feedback on how I sound in these or how I have progressed (or not) since previous recordings it would be great.
I think I still just need to improve the timbre/resonance stuff. Then work on speech patterns and things like that, but I see little point in that until I have fixed how it sounds. What do you think?
Quote from: kaellexi on January 24, 2013, 10:06:39 PM
I don't consider my voice to be particularly good, but I've become pretty confident in it and seem to pass most of the time. Having said that, I'm still looking to improve it because I tend to get misgendered on the phone more than I'd like to, and I think my voice is what gets me read more often than anything else at this point.
What actually prompted me to post this was stumbling across an old set of recordings I made when I was just starting out on my voice. Listening to where I started compared to where I am now blew me away and I wanted to share. If anyone has feedback other than that I say "um" entirely too much, I would love to hear :)
https://soundcloud.com/kmtests/voice-progress
My feed back is that you have made a tremendous change. The is no way in the world I would read your current voice as male.
Quote from: muffinpants on January 25, 2013, 06:16:01 PM
Wow, that's amazing. I love your new voice... I think it's really cute and pretty sexy too. Sounds completely natural.
Quote from: Pleasingly Plump Jamie D on January 25, 2013, 07:42:57 PM
My feed bact is that you have made a tremendous change. The is no way in the world I would read your current voice as male.
Thank you both...it makes me feel a little better to know it's not completely in my head. I never did any actual therapy, so all I've picked up is that my chest doesn't vibrate when I speak and my pitch seems to be mostly in the right range if I put the recording through wavesurfer.
I just wish I knew why the phone gives me such a hard time, it honestly feels like half the time I'll get "sir" or "Mr <last name>" or whatever if I have to call someone who doesn't know me and I don't know what to work on to change that. :(
Trying to relax my voice...
This is 2 clips recorded individually and put together.
The first 7 seconds was in Chinese, in fact it was a part of a telephone recording during a skype conversation. When I heard a loud noise of glass bottle being dropped on the ground from the other side, I asked what was happening.
The rest was a piece on an English text book.
https://soundcloud.com/sylvannus/2013-01-26
Quote from: kyh on January 26, 2013, 05:50:42 AM
@sylvannus
Good job sylvannus :) your female voice is exellent and 100% natural to my ears.
Here is my clip I just recorded :) hope to get some feedback?
https://soundcloud.com/lan-feng/me
It's a bit long, 4 minutes. Feel free to just listen for a little bit haha. Any constructive criticism is appreciated. I start speaking in Mandarin at about 2:30 btw. Maybe some of you will understand. I know sylvannus will :)
You did a very good job! If I hear you on the street, I will never think of a man. The only thing that I can suggest id that you seem to lower your larynx when you pronounce using the soft palate (k, g, m, n). I have the same problem, and I think if we keep a mind on that we can do it better.
Quote from: sylvannus on January 26, 2013, 07:07:52 PM
You did a very good job! If I hear you on the street, I will never think of a man. The only thing that I can suggest id that you seem to lower your larynx when you pronounce using the soft palate (k, g, m, n). I have the same problem, and I think if we keep a mind on that we can do it better.
Thanks so much! I'll keep your advice in mind :3 hehe
I think you already sound 100% natural though ^_^
kaellexi,
You really get misgendered on the phone with that voice?! That totally blows me away! I never get misgendered on the phone or voice chat, ever, and I don't think my voice is particularly any more feminine than yours.
What does happen to me some times is I let my voice relax more than I should and end up speaking from the wrong place for half a word or so, if I haven't been speaking for a while or I just got up in the morning. This only really happens to me around my mother, though, for the most part. Maybe something like that happens to you and you don't realize it?
I honestly don't know what else it could be for you. If you haven't changed your legal name and people have paperwork in front of them on the other end of the phone, maybe that's it? I genuinely, strongly believe your second voice in that clip sounds totally female. There should be no reason people are misgendering you.
Quote from: Sybil on January 26, 2013, 11:02:54 PM
kaellexi,
You really get misgendered on the phone with that voice?! That totally blows me away! I never get misgendered on the phone or voice chat, ever, and I don't think my voice is particularly any more feminine than yours.
What does happen to me some times is I let my voice relax more than I should and end up speaking from the wrong place for half a word or so, if I haven't been speaking for a while or I just got up in the morning. This only really happens to me around my mother, though, for the most part. Maybe something like that happens to you and you don't realize it?
I honestly don't know what else it could be for you. If you haven't changed your legal name and people have paperwork in front of them on the other end of the phone, maybe that's it? I genuinely, strongly believe your second voice in that clip sounds totally female. There should be no reason people are misgendering you.
I do think some of it could be my voice briefly relaxing into a lower state subconsciously, but I was starting to wonder if something with my resonance is off because it seems to happen so frequently. My name is legally changed, although it is somewhat unisex which I guess could cause some problems with some people. I'm my own worst critic by far, but even I don't think my voice sounds male, I just think it could be better.
It's interesting that you mentioned voice chat though. Now that I think about it, I don't get misgendered through voice chat in online games. I do have a bit of phone anxiety that I somehow don't have for online voice chat, so maybe that's really where my problem is. I don't know, I feel like I'm really reaching at this point but it's just so frustrating.
Hi everyone, I did some more practice with my voice yesterday. I think it sounds better... but I can't really trust myself lol.
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/4th-attempt-at-female-voice
Quote from: sylvannus on January 26, 2013, 12:18:59 AM
Trying to relax my voice...
This is 2 clips recorded individually and put together.
The first 7 seconds was in Chinese, in fact it was a part of a telephone recording during a skype conversation. When I heard a loud noise of glass bottle being dropped on the ground from the other side, I asked what was happening.
The rest was a piece on an English text book.
https://soundcloud.com/sylvannus/2013-01-26
Your have a very cute voice, sylvannus. :)
Quote from: paigeme on January 30, 2013, 09:23:01 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s01NEjAeiFv2 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s01NEjAeiFv2)
Criticism please!
I am no expert but I would say look at achieving a higher pitch and adding more cadence. :-) x
Quote from: paigeme on January 30, 2013, 09:23:01 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s01NEjAeiFv2 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s01NEjAeiFv2)
Criticism please!
Not bad! That little throat clearing is a tell, though. In the future, just talk naturally, like you are having a conversation is discussion.
Quote from: kyh on January 29, 2013, 10:57:07 AM
https://soundcloud.com/lan-feng/me-again
Do I sound less or more female this way? I can't tell :S
Any constructive criticism? Thanks in advance :)
If anything I feel like I sound like a feminine gay guy :S
No, you don't sound like a fem gay guy. You sound like my teenaged daughter. :)
Have not handed a clip over to guys and gotten feedback for a while so will be useful if someone can let me know how this sounds.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/day23-or-something/s-fE4o7
Some bits of it sound a bit "nosey" to me. If ya know what I mean. What do you think?
I did not do any warm up or anything this was just my second recording. Made a different recording a couple days back but I was a bit under the weather and sounded bad all stuffed up D:
All I have focused on practicing recently is my resonance.
Cool, thanks.
Yours is nice too btw, listened earlier. Will listen properly later and see if I can give some real opinion :P
Here's my voice:
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/catherine
Somebody please help.
This is pretty awful, but it is where I am starting from.
https://soundcloud.com/user306762486/audio-recording-on-thursday
Quote from: riversong on January 31, 2013, 11:46:05 AM
Here's my voice:
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/catherine
Somebody please help.
I'm in no position to help.
However, you sound much better with some bass.
Quote from: Seras on January 30, 2013, 10:26:28 PM
Cool, thanks.
Yours is nice too btw, listened earlier. Will listen properly later and see if I can give some real opinion :P
You're welcome :) Yeah, if you upload again I'll be sure to listen and try and help out.
Thank you ^_^
KarenCDN, hi :)
I think your voice has potential as it's not actually that deep or masculine. I'd say it's somewhere in the middle. Yeah, just practice a lot, you'll get it for sure.
Riversong, don't be too hard on yourself. It's not impossible. I think this voice *might* pass to some people the way it is if your looks are convincing. I'm not trying to be harsh :( I'm sorry if it comes off that way.
I listened to all 3 of your recordings actually, and the one titled "Some Bass" is actually *really* good and should be passable, in my opinion. How come you didn't put the link to that one instead? :)
Quote from: kyh on January 31, 2013, 02:54:28 PM
Riversong, don't be too hard on yourself. It's not impossible. I think this voice *might* pass to some people the way it is if your looks are convincing. I'm not trying to be harsh :( I'm sorry if it comes off that way.
I listened to all 3 of your recordings actually, and the one titled "Some Bass" is actually *really* good and should be passable, in my opinion. How come you didn't put the link to that one instead? :)
Oh, thanks for listening to all three. Yea, I did those a while ago but they already got critiqued. Only response I got said that it needs work. But it's good to hear that someone finds it at least a bit passable. Thank you very much.
Quote from: riversong on January 31, 2013, 02:58:57 PM
Oh, thanks for listening to all three. Yea, I did those a while ago but they already got critiqued. Only response I got said that it needs work. But it's good to hear that someone finds it at least a bit passable. Thank you very much.
Really? Who said that? Your voice in "some bass" is really good. I've heard lots of female voices similar in sound to yours. The only thing I can say is, keep practicing it so that you can use it for long periods of time :)
Maybe make your S sounds sharper as I read in another post that women (and some gay men) have a disntinctive way of pronouncing their S's :3 so yeah haha. Something to try out I guess.
Don't give up Riversong.
What resources have you used to practice with? I searched through a lot of rubbish on the internet before I found some techniques that worked well for me. I am by no means perfect sounding but I think I have made a lot of progress, since I found this stuff.
If you say what you have used maybe I can give you some links that you have not tried, and maybe you will have luck with them?
I don't know if it sound feminine. I know it definitely doesn't sound like a man talking and it kind of pass on the phone some times.
I know it is a bit too high but I feel that i have most control over my voice this way not falling down in a male resonance from it.
What do you think. If you met me and I presented as a female, would my voice strengthen my female looks or would it cause suspicion?
https://soundcloud.com/eloij/040213-4
Quote from: girl you look fierce on February 04, 2013, 07:52:25 AM
@eloij well for me your voice still has a bit of falsetto in it, so I might think that was a little unusual, I think if you can relax it a bit but keep a similar or slightly lower pitch it will be much more natural :) good luck.
Ok. if I lower my pitch to this. Is it more passable? I feel I may have gone a bit too low here maybe. I have a hard time finding something in between this and the previous one...
https://soundcloud.com/eloij/040213-8
Hi everyone :)
I have my little recording to add to this thread. Mind, I've only just started to take Testosterone, it's been five weeks now. ^^ Tell me what you all think, all right? Also, I'd appreciate some pointers on how to make my voice sound more male. :D
https://soundcloud.com/olivier-de-sill-gue/5-weeks-on-t (https://soundcloud.com/olivier-de-sill-gue/5-weeks-on-t)
Hi Olivier. I can't give much advice on making your voice lower, but I will say that yours is pretty good. If you look passable, then this voice shouldn't out you. I'd say it's a somewhat gender neutral voice at the moment. Maybe try bringing the resonance down to your chest.
:)
Thank you for the tip, Kyh, I'm definitely going to try it out and see how it turns out.
As for 'passing' physically, here is a picture of me as of right now, this very minute.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l603/OlivierDeSillegue/MeFeb042013_zps8312acce.jpg (http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l603/OlivierDeSillegue/MeFeb042013_zps8312acce.jpg)
I am wearing all male clothing down to the boxers (lol), T has started to give me fuzz on the upper lip, but I'm afraid that the rest of my face is a dead giveaway. :( *sigh*
You definitely pass :) The slight facial hair helps a lot. ^_^ So yeah, everything is good already, and it'll just get better with time. Hehe
:D Thank you Kyh! Now I'm going to be wearing a silly little grin all day.
xD You're welcome! Have a great day :3
Quote from: OlivierDeSillegue on February 04, 2013, 12:48:11 PM
Thank you for the tip, Kyh, I'm definitely going to try it out and see how it turns out.
As for 'passing' physically, here is a picture of me as of right now, this very minute.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l603/OlivierDeSillegue/MeFeb042013_zps8312acce.jpg (http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l603/OlivierDeSillegue/MeFeb042013_zps8312acce.jpg)
I am wearing all male clothing down to the boxers (lol), T has started to give me fuzz on the upper lip, but I'm afraid that the rest of my face is a dead giveaway. :( *sigh*
You pass more than me in my male mode (I was born male and haven't started any transition)! If you hide your hair with a hat or just simply cut it shorter, you will be perfect!
Regarding your voice, may I suggest that you try to "open your throat" like singing a song, and at the same time allow a part of your breath to "sink" along the front of your throat? I expect it to enhance "chest resonance" and reduce "head/nasal resonance" (but I don't know if people use these terms in the West). It is hard to describe. Please excuse me and never mind this paragraph if it doesn't make sense.
Trying to improve... The first part is a paragraph in an English textbook, the second part was reading a wig description lol.
https://soundcloud.com/sylvannus/2013-02-06-voice
I feel I have a strange accent in both English and Chinese...
Quote from: sylvannus on February 06, 2013, 06:15:08 AM
You pass more than me in my male mood (and I haven't started any transition)! If you hide your hair with a hat or just simply cut it shorter, you will be perfect!
Regarding your voice, may I suggest that you try to "open your throat" like singing a song, and at the same time allow a part of your breath to "sink" along the front of your throat? I expect it to enhance "chest resonance" and reduce "head/nasal resonance" (but I don't know if people use these terms in the West). It is hard to describe. Please excuse me and never mind this paragraph if it doesn't make sense.
I refuse to cut my hair any shorter :-X and I'm actually going to let it grow back to shoulder length when I've been on T for long enough that I look manly enough to my own taste. Un mousquetaire, damoiselle, ne se doit jamais couper les cheveux! (A musketeer must never cut his hair!)
I like the suggestion to open the throat like in singing, because I do like to sing a lot. Being that I was a soprano before T, it was something of a shock to discover that I couldn't hit the high notes anymore. But I'm getting used to singing in a lower voice. One of my biggest fears is indeed to lose the ability to sing :-\
Well, I tried recording a little bit of singing, and this is what I got. I hope your ears won't bleed when you hear it.
https://soundcloud.com/olivier-de-sill-gue/aufonddesbois
*goes to hide behind the curtain in embarrassment*
I, as a MTF, envy your smooth hair so much. (My avatar was in a wig.) Do you intend to curl it a bit so that it would look more masculine? I'm using mobile and will listen to ur recording in the evening.
I have listened to your song, and it was much better than your speaking voice. Maybe you can adapt some of the voice technique to speaking?
Quote from: OlivierDeSillegue on February 04, 2013, 11:17:10 AM
Hi everyone :)
I have my little recording to add to this thread. Mind, I've only just started to take Testosterone, it's been five weeks now. ^^ Tell me what you all think, all right? Also, I'd appreciate some pointers on how to make my voice sound more male. :D
https://soundcloud.com/olivier-de-sill-gue/5-weeks-on-t (https://soundcloud.com/olivier-de-sill-gue/5-weeks-on-t)
An extremely short clip does not allow anyone much opportunity for thoughtful analysis.
Quote from: OlivierDeSillegue on February 06, 2013, 10:08:19 AM
I refuse to cut my hair any shorter :-X and I'm actually going to let it grow back to shoulder length when I've been on T for long enough that I look manly enough to my own taste. Un mousquetaire, damoiselle, ne se doit jamais couper les cheveux! (A musketeer must never cut his hair!)
I like the suggestion to open the throat like in singing, because I do like to sing a lot. Being that I was a soprano before T, it was something of a shock to discover that I couldn't hit the high notes anymore. But I'm getting used to singing in a lower voice. One of my biggest fears is indeed to lose the ability to sing :-\
Well, I tried recording a little bit of singing, and this is what I got. I hope your ears won't bleed when you hear it.
https://soundcloud.com/olivier-de-sill-gue/aufonddesbois
*goes to hide behind the curtain in embarrassment*
Now, that is more like it. The voice sounds marginally male, by that I mean, like a young teenaged boy (13 to 15). As you have just started HRT, I expect your voice will deepen.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/day29eve2freestryle/s-P72ba
Hi.
Been a while since my last upload. What do you think?
This is straight off the top off my head. No warm ups or anything. How do you think it sounds? I think I have sounded better in the past but only straight after weird techniques that you cannot do before speaking in real life.
Do you think it is passable? Or still overly masculine?
To me your voice sounds very feminine. :) Your inflexions are good, the base of the voice is not a purr like a man's voice (like I wish mine would be -.-).
Even so, I think you could improve a little bit more by ennunciating a little more deliberatly, and stretching certain vowels at the end of words. I think that would give you a singsong voice that would be very hard to mistake for anything but female.
Cool, thanks for the tips :)
You are right though, I am normally quietly spoken. I will try and work on these things. I am glad you think it sounds ok how it is though. I always think it sounds bad when I record it and listen back. Though if I then listen again a couple hours later it normally sounds better ???
It is good to know that "mechanically" I am on the right track, so hopefully with practice of speech pattern and inflection etc. I will get it good!
So this is my first upload with my voice and I talk Swedish.
https://soundcloud.com/sn-frost/alice
Sounds real good to me.
I do not really understand Swedish but I know a few Swedes (all male) and you definitely sound nothing like them!
Quote from: Seras on February 10, 2013, 01:38:03 PM
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/day29eve2freestryle/s-P72ba
Hi.
Been a while since my last upload. What do you think?
This is straight off the top off my head. No warm ups or anything. How do you think it sounds? I think I have sounded better in the past but only straight after weird techniques that you cannot do before speaking in real life.
Do you think it is passable? Or still overly masculine?
Masculine? Not at all. That is quite a leap forward.
OK, I haven't tried this for six months. Here's a recording of me, reciting a poem I wrote two weeks ago, called "one thing - one syllable - one love".
https://soundcloud.com/madelineb-1/one-thing-one-syllable-one (https://soundcloud.com/madelineb-1/one-thing-one-syllable-one)
And here I am reciting a poem I wrote last August, called "Jagged Edges":
https://soundcloud.com/madelineb-1/jagged-edges-by-madeline-adams (https://soundcloud.com/madelineb-1/jagged-edges-by-madeline-adams)
Hi everyone, here is a link to my latest recording. I'm trying to just relax my chords and make it sound softer... I'm not sure if it works.
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/audio-recording-on-monday
Hey Katie, initially you sounded a bit strained, but the part directly after you say "bye" (maybe it is leftover from another recording) sounds pretty good o.o
I made two recordings today, but the first sounds like it has screaming pterodactyls in the background. I think it is caused by the compression algorithms Vocaroo uses:
Sample 1 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1yqFogVXpBg) (Compressed to MP3 format before uploading)
Sample 2 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Vpo9sLlT6l) (Uncompressed .WAV format before uploading)
I was sick the past two weeks, and lost my voice for a few days, so I have only just started to feel comfortable again. I am coming from a pretty guyish voice, by the way. The last time I uploaded my voice elsewhere, I made the mistake of presenting my guy voice first in a 4-minute recording, and I got the first response in less than a minute :P Needless to say, I learned my lesson:
Sample 3 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s00LHfq5KZe5) (Just recorded)
zeda- total pass, you sound great!
Very natural sounding!
So, here's mine thrown into the mix. :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IcB9MmbZh6 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IcB9MmbZh6)
I think I can manage the range pretty well, but I do (self-analysis, of course) have some issues with enunciation and certain end-consonants. Would appreciate hearing y'all's advice on getting rid of that particular foible.
Quote from: ZoeM on March 17, 2013, 02:25:44 PM
So, here's mine thrown into the mix. :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IcB9MmbZh6 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IcB9MmbZh6)
I think I can manage the range pretty well, but I do (self-analysis, of course) have some issues with enunciation and certain end-consonants. Would appreciate hearing y'all's advice on getting rid of that particular foible.
Well I think you sound great, pass from me!!
The only thing I would suggest is working on "S" sounds making them more high pitched which is distinctively female, but I don't even really think it's that important with the way the rest of your voice is. Good job! I hope I can sound as good as you someday :D
Quote from: ZoeM on March 17, 2013, 02:25:44 PM
So, here's mine thrown into the mix. :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IcB9MmbZh6 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IcB9MmbZh6)
I think I can manage the range pretty well, but I do (self-analysis, of course) have some issues with enunciation and certain end-consonants. Would appreciate hearing y'all's advice on getting rid of that particular foible.
I'm with Jennygirl on this, it's a stellar pass in my book!
I don't have the trained ears that some of the other ladies around here have so as far as I can tell it's an authentic female voice.
Quote from: VanessaM on March 17, 2013, 03:59:47 PM
I'm with Jennygirl on this, it's a stellar pass in my book!
I don't have the trained ears that some of the other ladies around here have so as far as I can tell it's an authentic female voice.
Well, I have had a number of "Ma'am"s over the phone... even got misidentified as
my mother by the therapist's office. And they hear me every week.
What about the speech issues? Especially there at the end, where the consonants come off so oddly? Do you think it's worth going to a speech therapist to correct that?
Quote from: ZoeM on March 17, 2013, 04:19:49 PM
Well, I have had a number of "Ma'am"s over the phone... even got misidentified as my mother by the therapist's office. And they hear me every week.
What about the speech issues? Especially there at the end, where the consonants come off so oddly? Do you think it's worth going to a speech therapist to correct that?
Well it's up to you, I think you probably don't need it because your pitch & resonance sound very natural. Honestly I think you're fine :)
If it would up your confidence though then maybe it is worth it?
https://soundcloud.com/eloij/310313-1
So. It's been i while and i have practiced to and from. I try to keep this voice right now and i feel kind of comfortable with it. Just wanted to hear if it could pass or if I need to work on something. I know it was a bit too low right at the beginning of the clip...
Oh and it's in swedish because I'm more comfortable with it right now...
Does my voice pass at all? Thanks for your comments. Lori
https://soundcloud.com/#lori2000ma-1 (https://soundcloud.com/#lori2000ma-1)
Paigeme - I couldn't tell because the quality was pretty bad.
eloij - Your voice sounds androgenous to me - if you were presenting female I would regard your voice as female - you would pass.
Quote from: paigeme on March 31, 2013, 04:31:05 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1LqROOZq1tj (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1LqROOZq1tj)
another one that should be better quailty
That's fairly good, although it was very short. The words are a little slurred. The pitch is good.
Try speaking/reading a few sentences so you can get into the flow.
Quote from: Lori2000ma on March 31, 2013, 12:34:25 PM
Does my voice pass at all? Thanks for your comments. Lori
https://soundcloud.com/#lori2000ma-1 (https://soundcloud.com/#lori2000ma-1)
Paigeme - I couldn't tell because the quality was pretty bad.
eloij - Your voice sounds androgenous to me - if you were presenting female I would regard your voice as female - you would pass.
Your link worked for me, but I had to log into SoundCloud.
The voice is good. There is still a trace of falsetto there. You could lower it just a little and still be okay.
Quote from: paigeme on March 31, 2013, 04:31:05 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1LqROOZq1tj (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1LqROOZq1tj)
another one that should be better quailty
I hear no problem, but the clip was very short.
Quote from: eloij on March 31, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
https://soundcloud.com/eloij/310313-1
So. It's been i while and i have practiced to and from. I try to keep this voice right now and i feel kind of comfortable with it. Just wanted to hear if it could pass or if I need to work on something. I know it was a bit too low right at the beginning of the clip...
Oh and it's in swedish because I'm more comfortable with it right now...
I didn't understand much, but it sure sounded female.
Quote from: paigeme on March 28, 2013, 10:49:08 PM
Do I pass at least a little? :/
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WyQkPWwetd (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WyQkPWwetd)
quality is kind of bad sorry :/
I listened to this one a while ago, but I couldn't hear much.
Quote from: eloij on March 31, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
https://soundcloud.com/eloij/310313-1
So. It's been i while and i have practiced to and from. I try to keep this voice right now and i feel kind of comfortable with it. Just wanted to hear if it could pass or if I need to work on something. I know it was a bit too low right at the beginning of the clip...
Oh and it's in swedish because I'm more comfortable with it right now...
I did not understand it, but it sounded excellent o.o
Quote from: Lori2000ma on March 31, 2013, 12:34:25 PM
Does my voice pass at all? Thanks for your comments. Lori
https://soundcloud.com/#lori2000ma-1 (https://soundcloud.com/#lori2000ma-1)
Paigeme - I couldn't tell because the quality was pretty bad.
eloij - Your voice sounds androgenous to me - if you were presenting female I would regard your voice as female - you would pass.
I could not get it to work, sorry :/
Quote from: paigeme on March 31, 2013, 04:31:05 PM
Eloij- Very androgynous.
Lori2000ma- Your link doesn't work :(
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1LqROOZq1tj (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1LqROOZq1tj)
another one that should be better quailty
I agree that it did seem like the words were slurred together a little, but it definitely sounded to be at a good pitch :) Also, I have found that there are issues with loading MP3 files to Vocaroo (it breaks up the sound quality). I now try to upload .wav files. Also, we might have a similar problem-- my recording device has difficulty picking up my voice :/
This reminds me that I need to practice more. I think I really need to work on how I enunciate and emphasize sounds. I also need to work on maintaining my pitch. I don't know if y'all have this problem, but I find that my voice drifts off to a lower pitch if I do not pay attention to it. I also have a fairly quiet voice. To me, it sounds very loud, but I recently learned that I am often hardly audible. I think this might be linked to the reason for why I cannot maintain my voice at an even pitch.
I'm sure I still have a long way to go, but what do you all think so far?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KYBecyiR3f (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KYBecyiR3f)
Quote from: Anna Michele on April 03, 2013, 08:19:50 PM
I'm sure I still have a long way to go, but what do you all think so far?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KYBecyiR3f (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KYBecyiR3f)
It sounds great! I am not sure if I sensed a little strain, but that just means you have to work with it more often :)
Also, multitasking:
Response to Anna Michele (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ZUJsWedWZT)
^ Doubles as practice with my voice ^_^
Quote from: Anna Michele on April 03, 2013, 08:19:50 PM
I'm sure I still have a long way to go, but what do you all think so far?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KYBecyiR3f (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KYBecyiR3f)
That's a good start Anna. The pitch and inflections are good. As with others your sound clip is too short. Try reading a few sentences, or talk for a minute or two about what you did during your day, or whatever. This way you can get into a flow. You did sound a bit labored. Try moving air more from the diaphragm. This way you can sustain speech more naturally.
Quote from: Zeda on April 04, 2013, 09:57:22 AM
Response to Anna Michele (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ZUJsWedWZT)
^ Doubles as practice with my voice ^_^
Your voice is sounding good Zeda. A bit hard to hear though due to a soft recording.
Thanks Zeda, AusBelle! Are there a few example sentences touching on all the important sounds people make? I had no idea what to say once I started recording. I'll keep practicing!
There probably are, but really I don't think you need anything special. Just pick something you like and read it out loud.
Here's a longer recording: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0XROtnQkx87 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0XROtnQkx87)
Hitch hikers guide?
Try to slow down a little and concentrate on clearly pronouncing each word. The rhythm is there, but needs to be developed more. Keep working at your inflections. Listen to the tv, radio, other women around you to get the feel for the rises and falls in each word. But really, you are coming along nicely! just keep practicing.
Another thing, breath from the diaphragm and speak from the throat. Practice humming at various pitches :)
Thanks for the tips! I'll keep practicing. And yes, it was H2G2 :)
Hi everyone.
Been a while since I posted anything. Not full time or anything yet so I am just practicing from time to time to make sure I do not regress, hopefully I still sound OK I got some good feedback before.
I quite like some of the parts of these recordings but other parts I think I have got a little monotone or have bad rhythm to my sentences. Anyway as I say in the files I would really appreciate any feedback so thanks a lot!
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/16thaprilnowarmup/s-QDXC6
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/16thapril2ndattempt/s-mZKYz
PS
Anna, hard to tell but your voice in the short clip had a quality to it that the longer recording did not have. It felt a bit more pinched or something, which was good in the way that it made it sound better, I think in terms of resonance. However to me it also sounded a little overly pinched, like you could tell it was not relaxed enough. I think you should try and copy the first recording there and then copy a short line from your second and try to tell the difference. Then try a bit more of a relaxed version of the first voice.
Course I am no pro and the first recording was pretty short. However I definitely had good sucess in listening back to bits of my practicing that sounded better than other bits and comparing them to worse bits to try and feel the difference.
Hello Everyone!
Here is a sample of my voice
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1uRkK4mr9rx (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1uRkK4mr9rx)
Any advice is greatly appreciated. =)
-Kat
@Seras: I did notice the monotone so maybe you just need to try to get some fluctuation in there? I am not sure of a decent remedy for it, though :/ I know for one practicing session that I did last week, I found some of the Harvard Sentence samples (by the way, I thought they said 'pig' instead of 'horse') and I compared my current voice to the recorded one. Using Audacity (a program) I found some issues on certain sound combinations and started to work on them that way.
Also, I am not familiar enough with the accent, so I cannot really distinguish male from female voices easily unless the voice is significantly deeper or higher than normal :P
@MidnightKat: Wow o.o
What do you think??
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xXACul6IuV (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xXACul6IuV)
Quote from: Zeda on April 17, 2013, 11:57:02 AM
@Seras: I did notice the monotone so maybe you just need to try to get some fluctuation in there? I am not sure of a decent remedy for it, though :/ I know for one practicing session that I did last week, I found some of the Harvard Sentence samples (by the way, I thought they said 'pig' instead of 'horse') and I compared my current voice to the recorded one. Using Audacity (a program) I found some issues on certain sound combinations and started to work on them that way.
Also, I am not familiar enough with the accent, so I cannot really distinguish male from female voices easily unless the voice is significantly deeper or higher than normal :P
@MidnightKat: Wow o.o
Thanks for feedback :)
Accent is south east UK fyi.
Quote from: mariondaly on April 17, 2013, 01:01:45 PM
What do you think??
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xXACul6IuV (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xXACul6IuV)
Doesn't sound very boyish :P
Quote from: mariondaly on April 17, 2013, 01:01:45 PM
What do you think??
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xXACul6IuV (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xXACul6IuV)
It sounds a little nasally, but that could just be how you voice works. My 'normal' voice isn't typically nasally, but when I try for a female voice, I typically have to take some time to remove a nasal sound that I naturally fall into. Aside from that, it sounds good :)
https://soundcloud.com/yanping-chimie-soong/emily-dickinson-no-466-version
How do you all read me?
Marion, I think you pass really well. Not boyish at all.
how do i sound?
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/female-voice
Quote from: katiew88 on April 23, 2013, 07:15:49 PM
Marion, I think you pass really well. Not boyish at all.
how do i sound?
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/female-voice
My spouse says it is too monotone and a little bit nasally. I think the first five seconds were fairly good (I am not sure precisely how it sounds different from the rest), so your pitch is good. I guess you should just work on the monotone and see if you can work past the nasal sound (my spouse says it doesn't sound interesting enough :P ).
Quote from: yanping on April 22, 2013, 09:10:12 PM
https://soundcloud.com/yanping-chimie-soong/emily-dickinson-no-466-version
How do you all read me?
Again, it sounds a bit nasally, but I think you just need to soften your voice a little without adding too much breathiness. Your pitch sounds right, so keep it up!
Oooookay, I finally plucked up the courage to post something here and, of course, it's really goofy.
I don't think this is the best recording, but I did laugh hard enough upon listening to get over my shyness and post it, so hopefully I'll get a better recording uploaded soon.
Anyway, I'd love some feedback. My voice certainly isn't where I want it to be, although I seem to get by these days, I know there's still a looooonnngg way to go.
Thanks everyone.
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/hiccups (https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/hiccups)
Quote from: Rowan Rue on April 28, 2013, 03:46:49 PM
Oooookay, I finally plucked up the courage to post something here and, of course, it's really goofy.
I don't think this is the best recording, but I did laugh hard enough upon listening to get over my shyness and post it, so hopefully I'll get a better recording uploaded soon.
Anyway, I'd love some feedback. My voice certainly isn't where I want it to be, although I seem to get by these days, I know there's still a looooonnngg way to go.
Thanks everyone.
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/hiccups (https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/hiccups)
I'm still laughing as I write this :D
Sounds like you have a really feminine voice and the resonance sounds totally female- plus you sound comfortable. Have you tried raising the pitch up a bit?
Quote from: Jennygirl on April 28, 2013, 07:35:46 PM
I'm still laughing as I write this :D
Sounds like you have a really feminine voice and the resonance sounds totally female- plus you sound comfortable. Have you tried raising the pitch up a bit?
Thanks Jenny, actually I've been trying to lower it back down a little recently because I find I notice the flaws in my intonation more that way. Perhaps I'll pitch a little higher for the next recording.
Hi everyone,
I'm new here. Been lurking for like two months :)
I would like some feedback about my voice and have two different samples. The first one is from today and the other that I think is way too high is from two months ago a few weeks after I started "practicing"
Todays try that I used while out - http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3)
Early version http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3)
Thanks
Quote from: Rowan Rue on April 28, 2013, 09:20:58 PM
Thanks Jenny, actually I've been trying to lower it back down a little recently because I find I notice the flaws in my intonation more that way. Perhaps I'll pitch a little higher for the next recording.
That makes perfect sense to me, I kind of did exactly the same thing recently. It was nice to hear your voice, I like it a lot as is! And I'll say it again, you sound really comfortable and happy. I just love your personality Rowan!!
I still haven't had the courage to post a sample here. Maybe in a few months when I am recovered from the voice surgery :)
Quote from: jamiemarie on April 28, 2013, 10:37:57 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm new here. Been lurking for like two months :)
I would like some feedback about my voice and have two different samples. The first one is from today and the other that I think is way too high is from two months ago a few weeks after I started "practicing"
Todays try that I used while out - http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3)
Early version http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3)
Thanks
Hey Jamie! It definitely sounds like you've made a great deal of progress. The first one sounds a lot better! Good for you :)
Quote from: Jennygirl on April 28, 2013, 11:37:30 PM
That makes perfect sense to me, I kind of did exactly the same thing recently. It was nice to hear your voice, I like it a lot as is! And I'll say it again, you sound really comfortable and happy. I just love your personality Rowan!!
I still haven't had the courage to post a sample here. Maybe in a few months when I am recovered from the voice surgery :)
I think it's because I wasn't recording something to post here specifically.
I've been working really hard to make sure all my involuntary noises such as sneezes and hiccups and coughing etc. sound like thy're in the correct range for a cis girl, so I was only recording it for myself at the time. When I listened back it just made me laugh so much I stopped being embarrassed and posted it.
Ok, you have to promise to make a recording of your normal speaking voice before surgery as I'm reeeeaaaly curious to know how the procedure works out!
Quote from: jamiemarie on April 28, 2013, 10:37:57 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm new here. Been lurking for like two months :)
I would like some feedback about my voice and have two different samples. The first one is from today and the other that I think is way too high is from two months ago a few weeks after I started "practicing"
Todays try that I used while out - http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3)
Early version http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3)
Thanks
The more recent one certainly sounds like you've made a great deal of improvement. See if you can make a longer recording next time though as it's hard to give any helpful feedback on such a short sound byte.
Question I would like to participate in this how does one go about starting a sound cloud account?
Quote from: Little Red Alt Girl on April 29, 2013, 01:03:58 AM
Question I would like to participate in this how does one go about starting a sound cloud account?
Just go to soundcloud.com and sign up. It's free, you just need an email address to use as your login.
Quote from: katiew88 on April 23, 2013, 07:15:49 PM
Marion, I think you pass really well. Not boyish at all.
how do i sound?
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/female-voice
Sounds good, Katie.
Quote from: jamiemarie on April 28, 2013, 10:37:57 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm new here. Been lurking for like two months :)
I would like some feedback about my voice and have two different samples. The first one is from today and the other that I think is way too high is from two months ago a few weeks after I started "practicing"
Todays try that I used while out - http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0047.mp3)
Early version http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0029.mp3)
Thanks
It certainly sounds much better in the newer version than the older, but like it was said earlier, giving us a longer recording might help us give you better advice. Keep up the good work!
Hey everyone! I have been working on my voice diligently every day all day for the past 7 months. A few months ago you all told me I had done it, and found a good voice. Its true, and since then I have been passing well with it, but it has changed some. I also struggle with maintaining the same voice all day or between differen tpeople, espcially those who knew me prior to transition. I need to work on it more. But anyway I wanted to show you my voice as I am still insecure about it, and have two diffeent voices I would like critique on...let me know...thanks for being here and helping me!
https://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-update
Quote from: PrincessDi on April 29, 2013, 07:39:26 AM
Hey everyone! I have been working on my voice diligently every day all day for the past 7 months. A few months ago you all told me I had done it, and found a good voice. Its true, and since then I have been passing well with it, but it has changed some. I also struggle with maintaining the same voice all day or between differen tpeople, espcially those who knew me prior to transition. I need to work on it more. But anyway I wanted to show you my voice as I am still insecure about it, and have two diffeent voices I would like critique on...let me know...thanks for being here and helping me!
https://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-update
You're just crazy, don't worry :P Your voice is wonderful, and either version of your voice works ^^
It's really amazing to hear the progress. Your voice sounds sooo good now :)
Thanks for sharing and for the tips about resonance, I had not heard that one before.
wow thank you both! I really needed to hear that, its so hard to see one's self or hear one's self clearly...at least in my experience. Feeling very encouraged and happy, and I am glad you found those tips helpful they really changed my voice...x
Quote from: PrincessDi on April 29, 2013, 09:08:15 AM
wow thank you both! I really needed to hear that, its so hard to see one's self or hear one's self clearly...at least in my experience. Feeling very encouraged and happy, and I am glad you found those tips helpful they really changed my voice...x
I am really sure that the resonance is my biggest flaw, so I am trying to work on it and I am grateful for the tip :)
Anyway, here is one of my recordings from today: Zeda_29_April_2013 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0UnPzAPQvUe)
I have tried advice, but I cannot seem to figure it out :[ I am told that my cadence is what i really need to work on, but I have no clue how to go about that. I have tried many different approaches, but i cannot seem to get it right D:
Di - You sound fantastic in either voice. As far as being able to keep it up all day, that's something that only time and continued use can help with. I've been teaching some sewing lessons recently and after talking to someone constantly for four or five hours three days in a row, I can barely speak at all in any voice! How do you do at volume? Can you yell or talk loudly and not have your voice slip?
Zeda - I think you're sounding really good! I can see where there's a little room for improvement but I think you pass just fine as you are right now.
I speak at my Job all day so its great practice. I can speak loudly in my new voice and its fine, but takes extra concentration. I have to "yell" out names at my job sometimes lol and I am So insecure then, it is very hard but actually given me great practice at maintaining the voice at all times even yelling. I think I'm beginning to understand how to hold it during all voice levels but still need much work
Quote from: PrincessDi on April 29, 2013, 01:36:20 PM
I speak at my Job all day so its great practice. I can speak loudly in my new voice and its fine, but takes extra concentration. I have to "yell" out names at my job sometimes lol and I am So insecure then, it is very hard but actually given me great practice at maintaining the voice at all times even yelling. I think I'm beginning to understand how to hold it during all voice levels but still need much work
"Transition - The lifelong process of being dissatisfied with yesterday's achievements"
When I can pluck up the courage I think I'll yell at my voice recorder from across the room and maybe post that..
If it helps, I notice that my voice is consistently around 10 decibels louder in female mode compared to male mode. Then again, my guy voice is very quiet :P Maybe that is what I am doing wrong o__o
Well my voice passed on the phone this morning as I was ordering some stuff from the metal supply store, I got my first ma'am over the phone! It felt pretty great.
I definitely questioned myself a little on the voice surgery I'm having in two weeks- but really the main reason I'm doing it is because I want to have the right voice around people I knew from before, too, without thinking or concentrating which leads to a major lack of self confidence for me.. and I immediately revert back. Seems like such a huge ongoing problem for most girls and I don't want to deal with it if I don't have to.
Either way, I know that voice surgery is not just a quick fix- you still have to train the other parts like resonance, word choice, inflection, etc. So, I have no regrets either way even if I am able to already pass vocally. Pretty much the only thing the surgery will fix is pitch, which will be a great help when laughing, talking loudly, and other subtle things.
Plus I cannot wait to sing alto/soprano :)
Okay here is another try with a longer voice sample. I feel it still needs lots of work and I plan to go to a speech therapist but would still love some feedback.I dont think pitch will be a problem but some other things are and I usually tend to talk rather quiet and soft normally.
http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0051-0430.mp3 (http://dirtyneeds.asuscomm.com/transition/audio/Voice0051-0430.mp3)
Thanks for the feedback
Jamie, thats quite good! I think you sound female already.
Thanks Di that cheered me up. Maybe I'm worrying about it too much.
Yeah Jamie you sound great! Well done :)
Also Di I love the new avatar!
Jamie, you sound especially female when you say your name! So focus on what you're doing there and keep cycling that word until you understand what your throat is doing when you say it like that and then you can talk like that all the time. Though I do think your voice is passable now, already. Personally, working with one word was a huge help. I would find the voice and then just say the word over and over until it sounded female to me. Doing this is what helped me find my voice. You need to practice every day for hours...haha its ok its fun and you are changing into your new self. But since you already have a good voice, just keep on doing these things in order to develop it fully. I found my voice 4 months ago but of course it keeps developing and changing into something better. My challenge recently, before my most recent upload, was to really push my voice into being "full" and not to sound at all contrived or controlled. Your voice still sounds sort of squelched in some ways, like you don't have free reign with it. That is the number one problem with our altered voices if you ask me. We need to be totally inside our voices with all the complex and full changes and body of a voice. This was really hard for me to do because in order to have the voice sound right I had to do lots of complex and mysterious throat clenching, rising, breathing, etc etc haha...its hard and when you get the voice you get scared of letting go or you might lose it. But with practice you just develop that part of your voice and throat and it is second nature. I would experiment with finding the voice and then opening it up...what I did was go to the sightly higher voice I had been using, get my resonance under control, and then slowly let it settle by relaxing my throat in some ways. This is all very vague but in essence I was just trying to shape my voice into something less restrictive...it worked and I think it helped me get a voice that is easy to use and passable and not pinched. Your voice is great, but in my experience we just keep perfecting it until its wholly our own natural voice...x
Jenny: Thank you! I just took that picture the other day and I thought it was pretty. I have changed so much in 8 months...crazy!
Wow thanks for the input!
I've made some progress but I really can't tell, which one is better?
a: http://vocaroo.com/i/s13pKhZM36Nf (http://vocaroo.com/i/s13pKhZM36Nf) (In case you can't tell, I get bored with the repetitiveness of voice practice and get VERY silly)
b: http://vocaroo.com/i/s046YQOknyIe (http://vocaroo.com/i/s046YQOknyIe)
@Jamie you sound great
Thanks for the feedback everyone.
BTW Di thanks for your thoughtful post it was very well put. I don't have any idea what I do different with my name but I'll ask my friends this weekend while I get out to explore my boundaries.
Marion it might just be me but the second one sounds like you have a sore throat if that makes any sense I guess like straining to talk. Or after a long practice session.Mine gets like that after singing which I have a newfound interest in after about 10 minutes of practice.
The first one is slightly higher pitched but the words seem to flow out smoothly and you sound relaxed especially since you are goofing around or being silly as you say. I don't know if you sing to your favorite songs but I work in a factory that's a bit loud and I can sing, be goofy, and talk to myself and nobody even hears it which is great practice especially when being goofy because it relives the tension.
Are you really tense or relaxed? I find that I have trouble with practicing my voice unless I'm relaxed otherwise it's kinda raspy and broken.
The second seems hurried also but it might just be me I haven't sleep much this week.
I think that came out right if not you can pinch me... :embarrassed:
I have another recording and I feel that I have not made much progress (I may have digressed .__. )
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0OFvY0mjx7y (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0OFvY0mjx7y)
I am trying to work out problems as quickly as I can, now. I challenged myself to three interviews next week :P The interviews aren't too important as they are for a programming contest in France and I was only participating for fun, but it would be cool to have my voice ready in time.
So I dropped the falsetto and just took my normal voice and upped it a tiny bit... I can't tell if this is better or worse
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Ei3U7Oaop6 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Ei3U7Oaop6)
Actually, I like it!
I recorded a poem on my voice exercises
https://soundcloud.com/yanping-chimie-soong/vocal-chords
A version where I try to add a "girl trill"
https://soundcloud.com/yanping-chimie-soong/vocal-chords-2
Ok, so the only thing I feel like I've lost as a result of transitioning is my ability to sing. I had been getting quite good in my male range and loosing that has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with as I really love singing.
Anyway, I intend to get it back so I've been practicing quite a lot.
These samples are my trying to connect my upper range to my falsetto range and not have it be an obvious transition. I've also been woring really hard to make sure my falsetto doesn't sound like falsetto!
Abviously these are really rough and I'm mostly of key but....oh god I can't believe I'm posting these.
Regina Spektor - Fidelity (starts and finishes really rough, this one is really hard for me)
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/sets/fidelity (https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/sets/fidelity)
Feist - My Moon, My Man 1
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/my-moon-1 (https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/my-moon-1)
Feist - My Moon, My Man 2
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/my-moon-2
If anyone has some singing specific tips I'd love to hear them.
Thanx
*goes and hides*
@fierce
Took your advice...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0GZWdcGGwUZ (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0GZWdcGGwUZ)
I'm not sure how it sounds :|
Marion, you really sound female to me! And not even forced or anything, awesome!
Is there also a way for FtM's to sound more manly? As I cannot get on T anytime soon, but my voice is bugging the living daylight out of me. I feel like I just CANNOT pass with the voice I have now, which just screams "GIRL" ):
@marion: You sound so wonderful! My spouse says it sounds 'a lot more girlish than the other ones I've heard.' ^_^ Excellent!
I have yet to figure out how to get my voice to work. After working 8 hours non-stop, trying to follow a bunch of advice, I got nowhere (The advice was clear, I just couldn't quite manage to work it out properly). I may have made some progress yesterday, but I had too many exams so I didn't have much time to practice.
@yanping: You do sound a little forced, but it is sounding nice!
@Rowan: The first link says that the set couldn't be found. You still sound kind of guyish in the song, but I am not sure how to fix it (I cannot sing either way :P) It might be that it is too breathy and quiet. For a quiet female singing voice, I *think* I would expect it to sound clear and unobstructed (the breath adds a hiss that obstructs the sound, if that makes sense). I think that would be good for a louder voice, too, actually. Another difficult hurdle might be to handle all of the rapid vocal changes which means you will need some fairly decent control over your range. It is one thing to switch back and forth from a low and high range, but to switch to a different notes in the same range (especially the upper range for us), will require some real control x.x
@Erik: Hi! I am really not that good with voices, but do you have a recording so that others might be able to listen to it an give advice? The FtM guys I know seem to focus more on male speech patterns before T. Doing some quick Googling, I found this (http://www.t-vox.org/index.php?title=FTM_passing_tips#Voice).
Also, the milk thing is interesting. From my own experience, I have had occasions where I needed to further masulinise my voice and so I typically do the following:
-Hum and go as low as I can.
-Work out the throat muscles to try to go even lower.
-For me, I go until my voice breaks.
-At this point, my voice gets very gravelly, the pitch is lowered, and I sometimes get a southern drawl :P
I am not sure if this technique is anatomy specific, so it might not work unless your body has been masculinised, but if it does work, it might also help train your voice to be lower for the long term.
Also, try to yawn before doing those steps so that you get an idea of where the muscles are in your throat that you need to control.
Zada, I've found practicing too much just hurts things, make them worse. ><
I do 30min, sometimes an hour a day and I try to practice randomly throughout.
@everything thanks, nice to know I'm making progress
Thanks for the tips Zeda :)
I found that too, probably because T fixes all problems concerning voice, and -or so I've heard- lowering your voice is a lot harder than making it higher.
I tried the milk think, but noticed no difference. Probably because I drink quite a lot through the coarse of the night (I get thirsty pretty quickly, so I have a bottle of water next to my bed)
And I'll give those things a shot! It'll take quite a while before I can even start T (I'm not even out yet, then have to go through the therapeutic mill, and then hopefully get permission to start T), and I can't really pass with my voice as it is now. So anything to help, even if it's just a bit, is appreciated :)
Marion- YES you are sounding great
Rowan- I think your voice sounds like it's not getting enough support from the diaphragm, so it sounds kind of windy and not loud / sustained enough. Try breathing down like you're filling your stomach with air. Maybe standing would help a lot, too (if you were sitting during the recording).
Also a good exercise is humming. It's the hardest way to control your singing voice, it automatically relaxes everything, and you can hear yourself really well all at the same time. Might be a good exercise for developing a female singing voice, too.
These are just a few tips I remember my mother giving people during their voice lessons :) I am totally down to offer more tips, I just don't want it to seem like I'm trying to overload you or something!
Here is my latest attempt that I made a few minutes ago .__.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s19W9eTaNUbQ (http://vocaroo.com/i/s19W9eTaNUbQ)
I tried three different ways of using my voice and I have been working at it for so long now, that I forgot what the mistakes sound like so I need fresh ears.
I feel like I am beating my head against a wall trying to get past the falsetto-y guy voice D:
Thanks Jenny, that is helpful. putting any force behind my voice seems to be way harder when I'm consciously raising my voice box. I think that and suppressing chest resonance is causing me to tighten a whole bunch of other muscles and I'm loosing attack as a result. I'll have to start figuring out what I can 'let go of" so to speak.
The other problem is that my recent surgery did a number on my abbs so I've lost my ability to maintain a steady pressure with my diaphragm. Still another week until I'm allowed to do an y crunches.
I will def try humming more too.
Any other advise would be very welcome :)
Quote from: PrincessDi on April 29, 2013, 07:39:26 AM
Hey everyone! I have been working on my voice diligently every day all day for the past 7 months. A few months ago you all told me I had done it, and found a good voice. Its true, and since then I have been passing well with it, but it has changed some. I also struggle with maintaining the same voice all day or between differen tpeople, espcially those who knew me prior to transition. I need to work on it more. But anyway I wanted to show you my voice as I am still insecure about it, and have two diffeent voices I would like critique on...let me know...thanks for being here and helping me!
https://soundcloud.com/user443462524/voice-update
OMG!!! PrincessDi... thank you so much for posting your voice on soundcloud :)
i was dead stuck and frustrated with working out resonance and what you said was exactly what i needed to hear to get my head (and voice) around it. now my voice is improving in leaps and bounds :)
thank you thank you thank you thank you :D :D :D :D
xx
Quote from: Rowan Rue on May 08, 2013, 01:46:42 AM
Ok, so the only thing I feel like I've lost as a result of transitioning is my ability to sing. I had been getting quite good in my male range and loosing that has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with as I really love singing.
Anyway, I intend to get it back so I've been practicing quite a lot.
These samples are my trying to connect my upper range to my falsetto range and not have it be an obvious transition. I've also been woring really hard to make sure my falsetto doesn't sound like falsetto!
Abviously these are really rough and I'm mostly of key but....oh god I can't believe I'm posting these.
Regina Spektor - Fidelity (starts and finishes really rough, this one is really hard for me)
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/sets/fidelity (https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/sets/fidelity)
Feist - My Moon, My Man 1
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/my-moon-1 (https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/my-moon-1)
Feist - My Moon, My Man 2
https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/my-moon-2 (https://soundcloud.com/rowan-rhys/my-moon-2)
If anyone has some singing specific tips I'd love to hear them.
Thanx
*goes and hides*
You would benefit by developing mixed voice, which is a challenging technique at first. I used to be able to only sing very low or very high, but now I've accessed mixed voice, I can sing relatively high and still maintain power. This video below is a pretty good demonstration of how to get to that mixed voice to sing higher notes without sounding too soft.
Fastest way to add notes to your vocal range - Free Vocal Lesson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Y8Ezs87Js#)
I also find that mixed voice is by far the easiest to sustain notes in - in my chest voice I can hold a note for about 11-12 seconds, but in mixed, I can hold it for up to about 20 seconds because it's so much more effortless.
It's been a month and a half since I've made a recording. How do I sound?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1al1QAfIYBq (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1al1QAfIYBq)
Quote from: Anna! on May 27, 2013, 09:50:42 PM
It's been a month and a half since I've made a recording. How do I sound?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1al1QAfIYBq (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1al1QAfIYBq)
99% perfect. Your voice passes splendidly. The only problem is here and there it goes into a kind of falsetto, but that's not enough to make it unpassable. You've done such a great job creating this voice for yourself. It'll serve you well! ^_^
Quote from: kyh on May 27, 2013, 10:02:04 PM
99% perfect. Your voice passes splendidly.
Yay!! I guess that extra month and a half makes all the difference :)
Quote
The only problem is here and there it goes into a kind of falsetto, but that's not enough to make it unpassable.
It's good that it doesn't make my voice unpassable. I'll just take that as motivation to keep practicing!
Quote
You've done such a great job creating this voice for yourself. It'll serve you well! ^_^
It took lots of hard work, determination, and practice.
Quote from: Anna! on May 27, 2013, 09:50:42 PM
It's been a month and a half since I've made a recording. How do I sound?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1al1QAfIYBq (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1al1QAfIYBq)
You sound great Anna!
Haven't been practicing as much as I have been...been mixing different voice styles lately and came out with this, thoughts?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0p4tA8cbUpL (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0p4tA8cbUpL)
Erm, wow, I'm kind of happy this morning! This is as good as anything I've got, been practicing a bit more lately:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s10AS63ImSGQ (http://vocaroo.com/i/s10AS63ImSGQ)
In reference to the "phlegm", I've had a sort throat today, sadly, but it's weird, it's felt kind of like a reverse voice breaking. So I kind of have that to thank. It's not perfect, but really a good start, I think. Not falsetto like so many other times I've practiced! Still, what do you think? What's good, to be improved, etc.?
Nice, hidden 21st birthday gift for tomorrow, a day in advance, from me to me, right? :)
marion- it sounds nice and feminine but the resonance is coming through a little bit on the nasal side. Hmm I'm trying to think of a suggestion. Maybe try to imagine making a ridge up on the very very back of your tongue right before your throat. And then try to keep the rest of your tongue flat. I dunno if that would help, I'm just trying to describe the way that I position my tongue to get decent resonance without any nasal sound. It took me months to figure that out by the way.
A huge thing that helped me was putting my finger on my adams apple to make sure it stayed in the up position, and then concurrently tried to relax every other muscle. I end up with a slight ridge on the verrry back of my tongue and my adams apple all the way in the up position :)
jesstrogen- Well it sounds like you could actually come DOWN in pitch a little ;) It is sounding a little falsetto-ey but that's probably because your fundamental frequency is up at a lofty 318hz! Wow girl, that is a high voice! Female range is 200-250. I would say everything else sounds very feminine. The way that you talk is very girly. If you could just get your pitch down a little I think it might make a huge difference!
I recommend this free program called "Praat". Someone else posted it on susan's and I've been using it ever since. It can analyze the pitch of your voice. :)
http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/ (http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/)
Hey I'm new here and I've been pretty frustrated with my voice and was hoping for some tips on what I could do better.
Here's a link to a recording: https://soundcloud.com/user114585979/voice-6-4-13
Thanks!
Quote from: abbyt89 on June 04, 2013, 08:38:15 AM
Hey I'm new here and I've been pretty frustrated with my voice and was hoping for some tips on what I could do better.
Here's a link to a recording: https://soundcloud.com/user114585979/voice-6-4-13
Thanks!
You are really very close Abby! No need to be frustrated. Your fundamental frequency for this recording is 189hz and even your resonance sounds almost 100% female :)
Female range is 200-250hz, but I have also seen it noted as 190-250hz. Personally I think you are there by the numbers!
Now if you were looking for a more nitpicky response....
As far as the sound goes, I think the dynamic and overall inflection of your pitch tends to feel a little repetitive within its range. You might try holding the pitch more at high and low points instead of oscillating between high and low so rhythmically- this might make it sound a fraction more genuine.
Your pitch is very close to the bottom of the "acceptable range" so you might try raising your pitch ever so slightly.
The resonance is good but not GREAT, perhaps you could raise the Adam's apple a bit more to make the voice sound just a hair smaller.
But all in all, I personally think you are there! I like your voice :) But I went ahead and provided some nitpickies in case a more detailed response is what you were looking for (I know I usually hope for those ;))
Quote from: Jennygirl on June 04, 2013, 12:31:34 PM
You are really very close Abby! No need to be frustrated. Your fundamental frequency for this recording is 189hz and even your resonance sounds almost 100% female :)
Female range is 200-250hz, but I have also seen it noted as 190-250hz. Personally I think you are there by the numbers!
Now if you were looking for a more nitpicky response....
As far as the sound goes, I think the dynamic and overall inflection of your pitch tends to feel a little repetitive within its range. You might try holding the pitch more at high and low points instead of oscillating between high and low so rhythmically- this might make it sound a fraction more genuine.
Your pitch is very close to the bottom of the "acceptable range" so you might try raising your pitch ever so slightly.
The resonance is good but not GREAT, perhaps you could raise the Adam's apple a bit more to make the voice sound just a hair smaller.
But all in all, I personally think you are there! I like your voice :) But I went ahead and provided some nitpickies in case a more detailed response is what you were looking for (I know I usually hope for those ;))
Thank you so much for the response!
I have a hard time keeping my pitch up, especially so when I'm nervous. I'm terrified to try and use my voice in public because I just know I'll have trouble with my pitch.
I'm going to keep practicing my voice but I'm seriously considering surgery at Yeson since I'm pretty much just waiting on my voice before I go full time. How is your voice recovering?
Also, what software did you use to analyze my fundamental frequency and resonance?
Quote from: abbyt89 on June 04, 2013, 01:49:49 PM
Thank you so much for the response!
I have a hard time keeping my pitch up, especially so when I'm nervous. I'm terrified to try and use my voice in public because I just know I'll have trouble with my pitch.
I'm going to keep practicing my voice but I'm seriously considering surgery at Yeson since I'm pretty much just waiting on my voice before I go full time. How is your voice recovering?
Also, what software did you use to analyze my fundamental frequency and resonance?
Ahhh I know
exactly what you mean with the pitch in public thing. That's the main reason I got the surgery. Definitely don't stop practicing because it will only help your voice no matter what. Even with the surgery from Yeson you still need to train the other parts like inflection, resonance, word choice, and dynamic of speech.
My voice is recovering really well. It's hard to tell completely right now because I'm only allowed to say 15-20 words per day for 6 more days, but then I will be able to have full conversations and I cannot wait!! My fundamental frequency is already above 200hz, though, which is EXCELLENT if you ask me for being straight out of the gates.
Here is a sample of my voice from a week ago (two weeks post op). It is deceptively loud because my mouth was right next to the microphone, but over the past week I've been recovering volume- a little bit every day :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0b1ChY5eugg (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0b1ChY5eugg)
To analyze your pitch, I used the same software I posted in my response to jesstrogen- it's a nice little free app called Praat :) Windows & Mac compatible.
http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/ (http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/)
Hi all!
Here is a sample of me singing. I wonder if I pass singing and or speaking? Some parts of the song are spoken and I'm sure you'll recognize it
http://www2.zshares.net/52mej5g0zs1n (http://www2.zshares.net/52mej5g0zs1n)
Wow, unbelievable! Her voice IS female! :o Just... wow!
One end I feel envious, 'cause you girls can do it without hormones, and on one end I feel lucky, because hormones do the work for us (but it will take a couple of years before I can get on them :/ so that makes me kinda sad...)
I have ONE thing uploaded where I speak, my 1 year dreadlock update (in case you don't know, dreads change quite a lot, and it's a common practice to make so called 'timelines' to keep track of the change. I mostly did it with pics, but did 2 video updates as well)
1 year Dreadlock update (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8O6KCE1l_s#)
(natural voice, before T or ANYTHING)
I tried practising a big to get it lower, but it doesn't really work... it either sounds like I'm faking it, or I get a throatache from straining my vocal chords too much. *sigh*
But my voice just makes me feel all horrible when I hear it... MAYBE I could pass on looks only, but if I open my mouth, ALL of that is gone...
Quote from: Erik Ezrin on June 11, 2013, 08:48:50 AM
Wow, unbelievable! Her voice IS female! :o Just... wow!
One end I feel envious, 'cause you girls can do it without hormones, and on one end I feel lucky, because hormones do the work for us (but it will take a couple of years before I can get on them :/ so that makes me kinda sad...)
I have ONE thing uploaded where I speak, my 1 year dreadlock update (in case you don't know, dreads change quite a lot, and it's a common practice to make so called 'timelines' to keep track of the change. I mostly did it with pics, but did 2 video updates as well)
1 year Dreadlock update (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8O6KCE1l_s#)
(natural voice, before T or ANYTHING)
I tried practising a big to get it lower, but it doesn't really work... it either sounds like I'm faking it, or I get a throatache from straining my vocal chords too much. *sigh*
But my voice just makes me feel all horrible when I hear it... MAYBE I could pass on looks only, but if I open my mouth, ALL of that is gone...
Who's voice sample are you referring to? ^_^
As for your voice a lot of it is how your intonate things rather than at what pitch it is :)
It's my own.
(yes I know, I'm not MtF, but since I'm not on T yet, I TRY to make the best out of my voice possible)
I've been practising a bit, mainly on intonation/inflection, once I notice some difference I'll make a new video/recording. Right now I keep dropping back to my old speech patters, lol.
Quote from: Erik Ezrin on June 12, 2013, 01:48:48 AM
It's my own.
(yes I know, I'm not MtF, but since I'm not on T yet, I TRY to make the best out of my voice possible)
I've been practising a bit, mainly on intonation/inflection, once I notice some difference I'll make a new video/recording. Right now I keep dropping back to my old speech patters, lol.
I saw your video and you definitely look passable! Which is awesome for you! ^_^ Lucky guy! As for your voice, it wasn't that feminine, but it's not masculine either *yet*. I'm wondering, is it easier to make your voice passable pre hrt if you're ftm or if you're mtf?
Really? I do!? *cheers a bit* That just made my day Kyh! I'm just so insecure about my voice... :(
I probably don't pass my age, but it's a good start! :)
Most people unfortunately gender me as female on first sight (really, I have NO idea why! It's so incredibly frustrating!), but if I'd correct them I think no one would be like "WTFFFF!" , right? :P
And I think the mtf's win on this one, since it's easier to train your voice 'up' than 'down' (how low you can go is mainly determined by the size of your voice box, and thickness + length of the vocal chords, if you go 'too low' for too long, it can damage your vocal chords 'cause they're not made to do that). But I feel sorry for mtf's having to train so hard on their voices, even post HRT. :<
Ok... Back into the lion's den.
There's something about the tone of my voice, in recording at least, that doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if it's just from the recording, or if it's just 'cause it doesn't match the internal version I have running, but it always sounds suspiciously gravelly from where I stand.
http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX (http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX)
Quote from: ZoeM on June 12, 2013, 02:11:05 PM
Ok... Back into the lion's den.
There's something about the tone of my voice, in recording at least, that doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if it's just from the recording, or if it's just 'cause it doesn't match the internal version I have running, but it always sounds suspiciously gravelly from where I stand.
http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX (http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX)
You sound absolutely amazing Zoe! Such a clear, feminine voice. You would be perfect as a flight attendant because when they speak on the PA system they always sound very relaxed and soft. And you also speak quickly like them. :)
And Eric, maybe it's because right when they first meet you, you introduce yourself? Then they hear your voice and they realize "ahhhh, it's a girl," but if someone just saw pictures of you or saw you without hearing your voice, they would come to the conclusion that your male? I think so, because if I just saw you on the street it wouldn't cross my mind that you were transgender.
Quote from: ZoeM on June 12, 2013, 02:11:05 PM
Ok... Back into the lion's den.
There's something about the tone of my voice, in recording at least, that doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if it's just from the recording, or if it's just 'cause it doesn't match the internal version I have running, but it always sounds suspiciously gravelly from where I stand.
http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX (http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX)
Wow Zoe... You sound fantastic :D
Zoe, I agree with the girls here; you sound great! :)
And that could probably be, yeah. Usually in restaurants and stuff you also have to talk, which results them dumping me in the 'female' category... :/
Greetings to Susans Members (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjHg_meQ2xw#)
I think this is the most I've ever spoken on camera. lol
Quote from: Keaira on June 13, 2013, 04:09:40 AM
I think this is the most I've ever spoken on camera. lol
I don't really know you two but that video was a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e
And your voices sound great :)
Quote from: Jennygirl on June 13, 2013, 04:37:46 AM
I don't really know you two but that video was a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e
And your voices sound great :)
Really? I still hear male.. it's my own natural voice. Any time I've tried changing my voice it makes me sound like an old lady. lol ^_^ But thank you for watching.
Quote from: ZoeM on June 12, 2013, 02:11:05 PM
Ok... Back into the lion's den.
There's something about the tone of my voice, in recording at least, that doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if it's just from the recording, or if it's just 'cause it doesn't match the internal version I have running, but it always sounds suspiciously gravelly from where I stand.
http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX (http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/zv01/s-1bZjX)
Zoe, my dear, you need more than a seven-second clip to exhibit your range and versatility. But what I heard sounds good.
Quote from: Jesstrogen on June 01, 2013, 11:35:29 AM
Erm, wow, I'm kind of happy this morning! This is as good as anything I've got, been practicing a bit more lately:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s10AS63ImSGQ (http://vocaroo.com/i/s10AS63ImSGQ)
In reference to the "phlegm", I've had a sort throat today, sadly, but it's weird, it's felt kind of like a reverse voice breaking. So I kind of have that to thank. It's not perfect, but really a good start, I think. Not falsetto like so many other times I've practiced! Still, what do you think? What's good, to be improved, etc.?
Nice, hidden 21st birthday gift for tomorrow, a day in advance, from me to me, right? :)
Your voice reminds me of when my daughters had friends for sleepovers. I could here the chattering and giggling all night long.
BTW, happy birthday.
Quote from: Erik Ezrin on June 11, 2013, 08:48:50 AM
Wow, unbelievable! Her voice IS female! :o Just... wow!
One end I feel envious, 'cause you girls can do it without hormones, and on one end I feel lucky, because hormones do the work for us (but it will take a couple of years before I can get on them :/ so that makes me kinda sad...)
I have ONE thing uploaded where I speak, my 1 year dreadlock update (in case you don't know, dreads change quite a lot, and it's a common practice to make so called 'timelines' to keep track of the change. I mostly did it with pics, but did 2 video updates as well)
1 year Dreadlock update (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8O6KCE1l_s#)
(natural voice, before T or ANYTHING)
I tried practising a big to get it lower, but it doesn't really work... it either sounds like I'm faking it, or I get a throatache from straining my vocal chords too much. *sigh*
But my voice just makes me feel all horrible when I hear it... MAYBE I could pass on looks only, but if I open my mouth, ALL of that is gone...
Erik, you need to get your voice out of your throat and into you chest. Your hair is great and you accent is charming. :)
Actually, I had to learn to lower my voice, because my natural voice was so "whiny." Now I have to unlearn it! >:(
Quote from: Keaira on June 13, 2013, 04:39:41 AM
Really? I still hear male.. it's my own natural voice. Any time I've tried changing my voice it makes me sound like an old lady. lol ^_^ But thank you for watching.
I mean I suppose you could range up your pitch ever so slightly, but you are absolutely right it sounds very natural and very feminine as is.
How do people usually gender you on the phone? I wouldn't be surprised if you get miss'd or maam'd a lot.
Quote from: Jennygirl on June 13, 2013, 04:55:27 AM
I mean I suppose you could range up your pitch ever so slightly, but you are absolutely right it sounds very natural and very feminine as is.
How do people usually gender you on the phone? I wouldn't be surprised if you get miss'd or maam'd a lot.
I always get gendered female. on the phone. ^_^
Quote from: girl you look fierce on June 14, 2013, 03:11:40 AM
Feeling a little blecky about my voice lately...
https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/61313-1
Thoughts? The temptation is to do a try-hard, ideal recording but in reality this is the relaxed kind of voice I use in an all day every day sort of way, at least at home. Practically I can sound a fair bit more feminine but usually with some strain after a long day of it, and I'm really worried about damaging my voice from those days. :-\
Your voice is AMAZING. If this is relaxed, then your try hard voice must be incredible. Your fundamental frequency for this recording is 184hz which is AWESOME. Plus I think your resonance sounds great. Where you really shine, though, is your inflection and pronunciation of s's and extended vowel sounds. It just sounds really natural and feminine.
Now if you want me to be overly critical, female range they say is 190hz-250hz. So, if you want to get technical your pitch may be a little low. But in reality it is negligible... I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. You have a gorgeous voice as is and it's a pleasure to listen to you talk.
:D
Quote from: girl you look fierce on June 14, 2013, 03:11:40 AM
Feeling a little blecky about my voice lately...
https://soundcloud.com/user963959415/61313-1
Thoughts? The temptation is to do a try-hard, ideal recording but in reality this is the relaxed kind of voice I use in an all day every day sort of way, at least at home. Practically I can sound a fair bit more feminine but usually with some strain after a long day of it, and I'm really worried about damaging my voice from those days. :-\
I "really, really, really think" you sound like any one of my three daughters. No reason to feel blecky. Your voice is superb.
Yea, there's some great voices here. So jealous. lol. I'd like to make mine sound more feminine but I havent a clue what I could change.
All these voices are great, though i fear I may never post here(same with other topics) as I either can't get past the 'minnie' mouse stage without going to deep or some say I sound like Michael Jackson.
<3 yesh ^_^ huhuhu
Quote from: girl you look fierce on June 14, 2013, 12:10:04 PM
@jennygirl and Jamie D
Thanks... guess I have to accept how other people hear it lol. :) I don't know why it's so hard to accept!
About the frequency yeah relaxed it tends toward mid 180s and with a little more effort around 210-220 hz. Any higher and I think it would get worn out fast :-X
This is exactly how I am. I'm in the same exact boat you are. I totally get your feelings of being down about it some times because of the effort between womanly, relaxed voice vs. efforted, super cute girly voice (or whatever) -- and worrying about the strain and long days.
You still sound really awesome. Especially because I totally relate to the situation, I really would like to reassure you that you sound great even while relaxed. You really, really do.
Hi again. Been a while since I came to this thread.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/17thjuneuploader/s-Hq8xp
I would really like some feedback on this recording. I know it sounds kind of flat and like I am super depressed or something trust me I am not as bad as it sounds :P
I noticed and tried to pick it up a bit in the middle somewhere. However I was thinking of what to say and also monitoring my analysing software as I spoke so I was kinda distracted! Either way it was still less monotonous than my last upload I think.
--
Anyway I would really love some honest feedback on how I sound. Like I always think it sounds kind of bad and like a fake voice I always think I sound terrible, then again I have always hated hearing back my male voice too! So whatever.
I try to judge it fairly and sometimes I think it sounds OK but I really don't know. I just can't judge myself well or objectively at all. I really need someone to say whether it is good or bad or somewhere in the middle or anything so I know where I need to work on.
Thanks!
PS girl you look fierce, get out of here your voice is awesome.
Seras,
You're right. I think your resonance needs work. I'm pretty certain I can hear from the way that you're inhaling that your throat is very open; in order to constrict resonance, you need to pull your "adam's apple" (really, it's just that area, I don't think the actual thing itself) up and back a little bit. It's tough at first, but becomes easier and pretty natural eventually.
Okay, so, I love this thread. I don't remember all of which ones I listened to, but so many of you sound so amazing. Awesome job! A couple that stand out in my mind for whatever random reason I'll just talk abt for a sec.
Princess Di, I really identify with some things you said about how hard it is to use a new voice with people that knew you from before. Weird how that is. Another thing, I also always feel like my voice is in flux and sounds better or worse throughout the day, etc. Also, you sound totally amazing and either version you want to use is great.
Kiera, you two are so squishable! Love it :)
Girl You Look Fierce, I am with you on feeling blecky about my voice. I never feel I can judge my own self and, because of that, I spend a lot of time feeling less than confident. I think I will upload some samples later because of that. Anyway you sound perfect, obv, so stop worrying :)
Was anyone able to hear my recording of me singing
My guess is you didn't get feedback because the z share website is kind of a pain to deal with (okay not really but it's a few steps more than necessary and phishing ads galore).
But I'm glad I downloaded your file and listened to it... you are sounding great! Your chest voice range sounds incredible... you were hitting that F#4 at the end like it was nothing! Impressive, very impressive :D
How were you figuring out fundamental frequencies, Jenny? Was it that link you posted a while back? Cuz I went there and, idk it looked very engineerish and I was just mostly confuzzled and my head hurts now. Not sure what I was even looking at tbh.
Nvm I think I figured it out. But, sheeeesh ::)! i will mess with it some more when I get home
yes I am using Praat :)
I've never posted a voice recording of my own in this thread so I figured I would get two birds with one stone and do a voice tutorial on how to use Praat. I'm assuming it's the same for windows/mac, but I am on a mac.
My voice is still in recovery from vocal chord shortening about a month ago, so keep that in mind when listening to my voice. It still gets a little strainy after an extended talking period... but it's actually good because I need to re-strengthen everything in there ;)
I hope this helps and let me know how I sound!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1a5GlYKwmDR (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1a5GlYKwmDR)
(and the link to download praat)
windows: http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_win.html (http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_win.html)
mac: http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_mac.html (http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_mac.html)
Wow you sound fab/amazing, Jenny :)!
Also thanks for the tutorial. I don't see a view, so I was kind of lost from there, but it might be because I don't have a microphone on my computer and I was opening an mp3 into the program instead. I did figure a different way to have it show me a mean fundamental frequency, and it does seem to work. I think this prog (while being way to engineery and confusing lol) is a great tool for getting some quantitative feedback on your voice. I am realizing that my pitch is a bit low, along with all the other problems I feel I have, but it is good to know that pitch at least one of my probs, cause I never can tell anything :)
Quote from: Stefani2 on June 17, 2013, 07:21:45 PM
Omg, Jenny - your voice is BEAUTIFUL. Kudos. Here is mine (sorry for the poor quality I used my phone recorder, and bad acoustics, my house has high ceilings and almost NO furniture XD):
My Voice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dngrFTYtkxU&feature=youtu.be#)
It definitely still needs a lot of work (my sister thinks I sound like our mom and I can sorta hear it, but our mother's voice is sorta husky, but very elegant and womanly). I have practiced it but it always comes out sounding pretty much the same whether I try or don't I am going to start watching videos about feminizing your voice and hopefully will be able to get some voice software so lets hope that helps XD
But seriously, Jenny, your voice is totally GIRL. Sooo amazing you are soo beautiful <3
You sound totally female! :)
Quote from: Stefani2 on June 17, 2013, 07:21:45 PM
Omg, Jenny - your voice is BEAUTIFUL. Kudos. Here is mine (sorry for the poor quality I used my phone recorder, and bad acoustics, my house has high ceilings and almost NO furniture XD):
It definitely still needs a lot of work (although my sister thinks I sound like our mom and I can sorta hear it, but our mother's voice is sorta husky, but very elegant and womanly). I have practiced it but it always comes out sounding pretty much the same whether I try or don't I am going to start watching videos about feminizing your voice and hopefully will be able to get some voice software so lets hope that helps XD
But seriously, Jenny, your voice is totally GIRL. Sooo amazing you are soo beautiful <3
omg thank you so much Stefani!! You're very kind and your comments brought me a nugget of confidence that I appreciate very very much as I continue to recover :)
Your voice sounds tooootally female! You're doing great. Pitch & dynamic range, resonance, it's all there in that recording. I can't think of anything that would make you sound any more female. So, way-to-go-way-to-go keep it up. And thanks again for your comments, I'm very glad you like my voice!
Quote from: Jen on June 17, 2013, 07:29:38 PM
Wow you sound fab/amazing, Jenny :)!
Also thanks for the tutorial. I don't see a view, so I was kind of lost from there, but it might be because I don't have a microphone on my computer and I was opening an mp3 into the program instead. I did figure a different way to have it show me a mean fundamental frequency, and it does seem to work. I think this prog (while being way to engineery and confusing lol) is a great tool for getting some quantitative feedback on your voice. I am realizing that my pitch is a bit low, along with all the other problems I feel I have, but it is good to know that pitch at least one of my probs, cause I never can tell anything :)
Thanks Jen! I'm still getting used to my new voice but it's exciting to hear that people are already liking the sound of it :)
Very glad that Praat is working for you. Also first of all it's okay if your average pitch isn't exactly within the 190-250hz range. A looot can be done with vocal inflection. A lot of my cis female friends actually have around a 180-185hz fundamental frequency. It's fun to test your friends, too ;)
Secondly, make sure there are no low level background noises as Praat will pick those up, too. I.e. one time I had a fan running and it dropped the average pitch significantly and I was like what??! Scared me for a second! ;)
Quote from: janellebell on June 17, 2013, 03:56:15 PM
Was anyone able to hear my recording of me singing
I could not get it to work. But I am on a Windows 8 platform now, and nothing seems to work for me >:(
Maybe try soundcloud or vocaroo.
Quote from: Stefani2 on June 17, 2013, 07:21:45 PM
Omg, Jenny - your voice is BEAUTIFUL. Kudos. Here is mine (sorry for the poor quality I used my phone recorder, and bad acoustics, my house has high ceilings and almost NO furniture XD):
It definitely still needs a lot of work (my sister thinks I sound like our mom and I can sorta hear it, but our mother's voice is sorta husky, but very elegant and womanly). I have practiced it but it always comes out sounding pretty much the same whether I try or don't I am going to start watching videos about feminizing your voice and hopefully will be able to get some voice software so lets hope that helps XD
Stefani, my dear, 8 seconds does not give us a good sample to work with. It's like trying to eat just one Lays potato chip ...
no es posible
@Kyh and Jenny,
Thank you both so much, that helps! And yeah, I meant every word, Jenny, your voice is very beautiful, and 110% female.
@Jaime,
LOL! Sorry, my phone wouldn't let me record more than 10 seconds for some reason :\
I will try and get something a little longer once I get a plug for my camera. I actually want to start maybe making focus videos like I know a lot of other transgirls do, but we will see.
Quote from: Stefani2 on June 17, 2013, 08:07:16 PM
@Kyh and Jenny,
Thank you both so much, that helps! And yeah, I meant every word, Jenny, your voice is very beautiful, and 110% female.
Well it's nice to see that such a beauty like yourself has the voice to match. Simply amazing, you've got a great head start on things being just 18. Btw, your avatar = incredible. *shakes head* .. tooooo cute. I wish the best for you :D
I just posted a recent version (today) of my voice a bit ago in another thread where I share what I've learned regarding voice. I'd also like to post it here because I get plenty of feedback from cis people, but I haven't heard from other trans people much, and I'm really interested in those opinions.
Would the rest of you care to share some of your thoughts with me?
Here's the link: https://soundcloud.com/sound-sybil/voicesample
Quote from: Jennygirl on June 17, 2013, 08:11:52 PM
Well it's nice to see that such a beauty like yourself has the voice to match. Simply amazing, you've got a great head start on things being just 18. Btw, your avatar = incredible. *shakes head* .. tooooo cute. I wish the best for you :D
Wow, you are incredibly kind, thank you so, so much XD Everyone on here is so sweet, you have ALL really helped me soo much in my journey, thus far <3 <3
Quote from: Stefani2
Wow, you are incredibly kind, thank you so, so much XD Everyone on here is so sweet, you have ALL really helped me soo much in my journey, thus far <3 <3
Your voice is really awesome. I'm very happy for you!
Quote from: Sybil on June 17, 2013, 08:36:18 PM
Your voice is really awesome. I'm very happy for you!
Thank you, and OMG, your voice is fantastic! You sound totally and completely female <3
Quote from: Sybil on June 17, 2013, 12:49:12 PM
Seras,
You're right. I think your resonance needs work. I'm pretty certain I can hear from the way that you're inhaling that your throat is very open; in order to constrict resonance, you need to pull your "adam's apple" (really, it's just that area, I don't think the actual thing itself) up and back a little bit. It's tough at first, but becomes easier and pretty natural eventually.
Thanks for the feedback. I am sure it will be really helpful since now I know for sure I need to fix my technique :)
I sometimes get odd sentences or words in a recording that sound just right so I will try and figure that out.
Jen it sounds like you may be straining a little bit. I could only hear it when you made the "ahhh" or "uhh" sound once in each of the 195 and 206 recordings. The wavering is called a vocal tremor and it's a sign that you're overworking the vocal cords a little bit. Careful careful! I had the same thing. Number one most important is take a break if you feel any pain in your throat or hear hoarseness or wavering pitch, don't push it. Make sure you drink plenty of water and be careful not to harm your vocal cords! I almost learned this the hard way too!
Other than that I think especially the 206 recording sounds really good even though it's kind of hard to hear with the low volume. Just make sure you're not straining and give yourself time :)
Thanks Jenny, you are always so diplomatic yet honest with your analysis, oh and also right :). Sorry about the volume on the second recording, I didn't know how to fix. I was definitely out of my comfort zone on the 206hz one.
I was actually just about to delete that post cause I felt the natural voice on was too short to tell anything. It's a little disturbing if there was audible strain in that one D: Hopefully I just had something in my throat or something.
Quote from: Sybil on June 17, 2013, 08:32:00 PM
I just posted a recent version (today) of my voice a bit ago in another thread where I share what I've learned regarding voice. I'd also like to post it here because I get plenty of feedback from cis people, but I haven't heard from other trans people much, and I'm really interested in those opinions.
Would the rest of you care to share some of your thoughts with me?
Here's the link: https://soundcloud.com/sound-sybil/voicesample
To my ear, Sybil, you sound very convincing. I would be ectatic to have your voice.
So I have been kind of freaking out about my voice since I found out my avg fundamental pitch was substantially lower than I thought it should be. So for the past two days I've been trying to raise it up higher without having it sound strained and without damaging anything, etc., and I mean, it's just been, epic fail, that's all.
So, tonight I was feeling worn out, not even caring anymore, and I just talked into the recorder with my regular talking voice. No worrying about techniques, or pitch, or resonance, or mumbo jumbo of any sort and, idk... even though the pitch is lower, rough sounding, and just not good, it's the first recording I've made that didn't sound like a total mess to me. So, I don't even know what that means. Maybe I just need to be okay with my voice being a smidge low. Sorry for sounding so bleh in the recording. I'm still freaking out and hating everything lol.
https://soundcloud.com/user552616740/6-19-2013-9-11-pm
Quote from: Jen on June 19, 2013, 10:55:14 PM
So I have been kind of freaking out about my voice since I found out my avg fundamental pitch was substantially lower than I thought it should be. So for the past two days I've been trying to raise it up higher without having it sound strained and without damaging anything, etc., and I mean, it's just been, epic fail, that's all.
So, tonight I was feeling worn out, not even caring anymore, and I just talked into the recorder with my regular talking voice. No worrying about techniques, or pitch, or resonance, or mumbo jumbo of any sort and, idk... even though the pitch is lower, rough sounding, and just not good, it's the first recording I've made that didn't sound like a total mess to me. So, I don't even know what that means. Maybe I just need to be okay with my voice being a smidge low. Sorry for sounding so bleh in the recording. I'm still freaking out and hating everything lol.
https://soundcloud.com/user552616740/6-19-2013-9-11-pm
Jen I TOTALLY feel you on the regressing thing. I think it is possible to over practice. That used to happen to me all the time. Sometimes I would take a break from work and I wouldn't practice, then I would come back a few days later and my voice would sound so good! I don't know what causes that. Probably just takes time to build the strength.
Another thing to keep in mind is that for some people's facial and sinus structures, a lower frequency may indeed sound "better" or more natural. It's possible that forcing yourself up into a higher register isn't helping you at all. I think you should definitely feel it out and see where you are most comfortable. That way you will also feel the best when you are using your voice!
https://soundcloud.com/kelly-stephen/for-erica
This was something quick I did last night for a friend who had never heard me speak..
Quote from: Jennygirl on June 20, 2013, 12:16:55 AM
Another thing to keep in mind is that for some people's facial and sinus structures, a lower frequency may indeed sound "better" or more natural. It's possible that forcing yourself up into a higher register isn't helping you at all. I think you should definitely feel it out and see where you are most comfortable. That way you will also feel the best when you are using your voice!
I wonder if you are right about that. I have noticed that most women my height I have heard talk seem to have lowerish voices and I wonder if it's just that our heads are just these enormous resonating caverns or something lol. But I dunno, my head isn't that big, but maybe the holes in it are? All I know is that my throat hurts and I'm really fed up with my voice atm.
Ok, sucky work voice time.
http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/rp-test/s-C6jU7 (http://soundcloud.com/omicron123/rp-test/s-C6jU7)
I need to get rid of the glottal bit of my voice. It sucks. :(
It sounds pretty good to me,Zoe :). Especially in certain places it's really good
This really does feels like a breakthrough for me, but the mental block going on there is just... and idk how I will fare against it. Somebody please tell my subconscious that I really do want to use that pitch when I talk?
https://soundcloud.com/user552616740/block
Quote from: Jen on June 20, 2013, 03:31:35 PM
This really does feels like a breakthrough for me, but the mental block going on there is just... and idk how I will fare against it. Somebody please tell my subconscious that I really do want to use that pitch when I talk?
https://soundcloud.com/user552616740/block
Your voice sounds very female and natural to me :) In fact it's quite a pleasant female voice to listen to. Maybe just keep forcing yourself to talk this way, especially while looking in the mirror to reinforce the fact that this is you, this is your voice?
Thank you! it feels so so good to hear somebody say that. :)
Idk yet how hard it will be to get over that block yet because I just discovered this while singing in the car on lunch break today, I was like, if I can sing naturally in this range and it sounds fine, why can't I talk in it? It was really weird to feel my voice start squirming and fighting against it when I stopped singing and started talking. I think your idea might be a good one!
I have become sooooo incredibly aware of cis girls' voices. I'm always comparing mine to theirs. The dynamic of pitch range that cis females use continues to amaze me and it makes me feel like my voice is almost monotone in comparison (in conversation at least).
Range of voice is so crucial!!
So many things to work on! Just have to tackle them one at a time I guess :)
Quote from: Jamie D on June 19, 2013, 01:16:09 AM
To my ear, Sybil, you sound very convincing. I would be ectatic to have your voice.
Thank you, that's very nice of you to say.
There's still this quality in my voice that really bothers me and I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of. I'm not really sure how to describe it; I'd like my voice to be more crisp, if that makes sense. I hope I figure it out some day.
Hi again.
Been trying to work on improving my resonance. Here is a short recording. I don't think the first 10 seconds or so is too bad. I stumbled a bit on the word "resonance" though and then a few other words after.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/23rdjune/s-AOEEl
Think it sounds better than my previous upload I put up here?
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/17thjuneuploader/s-Hq8xp
I would really like any feedback any at all, even if you are just telling me they both suck. I am most interested to hear if you think there is any improvement with regards to resonance between these two voices. Since if it sounds better in the first link then this would suggest I am working towards the right direction. Which would be good to know :)
(As would the opposite be good to know then I can try something else)
Seras,
Those both sound the same to me (I'm sorry, I never like saying that).
Here are some new things I thought of that you might like to try:
1. It really sounds like you're just using too much of your throat to create sounds. Try to do a few fake hiccups; you don't need to make sounds with these, just try to memorize what muscles you use to do that. The important ones are at the apex of the hiccup (where it tightens the most). The next time you try to talk, keep your muscles that way. It will help tighten a lot of things. Try to focus on speaking from the back of your throat, not the front. Another way to feel this is to try to clear your throat, but only use the very top and back of your muscles when you do that (it should feel more like it's around your vocal cords when you do this).
2. I think you may already be doing this because of what we discussed, but try to fill out your throat a little with the very back/bottom of your tongue. You can get a feel for this by swallowing: the part that has the most influence is the part of your tongue that sort of "recovers" after you swallow; when whatever it is you're swallowing has already gone down your throat. You can also kind of feel this when you position your tongue to make an "N" sound.
I tried to pick out some words for you to focus on, but your speech is very monotone. Try adding more sharpness to your words, kind of like shrieking or yelping .. er, not obvious shrieking or yelping, though. They should be subtle -- I hope that makes sense.
Good luck!
so I now I have a fairly decent feminine speaking voice. but I love singing, so I've been working on my singing. Tell me how my singing voice reads.
https://soundcloud.com/yanping-chimie-soong/creep-version-3
I'm entertained that there has been people listen to my clip. but no comments.. :laugh:
Thanks Sybil.
edit: Spent a few minutes trying to combine those tips you said. Might have some potential, I can hear a different quality to the sound in some of my recordings. Quite the job in multi-tasking though :D
Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on June 23, 2013, 11:43:14 PM
I'm entertained that there has been people listen to my clip. but no comments.. :laugh:
Well I think your personality comes through a lot in your voice. I like the dgaf attitude you have with it and I lol'd at one of your previous recordings. Your forum handle does indeed suit you very well.
And I do think that I agree with you. Sometimes it does sound a bit feminine or a bit masculine, but I can see that you don't care enough for it to affect your passing, and as we all know confidence makes the biggest difference. As long as you're not using your truck mode I doubt you get read much at all due to not changing your voice.
I try not to give too much voice advice cause I'm pretty sure y'all don't want this blind woman leading you across the street.
Ok, a video recording this time, from last wk/e. Obv still many rough edges, fighting them, I will win! I'm doing a little better now with keeping the fry out than I was here. Still struggling a smidge with the impulse to lower it. Still afraid that if I use too much inflection I will get stuck on a lower pitch range. Oh, also not happy with the up-chin camera angle lol. Idk how to camera...
It is a process, Jen. You will get there.
In your video, I did not get a sense of dissonance from your appearance and voice. It did sound a little strained, though.
EDIT - let me expand on my comments.
In your video, I saw a clearly female face, and heard a female voice. Have you ever seen someone on TV, or heard them on radio, and said to yourself, that voice does not go with that face/body?
Well, I did NOT get that with you. No man voice at all. I have three daughters, ages 26 to 19. I know what girls sound like. I know what guys sound like.
Your voice is getting there. I know you are not satisfied. In time, Jen, you will be.
Quote from: yanping on June 23, 2013, 11:33:52 PM
so I now I have a fairly decent feminine speaking voice. but I love singing, so I've been working on my singing. Tell me how my singing voice reads.
https://soundcloud.com/yanping-chimie-soong/creep-version-3
Singing is not your strong suit. Sorry.
(Me neither)
Quote from: Jamie D on June 26, 2013, 03:57:18 PM
In you video, I did not get a sense of dissonance from your appearance and voice.
This part, about the dissonace, is actually a relief. It's why I used a video here, actually, to test that very thing. I really hope I can figure out how to smooth out the (abounding) problems because I really would prefer this pitch over my more resting (180-190hz) voice that I use now. The encouraging thing is that speaking up there doesn't wear my voice out for some reason, just the way I'm holding things in my throat or sormthing. Def not ready for prime time yet tho lol.
Quote from: Jennygirl on June 25, 2013, 02:57:39 AM
Well I think your personality comes through a lot in your voice. I like the dgaf attitude you have with it and I lol'd at one of your previous recordings. Your forum handle does indeed suit you very well.
And I do think that I agree with you. Sometimes it does sound a bit feminine or a bit masculine, but I can see that you don't care enough for it to affect your passing, and as we all know confidence makes the biggest difference. As long as you're not using your truck mode I doubt you get read much at all due to not changing your voice.
The phone is my only real enemy... And I'm seeing a speech therapist to get some help with that - yeah, I know, the person who doesn't do voice work is doing voice work... They'll come and take my rebel card back..
Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on June 26, 2013, 06:21:17 PM
The phone is my only real enemy... And I'm seeing a speech therapist to get some help with that - yeah, I know, the person who doesn't do voice work is doing voice work... They'll come and take my rebel card back..
You'll always be a rebel don't worry. You're just rebelling against your rebellious nature ;)
Quote from: Jen on June 20, 2013, 03:31:35 PM
This really does feels like a breakthrough for me, but the mental block going on there is just... and idk how I will fare against it. Somebody please tell my subconscious that I really do want to use that pitch when I talk?
https://soundcloud.com/user552616740/block
I listened, and after it was finished, it segued into another, older, raspy sound bite. I hear definite improvement.
Spent some time with the speech therapist today.. And learnt something interesting about my voice.. My issue appears to be I have too large a pitch range, the difference between my highs and lows is too great.. Apart from that, she commented that I have one of the better untrained voices she'd ever heard from a trans woman.. She has quite extensive experience in the area..
Quote from: Kelly J. P. on July 01, 2013, 01:13:11 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0TT0fL5tUFf (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0TT0fL5tUFf)
It sounds weird without bass, but with the speakers I sound pretty good actually.
Well it's definitely a short clip... But you sound nothing short of wonderful :)
Way to go, your voice gets a pass pass pass with flying colors :D
Hi.
I started experimenting with my voice yesterday. I know that I doen't pass now but I don't know how to improve my voice. I have included two recordings of this text ( http://www.rit.edu/ntid/speechlang/slpros/media/rainbow (http://www.rit.edu/ntid/speechlang/slpros/media/rainbow) ), first with my normal voice and second with trying to do high pitch. English is not my native language so I have weird accent and maybe also little different intonation than in my native language. What you think about the voice? Any advices appreciated :).
https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/normal_pitch (https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/normal_pitch)
https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/higher_pitch_v1 (https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/higher_pitch_v1)
Sarah
Quote from: Sarah84 on July 01, 2013, 02:08:22 AM
Hi.
I started experimenting with my voice yesterday. I know that I doen't pass now but I don't know how to improve my voice. I have included two recordings of this text ( www.rit.edu/ntid/speechlang/slpros/media/rainbowfirst (http://www.rit.edu/ntid/speechlang/slpros/media/rainbowfirst) ), first with my normal voice and second with trying to do high pitch. English is not my native language so I have weird accent and maybe also little different intonation than in my native language. What you think about the voice? Any advices appreciated :).
https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/normal_pitch (https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/normal_pitch)
https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/higher_pitch_v1 (https://soundcloud.com/sarah-84-1/higher_pitch_v1)
Sarah
Sarah- your normal pitch recording is right on the money. I would also say that you sound VERY female. Great work for just starting out :)
The higher pitch one sounds a bit like falsetto, so I would just keep it relaxed at your normal one!
Quote from: Jennygirl on July 01, 2013, 02:38:08 AM
Sarah- your normal pitch recording is right on the money. I would also say that you sound VERY female. Great work for just starting out :)
The higher pitch one sounds a bit like falsetto, so I would just keep it relaxed at your normal one!
Thank you, like to hear that I don't need to do falsetto, because it is stress for my vocal cords. I think I should do something with intonation, resonance or whatever. It is strange because when I hear myself I always hear a male. But sometimes people on phone identify me as female when they don't know me.
Here is a clip of my voice, what are your thoughts?
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-glistenburg/voice-clip-1-2
Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on June 23, 2013, 11:43:14 PM
I'm entertained that there has been people listen to my clip. but no comments.. :laugh:
Dear Kelly,
I think that you need to use more of your head voice and less of your chest. Here is a wonderful tool that I am using (and it is working wonders): http://www.genderlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/voicebook020.pdf (http://www.genderlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/voicebook020.pdf)
You wanted my honest opinion and I am giving you the truth of the matter at hand. :)
Thanks,
Jamie Glistenburg
Quote from: Mademoiselle Glistenburg on July 10, 2013, 03:06:33 PM
Here is a clip of my voice, what are your thoughts?
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-glistenburg/voice-clip-1-2
Mademoiselle, it sounds like your voice might be a bit TOO high- to the point where you are activating the falsetto range and it's pushing you past the 250hz ceiling for female voice range which is why it sounds so high. Maybe try talking from a lower tone (anywhere from F3 - A3). If you can small-i-fy your resonance in this range, it will still sound female even if it's lower than 220hz.
Okay, I guess I'd like to post something up here. I've only just begun Kathe Perez' voice feminization program. With only doing this a few days I think I'm doing pretty well. What do you think?
https://soundcloud.com/shandralyn-alaia/f-newbeginnings1
Quote from: Alaia on July 14, 2013, 02:10:49 PM
Okay, I guess I'd like to post something up here. I've only just begun Kathe Perez' voice feminization program. With only doing this a few days I think I'm doing pretty well. What do you think?
https://soundcloud.com/shandralyn-alaia/f-newbeginnings1
IMO you're off to a wonderful start for only 2 days!
Your pitch sounds like its in the right range for you. Just keep at it! Resonance, infection, and pitch dynamics could all use some work but duh day 2 I wouldn't expect it to be perfect!
Still a really good start, way to go keep it up :D
Ok ya'll, here is mine. Today was a day of voices for me. let me know what you think.
https://soundcloud.com/leslleys/voice-after-and-before/s-IZigE
Quote from: Leslley Scotte on July 15, 2013, 02:00:32 AM
Ok ya'll, here is mine. Today was a day of voices for me. let me know what you think.
https://soundcloud.com/leslleys/voice-after-and-before/s-IZigE
Well I seem to be catching this thread right after people post and it feels a little weird being the only one to respond, but here goes anyway!
You've made a big change from your normal voice which is 112hz fundamental frequency (just above A2) to 145hz fundamental frequency (D3). I think that the effect of the difference is more noticeable because you are modifying resonance quite well comparatively. They do sound like two completely different voices. You're off to a great start!
145hz is still well within the male range but with proper training you will get there. Maybe you should try to shoot for a 170-185hz fundamental frequency which is only 3 whole tones higher than your female voice in this recording. I've noticed with pitch a little bit goes a long way, a few notes makes a big difference. Your voice sounds a WHOLE LOT closer, but it's still not quite there yet to pass.
Also, I am no speech therapist. Please take my opinion worth a grain of salt! I'm just doing the best I can to try to help you out :)
Hi there, thanks for the feed back. I dont know what you are talking about with the frequency and a3 and d3 but im still working on it. Since you seem to know, could you explain them in to me? id love to know what i need to get to pitch wise. If you could suggest a note for me to practice and work from that would be fantastic!! Im always scared of going to high(of course).
Quote from: Leslley Scotte on July 15, 2013, 02:20:44 AM
Hi there, thanks for the feed back. I dont know what you are talking about with the frequency and a3 and d3 but im still working on it. Since you seem to know, could you explain them in to me? id love to know what i need to get to pitch wise. If you could suggest a note for me to practice and work from that would be fantastic!! Im always scared of going to high(of course).
Absolutely happy to help as much as I can. When I refer to A3 or D3 I am referring to notes on a piano. The letter is the key and the number is the octave. These also directly relate to frequencies...
http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html (http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html)
Male range is 90-150hz and female range is 190-250hz. I have also seen it notated as 100-150 for males and 200-250 for females. After testing a number of my female friends' normal speaking voices, I have found that a majority of them are actually below 190. Some are as low as 170.
If I were you I'd aim for an F3 or 175hz for now.
175 Hz Sine Wave Sound Frequency Tone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnL_xR_kyQg#)
This is the average female frequency. A3 or 220hz
220 Hz Sine Wave Sound Frequency Tone one octave below A440 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R02Nl7KZvfY#)
If you want to easily speak in a specific range, first try to hum the tone. Then, try to speak a sentence in monotone using nothing but that tone, almost like you are singing the sentence. Then try to speak the same sentence closely to that tone, varying your pitch above and below it.
This is a technique I learned from one of DeepStealth's youtube videos on voice feminization. It has helped me a whole bunch! Also Kathe Perez has a similar exercise within her mp3 tutoring stuff.
Quote from: Jennygirl on July 15, 2013, 02:16:42 AM
Well I seem to be catching this thread right after people post and it feels a little weird being the only one to respond, but here goes anyway!
You are becoming a voice evaluation specialist :).
Quote from: Sarah84 on July 15, 2013, 03:14:10 AM
You are becoming a voice evaluation specialist :).
Hopefully at the very least other people can benefit from my overly aware state for voice right now!
I just realized I pretty much think about it all day every day. Maybe it's time to see a speech therapist so I can stop focusing on it so much.
Quote from: Jennygirl on July 15, 2013, 03:30:20 AM
Maybe it's time to see a speech therapist so I can stop focusing on it so much.
I've been seeing one.. And it has been both interesting and useful. For a typical Australian woman of my age, apparently my voice is a lot closer to the mark than I thought.. My main issue is too greater pitch range - I thought I wasn't high enough and apparently I actually go way above where I need to be..
Jenni that's exactly what I was looking for, thank you! I just posted a video of me talking about my voice on youtube and guess who's 5 month video popped up on the side bar for me to watch!!! YOU! You are loving HRT and finally being who you are and we can tell!! You're beautiful!
Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on July 15, 2013, 03:43:11 AM
I've been seeing one.. And it has been both interesting and useful. For a typical Australian woman of my age, apparently my voice is a lot closer to the mark than I thought.. My main issue is too greater pitch range - I thought I wasn't high enough and apparently I actually go way above where I need to be..
Haha, time to chill that voice out! That sounds a lot easier than the other way around
Quote from: Leslley Scotte on July 15, 2013, 06:23:17 AM
Jenni that's exactly what I was looking for, thank you! I just posted a video of me talking about my voice on youtube and guess who's 5 month video popped up on the side bar for me to watch!!! YOU! You are loving HRT and finally being who you are and we can tell!! You're beautiful!
:D :D :D
Thanks so much and so glad I could help!
Here's a clip of my voice...my attempt to sound female sounds really bad and embarrassing, so I just posted a clip of my natural voice. I'm hoping there's some odd chance that it actually sounds decent. What do you think?
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myvoicetest
Quote from: riversong on July 17, 2013, 02:34:31 PM
Here's a clip of my voice...my attempt to sound female sounds really bad and embarrassing, so I just posted a clip of my natural voice. I'm hoping there's some odd chance that it actually sounds decent. What do you think?
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myvoicetest
You say that your femme voice attempts have all failed. I'd say to keep at it, learn from what you are doing wrong. If you don't know what you are doing wrong then post them up here. No need to be embarrassed about it. Remember the road to success is paved with failure.
Here's a clip of my attempt to make my voice sound female...is it good?
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myattempt1
Compared to my natural voice:
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myvoicetest
Quote from: riversong on July 17, 2013, 07:08:57 PM
Here's a clip of my attempt to make my voice sound female...is it good?
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myattempt1 (https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myattempt1)
Compared to my natural voice:
https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myvoicetest (https://soundcloud.com/cutiecat/myvoicetest)
Your average frequency for that sample is ~161 Hz. This is right around the MTF crossover pitch (165 Hz), so it isn't too bad. However, I would aim for the typical female voice, which averages around 220 Hz (A3 on the chromatic scale). To do this, I suggest practicing hitting that note by singing it or humming it for a bit, and then speaking a sentence trying to keep the average around that frequency. Jennygirl already suggested this above to another user:
Quote from: Jennygirl on July 15, 2013, 02:42:23 AM
This is the average female frequency. A3 or 220hz
220 Hz Sine Wave Sound Frequency Tone one octave below A440 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R02Nl7KZvfY#)
If you want to easily speak in a specific range, first try to hum the tone. Then, try to speak a sentence in monotone using nothing but that tone, almost like you are singing the sentence. Then try to speak the same sentence closely to that tone, varying your pitch above and below it.
This is a technique I learned from one of DeepStealth's youtube videos on voice feminization. It has helped me a whole bunch! Also Kathe Perez has a similar exercise within her mp3 tutoring stuff.
It would be good to get a program to help you analyze your recordings. I use Praat which you can download here:
windows: http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_win.html (http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_win.html)
mac: http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_mac.html (http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_mac.html)
I think there are tutorials on how to use it somewhere on these boards. Here's all I do:
- In the Praat Objects window select 'New > Record Mono Sound...'
- Click the Record button and say something, then click stop when finished.
- Provide a name for your sound object and then click 'Save to List & Close'
- Back in the Praat Objects window, select your newly recorded sound and hit 'View and Edit'
- Go to 'View > Show Analyses'. In the Show Analyses window, set the longest analyses to a length that you'd prefer.
It takes more time to do longer analyses, but you are then able to analyze larger chunks of your voice sample at a time.
I have mine set at 65 sec since one of my samples was around that long. - Now back to the analysis window. If your longest analyses setting is equal to or greater than your sample then it will
analyze the whole thing. Otherwise you need to zoom in. On the right you should notice 3 blue numbers. The one in the
middle should be the average pitch. You can also highlight individual sections to get the average for that area.
With that analysis you should be able to better understand where you are at.
Hope this helps!
I need to decide whether to renew for another few hundred dollars worth of speech therapy or whether I pass as is.
https://soundcloud.com/suzifrommd/suzi-13-07-18-2 (https://soundcloud.com/suzifrommd/suzi-13-07-18-2)
How about this one?
I sort of lost it with "speaking this way"
But overall does it pass?
Voice practice -- Do I Pass verbally? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSRo1BCMJ90#)
Sounds good to me, Marion! :)
Quote from: suzifrommd on July 18, 2013, 02:11:02 PM
I need to decide whether to renew for another few hundred dollars worth of speech therapy or whether I pass as is.
https://soundcloud.com/suzifrommd/suzi-13-07-18-2 (https://soundcloud.com/suzifrommd/suzi-13-07-18-2)
Oh wow! Great improvement
This is the voice that my friends like the best (or at least as close as I can get while focusing on what I'm doing for the recording). Thoughts?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HkHyo0abHo (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HkHyo0abHo)
Here is a second take, this time without a script:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0IjoEHOjseY (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0IjoEHOjseY)
Hi,
I've been full-time now for a couple of months and thought I would record a sample of the voice that I'm using every day. I made sure to do this recording cold and without preparation so that it would more closely resemble the voice I have to use in the varying and impromptu situations of real life. I would appreciate all feedback. Thanks!
http://soundcloud.com/jgeneris/audio-recording-on-sunday (http://soundcloud.com/jgeneris/audio-recording-on-sunday)
Jane,
I think your voice sounds great. If you're in your 20s or 30s, you may want to try raising your pitch just a little bit. Otherwise, I think you sound very natural, articulate, and honestly very friendly.
I sympathize with struggling on initial words while speaking in impromptu situations. I often refer to this as "booting up" my voice, and it causes a great deal of frustration for me as well. I wish I could help you there, but I haven't quite figured it out yet myself -- other than that friends tell me this period of speech sounds far worse to me than it does to anyone else. If I catch on to something, I will be sure to share it with you. In the meantime, good luck! I think you're doing really well so far.
Thanks Sybil! "Booting up" is a great way to classify it. I'm often wondering if there's a bit of performance anxiety behind the experience that makes the voice just not come out as naturally or at least to us sounding as natural as we might like it to sound. I appreciate the compliment too. One of the things I worry is missing from my voice is that warmth. So it's nice to hear I sound friendly.
I'm actually in my forties, but my friends all swear I look much younger. Awww, friends. I too was struck that my pitch was a little lower that I wished it to be. I can comfortably raise it a bit. I have no trouble using A3 as my base, but I might be a little lower here.
On a completely unrelated note, my children want me to put in their favorite emoticons :police: :angel:
Quote from: Anna! on July 31, 2013, 08:54:10 AM
This is the voice that my friends like the best (or at least as close as I can get while focusing on what I'm doing for the recording). Thoughts?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HkHyo0abHo (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HkHyo0abHo)
Here is a second take, this time without a script:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0IjoEHOjseY (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0IjoEHOjseY)
I stumbled across this topic, and i noticed no one had responded to you, so i thought i would check out your voice recordings. :D, your script was amusing. I don't think i have heard of The Housemartins, but i just listened to Happy Hour which was pretty sweet. Anyway, you sound identical in both voice recordings :]
(For amusement, here's me singing the Starburst advert song - my old forum signature, http://vocaroo.com/i/s1PMjLof3cdL (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1PMjLof3cdL))
Jane,
I think performance anxiety is part of it, but I also think it has something to do with warming up muscles and an eventual reliance on intuition. I've been speaking female for so long that I don't generally concentrate on the mechanics of it anymore, unless I dedicate time to trying to improve it. Following a bit of speaking in a given day, it just seems to click with me. After writing my reply to you earlier and thinking a bit more about it since, there is some stuff I've noticed a voice relationship with:
- Mouth/throat dryness. I some times sleep with my mouth open, and though I don't snore, my throat still becomes incredibly dry. It really gets in the way of my voice some days.
- Having to swap between male and female. I only use my male voice at work, but coming home afterwards always makes it a little difficult to reach the comfort zone of my voice -- as an aside, I am really anxious not to have to deal with this anymore.
- Projection. I seem to have a little more trouble speaking to people with my voice as opposed to using the phone or a headset, and I think that's because having a person in front of me naturally makes me try to project my voice even when it isn't necessary. I've been keeping that in mind and it's gotten a bit better.
- Airflow. I some times neglect to use natural breathing while talking if I'm spontaneously using my voice; I think this is essentially performance anxiety, as you suggested.
I still feel that your pitch is just fine for being in your forties, but I do understand that it's all about how much you like your own voice. If your pitch was higher, I think you'd come off to others as friendly, excitable, energetic -- as opposed to warm, congenial, amiable (your current pitch). Also, your kids wanting to add their favorite emoticons is really cute.
Quote from: SaveMeJeebus on August 04, 2013, 03:08:47 PM
I stumbled across this topic, and i noticed no one had responded to you, so i thought i would check out your voice recordings. :D, your script was amusing. I don't think i have heard of The Housemartins, but i just listened to Happy Hour which was pretty sweet. Anyway, you sound identical in both voice recordings :]
(For amusement, here's me singing the Starburst advert song - my old forum signature, http://vocaroo.com/i/s1PMjLof3cdL (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1PMjLof3cdL))
I used to be (and I guess still am) a huge Housemartins' fan. I haven't thought of them in years, so thanks for the trip back to my college radio DJin' days.
Quote from: Sybil on August 04, 2013, 05:22:37 PM
Jane,
I think performance anxiety is part of it, but I also think it has something to do with warming up muscles and an eventual reliance on intuition. I've been speaking female for so long that I don't generally concentrate on the mechanics of it anymore, unless I dedicate time to trying to improve it. Following a bit of speaking in a given day, it just seems to click with me. After writing my reply to you earlier and thinking a bit more about it since, there is some stuff I've noticed a voice relationship with:
- Mouth/throat dryness. I some times sleep with my mouth open, and though I don't snore, my throat still becomes incredibly dry. It really gets in the way of my voice some days.
- Having to swap between male and female. I only use my male voice at work, but coming home afterwards always makes it a little difficult to reach the comfort zone of my voice -- as an aside, I am really anxious not to have to deal with this anymore.
- Projection. I seem to have a little more trouble speaking to people with my voice as opposed to using the phone or a headset, and I think that's because having a person in front of me naturally makes me try to project my voice even when it isn't necessary. I've been keeping that in mind and it's gotten a bit better.
- Airflow. I some times neglect to use natural breathing while talking if I'm spontaneously using my voice; I think this is essentially performance anxiety, as you suggested.
I still feel that your pitch is just fine for being in your forties, but I do understand that it's all about how much you like your own voice. If your pitch was higher, I think you'd come off to others as friendly, excitable, energetic -- as opposed to warm, congenial, amiable (your current pitch). Also, your kids wanting to add their favorite emoticons is really cute.
That's great advice, Sybil. I enjoyed it so much. I was out shopping today (for a swimsuit, eek) and knew I had not drunk enough water. My voice was much harder to get access to. I am still working on pitch just a little. At the same time, my job as a college professor means that I am probably better served sounding my age than sounding much younger. Plus, I think I've had better success concealing my having been born with XY chromosomes than I would be hiding the fact that I'm an academic. Some things you just can't change. As a college professor, I worry a great deal about projecting and sustaining my voice. I teach four classes MWF and will use my voice almost the whole time. I read and sing out loud for hours every day in preparation to start back this fall. But I have a feeling I'll still have to adjust the way I teach so that students bear a bit more of the burden of discussion.
And my kids are cute. Except, if it weren't for them, I'd feel no need to buy a swimsuit at this point in the transition. Oh, well. Down the hatch, as they say.
Jane
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on August 04, 2013, 05:49:02 PM
That's great advice, Sybil. I enjoyed it so much. I was out shopping today (for a swimsuit, eek) and knew I had not drunk enough water. My voice was much harder to get access to. I am still working on pitch just a little. At the same time, my job as a college professor means that I am probably better served sounding my age than sounding much younger. Plus, I think I've had better success concealing my having been born with XY chromosomes than I would be hiding the fact that I'm an academic. Some things you just can't change. As a college professor, I worry a great deal about projecting and sustaining my voice. I teach four classes MWF and will use my voice almost the whole time. I read and sing out loud for hours every day in preparation to start back this fall. But I have a feeling I'll still have to adjust the way I teach so that students bear a bit more of the burden of discussion.
And my kids are cute. Except, if it weren't for them, I'd feel no need to buy a swimsuit at this point in the transition. Oh, well. Down the hatch, as they say.
Jane
I'm glad you enjoyed what I had to say. I'm not an academic, but I have a natural inclination for my sometimes unconventional choice of language; I used to try and change this to be more approachable (as women are generally pressured to be), but frankly, I have cared a lot less lately. I felt it was insulting to women in general that I would try to consciously simplify my speech just to avoid being eccentric. I feel like the aggressive and compulsory communication typical of males is lacking in me, anyway, so I'm not terribly disturbed by how I come across. I think what I'm trying to say by this is that I understand some things are difficult to hide, but in your case I feel that it's a good thing and something that the female populace could use more of.
I also wanted to avoid getting technical about voice, because I don't think I often explain it well, but here goes:
The largest hurdle for me with female projection is avoiding a hammy or nasally voice. I find projection to be easier by channeling (or aiming) my voice through the front of my mouth (somewhere between the front teeth and the bottom of the nose). I also find it helpful to balance my voice "above" my vocal cords, and particularly to try and avoid resonating my voice in the area in front of and beneath them. My projection, or "loud voice," ultimately resides in the back of my throat and travels through the middle and top of my mouth.
I hope that made sense and was helpful. I really do have a difficult time expressing voice specifics to others. As for your swimsuit, I wish you the very best of luck and find you very brave -- I plan on remaining terrified of that prospect for several years to come.
Jane, your voice sounds great!
The resonance is so good that pitch doesn't really sound like much of an issue to me. If you included a few more up/down slides or dynamics during the middle of sentences it would really sell it. You are already well out of the male range :)
I like your voice a lot!
Quote from: Jennygirl on August 05, 2013, 05:21:09 AM
Jane, your voice sounds great!
The resonance is so good that pitch doesn't really sound like much of an issue to me. If you included a few more up/down slides or dynamics during the middle of sentences it would really sell it. You are already well out of the male range :)
I like your voice a lot!
Thanks so much Jenny. Your analysis of the missing slides seems spot on. Come to think of it, that's an element of speaking I've left little explored. I've been practicing for a little while today.
I actually download Pratt and have started doing analysis on. Thanks for the detailed instructions on that one. My first attempt put me at slightly under 200. Admittedly I was paying more attention to pitch than I was when I did the Sound Cloud recordings, so I was higher. The next two were slightly above 220. It's a pitch that I'm not used to speaking, although I didn't have to strain my voice to reach that average. What a useful tool! It helps me make much more informed decisions about my voice than hearing alone. I can't wait to see how my cisgender girlfriends measure on the scale.
Quote from: Sybil on August 04, 2013, 07:34:13 PM
I also wanted to avoid getting technical about voice, because I don't think I often explain it well, but here goes:
The largest hurdle for me with female projection is avoiding a hammy or nasally voice. I find projection to be easier by channeling (or aiming) my voice through the front of my mouth (somewhere between the front teeth and the bottom of the nose). I also find it helpful to balance my voice "above" my vocal cords, and particularly to try and avoid resonating my voice in the area in front of and beneath them. My projection, or "loud voice," ultimately resides in the back of my throat and travels through the middle and top of my mouth.
I hope that made sense and was helpful. I really do have a difficult time expressing voice specifics to others. As for your swimsuit, I wish you the very best of luck and find you very brave -- I plan on remaining terrified of that prospect for several years to come.
Your ability to analyze voice is really advanced, Sybil. When I just projected, I found that what you said totally made sense. I can really feel it in the middle and top mouth. It's as if we're forming a small megaphone or amplifier with our mouth that works with the other amplification of balanced voice and good breathing.
If I may continue the tech-talk, I was thinking that reason that initial sounds are so important is that they are what we use for what linguists call phatic speech, or that speech that is merely meant to make a connection. When we say, "Hi, How are you?", we really aren't sincerely asking for a report, but just establishing a communication link. The problem is that those are the moments that strangers almost in an instant gender us. It's no wonder we have performance anxiety; so much appears to rest on that moment when we first open our mouths. It's not that we cannot correct the first impression, but it's easier when we don't have to.
Oh, I don't know if brave is the word I'd choose. The guilt of never have taken my kids to the ocean is getting to me. Guilt can drive us to great feats of strength. :laugh:
Thanks Jennygirl for providing those sound clips. It suprised me cause I have to lower my natural voice to hit the 175. I guess now I know why people think I'm female on the phone.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on August 05, 2013, 08:02:32 AM
Thanks so much Jenny. Your analysis of the missing slides seems spot on. Come to think of it, that's an element of speaking I've left little explored. I've been practicing for a little while today.
I actually download Pratt and have started doing analysis on. Thanks for the detailed instructions on that one. My first attempt put me at slightly under 200. Admittedly I was paying more attention to pitch than I was when I did the Sound Cloud recordings, so I was higher. The next two were slightly above 220. It's a pitch that I'm not used to speaking, although I didn't have to strain my voice to reach that average. What a useful tool! It helps me make much more informed decisions about my voice than hearing alone. I can't wait to see how my cisgender girlfriends measure on the scale.
You're totally welcome! It's a really well known tool I guess. My voice therapist was happy to know I was using it because you can actually analyze resonance, too, by measuring spectral power. As far as I understand it, spectral power is the loudest resonant overtone frequency that we actually hear the most in a voice. She said that for males it was in the range of 2,000 - 2,500hz, and or females it is usually in the range of 3,000 - 3,500hz. You can analyze spectral power in Praat by selecting the point that you wish to analyze and hitting F7 or go to "Spectrum -> Get spectral power at cursor cross". It can be handy if you want to check your resonance, too :)
Quote from: Jess42 on August 05, 2013, 10:24:51 AM
Thanks Jennygirl for providing those sound clips. It suprised me cause I have to lower my natural voice to hit the 175. I guess now I know why people think I'm female on the phone.
Sounds like you got pretty lucky to me, Jess :D
Quote from: Anna! on July 31, 2013, 08:54:10 AM
This is the voice that my friends like the best (or at least as close as I can get while focusing on what I'm doing for the recording). Thoughts?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HkHyo0abHo (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HkHyo0abHo)
Here is a second take, this time without a script:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0IjoEHOjseY (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0IjoEHOjseY)
Close. Something just seemed "off" to me. Maybe it was the cadence.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on August 04, 2013, 05:58:47 AM
Hi,
I've been full-time now for a couple of months and thought I would record a sample of the voice that I'm using every day. I made sure to do this recording cold and without preparation so that it would more closely resemble the voice I have to use in the varying and impromptu situations of real life. I would appreciate all feedback. Thanks!
http://soundcloud.com/jgeneris/audio-recording-on-sunday (http://soundcloud.com/jgeneris/audio-recording-on-sunday)
I'd say that was pretty good.
Quote from: Jennygirl on August 06, 2013, 01:52:16 AM
Sounds like you got pretty lucky to me, Jess :D
I definately did but depends cause it kinda' sux if I'm trying to be a guy. :D I have to lower it quite a bit and then I would still sound more like a prepubuscent teen but in my thirties, I finally got it and can sound either or now.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on August 05, 2013, 08:11:47 AM
Your ability to analyze voice is really advanced, Sybil. When I just projected, I found that what you said totally made sense. I can really feel it in the middle and top mouth. It's as if we're forming a small megaphone or amplifier with our mouth that works with the other amplification of balanced voice and good breathing.
If I may continue the tech-talk, I was thinking that reason that initial sounds are so important is that they are what we use for what linguists call phatic speech, or that speech that is merely meant to make a connection. When we say, "Hi, How are you?", we really aren't sincerely asking for a report, but just establishing a communication link. The problem is that those are the moments that strangers almost in an instant gender us. It's no wonder we have performance anxiety; so much appears to rest on that moment when we first open our mouths. It's not that we cannot correct the first impression, but it's easier when we don't have to.
Oh, I don't know if brave is the word I'd choose. The guilt of never have taken my kids to the ocean is getting to me. Guilt can drive us to great feats of strength. :laugh:
Thank you, Jane. I agree that our performance anxiety is likely related to first impressions. I always find that the problem is compounded by my nervousness, in that it causes me to end up focusing on how my voice is presenting and less on what I'm actually saying or what kind of body language I'm delivering. If I fumble in any regard, I'm further distracted. It's a relentless snowball.
One trick that helped me was learning how to yell. I can always yell femininely, regardless of how my voice is doing at that particular moment. I expect this is because I really have to clench my muscles and strongly press air through my throat, so there's very little room for variation. If I assume the fundamentals of this position right before I speak, but instead use a normal volume, the result is always feminine -- though slightly constrained. It's very useful in a pinch (no pun intended).
I do this by pushing the base of my tongue back up against my throat, and pinching my vocal cords in a similar way that you might pronounce "uh" with a high pitch, projecting it towards the front of my mouth. Again, I feel like I'm the only person that this explanation will ever make sense to; hopefully, that isn't the case!
Quote from: Sybil on August 06, 2013, 10:54:11 AM
Thank you, Jane. I agree that our performance anxiety is likely related to first impressions. I always find that the problem is compounded by my nervousness, in that it causes me to end up focusing on how my voice is presenting and less on what I'm actually saying or what kind of body language I'm delivering. If I fumble in any regard, I'm further distracted. It's a relentless snowball.
One trick that helped me was learning how to yell. I can always yell femininely, regardless of how my voice is doing at that particular moment. I expect this is because I really have to clench my muscles and strongly press air through my throat, so there's very little room for variation. If I assume the fundamentals of this position right before I speak, but instead use a normal volume, the result is always feminine -- though slightly constrained. It's very useful in a pinch (no pun intended).
I do this by pushing the base of my tongue back up against my throat, and pinching my vocal cords in a similar way that you might pronounce "uh" with a high pitch, projecting it towards the front of my mouth. Again, I feel like I'm the only person that this explanation will ever make sense to; hopefully, that isn't the case!
Actually, Sybil, your explanation of the uh-yell position is spot on. I've been practicing since yesterday. I've never been happy with my female voice yell, but this position as described is really good for starting out with a more robust female voice. There's less searching that I otherwise might have. It is perhaps true that I understand what you are saying because I can already do it, but learning always means making a leap from knowledge to execution.
On a related note, have you thought about making your own instructional audio-file? I find your descriptions broken down so much more minutely than the others I've encountered. At the risk of blasphemy, I found the Kathe Perez tutorials significantly wanting on so many levels. Good for strength, pitch, and slides. Horrible for resonance, which is really the key to sounding female. A very good cisgender friend of mine did a spectrogram reading of her voice on Praat and came out at 130. That's significantly lower than my @200 average. Yet no one ever genders her voice as male.
Any way, I just thought I would throw you some food for thought, although you may not be hungry.
Jane
Quote from: Jamie D on August 06, 2013, 02:41:07 AM
Close. Something just seemed "off" to me. Maybe it was the cadence.
I'll keep working, thanks! Hopefully "close" means "good enough to use on most people" :)
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on August 07, 2013, 07:22:43 AM
(truncated so that my rhinoceros of a post below takes up as little space as possible)
I have considered it, but I'm truthfully very bashful with my voice because of one quality I can't seem to squelch -- and definitely shy about producing a work for many people. My voice evolves constantly, and seems markedly different to me every 3 months or so. It was passable in a short amount of time, but the quality I'm aiming for seems far away. All the same, I have wanted to help others. Here's a thread I created a while ago to explain some things I've learned, but it is by no means comprehensive or even extensively revised, and I think I come off as a bit of a teenager in it:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,139458.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,139458.0.html)
I understand what you mean about Kathe Perez's audio CDs. I had to abandon the first one after 20 minutes because it prattled on about ideas, information, and little about actual voice use. While some people may appreciate that or even find it useful for their learning, it felt irrelevant and distracting for me. I only wanted to learn about mechanics with a sprinkle of satellite information.
Do people ever gender your voice as male? It seems very lithe and feminine to me, and honestly natural for your age; I'm not certain if you were drawing a contrast to your friend, or simply stating that she is never voice-gendered as male despite her low pitch. My score on Praat was 240, which made me want to bring it down a bit due to being 27 (in the link I sent you, I think it's about 230 in the more recent clip). I some times speak lower -- oddly enough, some males tell me they prefer this, and others tell me they like the higher one; I just can't seem to win, and I personally can't decide what I prefer.
Anyway, on a final note, I have offered to Skype with a few people to see what I can help them work on -- though this is not generally something I advertise; only if someone asks me for help first. That seems to be the easiest way, as I can interact with the sounds that they're producing. And I'm always hungry .. obnoxiously.
Quote from: Sybil on August 08, 2013, 09:29:52 AM
I have considered it, but I'm truthfully very bashful with my voice because of one quality I can't seem to squelch -- and definitely shy about producing a work for many people. My voice evolves constantly, and seems markedly different to me every 3 months or so. It was passable in a short amount of time, but the quality I'm aiming for seems far away. All the same, I have wanted to help others. Here's a thread I created a while ago to explain some things I've learned, but it is by no means comprehensive or even extensively revised, and I think I come off as a bit of a teenager in it:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,139458.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,139458.0.html)
I understand what you mean about Kathe Perez's audio CDs. I had to abandon the first one after 20 minutes because it prattled on about ideas, information, and little about actual voice use. While some people may appreciate that or even find it useful for their learning, it felt irrelevant and distracting for me. I only wanted to learn about mechanics with a sprinkle of satellite information.
Do people ever gender your voice as male? It seems very lithe and feminine to me, and honestly natural for your age; I'm not certain if you were drawing a contrast to your friend, or simply stating that she is never voice-gendered as male despite her low pitch. My score on Praat was 240, which made me want to bring it down a bit due to being 27 (in the link I sent you, I think it's about 230 in the more recent clip). I some times speak lower -- oddly enough, some males tell me they prefer this, and others tell me they like the higher one; I just can't seem to win, and I personally can't decide what I prefer.
[I too have abbreviated Sybil's quotation. Jane]
Hi, I'm surprised at this point that no one has told us to get a room, except that I think that what we are discussing might be useful. In answer to whether my voice ever gets misgendered as male, I would say 'no'. But it's clear both from mine and from the very informative post for which you provide a link above that passing is not enough for so many of us. To a certain extent, developing a voice is like moving into a home that was built by someone else. Yes, there are walls and roof, but we want to make that voice express who we are. Plus, even when a woman has a voice as excellent and accomplished and feminine as the one on your sample, she still finds her way looking to, as you say, refine and to, as I would add, get refinement. We want a voice that invites the people we want to invite as friends and helps attract the person we might want as a potential partner. So maybe we need a different topic called, "Fine, so my voice might pass, but does it sizzle?"
I really haven't worked on laugh or cough as much as I should. I also don't have the excited near falsetto with which women often great each other where I want it to be. That's why I feel like I'm operating at about 80% of self-expression. Honestly, I'm very happy, but I'm willing to spend years on the other 20%.
Mechanics is the word that was escaping me that you so helpfully provided. You may never produce a how-to series, but your points of reference to familiar bodily functions are very helpful and your more detailed analysis would help users understand when they are getting it right. I think that most of us working on our voices are in it for the long haul and don't expect immediate gratification. Still, if you never say another word about voice, you've already helped me, and I imagine others as well.
Hey everyone, I decide to stop lurking, sign up for a forum name and delve into my first attempt of a voice test.
Bit of back story first, I have been practicing my voice on my own for about a year now. I used various sources such as this forum, videos ect.
I have a friend online who I have recently started practicing my voice, however I really look for more feedback. I am an artist so don't worry I am use to critiques, any feed back is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
- Aina
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13)
Quote from: Anna! on August 07, 2013, 08:12:00 AM
I'll keep working, thanks! Hopefully "close" means "good enough to use on most people" :)
I thought the second one was better. I guess the reading of text never sounds natural to me.
Quote from: Aina on August 09, 2013, 10:33:54 PM
Hey everyone, I decide to stop lurking, sign up for a forum name and delve into my first attempt of a voice test.
Bit of back story first, I have been practicing my voice on my own for about a year now. I used various sources such as this forum, videos ect.
I have a friend online who I have recently started practicing my voice, however I really look for more feedback. I am an artist so don't worry I am use to critiques, any feed back is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
- Aina
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13)
Welcome Aina. Sorry, but I could not access your recording. What privacy setting are you on?
Quote from: Jamie D on August 09, 2013, 10:40:42 PM
Welcome Aina. Sorry, but I could not access your recording. What privacy setting are you on?
Hi thanks!
Yes - sorry I turned it off, I am a bit nervous about my voice. I suppose you could say I have what they call major stage fright..even online.
I have made it public. I think it will work now..
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13)
If this still doesn't work I'll try to mess with the sound cloud settings. But it does say the file is public now.
Aina, it would be great if you would raise your voice somewhat - you sound good, but it's at a near whisper which makes it a bit difficult to get a good grasp on.
Here are two of my own I'd love to get an opinion on! I've only just recent started trying to work on my voice, so please don't be gentle - I know I have an issue with certain things, particularly words that start with a hard consonant, and I'm still trying to find my 'spot'!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s15x38ZHxHhj (http://vocaroo.com/i/s15x38ZHxHhj)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Dv8MIQcG4e (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Dv8MIQcG4e)
Slightly different voices for each.
Quote from: Aina on August 09, 2013, 10:53:19 PM
Hi thanks!
Yes - sorry I turned it off, I am a bit nervous about my voice. I suppose you could say I have what they call major stage fright..even online.
I have made it public. I think it will work now..
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/first-recording-8-9-13)
If this still doesn't work I'll try to mess with the sound cloud settings. But it does say the file is public now.
I really think your voice is quite good! A bit in the soft side, but otherwise passable.
Quote from: Meeples on August 10, 2013, 01:20:03 AM
Aina, it would be great if you would raise your voice somewhat - you sound good, but it's at a near whisper which makes it a bit difficult to get a good grasp on.
Here are two of my own I'd love to get an opinion on! I've only just recent started trying to work on my voice, so please don't be gentle - I know I have an issue with certain things, particularly words that start with a hard consonant, and I'm still trying to find my 'spot'!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s15x38ZHxHhj (http://vocaroo.com/i/s15x38ZHxHhj)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Dv8MIQcG4e (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Dv8MIQcG4e)
Slightly different voices for each.
I think I like the second one better, but just 2 seconds each doesn't give an opportunity to hear your range or inflections. I'd suggest doing them again, and just telling us a little about yourself, for at least a minute.
Quote from: Jamie D on August 10, 2013, 02:21:46 AM
I really think your voice is quite good! A bit in the soft side, but otherwise passable.
Quote from: Jamie D on August 10, 2013, 02:24:54 AM
I think I like the second one better, but just 2 seconds each doesn't give an opportunity to hear your range or inflections. I'd suggest doing them again, and just telling us a little about yourself, for at least a minute.
I concur with Jamie's opinion for the both of yous; Aina and Meeples.
Thanks guys, I appreciate it.
Meeples I think your voice is great btw, and next time I do a recording I will try to be less shy and raise my voice some. Because I "can" I just get really nervous about doing it public even if its over the internet hehe this of course is one of the bigger hurdles I have yet to conqueror.
I at least feel now that I am moving in the right direction! :D
Aina, it sounds like you might be right on the edge of honking from head to chest resonance, you're scared of that and so you whisper. If you can get into middle voice, that feeling goes away.
This "buh-buh-buh" exercise helps me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0QGvgO7M_4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0QGvgO7M_4)
(and the other similar videos in the same channel)
but if you don't sing, it might be very hard.
Okay, I don't feel anywhere near done yet, but I'd appreciate a second (third, etc.) opinion. I think the lower one sounds better at the moment, but I need to practice at the (slightly) higher pitch to exercise my voice. Don't want to get ahead of myself.
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running)
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running-out (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running-out)
(Excerpt from an Onion article "Area Teen Quickly Running Out Of Chances To Be First Openly Gay Anything", perhaps a tad politically incorrect.)
The second one, though in a higher range, sounds a bit forced and unnatural.
The first one sounds much more natural, albeit the voice of a mature woman.
If it was me, I would try to build on what you've got in clip #1. Let me add, however, that I don't believe in reading from a text. It would be better if you just talked about something for a minute.
Quote from: Jamie D on August 20, 2013, 03:38:20 AM
The first one sounds much more natural, albeit the voice of a mature woman.
I'm 23 going on about 13. Not a great fit for me then, but yeah I did have a holy-wow! moment when I found that voice. If nothing else, I think the resonance / "placement" or whatever you'd call it is good.
The next step for me will be to listen to podcasts and try to reverse-engineer the late-teen-to-20-something voice I want.
Quote from: musicofthenight on August 20, 2013, 01:18:06 AM
Aina, it sounds like you might be right on the edge of honking from head to chest resonance, you're scared of that and so you whisper. If you can get into middle voice, that feeling goes away.
This "buh-buh-buh" exercise helps me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0QGvgO7M_4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0QGvgO7M_4)
(and the other similar videos in the same channel)
but if you don't sing, it might be very hard.
Okay, I don't feel anywhere near done yet, but I'd appreciate a second (third, etc.) opinion. I think the lower one sounds better at the moment, but I need to practice at the (slightly) higher pitch to exercise my voice. Don't want to get ahead of myself.
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running)
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running-out (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running-out)
(Excerpt from an Onion article "Area Teen Quickly Running Out Of Chances To Be First Openly Gay Anything", perhaps a tad politically incorrect.)
Quote from: Jamie D on August 20, 2013, 03:38:20 AM
The second one, though in a higher range, sounds a bit forced and unnatural.
The first one sounds much more natural, albeit the voice of a mature woman.
If it was me, I would try to build on what you've got in clip #1. Let me add, however, that I don't believe in reading from a text. It would be better if you just talked about something for a minute.
I concur. The second one sounded as if you were straining yourself, while your first recording seemed normal.
Quote from: musicofthenight on August 20, 2013, 01:18:06 AM
Aina, it sounds like you might be right on the edge of honking from head to chest resonance, you're scared of that and so you whisper. If you can get into middle voice, that feeling goes away.
This "buh-buh-buh" exercise helps me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0QGvgO7M_4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0QGvgO7M_4)
(and the other similar videos in the same channel)
but if you don't sing, it might be very hard.
Okay, I don't feel anywhere near done yet, but I'd appreciate a second (third, etc.) opinion. I think the lower one sounds better at the moment, but I need to practice at the (slightly) higher pitch to exercise my voice. Don't want to get ahead of myself.
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running)
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running-out (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/area-teen-quickly-running-out)
(Excerpt from an Onion article "Area Teen Quickly Running Out Of Chances To Be First Openly Gay Anything", perhaps a tad politically incorrect.)
I will give this a try for sure Music, I've been practicing a bit and plan to do another voice recording soon to post here. Most the ones I do are just for me to play back and listen to over and over! :P
As promised, I did another voice test.
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/8-23-13-voice-test (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/8-23-13-voice-test)
In this one I've attempted to speak a bit more louder or not really louder but with more projection.
Tell me what you think.
Once classes start again for me on Tuesday i'll have a nice hour commute to practice and should help improve hehe.
Quote from: Aina on August 23, 2013, 09:36:34 PM
As promised, I did another voice test.
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/8-23-13-voice-test (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/8-23-13-voice-test)
In this one I've attempted to speak a bit more louder or not really louder but with more projection.
Tell me what you think.
Once classes start again for me on Tuesday i'll have a nice hour commute to practice and should help improve hehe.
Too quiet >.<
Quote from: SaveMeJeebus on August 24, 2013, 04:42:47 AM
Too quiet >.<
Aww and here I thought I was speaking louder - is there a reason for this? I mean it "sounds" louder to me but when I record it doesn't record as loud as it sounds like I am talking.
Yeah, it can't be louder without also being less breathy, which means letting go of some of the girliness.
I'm shooting for a feminine-androgynous sound now so I can get comfortable with a high larynx position without straining. I don't know if it's where I'll end up ultimately.
Best, I think, is to listen to and imitate women you want to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/24-august-13 (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/24-august-13)
Quote from: musicofthenight on August 24, 2013, 12:11:28 PM
Yeah, it can't be louder without also being less breathy, which means letting go of some of the girliness.
I'm shooting for a feminine-androgynous sound now so I can get comfortable with a high larynx position without straining. I don't know if it's where I'll end up ultimately.
Best, I think, is to listen to and imitate women you want to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/24-august-13 (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/24-august-13)
Trumpet ;D.
Quote from: musicofthenight on August 24, 2013, 12:11:28 PM
Yeah, it can't be louder without also being less breathy, which means letting go of some of the girliness.
I'm shooting for a feminine-androgynous sound now so I can get comfortable with a high larynx position without straining. I don't know if it's where I'll end up ultimately.
Best, I think, is to listen to and imitate women you want to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/24-august-13 (https://soundcloud.com/musicofthenight/24-august-13)
Your voice sound very feminine-androgynous to me or at the very least very close, I am not the best one to give advice, when I am a whisper apparently I am going to look up this Sonic Visualizer and see how well I do.
I still hate my voice. 2 years of training and over 1 year with speech therapist, and they are talking about to transfer me to another speech therapist who have more experience...
Recorded today.
https://soundcloud.com/sn-frost/alicevoioioioioioice/s-iGg7G
I don't know the language (Dutch? Swedish?) but the acoustics sound completely natural, like sister and brother, to my foreign ears.
Quote from: Frostice on September 02, 2013, 10:43:05 AM
I still hate my voice. 2 years of training and over 1 year with speech therapist, and they are talking about to transfer me to another speech therapist who have more experience...
Recorded today.
https://soundcloud.com/sn-frost/alicevoioioioioioice/s-iGg7G
The first half of the tape sounds entirely feminine to me! I can't believe the difference between that and your male voice.
I love your voice.
Quote from: Frostice on September 02, 2013, 10:43:05 AM
I still hate my voice. 2 years of training and over 1 year with speech therapist, and they are talking about to transfer me to another speech therapist who have more experience...
Recorded today.
https://soundcloud.com/sn-frost/alicevoioioioioioice/s-iGg7G
You shouldn't it is very very good very feminine and it is as if there are two different people speaking.
Quote from: Frostice on September 02, 2013, 10:43:05 AM
I still hate my voice. 2 years of training and over 1 year with speech therapist, and they are talking about to transfer me to another speech therapist who have more experience...
Recorded today.
https://soundcloud.com/sn-frost/alicevoioioioioioice/s-iGg7G
Your voice is stunning....just perfect, I think. And it sounds strong, and natural. You should be proud!!!
And I've never liked my male or my female voices, but people compliment me on both, so maybe it's just that we are perfectionists who are never satisfied?? LOL
Found some alone time, so I didn't feel like someone would hear me practice and I believe I was able to actually record something remotely normal volume!
:laugh:
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voicetest-9-8-13 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voicetest-9-8-13)
Tell me what you think!
So, I've kind of gotten some opinions on my voice before, during my vlogs and various video presentation checks, but honestly I wasn't really happy with my voice even though everyone says that I sounded great.
Well, today, after 8 months straight of doing self-studied voice therapy, I finally made a voice recording that I was actually happy with. So I wanted to see what everyone else thought, if you think there's any way that someone could clock this voice as being trans or not... and if there's anything else at all that I can do to improve on it.
Female Voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1lZX0Smv7rc (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1lZX0Smv7rc)
And for comparison, here's my current natural speaking voice, where I'm not attempting to alter my tone, inflection, or resonance whatsoever:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1fQ4tKIEezV (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1fQ4tKIEezV)
(I'm getting gendered female on the phone probably like 85% of the time recently with this natural voice, so it's not much of a guy voice anymore... my lower voice just pretty much evaporated.)
And just so that everyone can know what my original "guy voice" sounded like, here's a promotion for my college radio station that I recorded back in 2010 for my Audio Production class: (I've lost the ability to speak in this vocal range now.)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1y5u2nygEvL (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1y5u2nygEvL)
Geez Carrie! Your voice sounds stellar, perfecto, wunderbar!!
Seriously impressed over here :D
Absolute perfection.
Okay, I noticed one tiny bug. "Talking." It's got a "k" in it, which for whatever reason (the neighboring vowels) I have a hard time producing in this one word in female range. And, hey, you missed it, too.
:laugh: Is there such a thing as praise by faint criticism?
Carrie that is one amazing voice you have! Mind sharing some tips while your at it? ;)
Sing along to female singers, and try to speak like female characters in shows and movies. Try to imitate their tone and inflection as best as you can. Record yourself doing it. Try different things... change different muscles each time, try to make the tone come from different places, use different throat shapes, tighten different muscles, and listen for which ones make you sound more feminine. Once you get a good idea of which muscles and which tonal area is the right one, try to incorporate that into your own speaking tone, inflection, and resonance. Practice EVERY day. 15 minutes is fine, as long as it's every single day. Because it will take months and months and months of repetition and muscle memory to become natural.
That's what I've been (attempting) to do at least. Singing along to Karen Carpenter, Joan Baez, Kate Wolf, and Joni Mitchell. Plus some occasional help from Andrea James' course, Kathe Perez's videos, and a lot of Youtube videos on the topic just to point me in the right direction. Really, it's just about practice though.
Also, try holding books on the sides of your head, just in front of your ears. This will block the internal noise feedback that makes your voice sound different to you than it does to everyone else, and you'll hear what everyone else hears. Then you can speak in real-time and see how you really sound to others, so it's easier to practice.
I have the impression that all of th recent recordings here sound rather ok especially in terms of resonance.
Ok, here goes nothing and I just upload some recordings as to where I am now, some years after that little voice training I did. What do you think the main issues are that get me misgendered. My thought is that it is mostly pitch and if I try to get that right, I loose volume, people as "what did you say?" and when I reply louder, pitch drops.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WIzaR9SRQo (low, about 140-150 Hz if I get that right)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0DXwISk6uLB (medium, about 170-190 Hz says praat)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s175OmlEVj2j (high, a bit above 200 Hz)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0yi1d0TJHnK (very high, about 210 Hz - this is about as high as I can get without serious cracking)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0YqTO3RnLDg (extreme for me. 240 Hz - I could probably not even talk to a person sitting across the table and it is a huge effort to control this.)
I am talking nonsense in the audiobits of course. Should I rather try and read a passage or script maybe?
Now I know the supposed average for women is at the 200-220 mark. I feel like I can barely get there and it takes a lot of effort tomaintain that pitch. I guess I will have to do a lot of training to manage to hold that pitch AND keep resonance under control at the same time AND then to dare use that in public. Meh, I really hate to do that now, but listening to recordings of me tells me I need that. I did a recording of a test for a presentation I am giving this week and even when I tried to do it in a better voice, I still only had 160 Hz but good resonance at the beginning and it dropped to 140 Hz and mediocre resonance at the end of the 10 minutes. :(
None of the recordings is a "totally relaxed" state by the way, aka "male voice", that one is at 110 Hz. yikes.
Anjaq the Medium and High sound pretty good, to my ears as far as pitch goes.
However your recordings sound "muffled" which from the sound of it is either the way your mic is set up, our maybe your speaking to close too the mic. You may want to fiddle with were your mic is placed and the settings.
Quote from: Aina on September 23, 2013, 01:30:49 PM
Anjaq the Medium and High sound pretty good, to my ears as far as pitch goes.
However your recordings sound "muffled" which from the sound of it is either the way your mic is set up, our maybe your speaking to close too the mic. You may want to fiddle with were your mic is placed and the settings.
Ok, I will try to not be too close to the mic. Maybe it will be lower in volume then. Mic settings - the laptop has only one it seems and that is volume of recording, or am I missing something? It may be my voice though - people often ask me to repeat something, so maybe I am just mumbling too much.
So the medium I can do rather ok, as long as I am watching it. Good to hear that pitch is allright on them. But something is still off I think, its not all in the pitch and as you specifically mention pitch, I assume you are also feeling that while pitch is ok there is something else that needs work?
Quote from: anjaq on September 23, 2013, 03:55:51 PM
Ok, I will try to not be too close to the mic. Maybe it will be lower in volume then. Mic settings - the laptop has only one it seems and that is volume of recording, or am I missing something? It may be my voice though - people often ask me to repeat something, so maybe I am just mumbling too much.
So the medium I can do rather ok, as long as I am watching it. Good to hear that pitch is allright on them. But something is still off I think, its not all in the pitch and as you specifically mention pitch, I assume you are also feeling that while pitch is ok there is something else that needs work?
Well if you right click the speaker icon on the lower right hand corner of your screen, and click on Recording Options, that'll give you access to advance options for mic. Also don't feel bad I am the same way with my female voice, if you look back in this topic at some of my recordings they are super low.
This mainly because I don't anyone in my house to hear me do my voice because I am pre-everything.
ok and what options do I have to set there?
About the low volume voice - it is in part because I have trouble getting it louder and in part because I did this in a hotel room where I am for the week ;) Dont want to say weirdo things out loud. I could read a passage maybe.
Carrie, I think you sound adorable! The only time I could hear any deviation is with your e's sometimes, but that's just because a friend of mine that is MTF does that too so it made me think of her.
Can us boys post in here or is it only for the ladies?
Quote from: Darkie on September 23, 2013, 07:02:40 PM
Can us boys post in here or is it only for the ladies?
Anyone can! Lets hear it Darkie! ;D
Anjaq: Well you could try adding a small boost, so you don't need to sit so close to your mic. Under the Recording Devices, Click your Microphone, Properties, Then levels if you have no Microphone boost, try just adding +10.
Again I am not sure how close your talking to your mic so this might not be the issue. I am no expert but maybe this will help!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hxrXbmGeJO (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hxrXbmGeJO)
Don't laugh. It's bad.
Quote from: Darkie on September 23, 2013, 10:28:32 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hxrXbmGeJO (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hxrXbmGeJO)
Don't laugh. It's bad.
Well the bad news is, you sound female to me - or at best like a young teenage boy. Honestly working in reverse is hard for me to think about since I never really thought about how a guy should sound like I just sound like a guy.
I do have an idea for you, this may sound silly but your could practice by using stereo-typical male phrases.
I started by doing the whole "OH my god that is soooo cute" and worked on sounding less valley girl and more natural as progressed and I am no expert!
So I'd suggest like saying something along the lines off. "Sup guys, how ya' doin'" "Dude that just aint right" ect ect.
Yea, I know I sound female. XD And I actually look young enough to be a teenage boy, which is why it's not as bad for me. When I'm sick it gets lower, which is awesome.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ndpYb2mLCU (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ndpYb2mLCU)
I tried to sing along to Steam Powered Giraffe. You guys don't want to hear that. It was bad.
I like penguins too.
Quote from: Darkie on September 24, 2013, 11:15:47 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ndpYb2mLCU (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ndpYb2mLCU)
I tried to sing along to Steam Powered Giraffe. You guys don't want to hear that. It was bad.
Hey I hear an Improvement over your first recording. I think your on the right track with this one. Again wish I could give you some better tips Darkie!
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 02:14:55 AM
Hi all, I thought I'd start a thread where people can upload audio clips of their voices and get feedback, in the hope we can all help each other out :)
Anyway, I'll go first... I should point out this is from my first day training my voice.. It's not great but, my "male" voice was pretty andro to begin with.. Anyway take a listen and Id love to hear what people think
http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1 (http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1)
Please feel free to comment, and upload your own clips !
(I use soundcloud.com for a free account, and there is an app for smartphones that's easy to use and simple to share sounds on :) )
sounds like a warm richly toned woman's voice to me
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0EezqbdUgaM
My first voice audio. I tried my best to sound girly without straining or sounding too forced. I feel like i sound like a gay guy with lisp. :-\
Quote from: PrincessPatience on September 25, 2013, 09:11:36 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0EezqbdUgaM
My first voice audio. I tried my best to sound girly without straining or sounding too forced. I feel like i sound like a gay guy with lisp. :-\
For sure you should work on the resonance - this would improve the voice a lot already. And I know you probably feel like you raised pitch quite a bit - but PRAAT says you are just at 120 Hz. That may in part be because of the resonance. So I think you would need to control resonance to get a "clearer" voice and then raise pitch quite a bit more to get there.
And here is my update with hopefully less bad microphone settings:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0H6cjGLdNkU
It still is at that stupid 170 average that seems to be sort of the upper limit of my comfort zone but it strays up to the 200s and down to the 140s, I think (is there a setting to find that out on praat - the min/max pitch just give me stupid number that come from noise). Its just hard - I cannot manage to go up in pitch from that without feeling weird and compared to the nonmodified voice it is already up by 60 Hz. I think I did loose resonance control in some sylables though. Its a bit delicate to keep the balance as taking out too much resonance is sounding too soft.
Quote from: anjaq on September 26, 2013, 10:46:16 AM
For sure you should work on the resonance - this would improve the voice a lot already. And I know you probably feel like you raised pitch quite a bit - but PRAAT says you are just at 120 Hz. That may in part be because of the resonance. So I think you would need to control resonance to get a "clearer" voice and then raise pitch quite a bit more to get there.
And here is my update with hopefully less bad microphone settings:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0H6cjGLdNkU
It still is at that stupid 170 average that seems to be sort of the upper limit of my comfort zone but it strays up to the 200s and down to the 140s, I think (is there a setting to find that out on praat - the min/max pitch just give me stupid number that come from noise). Its just hard - I cannot manage to go up in pitch from that without feeling weird and compared to the nonmodified voice it is already up by 60 Hz. I think I did loose resonance control in some sylables though. Its a bit delicate to keep the balance as taking out too much resonance is sounding too soft.
Much better anjaq your coming in a lot more clear, your voice sounds pretty good! I am certainly no expert on this, because I am still working on my voice. But I think you need to work on your resonance a little more. Your pitch too me sounds good so I wouldn't push yourself to hard on feeling like you need to up your pitch, you just need to get that sound down. Most will say resonance is more important then pitch anyway!
Ah thank you for the feedback. I was not aware that resonance still is so much of an issue as I kind of tried to focus a lot on resonance in the past and much less on pitch. I recently tried to get resonance out more but I got a feedback that I sound "too soft" in a way that "women do if they want to be really nice", so I kind of went back from that somewhat and thought about doing something on pitch, as i usually am semi-comfortable only in the 160-170 Hz average range and quite often go down to 140 or so if I am with people I know well. This is of course in part because I can put a number on that with praat, while resonance is more elusive, unless someone knows how to analyze resonance in praat?
What i know I am doing is that I sometimes loose resonance control - so I get short moments where I loose resonance and then it sounds a bit like I am getting a cold or something :( .
Ok, so I will try another series with different resonance control and stick with the 160 Hz for that (140 Hz I have to avoid somehow though). I need to be at home to do that though, so later...
Here is a NEW voice update (I am sorry about the really crappy sound quality):
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-glistenburg/saturday-afternoon-jmg
Jamie, I think it is a bit hard to analyze because of the rather noisy recording. It sounds ok to me, but its more like listening to someone on the phone and probably a lot of the frequencies are missing in such a recording.
Aina - I tried to get the resonance away even more but could hardly do it without sounding totally speechless (breathy, low volume,...), so I am not sure I can do a lot more on that :( - do you happen to know an exercise to play with that even more? I kind of am tempted to put in my original voice to show the difference but somehow am afraid of doing such a recordning and put it online. Its at about 110 Hz with loads of resonance. What I noticed however is that if I get rid more of resonance, praat will give me a higher average pitch. I kind of suspect that praat counts in any resonance as pitch as well so I am actually having a higher pitch in some recordings but that is "pulled down" by the added resonance. Can that be, or was that just by chance? I mean I tried a recording in a "head voice" kind of thing and deliberatly lowered pitch - it still was rated by praat at 180. I think setting it on "cross correlation analysis" helps to get it more realistic.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xiyOvKr4dd
Here is a new voice recording with a different mic:
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-glistenburg/saturday-evening-jmg-28sep2013
Anja- I think what is most likely occurring is the pitch shift that commonly happens just by modifying resonance. By using the muscles to achieve a smaller voice chamber, you are probably also slightly tensioning your vocal cords. It is pretty hard to separate the two. When you have proper resonance, it's definitely easier to speak higher as well.
Both of you ladies are sounding really good! Though there is a hint of falsetto in both of your voices, like you are using your head voice. I'm not sure if it's enough that it's a problem because it does sound pretty natural and blends seamlessly with your chest voice, but it still sounds like a little like a head voice nonetheless. Just something to think about :)
Thanks Jenny. I value your opinion a lot as you have done a lot on voice. I think the falsetto thing comes in when I try to really get rid of resonance and overdo it - I sadly never did proper voice training so I am not sure how to actually find out what is chest voice and what is head voice. Probably I am trying to do a head voice as in some isntructions on voice they are mentioning stuff like trying to "speak like the voice is coming from the nose" or something like that. And chest voice sounds to me like there would be a lot of resonance in it what I was told to avoid like the plague. So do you know some exercise to do a chest voice but without the resonance and avoid head voice at the same time?
P.S.: And just to have said that - pleas be very critical with me everyone. I dont need any reassurance of having a good voice at this stage. I have been postop for 13 years now and need to get this sorted out without any feelgood stuff, so if something needs improvement, tell me. My voice is probably responsible for >90% of the times I do get identified as having a trans past, so I need to get this fixed. And if resonance is an issue, then I need to work that out - as there is no other way than training it seems, surgery is only about pitch after all.
As I have told others and will post here...
These are the two resources I have used to get where I am today (and yes, you have to pay for the voice analyzer, but it is worth every penny):
http://www.genderlife.com/voice-consultation/free-finding-your-female-voice-workbook/
http://www.sygyt.com/en/order
Ok. I may consider those. I am currently going through the lessons of "deepstealth" at youtube, are they similar? I also am thinking I will look into getting a prescription for voice rehab, if that is possible - maybe I have to pay it myself though, I need to find some transfriendly people who prescribe and/or perform this though. I think if i pay for it, I'd prefer it to be 1 on 1. If i cannot get that I may try the commercial CDs.
For comparison reasons (because some of you asked)...
Here is before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4kSJ9xS98w&feature=youtu.be
Here is after:
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-glistenburg/saturday-evening-jmg-28sep2013
Sadly it's not doing it at all for me. Sounds like falsetto. Y'need to aim for a lower voice register.
For some people, it works better to work your way down from falsetto. Others will have much better results by working upwards. Try both, I guess.
What you are referring to, A? You mean Jamies and my recordings?
anjaq, uhm, I was talking to Mlle. Glistenburg (who funnily PMed me saying she passed well although she was insecure about it), but sadly I think I can roughly say the same thing about your voice. I'm sorry, but to me it's not a pass. But then again, many - nay, most - people will be "fooled" by a voice that to me is only a gross, almost pathetic, approximation of a female-ish voice, something a lot worse than your voice. Or will recognize that the person is trying to sound female (as opposed to actually sounding female) and treat the person as female because of that.
So especially for those many trans women who struggle to find a passing voice, listening to me might bring more self-loathing than improvement. After all, I really do have a good voice that I can sing decently in female ranges with, that people usually can't find anything wrong or male with even though they knew I was trans and were expecting something else entirely, yet sometimes I doubt it and notice this little mini millimeter-sized male-ish thing. So you'd expect my standard for passing to be above average. If your voice works, it works.
Thanks, A. Its not unexpected. You probably are right with what you say and I am painfully aware of that. i tried to improve some things in the last couple of recordings, but it seems not to work, so I guess I will need to do something about it. And no, it does not pass well. It is the #1 by far reason I get "soft clocked" or even as this year in August misgendered. At least that is what I think currently. The weird thing is that I was told to do well during transition - I am not sure if people were just not honest and trying to be polite, but i think it was a lot better and I lost much - i read you can get some damage by modifying the voice too much over too long times. So can you pinpoint what you think is off in it? Resonance? pitch? inflection? i intend to look for a speech therapist soon to make some progress and as you @A have read I also seriously consider surgery for the first time since I transitioned 13 years ago as I feel that this cannot go on now. I am 13 years post of fer gods sake and still get in trouble for my voice, along with al the insecurity and fear of talking too much that comes with it. Screw that.
Uuuuuuuuuhm. Seriously, it's beyond hard for me to pinpoint things when it comes to sound. It's weird actually, given how I'm supposed to be good auditorily and that I grasp foreign language pronunciations rather well and all, but when it comes to sound itself (as compared to communication and speech), it becomes really hard for me to give details. Lemme try still.
How did you work your voice? Apparently there are people who'll get good results working down from falsetto, and others for whom it won't work well, and those will try to work upwards from their basic voice. Maybe you should try the other way if you've been doing one.
So uhm, details. To me it sounds like you're "trying too hard", and it doesn't sound natural. Sounds like you're trying to imitate some high court lady's artificial speech, and to begin with that might be the wrong target. Also it's like you're so afraid of sounding wrong that you strongly limit your voice, and how monotonish it makes you sound is not good. Really, it sounds like you're limiting yourself too much.
Maybe you haven't been able to find your head voice, your head resonance? I hear you having almost no resonance (which contributes to the "princess wannabe" impression), and then when I do hear the resonance (for example, the first word, "okay"), it sounds really deep, even if it's not very strong. A bit like if you were trying to emulate head resonance with partial, weak chest resonance, which doesn't work because they don't sound the same at all, I think. How about you try starting from down low, from your normal male voice, and gradually going up in a single sound until you can't feel the chest resonance anymore?
Basically, your voice is very restrained, and I think it might pass better if it was less restrained, even if then in other criteria it wouldn't pass as well. With a voice that's more free that sounds natural, you can get rid of that enduring "trying too hard" feeling that plagues your voice. In fact it might be the only way to get rid of it. Then, from this new starting point, you can figure out ways to improve the wrong parts, which will probably not be easy, but those things, contrary to working from your current starting point, sound possible to me at least.
Sigh, I feel like a fake telling you this, considering that I didn't consciously do that sort of work on my own voice and don't really know how it's supposed to feel. Can't even access the male voice I know I'm physically capable of producing... >.>
Thanks for the advice, A.
Honesly I have a hard time accessing my "male voice" as well. After such a long time. The last recording and actually all the ones except the very first two I posted are indeed me trying to "improve" which obviously did not work that well. If I dont, I end up with a more full voice at about 140 Hz, which is +30Hz to my "male voice" - at least the "male voice" that comes out now if I try to do it. But +30 is not enough obviously.
The way i worked at this when I started was to do that falsetto thing and work my way down and it seemed to work out ok. I got a decent voice for some years with that, but lost it over the years. I think probably it always was quite low on resonance overall, so to you it probably would not have passed. I am a bit confused about the resonance now - so to get that right - there is a chest resonance obviously which is that deep rumbling sound that goes with speaking in the "male voice". This has to go and be controlled (as i understand it that is so even in those who assist voice change with the knife). But then I have not enough resonance to make the voice full, so I need to replace that resonance with something. Is that right? I think that is where my attempts fail as the "falsetto and then go down" thing did only eliminate resonance. Now what to replace it with - you say "head resonance" but on the other hand I have heard that its a bad idea to speak in a "head voice" as it sounds not good either. So what is it then with the resonance that one should use or not use - chest vs head resonance, chest vs head voice - I get signals that both are wrong as chest=male and head=fake. :( Maybe you can clarify that to me.
I just wrote an email to ask for good voice trainers in the area, I hope someone there can help. All this recording and listening to it really makes me cry a bit. I treid to ignore my voice issues for a long time but now I cannot and I hate to hear myself. Sorry for the rambling.
Uhm, well a head voice does indeed tend to sound less natural than a chest voice, since it's the voice that you'll generally sing with. But then again it's not so bad. A head voice is what most women (most people?) will use when speaking to someone they're not familiar with and want to make a good impression on. When doing a job search call for example you can be sure I'll be mostly using my head voice.
Basically, the way I understand it, there are three kinds of voices: the chest voice, which is the relaxed voice that most people will speak with most of the time; the head voice, which is a clearer kind of voice that resonates elsewhere, less deeply, used for when more clarity or precision is desired; and the falsetto, which has some volume but basically no resonance at all, and can be stretched downwards and modified to sound more natural, but mostly will always remain what it is: basically only useful for screams and funny imitations, and, if trained especially, for singing (think surprising opera feats and YouTube video of a man singing Celine Dion very well). But it will always remain ill-suited for speaking, I think, because no matter how much strength and depth you manage to add to it, its very nature is to lack resonance, and resonance is important in natural speaking. You can try to camouflage its lack of resonance by dimming its volume so that it loses its distinctive Mickey Mouse feeling, but but that's about all.
A head voice is less casual and natural than a chest voice, but contrary to falsetto, it can be and is used for speech.
So, for the resonance... yes, there are two kinds of resonances. They roughly fit with the voice types, but not fully, I think. While the chest voice is mostly called that because it feels like it comes from the chest, it can sort of integrate head resonance as well; vice versa for head voice. Chest resonance is how your chest vibrates and you feel like your sound is resonating and getting its depth and strength below your throat. Head resonance is weaker, but it feels like the voice resonates in or above your throat. They overlap and mix somewhat, but mostly head voice is head resonance and chest voice is chest resonance.
So uhm, if you make a sound that's gradually higher from your lowest possible note, with your hand on your chest, normally (hopefully) at some point you'll feel your chest resonate noticeably less. There's a chance that at that point your voice will hit a "break" and you'll need to interrupt the sound, reajust your vocal cords and start again. At that point you'll be hitting your head voice.
Thing is, even though for a maximum natural feeling having a passing chest voice is best, not all trans women can do that. And actually, some natal women will communicate mostly with their head voice, even with their friends, and it's not the end of the world. So you should concentrate on getting a passable head voice, and then consider trying to get a more natural, passable chest voice.
You should also note that by going down from a falsetto, what you end up with is either a modified falsetto (which I feel is what you have), either with a head voice that you slipped into by sliding down. Either way none of those is a chest voice (your chest voice is the lowest of the three, and even though there's overlap, it just doesn't make sense that you'd start from falsetto, the very extreme upper limit, and reach chest voice.
Wow, the first critical criticism in a long time. I am both offended and overjoyed! Haha. If things "improve" as you would like A they will come in time and if not I am happy with what I have. There is a dear old friend of mine who is trans* as well and she still has a masculine voice, but it works and she oddly never gets mis-gendered for some reason. Anyway, thanks for the comments.
Thanks for explaining, A.
I think I cannot use my chest voice and resonance as they are at the low end range of the male pitch, so I will most likely have to focus on head voice. As I am not a singer at all, never was, I probably have not developed that well enough though. Which may be why when I try to get there I get no resonance and thats not good obviously.
Quote from: A on September 29, 2013, 02:20:10 PM
falsetto, which has some volume but basically no resonance at all, and can be stretched downwards and modified to sound more natural, but mostly will always remain what it is: basically only useful for screams and funny imitations, and, if trained especially, for singing (think surprising opera feats and YouTube video of a man singing Celine Dion very well). But it will always remain ill-suited for speaking
Ok, that was quite harsh, but there is no point in not being. So conclusion of that is that I need to find my head resonance and add it to get a proper sounding head voice?
QuoteSo uhm, if you make a sound that's gradually higher from your lowest possible note, with your hand on your chest, normally (hopefully) at some point you'll feel your chest resonate noticeably less. There's a chance that at that point your voice will hit a "break" and you'll need to interrupt the sound, reajust your vocal cords and start again. At that point you'll be hitting your head voice.
Did I get that right that basically the head voice is what is above that cracking point? Meaning I would have to go to that point, go over it into the high pitch and then from there keep that head voice while getting pitch to normal? Basically I think that is what the method I tried to learn this with seems to say - go up in pitch until the chest resonance goes away and then go down in pitch without adding chest resonance. I guess with some people head resonance is added at that point automatically, for others not. So how to get head resonance then.
QuoteThing is, even though for a maximum natural feeling having a passing chest voice is best, not all trans women can do that. And actually, some natal women will communicate mostly with their head voice, even with their friends, and it's not the end of the world. So you should concentrate on getting a passable head voice, and then consider trying to get a more natural, passable chest voice.
I doubt I can get a passable chest voice. The resonance there is very deep and not usable at all for this. Or can one actually change the chest resonance?
Great writeup on the chest/head registers, A!
I was mistaken, I thought head voice = falsetto but that is totally not the case!
Well, you learn something new every day :D
There are (or should be) two breaking points in your voice. One between the chest voice and the head voice, and one that leads to falsetto. And actually, when you enter the "head voice" area, you shouldn't have to lower your voice much if at all, especially with the voice of someone born male. The confusion can come from the fact that many male-born people (that is, male singers and MTFs alike) will kind of jump straight to falsetto from chest voice, for some reason. I don't really understand it, but then again, there's a lot that I don't understand. Maybe it comes from the fact that in singing, the two can sound actually similar and be confused for each other depending on how they're used - which in male singing will often be similar, and the head voice will be used with a lot of power, constrasting with what you're trying to accomplish. (Found that out trying to find a helpful video for you but finding only singing, often opera, tips. I also find that video makers seem to contradict each other on what head voice and falsetto are which is funny.)
As for modifying chest resonance, uhm... I guess it's about getting a little bit of it while having head resonance too? Not sure.
Now uhm, maybe these links can help. There's this guy who's for some reason trying to imitate a girl. It's obviously not quite there, but I think doing what he does could maybe get you to a good starting point from which you can improve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAOfNTs5v-E
There is also this that another member posted in another thread:
Quote from: Sierra Belle on September 08, 2013, 07:16:37 PM
I don't know if you've looked in to it, but I literally went to one site and it gave me all the tips I needed, I literally had a perfectly passable voice the very first day. (thought VERY scratchy at first). Frequent breaks were totally REQUIRED.
http://www.looking-glass.greenend.org.uk/voice.htm
If I knew how to send Audio through here, I would send the first thing I used as my beginning benchmark.
Ok, I think I got something of that, A. Maybe actually doing some singing when I am in the car or something private will be a good idea to see where that head resonance is.
The video sadly was completly unhelpful. I think I know what he tries to describe and it is what I try to do (I think), but he kept talking about his adams apple and all that which I did not get and cannot really use (I dont have one that would be visible like that. Luckily.) - but again I think what he is doing is to get rid of chest resonance - I know how to do that and use it unless I slip sometimes. But the result is what is in my recordings and franky the guy in the vid also sounded a bit weird when he does that. I will check that written tutorial though and keep at the "deepstealth" instrucion videos, though they are quite long ...
Good luck. I wish I could've been more useful.
A, how is this (and anyone else that wants to comment):
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-glistenburg/mid-voice-29sept2013
[Range is at 185-205Hz.]
Maybe this is a little better, maybe not... we will see soon enough.
Wait - I just figured. Especially A but also Jenny - when you wrote I have to work on resonance dod you mean I still have the low resonance thing (chest resonance) going to a degree and that is what is making me sound not that good or was it the lack of head resonance that you referred to? Or both? I was always kind of obsessed with getting chest resonance away and did not think much about head resonance, so maybe I misunderstood that to a degree.
What I tried now was more head resonance, but I just don't seem to get much. I tried and I am actually finding these two breaking points in voice that A mentions and my regular speaking voice is in the middle section, so it is not really falsetto, thats good. That said, the lack of head resonance still seems to make it sound like that, possibly. So I will try singing , but the hints on head resonance like this from the link provided:
Quote
One of the biggest problems facing TS women is, after learning to produce a soft, feminine voice, to then learn how to speak loudly when necessary without the voice returning to a masculine sound. Women gain loudness by using the cavities inside the head as a 'sounding box' whereas men use the chest. To gain a louder feminine voice, develop head resonance rather than chest resonance --- open your mouth a little more, use more air, and 'push' your voice up into your head.
is confusing. I have a hard time to figure out how to push the voice into the head.
One reason that I can think of now that I read how this supposedly work (if thats really what is happening with head resonance really being in the head cavities - chest resonance after all is not really in the chest) is that I have severe problems with the sinuses. I have some chronic sinusitis and some blockades in them and some excess tissue growth. One doc already told me I should get that fixed with surgery to remove the growth and fix the openings so I can breathe better and possibly not have so much sinusitis anymore. I did not want to do this, but now that I read that the cavities in the head may play a role in voice (and that seems as I understand it now to be the case no matter if one does a voice surgery or not, is that correct, Jenny?), I may reconsider for a triple benefit of that (they can do a bit of nose shaping at that time, too ;) ). So does that make sense or is the head cavity thing either nonsense or should work no matter of such conditions?
Ok, I think I will try singing the next days anyways. :) I wish I had more chances to be alone for that though ;)
Mlle: Can't listen to it right now, so I'll have to give you comments later.
anjaq: The problem is with both. Occasional (and rare) presence of chest resonance gives a make-ish feeling, but most importantly, absence of head resonance gives an unnatural, forced feeling. As for the sinuses... I honestly have no idea. I'm sorry. It's vastly a matter of feeling for me, do I have no idea about the sinuses and whatnot. But if I try to feel where my voice resonates, or does seem to be in the rear of the head.
Quote from: A on September 29, 2013, 03:28:48 PM
There are (or should be) two breaking points in your voice. One between the chest voice and the head voice, and one that leads to falsetto. And actually, when you enter the "head voice" area, you shouldn't have to lower your voice much if at all, especially with the voice of someone born male. The confusion can come from the fact that many male-born people (that is, male singers and MTFs alike) will kind of jump straight to falsetto from chest voice, for some reason. I don't really understand it, but then again, there's a lot that I don't understand. Maybe it comes from the fact that in singing, the two can sound actually similar and be confused for each other depending on how they're used - which in male singing will often be similar, and the head voice will be used with a lot of power, constrasting with what you're trying to accomplish. (Found that out trying to find a helpful video for you but finding only singing, often opera, tips. I also find that video makers seem to contradict each other on what head voice and falsetto are which is funny.)
As for modifying chest resonance, uhm... I guess it's about getting a little bit of it while having head resonance too? Not sure.
Now uhm, maybe these links can help. There's this guy who's for some reason trying to imitate a girl. It's obviously not quite there, but I think doing what he does could maybe get you to a good starting point from which you can improve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAOfNTs5v-E
There is also this that another member posted in another thread:
Hellu, I agree with most of this. The problem is, people find it difficult to get in to that head resonance easily as it uses muscles that aren't accustomed to being used so frequently.
Basically, if you want to get a female voice my tips would be to try to get your voice box behind your jaw. (not literally, it might not be possible) and do so WITHOUT clenching your voice box. THAT is in short how you obtain head resonance. When you speak for the first few months it'll feel very strenuous and often lead your voice to feeling very scratchy (that's when you should take a break) but ultimately it works like any muscle and you will grow used to it. If you're like me, you'll completely forget how to drop back down again "accidentally."
Also, you should look up some anatomy in that area it will REALLY help you understand and identify what has to be done.
Yes i know that voice box lift thing. I do that. I cannot always keep it there, though, especially if I speak freely and not just read.
I just read up some stuff on the head and chest voice and I read that in the head voice, only 2/3 or 1/3 of the vocal cords are vibrating. This incidentially sounds a lot like what the VFS surgeon of Jenny does do to the vocal chords. Interesting.
Sadly I will not be able to train at all now as the viruses from my sinus seem to have slipped into my throat again and now I have throat pain. Again. Like so many times before. I think its #10 this year. So I need to take a break.
Awesome. D: Try those things that pour a water solution into your nose if you haven't. They're pretty effective.
Mlle. Glistenburg: I listened to your clip. I guess it can pass, kind of, but it still sounds pretty forced. But then again that's only me eh.
Quote from: Mlle. Glistenburg on September 29, 2013, 09:15:17 PM
A, how is this (and anyone else that wants to comment):
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-glistenburg/mid-voice-29sept2013
[Range is at 185-205Hz.]
Maybe this is a little better, maybe not... we will see soon enough.
You're close, but you are definitely borderline falsetto, you can tell by how forcibly limited your range is. You should probably try starting with a lower tone, you want to have a higher voice, but you don't want it to be in falsetto, in time you'll be able to go further and further in to the higher pitches without going in to falsetto, but for now what you are doing is definitely going falsetto, so lower a bit.
When I first started talking in my full feminine voice, it was VERY low. But everyone heard it as a female voice, now it seems that I have a VERY female voice after about 3 months of strenuous practice and TAKING MY TIME to get there. Don't push your voice too high too fast!
A, you meant me with the water thing? I guess so. I think I know what you mean, but not if it helps againt cold. Right now I have no voice at all. Silent me. I tried some things yesterday and I think I felt what that head resonance is. So once voice is back I try that. I wonder... last thing yesterday was me trying my old boy mode voice to see whats different - it took me like 2 minutes or so to get there LOL. Then one of my dreams was about VFS this night. Maybe that was too much for my psyche and body and they thought it may be a good idea to turn off my voice for a day or two ;)
Sierra, I agree on your last post re the recording. I originally tried your approach of basically do resonance control and not pitch too much and it sounded sort of female enough, but on the phone it never worked and people kept asking me about the voice. It must be at about 140Hz or so, so way too low. But I never managed to get pitch up without it sounding kind of bad and with time I seem to also have lost resonance. In the past some people told me they liked that deep feminine voice, though I was not so fond of it, as it tended always to expose my past. Now I dont know what changed but its not even like that anymore it seems. I think I may actually have damaged my chords with 15 years of trying to not get sirred on the phone and all that...
Ok, so I had two totally mute days now, as i had a cold and had no voice for almost a day and then it was bad, so I decided to just not talk for the rest of these two days to give my voice a rest. It was a bit weird as I had to interact with some people.
I tried then to think about the resonance stuff and thought if I speak up a bit louder on the mic and try to open my mouth more and just not restrict my voice so much, maybe the resonance gets better...
So these are three recordings of me talking nonsense about resonance and pitch, so the content is just text filler in a way:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0rsfZxBPvrd - this should be the low pitch recording, as in I deliberately relax myself to not shift pitch up, this should be better for the vocal cords I guess if they dont have to be tightened for the higher pitch (about 140 Hz)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0vc6kx93xDy (tad higher, 190 Hz)
and
http://vocaroo.com/i/s18FGt4s7B0A (tad lower, 160 Hz)
are more what I seem to do by default. I noticed that if I really am conscious about getting resonance control, pitch goes up by itself. I am not sure if I do that out of reflex now as I kept trying to maintain at least an androgynous voice for the past years or if resonance control just goes together with pitch in that way.
Now judge me - is it an improvement over the last recordings or is it as bad/worse?
THX
Quote from: anjaq on October 03, 2013, 06:46:36 PM
Ok, so I had two totally mute days now, as i had a cold and had no voice for almost a day and then it was bad, so I decided to just not talk for the rest of these two days to give my voice a rest. It was a bit weird as I had to interact with some people.
I tried then to think about the resonance stuff and thought if I speak up a bit louder on the mic and try to open my mouth more and just not restrict my voice so much, maybe the resonance gets better...
So these are three recordings of me talking nonsense about resonance and pitch, so the content is just text filler in a way:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0rsfZxBPvrd - this should be the low pitch recording, as in I deliberately relax myself to not shift pitch up, this should be better for the vocal cords I guess if they dont have to be tightened for the higher pitch (about 140 Hz)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0vc6kx93xDy (tad higher, 190 Hz)
and
http://vocaroo.com/i/s18FGt4s7B0A (tad lower, 160 Hz)
are more what I seem to do by default. I noticed that if I really am conscious about getting resonance control, pitch goes up by itself. I am not sure if I do that out of reflex now as I kept trying to maintain at least an androgynous voice for the past years or if resonance control just goes together with pitch in that way.
Now judge me - is it an improvement over the last recordings or is it as bad/worse?
THX
You just need way more strength, which simply means more practice. Otherwise you're getting pretty close.
Quote from: anjaq on October 03, 2013, 06:46:36 PM
Ok, so I had two totally mute days now, as i had a cold and had no voice for almost a day and then it was bad, so I decided to just not talk for the rest of these two days to give my voice a rest. It was a bit weird as I had to interact with some people.
I tried then to think about the resonance stuff and thought if I speak up a bit louder on the mic and try to open my mouth more and just not restrict my voice so much, maybe the resonance gets better...
So these are three recordings of me talking nonsense about resonance and pitch, so the content is just text filler in a way:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0rsfZxBPvrd - this should be the low pitch recording, as in I deliberately relax myself to not shift pitch up, this should be better for the vocal cords I guess if they dont have to be tightened for the higher pitch (about 140 Hz)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0vc6kx93xDy (tad higher, 190 Hz)
and
http://vocaroo.com/i/s18FGt4s7B0A (tad lower, 160 Hz)
are more what I seem to do by default. I noticed that if I really am conscious about getting resonance control, pitch goes up by itself. I am not sure if I do that out of reflex now as I kept trying to maintain at least an androgynous voice for the past years or if resonance control just goes together with pitch in that way.
Now judge me - is it an improvement over the last recordings or is it as bad/worse?
THX
Anything between 160 and 190 Hz should be fine with you! Just project your voice louder and you should be fine. If you are unable to yell in your female voice then you need to keep practising! Personally, and honestly,I think you sound plenty female, you just need to project your voice.
Ok, so I memorized the rainbow passage while listening to Kathy Perez's program on mp3. Still sounds to me like a guy talking with a high pitch :/
http://t.co/zCpF3xkhnI
Quote from: Alaia on October 04, 2013, 10:06:47 AM
Ok, so I memorized the rainbow passage while listening to Kathy Perez's program on mp3. Still sounds to me like a guy talking with a high pitch :/
http://t.co/zCpF3xkhnI
It doesn't sound like a guy so much, but I feel like you're still not using the right resonance yet.
Yes I guess I really need to somehow project more. I think I got the chest resonance not too bad, although I sometimes slip. Haveing had that cold for 2 days does make it a bit harder not to slip. But I guess I am still missing some of the alternative "head" resonance - if that is meant by increasing projection. I guess I have to look up how to do that properly. I have started on the FYFV tutorial, but it is quite long like saying all the alphabet i a weird way - several times - I am not sure where to find the time for that and it is a bit weird to do these things in my room, my room neighbor probably thinks I am weird for doing such noises ;) Esp as some of the things require basically to not (yet) change resonance.
I always had the issue of not speaking loud enough :( - pre everything as well as now, people always ask me to speak up. I am hoping to get some proper logopaedic (voice training) hours this year, if I can find a good adress and a doc who prescribes it to me. Cause even if I am really considering the surgical option, that makes the projection issue even worse, so that has to be covered in any case.
Thanks for the more positive comments, Mlle - if that is really honestly your opinion (no trying to make me feel good, remind you, I have too often done stuff in some bad way because people told me it was good to not hurt me). I guess A would still find many things to improve on the last recordings still ;)
Yeah, well, my opinion can easily be guessed. There's improvement, but still not quite there.
Sorry, but I am addicted to this thread and getting my voice right, so here is a new voice test by me. I've been practicing it pretty intensely over the last month up till this week were I got a cold and blah, but I am just getting over a it so hopefully my voice sounds good and didn't loose to much progress.
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voice-test-10-5-13 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voice-test-10-5-13)
This one also sounds louder to me then any of the older recordings I've done.
Quote from: Aina on October 05, 2013, 11:00:26 AM
Sorry, but I am addicted to this thread and getting my voice right, so here is a new voice test by me. I've been practicing it pretty intensely over the last month up till this week were I got a cold and blah, but I am just getting over a it so hopefully my voice sounds good and didn't loose to much progress.
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voice-test-10-5-13 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voice-test-10-5-13)
This one also sounds louder to me then any of the older recordings I've done.
Beautiful, now you just need to work on the strength. You voice trembles a lot, but practice! You'll get that strength!
I can do nothing but repeat what Nidalexi has said.
Quote from: A on October 05, 2013, 03:21:26 PM
I can do nothing but repeat what Nidalexi has said.
You're beautiful.
See, I knew you had faith in yourself. ;)
Haha. That statement wasn't valid eternally, but thanks, miss A-Lot-Cuter-Than-Me.
Haha, I found the "rainbow passage" on the web:
http://www.rit.edu/ntid/speechlang/slpros/media/rainbow
This is my attempt. Somehow i think it sounds better than me trying to say random stuff ;) - still I dont quite know what it is but I still dont like SOMETHING about this. Pitch is at 180Hz, so in the lower female range I am more or less aiming at as going higher is really hard for me. If Jennygirls tutorial is right, I am in the androgynous range in terms of formants F3=2900Hz, which I guess should be improved...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nKmK1lHI6S
Quote from: anjaq on October 05, 2013, 04:29:48 PM
Haha, I found the "rainbow passage" on the web:
http://www.rit.edu/ntid/speechlang/slpros/media/rainbow
This is my attempt. Somehow i think it sounds better than me trying to say random stuff ;) - still I dont quite know what it is but I still dont like SOMETHING about this. Pitch is at 180Hz, so in the lower female range I am more or less aiming at as going higher is really hard for me. If Jennygirls tutorial is right, I am in the androgynous range in terms of formants F3=2900Hz, which I guess should be improved...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nKmK1lHI6S
How long exactly have you been practicing, and how often? I used to be around a low range like that too, I don't quite know the Hz as I've never gotten it calculated, but after a month of solid talking in the voice (0 breaks ) my voices pitch shot up by the end of the month, and I didn't even notice it until I played the clips back to back.
well I was mostly at 140-170 I guess in the past years. recently i try 180, though i guess i drop to the 150ies or 160ies when i am in conversations again. So I somehow dont have the focus or mental strength to keep it up all the time. I used to be a bit higher but that was 13 years ago and it strained my voice until i got sore throat quite often, probably from lack of proper resonance and overcompensating for the lack of volume. So now my goal is more or less about 190, I feel awkward/fake going higher. Plus my voice breaks somewhere in the 200s :(
But I guess pitch is only my second concern currently - I need to get the other parts right and then 190 would sound ok, I think. I am no small person, so a high pitch may not fit even. I would be scared of a surgery that brings me to 250 or smth...
Nidalexi and A, thank you very much! To me it still sounds like I need allot of work, but I assume that is one of those I don't like to hear my own voice and see my own photo kind of thing!
Hey, I'm having some problems getting a good tone to my voice. Any advice would be awesome. Thanks ^_^
https://soundcloud.com/autumn_glitch/voice (https://soundcloud.com/autumn_glitch/voice)
Courtney-
I think for the most part your voice actually sounds pretty good- it definitely has a feminine base tone to it. You are within the female range of pitch- however as anyone who has learned to speak as a male, you are talking in a monotone manner which in itself does not match the way that females tend to speak. Maybe if you try deviating from that pitch up and down, it would help the sound of your voice in a big way.
A good tip I once read is to speak somewhat like a "valleygirl". Once you get the feel of bouncing your pitch around, dial it back to what feels normal / not contrived. It's not imperative to modulate your pitch so much, but it can sure help a lot :)
I hope this helps!
Quote from: Jennygirl on October 29, 2013, 03:43:17 AM
Courtney-
I think for the most part your voice actually sounds pretty good- it definitely has a feminine base tone to it. You are within the female range of pitch- however as anyone who has learned to speak as a male, you are talking in a monotone manner which in itself does not match the way that females tend to speak. Maybe if you try deviating from that pitch up and down, it would help the sound of your voice in a big way.
A good tip I once read is to speak somewhat like a "valleygirl". Once you get the feel of bouncing your pitch around, dial it back to what feels normal / not contrived. It's not imperative to modulate your pitch so much, but it can sure help a lot :)
I hope this helps!
That definitely helps, I have only been working on my voice for about a week and I was kind of terrified that it was laughable. I actually have a lot of trouble keeping my pitch in the right range right now and I think I'm tensing up way to much and causing that flatness. I also got kind of embarrassed because I was worried about sounding funny and I think that may have something to do with it to. I will definitely try the valley girl thing for this week and post something again after that. Thanks so much. ^_^
Invalid link.
Still getting anxiety triggers whenever I try do something (although I can control them better). Still can't get anything to sound remotely female. And since voice's the most important thing...
These samples were sent to a friend some days ago. They are quite horrible and 100% not female, not in my native language and I suck at reading, but the purpose is to check if at least resonance is gone.
Standard old voice:
No head resonance?: (Similar to my current voice)
https://soundcloud.com/altus-3/high
I cand spend time and time repeating a phrase while repositioning the mouth to see how things change, but nothing in the end. The only thing for sure is that I'm keepin the adam's apple at a high position.
I'm sorry, it's too hard to tell. You have such a generally male sounding voice (though don't worry about that, it's obvious you're not even trying on that point yet) that I can't get my brain to go in such detail as to analyze if this is a male voice but with less resonance. I just hear male and I can't go any further. I think you'll have to get further, to make progress in the other details of your voice, for me to be able to hear improvement. Maybe someone else can tell, but I can't.
By the way, the first link leads nowhere.
Bad links. The two where pointing to the "male", which is not my natural voice anymore. Try now for the "high".
No chest resonance (similar to how I usually talk):
https://soundcloud.com/altus-3/high
Old original voice
https://soundcloud.com/altus-3/normal3
I was talking to a friend on xbox live, dropped to full chest resonance for the first timeand he was like "This is a joke. That can't be your real voice".
I've tried to raise pitch a bit more without moving into falsetto.
https://soundcloud.com/altus-3/higher-03-11-2013
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FulfEYu7.jpg&hash=839dadfc266bc1b3ec9a17c3dcf305a5b5c0952a)
It is sounding far worse on record, and not so different (I need to set the proper recording system on the computer), but that's what I have been using by "default" nowadays, while in male andro mode. I have some new voices to record, but something is quite messed currently, so I can't record. Currently with Candyfla. Tomorrow I'll continue with the breating and warming exercises.
First link is broken again.
Third link... It's really quiet and short, but from what I can hear, it sounds quite all right!
Here is a YouTube video of where I am at with life...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xOLuY7R_Rg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xOLuY7R_Rg)
Still I am not pleased with my voice. I am not making progress since last time...
https://soundcloud.com/sn-frost/derpface/s-GXNmF
Jamie, I think your voice is starting to get there. Based on your facial expression you look like your trying to hard. Your volume is a bit lower and you almost sound like your right at falsetto level.
I use to always go from falsetto then bring it down, which helped at the start but I found I was always sounding like I was talking in falsetto when doing earlier recordings - but I found when I practice now I can just go into the range I want with out falsetto. Try that, I also do this one practice technique I learn from someone video were you count to practice your pitch. So 1 lower pitchs, 2 higher, 3 lower pitch ect.
Frostice, I think your voice sounds great, but not knowing your language and how women of your culture speak like. Have you ever did any recordings in English?
Ok - yesterday I think I "slipped" for a while into a voice that sounded differently, I think mostly in resonance. Maybe it is because of the voice training I did. It was kind of weird and it felt a bit from memory like the voice I did at some point in the past after I did the MPA voice training. I am not sure though as the recording does sound not as I hear it.
Here is a short recoding (in german, sorry): http://vocaroo.com/i/s0rH7UxQHTWZ
What is really weird is that praat cannot deal with it - it does give me a F0 of 422 Hz, which obviously is impossible but it seems not to be able to detect the baseline. If I pick single vowels I get the F0 again as usually at 150-160 Hz.
I just begin to exercise my voice. I really have no idea how, but i like to exercise it by singing. I know this would sound very bad but i have to try. Feel free to laugh ;D
https://soundcloud.com/alishamanshur/the-prayer
please give me some comment and advice.
Neat Alisha - I would not dare singing :P - now about the voice - I think you are holding the mic a bit too close, but it seems you are singing at a rather low volume and i think you may be missing some resonace that makes the voice stronger. But generally it does sound female with some parts hinting to a falsetto when you are reaching for the upper tones I think. But others are more qualified to say anything ;)
Yes, i can't reach a higher note yet, and still powerless so i kind of hold the mic too close ;D but i'll keep practicing.. Thank you anjaq :)
I recorded a voice sample and was going to upload it for critique, but really...having listened again to what everyone else is doing I can't put it up here for shame :) You are all so good! :laugh: How will I ever get here?
Hey - dont be ashamed, maybe the critique will help you with improving it. If you already think it is bad, people telling you that it needs improvement is not making it worse, is it? ;)
Ok, yes! Why not? :)
I recorded this just now. I realise now it's payback time on all those cigarettes I smoked in my 20s and 30s :D
http://soundcloud.com/joanjoan-2/joan-12-12-13/s-eaaTq (http://soundcloud.com/joanjoan-2/joan-12-12-13/s-eaaTq)
Basically I've seen the videos and I'm trying to do what they say but all I get is this thin voice. I can god higher still in pitch but then I can't even hear myself if there's any kind of background noise.
I'm really envious of your high, rich and melodious voices, and love to hear how you do it :)
Ok, so I think yes you are right and it needs more practice. What I feel you have done is to add a lot of breathyness to the voice. You are breahing out the words. Which is a good first step, but you will have to bring that back a little bit to make the voice stronger and louder. I think this breahyness is also why I feel you have little pitch variation and the pitch itself is a bit obscured because of it. My take on the next step would be to see if you can also make a snarling voice like a robotic witch and then find a good point in between. Have you used any teaching videos?
Thank you! :)
I've looked at Candifla.
I can't seem to find a comfortable range under the falsetto. In fact, I can't seem to find where my voice switches over to falsetto. I consider myself a musical person but this is just beyond me and the more I try the further away from it I seem to get. It's very frustrating! :)
Snarling robotic witch...Should I think 'angry Hermione'? :D
My computer did not link to your soundcloud clip, but I have to say (as someone who has a passing voice) that I never found the falsetto technique effective for me. Not in the least. Even with my female voice working mainly as I want it to, I still have to make a recognizable vocal leap to get to a female voice using that method.
I long ago read about using the Marvin the Martian voice as a help getting rid of chest resonance. That voice is nasal and closed, but I found it much easier (with considerable practice) to use that as a point of reference. You'll see advice against closing off the voice. That's true and it's not where you want to end up. But I slowly found that I could open up the back of my throat and push the resonance to the front of my face. The transition seems more seamless.
Again, I'm not sure if this method will work for you, but it was an effective angle of approach on the wind-sheared runway of the female voice.
Best wishes to you!
Jane
Quote from: Joan on December 11, 2013, 05:48:09 PM
Thank you! :)
I've looked at Candifla.
I can't seem to find a comfortable range under the falsetto. In fact, I can't seem to find where my voice switches over to falsetto. I consider myself a musical person but this is just beyond me and the more I try the further away from it I seem to get. It's very frustrating! :)
Snarling robotic witch...Should I think 'angry Hermione'? :D
Thank you, Jane :)
The clip was truly, truly awful so I made it go away :D.
I've been trying the Marvin thing and yes it does stop the chest resonance. I will work with it and see what I can do. I've always had a quite gentle soft and quiet voice, it's just that I've learned to pitch it quite low as something to 'hide' behind. I guess that's one more thing I need to unlearn.
I will keep trying and I will be back here in the future when I've made some progress.
Best to you too, Jane :)
Yes lots of things just have to be unlearned rather than learned. I think that falsetto, withc, martian things are just ways to play with the voice, see what it can do. The falsetto trick is based in part on one thing, I believe. If you are speaking at a low pitch, the vocal chords are swinging completely, there is a lot of mass involved. at a high pitch, there is more stretch and the mass does not swing. For many people there is a noticeable shift between those two modes, sometimes people refer to it as chest and head voice, but that is only partly true I think. So the falsetto method kind of tries to bring you into that stretching-based sound. And then lowering pitch will bring you to a point where the mass wants to come back into play. Now a good voice it seems is if both can be blended together. Thats the theory as my therapist explained it or rather as I understood it. If you do not have that break, see if you can find it somewhere hidden - in a lower or an higher pitch - usually it is not within the normal speaking range. If you still dont have it, maybe your singing just made you already have it go away, then that is quite good, then you should be able to control your voice better already
Quote from: anjaq on December 13, 2013, 04:11:30 AM
Yes lots of things just have to be unlearned rather than learned. I think that falsetto, withc, martian things are just ways to play with the voice, see what it can do. The falsetto trick is based in part on one thing, I believe. If you are speaking at a low pitch, the vocal chords are swinging completely, there is a lot of mass involved. at a high pitch, there is more stretch and the mass does not swing. For many people there is a noticeable shift between those two modes, sometimes people refer to it as chest and head voice, but that is only partly true I think. So the falsetto method kind of tries to bring you into that stretching-based sound. And then lowering pitch will bring you to a point where the mass wants to come back into play. Now a good voice it seems is if both can be blended together. Thats the theory as my therapist explained it or rather as I understood it. If you do not have that break, see if you can find it somewhere hidden - in a lower or an higher pitch - usually it is not within the normal speaking range. If you still dont have it, maybe your singing just made you already have it go away, then that is quite good, then you should be able to control your voice better already
This is entirely true, I've found. I've been refining a passable voice for a long while now and what sounds best to me is not a head voice, but a chest voice that makes use of a lot of tightening. A high-pitched head-voice doesn't sound quite as natural for the base speaking voice.
There is a place for both in conversation, but the head voice -- for me, at least -- is generally used in moments of excitement. Some vibration is necessary.
Thank you Anjaq And Sybil.
All of your input helps and I've been trying to use a natural voice that's pitched higher , but concentrating more on tone and taming resonances. I've been out this weekend and I tried speaking a bit with this voice and it didn't sound too bad to me. I will practice some more and I will be back with a new sound sample :)
Hi, still been practicing my voice a bit from time to time. Tryin things out.
Anyway this is where I am at right now.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/dec2/s-NRUkC
Any opinions? I didn't do any warmups or anything. Well I made one recording I liked less than this one first and then I made this one, so not much warm up :P
I think it sounds kinda bad at the start but then I ease into it a bit after a few seconds and it starts to sound a little better?
Please don't sugar coat. I can take it!
I mostly care about resonance and tone.
This one is shorter and a bit more low pitched, since that one up there sounds like Mickey Mouse at the start. https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/jan1/s-L8LD9
Hello all, didn't notice thread before and kinda started a new one, here's what I had there if anyone can give me some feed back. Thanks!
http://yourlisten.com/billy.morris.16568/katherine-2
Hi, whoever reads this...my voice isn't tops, but I sometimes get called out on it, but that's like less than 1% of the time. This is extremely important that my voice works here, it could determine my SRS chances next year (why that is...I'll get back to you on that if it applies, for now, that's personal). Thanks much in advance!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0BQ4YMBzW7s
PS: Yes, that was quite a silly monologue (cold read); a little humor in these clips goes a long way, right?
Does mine pass?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kytax-U0n4g
Hi, Very good work for only 1.5 months, which is really a short time. You seem to be doing very well with resonance. And the pitch is pretty much there. And there's pretty good force, so there's no quavering from lack of vocal cord strength or breath. I think the next step is more feminine modulation. The speech patterns of sentences still sound monotonous and more male than you wish. And you don't seem to be using vocal slides in many of your words. Have you been listening to women speaking and repeating after them and recording those patterns to see how you match? I use NPR interviews and videos from Youtube to help me internalize their patterns. This method seems to have helped me once I got the mechanics of voice out of the way. I am 7 months full-time, never as far as I can tell get read as trans, and I still practice using this method, almost every day. It drives my eight-year old daughter a little crazy, but we laugh about it.
Congratulations on the getting through the tough part; now for the tough part. :)
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on January 19, 2014, 09:19:47 AM
Hi, Very good work for only 1.5 months, which is really a short time. You seem to be doing very well with resonance. And the pitch is pretty much there. And there's pretty good force, so there's no quavering from lack of vocal cord strength or breath. I think the next step is more feminine modulation. The speech patterns of sentences still sound monotonous and more male than you wish. And you don't seem to be using vocal slides in many of your words. Have you been listening to women speaking and repeating after them and recording those patterns to see how you match? I use NPR interviews and videos from Youtube to help me internalize their patterns. This method seems to have helped me once I got the mechanics of voice out of the way. I am 7 months full-time, never as far as I can tell get read as trans, and I still practice using this method, almost every day. It drives my eight-year old daughter a little crazy, but we laugh about it.
Congratulations on the getting through the tough part; now for the tough part. :)
Thank you. That is what I needed to hear. I do agree my speech is a bit monotonous, but I've always had problems with with - I remember in grade 1 I was asked to read aloud to a teacher's assistant who would grade me on it, and she actually kept getting mad at my for having little expression. I just don't know how, it doesn't come naturally it's it's just not "me" you know? I'm sure there are bio females with the same tendencies. But you're right - it doesn't help my passing. So I'll give it another shot with YouTube videos and stuff.
Your last sentence is reassuring. =P haha. Oh well. Thanks again for the reply!
That part about what comes naturally is one of the toughest parts of transitioning. I'm just now becoming more eye, head-shake and sympathetic "aww" expressive. These don't come naturally to me and feel a little artificial at this point. But every cisgender colleague I have uses this technique. And we're academics! I don't feel like I'm making a major sacrifice to learn it. I would have done it naturally had I been cis. So here I am. Here we all are.
Good luck to you. You've already come so far.
Quote from: GorJess on December 31, 2013, 04:50:03 PM
Hi, whoever reads this...my voice isn't tops, but I sometimes get called out on it, but that's like less than 1% of the time. This is extremely important that my voice works here, it could determine my SRS chances next year (why that is...I'll get back to you on that if it applies, for now, that's personal). Thanks much in advance!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0BQ4YMBzW7s
PS: Yes, that was quite a silly monologue (cold read); a little humor in these clips goes a long way, right?
Sound very passable to me :)
Great work.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on January 19, 2014, 04:38:16 PM
That part about what comes naturally is one of the toughest parts of transitioning. I'm just now becoming more eye, head-shake and sympathetic "aww" expressive. These don't come naturally to me and feel a little artificial at this point. But every cisgender colleague I have uses this technique. And we're academics! I don't feel like I'm making a major sacrifice to learn it. I would have done it naturally had I been cis. So here I am. Here we all are.
Good luck to you. You've already come so far.
Very true, and thanks again. Alright, I will (begrudgingly) give it a shot. Nothing to lose in trying!
It's been awhile - but I decide to play around with pitch variations with this recent voice recording. However I don't think they are among my best recordings... :P
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voicetest-1-22-14 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voicetest-1-22-14)
Aina, I think the voice sounds a bit minimized. It sould like you are restricting the voice a lot to give it the sound you are having. I could imagine it would be very hard to use that voice out loud lets say in a bus or a cafe?
I also just tried a recordning now after 2 months of weekly voice rehab sesions but the focus of them was not on changing the voice itself but to make me loose the tension. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1GgNsydPdvl
Quote from: anjaq on January 22, 2014, 06:24:39 PM
Aina, I think the voice sounds a bit minimized. It sould like you are restricting the voice a lot to give it the sound you are having. I could imagine it would be very hard to use that voice out loud lets say in a bus or a cafe?
I also just tried a recordning now after 2 months of weekly voice rehab sesions but the focus of them was not on changing the voice itself but to make me loose the tension. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1GgNsydPdvl
Aye, my problem is my female voice is always changing - since I am pre-everything(as well as coming out) so I am always going back to my male voice. I really need to come out so maybe I can just use my voice full time or my other plan is to slowly raise my voice to my female voice over time and by then maybe I can just come out and this way I am slowly working on my voice.
Anjaq as for the voice recording is sort of low, had to turn my speakers up - but your coming along nicely.
Quote from: Aina on January 22, 2014, 05:12:50 PM
It's been awhile - but I decide to play around with pitch variations with this recent voice recording. However I don't think they are among my best recordings... :P
https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voicetest-1-22-14 (https://soundcloud.com/ainamiharu/voicetest-1-22-14)
Your voice is great! I liked every variation, but the third one best.
Your voice in October was great too. :)
You are pre-everything?? Wow!
Quote from: anjaq on January 22, 2014, 06:24:39 PM
Aina, I think the voice sounds a bit minimized. It sould like you are restricting the voice a lot to give it the sound you are having. I could imagine it would be very hard to use that voice out loud lets say in a bus or a cafe?
I also just tried a recordning now after 2 months of weekly voice rehab sesions but the focus of them was not on changing the voice itself but to make me loose the tension. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1GgNsydPdvl
I melt when I hear a German accent female voice. I am butter now. ;)
LOL - yeah I cannot turn off the accent ;) - personally I think the pitch is way too low. But also the volume of the recording is low an dI dont know why. the mic input setting ist at 100% and it is a USB mic, so it should not be that low. Maybe some secret windows setting...
Slowly changing the voice is not the worst idea I guess, Aina - one thing that really can be done is to change resonacne and inflection and all that without changing pitch at all. It goes a long way and people cannot really accuse you of talkling in a female voice because everyone believes it is about talking in a high pitch :P - but then you are actually talking in a female voice but just with a low pitch that you can then adjust later...
Quote from: anjaq on January 23, 2014, 08:25:38 AM
LOL - yeah I cannot turn off the accent ;) - personally I think the pitch is way too low. But also the volume of the recording is low an dI dont know why. the mic input setting ist at 100% and it is a USB mic, so it should not be that low. Maybe some secret windows setting...
Slowly changing the voice is not the worst idea I guess, Aina - one thing that really can be done is to change resonacne and inflection and all that without changing pitch at all. It goes a long way and people cannot really accuse you of talkling in a female voice because everyone believes it is about talking in a high pitch :P - but then you are actually talking in a female voice but just with a low pitch that you can then adjust later...
Hehe maybe, I think voice work is one those things you always gotta work at and again if I talk in my female voice awhile it starts to sound better. So again I blame having to go back to male voice and thus its a process of warming up to my female voice.
Anjaq have you tried recording with Praat? I find it does a better job of capturing, plus you can also view your pitch. Also there is Audacity which is a wonderful sound program.
I use PRAAT all the time :) - plus Spectrogram to get a real time view of the input at the same time.
Yes I guess going back to male voice a lot makes it harder - some people can jsut switch back and forth if they are really well trained, but for me it is more like a really tough switch - I can do an approximation of my old voice but it is hard to do. Sadly my present voice is just like 80% female or so, I believe...
Quote from: anjaq on January 23, 2014, 03:06:54 PM
I use PRAAT all the time :) - plus Spectrogram to get a real time view of the input at the same time.
Yes I guess going back to male voice a lot makes it harder - some people can jsut switch back and forth if they are really well trained, but for me it is more like a really tough switch - I can do an approximation of my old voice but it is hard to do. Sadly my present voice is just like 80% female or so, I believe...
I would be fine if I couldn't switch my voice back down... I work over the phone so I'd be thrilled with that.
Quote from: Sarah Rose on January 23, 2014, 04:31:36 PM
I would be fine if I couldn't switch my voice back down... I work over the phone so I'd be thrilled with that.
I concur...actually I have this weird fantasy that I get stuck in my female voice and thus force myself to come out.... :embarrassed:
Well it is possible I guess - to a degree. I am "stuck" in my voice now but it is not really female enough sadly - so I guess you can switch between a male and female voice that mostly is from resonance changes but pitch is an other thing to control independent of that.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1bNSoQwnffZ
Obviously I know more work needs to be done, but it's slowly getting better.
I think that is quite impressive already Cassandra - especially the melody and intonation as far as I can judge that in a foreign language seems to be good. I would say there is only a hint of male resonance here and there and some drops in pitch that are a bit low but I am not sure why you would say that it "obviously does not sound female"???
Quote from: Cassandra Hyacinth on January 31, 2014, 04:54:40 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1bNSoQwnffZ
Obviously I know more work needs to be done, but it's slowly getting better.
I think it sounds pretty convincing too. Sometimes a bit of 'maleness' breaks through (the resonance that anjaq-san is talking about as far as I understand it, but your voice has an overall rightness to it already.
I still have a ways to go. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Most people tell me now it's genderless (better than deep male I suppose), but wanted other people's opinion.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1NgfEoXrJf9
I seem to start off OK, but towards the end I start to hear more maleness in the voice. Although sometimes even at a lower pitch, I can still detect a feminine resonance to seems to work but not all the time. I've only been practicing for 3 months and I'm 6'7" (age 43). Well the rest I talk about in the recording. Despite practicing for 3 months, it only in the last week or two that things seem to be clicking better. (And according to other people.)
Watcha guys think? Does my singing voice pass? Trying to use my chest voice :/ (sorry if I sound ridiculous lol I don't usually sing this loud and it is hard to control)
https://soundcloud.com/user882899060/wrecking-ball-lol
Quote from: Sydney_NYC on February 09, 2014, 01:15:50 AM
I still have a ways to go. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Most people tell me now it's genderless (better than deep male I suppose), but wanted other people's opinion.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1NgfEoXrJf9
I seem to start off OK, but towards the end I start to hear more maleness in the voice. Although sometimes even at a lower pitch, I can still detect a feminine resonance to seems to work but not all the time. I've only been practicing for 3 months and I'm 6'7" (age 43). Well the rest I talk about in the recording. Despite practicing for 3 months, it only in the last week or two that things seem to be clicking better. (And according to other people.)
It seems to me that when you're consciously thinking about how you talk, putting the effort into using differing tones and pitches like a woman does, you are sounding decent. It's androgynous. And that's because it sounds a bit deep, but you're using some feminine inflections, and you definitely are speaking more in your head, which makes it sound feminine. If that voice was coming from someone who appeared to be female, I probably wouldn't think too much of it.
You do slip back down into a more male inflection pattern a few times, namely the kind of monotone sound where you're not using a lot of upward inflections and whatnot, but again, I think you just need to work on it more, and let the feminine cadences become more second-nature.
You're doing well! That's what I hear in this recording, is potential. You're on the right track in terms of where the voice is coming from in the vocal tract (near the top,) and you've got the beginnings of feminine tones and inflections. Keep practicing, and I think you'll definitely be able to get it sounding completely female.
Quote from: sad panda on February 10, 2014, 02:31:03 AM
Watcha guys think? Does my singing voice pass? Trying to use my chest voice :/ (sorry if I sound ridiculous lol I don't usually sing this loud and it is hard to control)
https://soundcloud.com/user882899060/wrecking-ball-lol
I couldn't understand what you were saying half the time (I actually thought the first few words were in Chinese when I first heard it,) but your voice definitely sounds 100% female. I could hear no maleness in there whatsoever.
Carrie,
Thank you very much. That pretty much confirms what I had been thinking. It's difficult to get a good reading from friends and family. They have good intentions on trying to help, but they can be inaccurate in because they get used to your voice.
Quote from: Cassandra Hyacinth on January 31, 2014, 04:54:40 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1bNSoQwnffZ
Obviously I know more work needs to be done, but it's slowly getting better.
Cassandra, I think you have a very good start.
Quote from: sad panda on February 10, 2014, 02:31:03 AM
Watcha guys think? Does my singing voice pass? Trying to use my chest voice :/ (sorry if I sound ridiculous lol I don't usually sing this loud and it is hard to control)
https://soundcloud.com/user882899060/wrecking-ball-lol
There is nothing male in your singing/chest voice.
Quote from: Sydney_NYC on February 09, 2014, 01:15:50 AM
I still have a ways to go. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Most people tell me now it's genderless (better than deep male I suppose), but wanted other people's opinion.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1NgfEoXrJf9
I seem to start off OK, but towards the end I start to hear more maleness in the voice. Although sometimes even at a lower pitch, I can still detect a feminine resonance to seems to work but not all the time. I've only been practicing for 3 months and I'm 6'7" (age 43). Well the rest I talk about in the recording. Despite practicing for 3 months, it only in the last week or two that things seem to be clicking better. (And according to other people.)
I do not recall hearing your natural male voice, so it is difficult to assess progress. I can tell you, having a 6' 7" son, that if your starting point was like him, you have made a lot of gains.
I think I still have a while to go, does anyone have any tips for how I could improve my voice?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3s9q9kybwtfx30n/untitled.wav
(for reference I have a British accent)
Hey there,
TO txwnl: I think it does not sound bad! I think it's pretty androgynous, had a couple friends here to blind test one said male, one said female, I could not be sure what would be my reaction if I heard it in a blindtest sort of way.
I think there's some slight resonance when you speak, especifically with the O (in particular the one in voice broke up a bit) and the "teen" in fourteen. I am not sure if resonance is the right name but i definitely hear some kind of deeper background noise in those parts.
Here's mine, very simple and repetitive, is what I manage at the moment after heating up my throat and singing a bit. Hopefully it's going somewhere in the rightish direction? (and no I do not really think it's sounding proper). Thanks for your time!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oxv1u464j8meeh1/untitled.m4a
Quote from: ganjina on February 19, 2014, 02:45:18 PM
Hey there,
TO txwnl: I think it does not sound bad! I think it's pretty androgynous, had a couple friends here to blind test one said male, one said female, I could not be sure what would be my reaction if I heard it in a blindtest sort of way.
I think there's some slight resonance when you speak, especifically with the O (in particular the one in voice broke up a bit) and the "teen" in fourteen. I am not sure if resonance is the right name but i definitely hear some kind of deeper background noise in those parts.
Here's mine, very simple and repetitive, is what I manage at the moment after heating up my throat and singing a bit. Hopefully it's going somewhere in the rightish direction? (and no I do not really think it's sounding proper). Thanks for your time!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oxv1u464j8meeh1/untitled.m4a
Lol, omg, your voice is awesome! I don't think there's anything male about it :)
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-058
What do you think about mine? It's recorded in my native language, which is Portuguese.
Quote from: ganjina on February 19, 2014, 02:45:18 PM
Here's mine, very simple and repetitive, is what I manage at the moment after heating up my throat and singing a bit. Hopefully it's going somewhere in the rightish direction? (and no I do not really think it's sounding proper). Thanks for your time!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oxv1u464j8meeh1/untitled.m4a
How long have you been practicing? I'd say rather than repeat a phrase, just tell us something about yourself, as if you were having a natural conversation. That way we can assess inflection, cadence, etc.
First impression is certainly female.
Quote from: Auroramarianna on February 19, 2014, 03:20:23 PM
Lol, omg, your voice is awesome! I don't think there's anything male about it :)
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-058
What do you think about mine? It's recorded in my native language, which is Portuguese.
A six-second recording is not sufficient to really comment. Again, definitely on the female-ish side, but somewhat falsetto.
Can someone tell me how to add a file to my reply? I feel like an idiot not being able to figure it out.
Thanks!
Thanks a lot Jamie and Aurora :)! I will certainly do as Jamie said... I just wanted to make sure the first impression as you call it is sort of OK to start practicing more continuously from there.
I've have not been practicing really seriously as it should be :/, maybe try to get the pitch and resonance right by singing a few hours a week for the last 4 months. I will soon get the tuner and start practicing seriously every day, get more feedback and maybe in a couple months I can talk something sort of decent!
Quote from: Boca.Lisa on February 19, 2014, 03:33:15 PM
Can someone tell me how to add a file to my reply? I feel like an idiot not being able to figure it out.
I used Dropbox (easy, free, big files sharing software), which lets you upload files from your PC to some remote server and it will give you links to download those files straight to you.
To Aurora, I second Jamie about the length, and I do hear some falsetto or a tense throat/cords I think... maybe try to relax the throat and use your abs to create a stronger wind current to make up for the lost of power through relaxing and not forcing your throat?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Tpbp0FsWub
Hopefully this worked!
Quote from: Boca.Lisa on February 19, 2014, 06:31:31 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Tpbp0FsWub
Hopefully this worked!
Pretty good.
Your pitch is excellent! It's near the 190 hz range, which is basically squarely within the female range. I would gender you female if I heard your voice.
In terms of suggestions...
You could have used just a bit more pitch variation. You definitely did a few of the slides and upward inflections, but the bulk of your sentences tended to be a tad monotone.
Also, and this is my only legitimate advice, you need to relax and "let it go" a bit more. It just sounded a bit forced, like you were deliberately trying to speak in a certain voice rather than just speaking naturally, and you didn't sound very relaxed. Your speaking pattern was a bit staccato.
These are all nitpicks and minor suggestions, by the way. On a fundamental level, because of the excellent pitch that you have, your voice definitely sounds female to me. You just need to work on making it sound a bit more natural.
Hey all, trying to get some opinions on my normal voice because I do seem to get gendered female a lot over the phone. Did it as a video because I wanted to know what people thought while seeing me talk.
http://youtu.be/xZ4TofAc5us
Quote from: Boca.Lisa on February 19, 2014, 06:31:31 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Tpbp0FsWub
Hopefully this worked!
I think your voice sounds just like a girl. No maleness there.
Quote from: KittyKat on February 20, 2014, 07:40:44 AM
Hey all, trying to get some opinions on my normal voice because I do seem to get gendered female a lot over the phone. Did it as a video because I wanted to know what people thought while seeing me talk.
http://youtu.be/xZ4TofAc5us
I think you sound like a female.
@txwnl sounds feminine to me, but I could see it working as a male voice if you were presenting that way.
@ganjina your voice also sounds feminine but would like to hear more
@Aurora I couldn't really catch any thing you said and its hard to tell
Thanks for the feedback people! I realize I might seem to be in "falsetto", but when the recording started I was pretending to be calling someone so I tried to add a little expressivity. Anyway, here are two more recordings.
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-057
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-054
In one of those I think I actually tried to sound a little deeper than I usually do. Tell me what you think!!
Also, does anyone know any voice software programme downloadable for free, which can be used to analyze pitch and resonance? Thank you :)))
Thought I could use some feedback before I go full-time! :) Thanks in advance.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xIMBvJl4S5
Quote from: Roni1992 on February 21, 2014, 01:07:42 PM
Thought I could use some feedback before I go full-time! :) Thanks in advance.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xIMBvJl4S5
Never in a million years I would say that's a male voice! Good job, congratulations : )))
I think I'm starting to get the resonance thing figured out. How does this sound?
https://soundcloud.com/zoe-snow/mar2
Quote from: Zoe Snow on March 02, 2014, 12:43:19 PM
I think I'm starting to get the resonance thing figured out. How does this sound?
https://soundcloud.com/zoe-snow/mar2
I think your pitch and resonance are pretty good. What sounds odd to me is the intonations (changes in pitch) that occur at unusual places, putting emphasis on words that I don't really think needed it.
This will go away if you practice a lot by listening to ciswomen speak and then try to repeat what they said with the same intonations and inflections.
Quote from: Roni1992 on February 21, 2014, 01:07:42 PM
Thought I could use some feedback before I go full-time! :) Thanks in advance.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xIMBvJl4S5
This is just my opinion and I'm no voice expert, so take it with a grain of salt. First off, your pitch and resonance sound spot on for the female register. What sounds off to me is the inflections you are placing, specifically on the ending of some words which you are also dragging out a little. Examples:
(Exaggerated emphasis on the vowel sounds I'm talking about.)
Hey everybod
eee...in Mexic
ooo this J
uuune
if you guys could give me suggest
ioons
The result to me ends up sounding a bit valley girl and edging towards gay male. I hope I'm not upsetting you by saying that as I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just trying to give you some constructive feedback because I think you are very close to having a
fantastic female voice. ;) As I said before, your pitch and resonance sound pretty good. It's just the inflections that was bothering me.
Okay, so having said those things, I think it's only fair to put my own voice out there for constructive criticism. I need to work on intonation and inflection as well. I'm curious to know if others think I have any resonance or pitch issues though. My femme voice still sounds very fake to me, but I'm not sure if that's just because I'm not used to hearing myself speak that way all the time or what.
Here's my sample, which has me starting out with my female voice, transitioning to my male voice for comparison, and then back to female:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0eGdxYsKkjb
hey guys can someone tell me If I sound ok reallyquick? :s i am sick, my throat feels so bad and i have to use my voice a lot today... I don't want to sound weird :( thanks!!!
http://soundcloud.com/user882899060/sick/s-kyCE7
Sad Panda = Happy Girl!
Your voice is 1,000,000% passable.
Lisa
Ditto Sad Panda = Happy Girl!
You sound like a cute girl with a touch of a cold... And super passable at that!
Thanks you guys! I feel better now. Well emotionally. I am leaving now and amazed to have gotten out of bed U__U
Quote from: sad panda on March 06, 2014, 09:09:37 AM
hey guys can someone tell me If I sound ok reallyquick? :s i am sick, my throat feels so bad and i have to use my voice a lot today... I don't want to sound weird :( thanks!!!
http://soundcloud.com/user882899060/sick/s-kyCE7
Hon, trust me on this one, as the father of three twenty-something daughters ...
There is nothing the least bit masculine about your voice. It is 100% feminine - not even pre-pubescent male. You sound like a young woman with a bit of congestion. And even then, it is a spectacularly good female voice.
I would have killed to have your voice at your age. No need for the notepad at therapy.
Quote from: Alaia on March 05, 2014, 06:17:52 PM
Okay, so having said those things, I think it's only fair to put my own voice out there for constructive criticism. I need to work on intonation and inflection as well. I'm curious to know if others think I have any resonance or pitch issues though. My femme voice still sounds very fake to me, but I'm not sure if that's just because I'm not used to hearing myself speak that way all the time or what.
Here's my sample, which has me starting out with my female voice, transitioning to my male voice for comparison, and then back to female:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0eGdxYsKkjb
I would not say you sound "fake." Just recognize that you are starting a process that could take a long time and that practice makes perfect. You are still in the falsetto range.
There were times, in the beginning of the recording, when the voice broke and dropped. I thing we all should realize that WILL happen until the muscles in the throat adapt. So be of good cheer. It is a good start.
Quote from: Zoe Snow on March 02, 2014, 12:43:19 PM
I think I'm starting to get the resonance thing figured out. How does this sound?
https://soundcloud.com/zoe-snow/mar2
Zoe, I listened to both recordings and was amazed that I could hear a difference in just one day. You are on the right path. To me, the March 2 recording sounded feminine. I would call it a pass on the phone. I would gender you female.
With that said, it is just part of your presentation. And I don't know off the top of my head how old you are. If you are in your 30s, the voice makes more sense, because female voices do change with age.
Quote from: Roni1992 on February 21, 2014, 01:07:42 PM
Thought I could use some feedback before I go full-time! :) Thanks in advance.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xIMBvJl4S5
Veronica, you are way ahead of the curve. Inflection, cadence, everything is a pass. You sound very natural.
Quote from: KittyKat on February 20, 2014, 07:40:44 AM
Hey all, trying to get some opinions on my normal voice because I do seem to get gendered female a lot over the phone. Did it as a video because I wanted to know what people thought while seeing me talk.
Katherine, I had difficulty with your video. The reason being was a certain dissonance between your voice and how you present in the video. When I closed my eyes and just listened, I can understand how you are gendered female at times on the phone. Your voice right now is in the androgynous range.
With further practice I can imagine a very nice feminine voice.
Quote from: Boca.Lisa on February 19, 2014, 06:31:31 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Tpbp0FsWub
Hopefully this worked!
Lisa - A+ on the voice. Completely feminine. Looking at your picture and listening to your voice, I would have pegged you as being in your mid-30s.
Quote from: Jamie D on March 06, 2014, 02:16:22 PM
Zoe, I listened to both recordings and was amazed that I could hear a difference in just one day. You are on the right path. To me, the March 2 recording sounded feminine. I would call it a pass on the phone. I would gender you female.
With that said, it is just part of your presentation. And I don't know off the top of my head how old you are. If you are in your 30s, the voice makes more sense, because female voices do change with age.
I am 27. I had been working on my voice off and on for the last 4 months, but I don't think the resonance thing clicked until a few days ago. Glad to hear I'm pretty close though, makes me feel a lot better. I'm not even part time yet, so hopefully my voice will be ready to go by the time I do start presenting part time.
Can anyone give input on the recording I listed? Thanks!!!
Quote from: Auroramarianna on March 08, 2014, 03:35:53 PM
Can anyone give input on the recording I listed? Thanks!!!
In my earlier comment I mentioned that a 6-second recording was insufficient in length to make a judgement.
However, I listened to some of the other recordings that queued.
You are in the falsetto range, but I can hear some progress from recording 54 to recording 58. Your voice does not yet sound like a natural female, but it think you are on the right track.
Quote from: Zoe Snow on March 06, 2014, 07:19:25 PM
I am 27. I had been working on my voice off and on for the last 4 months, but I don't think the resonance thing clicked until a few days ago. Glad to hear I'm pretty close though, makes me feel a lot better. I'm not even part time yet, so hopefully my voice will be ready to go by the time I do start presenting part time.
Okay, 27 years old - I judged you slightly older. I think then if you can raise your pitch a bit as you continue to practice.
I would be happy to have your voice. Some of the girls here suggest singing to extend the range.
I just wanted to stop by and say that all you ladies sound great! seriously feels like i'm in my dorm with my roommates, with all the female voices lol good job ladies
so i know there are a lot of mtf posting here, but I wanted to see how I sound, i'm pre T, so just want to see how much I can sound like a dude, yeah wasn't sure what to say, so there are a lot of ums lol
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1dCEOuc0QXB
Ryan.
A couple comment but these are just my opinion. Your tone is androgynous although your vocal inflection has a bit of lift at the end of your sentences which is a classically female trait. Try to trail off your words instead of lifting the last note. I know every mtf on this site would love to have that come naturally but its learned from a very young age.
I think when presenting as male it would be perceived as male but on the phone might be confusing.
Last thought. Mens voices have a smaller tonal range. Even though your recording isnt real cohesive i might peg you as male more with a flatter tone.
Hope this helps!
Lisa
Hello!
Until now I had only two sessions with a phono, but I've been recording and listening and, sometimes, I guess my voice sounds almost passable. But I really dont know. I know I must learn a lot yet and training is the key, but I would like some opinions.
1. I am sorry that my accent must be hard or even impossible to understand. I am Brazilian and english is not my mother tongue.
2. What I say may sound weird. I am actually speaking the lines of an ancient add for a Star Trek game that never came out. What I (try) to say is the following:
In the 23rd Century, at a time of exploration and discovery; a long forgotten secret, that divided an ancient world, threatens to destroy intestellar peace. Now, you must decide who to trust, and who to fear.
Here's the file:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1El23a9FJoV
Is is sounding too masculine??
thanks Lisa, I appreciate it
Quote from: Jamie D on March 08, 2014, 03:44:20 PM
In my earlier comment I mentioned that a 6-second recording was insufficient in length to make a judgement.
However, I listened to some of the other recordings that queued.
You are in the falsetto range, but I can hear some progress from recording 54 to recording 58. Your voice does not yet sound like a natural female, but it think you are on the right track.
Okay, so. Let me explain - my voice might be too high, even for a female, thus not sounding naturally female. It's near the 300hz in frequency, and my voice is naturally high. However, I do not know if I should work to lower it or make it higher, because my voice does sound too high, baby-ish and young for my age, instead of female-ish. Also, on those two recordings I was actually making an effort to make it sound deeper. Thanks for the input, more is appreciated :) :)
Quote from: Natalia on March 08, 2014, 05:01:50 PM
Hello!
Until now I had only two sessions with a phono, but I've been recording and listening and, sometimes, I guess my voice sounds almost passable. But I really dont know. I know I must learn a lot yet and training is the key, but I would like some opinions.
1. I am sorry that my accent must be hard or even impossible to understand. I am Brazilian and english is not my mother tongue.
2. What I say may sound weird. I am actually speaking the lines of an ancient add for a Star Trek game that never came out. What I (try) to say is the following:
In the 23rd Century, at a time of exploration and discovery; a long forgotten secret, that divided an ancient world, threatens to destroy intestellar peace. Now, you must decide who to trust, and who to fear.
Here's the file:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1El23a9FJoV
Is is sounding too masculine??
I don't think it sounds masculine. It sounds mostly feminine to me, maybe sometimes androgynus. Sometimes there's a little hint of male resonance, but you're probablyon the right track, keep it up :)
Anyway, I made another recording, this time with me, my mother and brother talking. My mother is the first to be talking, then my brother interrupts her and then the high, squeaky voice is me talking. Tell me what you think! Thank youu
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-070
edited 18:31:
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-069
here I actually try to sound a little more mature, and then I got hoarse. (I actually recorded me reading one of my previous posts)
Quote from: Alaia on March 05, 2014, 06:17:52 PM
This is just my opinion and I'm no voice expert, so take it with a grain of salt. First off, your pitch and resonance sound spot on for the female register. What sounds off to me is the inflections you are placing, specifically on the ending of some words which you are also dragging out a little. Examples:
(Exaggerated emphasis on the vowel sounds I'm talking about.)
Hey everybodeee
...in Mexicooo this Juuune
if you guys could give me suggestioons
The result to me ends up sounding a bit valley girl and edging towards gay male. I hope I'm not upsetting you by saying that as I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just trying to give you some constructive feedback because I think you are very close to having a fantastic female voice. ;) As I said before, your pitch and resonance sound pretty good. It's just the inflections that was bothering.
I totally get what you mean! People have always said I talked like a valley girl, even in my male register. It's something I have a difficult time changing as I
am from San Diego and spend a lot of time around girls and friends who speak in the same manner I do, haha. I was also very open about the fact that I was attracted to men and spent a great deal of my young life identifying as openly "gay" before I realized I was trans, so naturally I was able to speak like the stereotypical gay male.
My problem is I am not sure I want to completely change the way I talk in terms of my "valley girl" inflections and accent. Talking that way has felt the most natural for me ever since I was young and changing pitch and resonance is already hard as is! Haha.
My question is does my inflection affect my ability to pass as a woman, or is the valley girl thing just something you are bothered by in general, regardless of my gender?
Does not sound too high to me Aurora, sounds pretty nice. Hard to say much on the voice overall for sure though, because you have a very strong accent, but pitch is fine.
--
If someone cold give me feedback on this at all I would really appreciate it:
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/13march6/s-IS68X
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/13march5/s-E8hmB
Need some critical feedback please. No bull5h1t. If it sounds terribad let me know. I really need to get voice down. Personally I do not think the tone is right but I am a bad judge of my own recordings they all sound the same to me.
Here is something I recorded a week ago... don't judge my pronounciation and accent ::) I know they are not good and I am working on them...
I am just wondering what I have to do to improve the femininity of my voice :)
So, here it is: http://www.4shared.com/music/MYt_j_vUba/Female_Voice.html? (http://www.4shared.com/music/MYt_j_vUba/Female_Voice.html?)
Ok - now something I wanted to try was to vary pitch a bit and see how much this affects the perception, so I tried 4 different pitches for the rainbow passage. One is in the "male pitch" that is my physiological pitch which I used originally. I tried to also drop into a male resonance but am not sure that I made it. The other one is my normal speaking voice now which is above that in pitch and it is my relaxed speaking voice now. Then comes a pitch that I can reach with some effort - it is not that much straining, but I need to think about maintaining it. Personally I like it best and am bugged that I cannot do that without thinking about it which is why I do consider that VFS option to just have that withough effort. And then I tried to go up into what people usually consider a regular female pitch but I noticed that this is straining me. Tell me what you think:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s03QRLjg9j6E 100-110 Hz
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12OUSqSDztw 130-140 Hz
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ESeHS5oaYj 160 -180Hz
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WwF0Bhee7h 180-220Hz
Ok so I recently started using a voice that wasn't the normal male voice that I grew up with. A few months of practice that really isn't practice because embarrassment ans nerves make it hard to practice. Though I am getting past that now and here is a small recording of both my female voice and male voice to see if anyone has any thoughts on how I could improve. Also I just ramble when I talk
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1RJeuM808ZU
wow hayley you really sound female , nice work!
sexy voice actually :)
both the female and the male
Quote from: FalsePrincess on March 19, 2014, 11:00:47 AM
wow hayley you really sound female , nice work!
sexy voice actually :)
both the female and the male
Awww thanks. I really get nervous about the whole thing
I can relate to the nervous thing , its hard to keep that voice up cause you know , its not something natural,,,yet at least I dont know...
but you do sound 100% female
Quote from: anjaq on March 16, 2014, 04:51:30 AM
Ok - now something I wanted to try was to vary pitch a bit and see how much this affects the perception, so I tried 4 different pitches for the rainbow passage. One is in the "male pitch" that is my physiological pitch which I used originally. I tried to also drop into a male resonance but am not sure that I made it. The other one is my normal speaking voice now which is above that in pitch and it is my relaxed speaking voice now. Then comes a pitch that I can reach with some effort - it is not that much straining, but I need to think about maintaining it. Personally I like it best and am bugged that I cannot do that without thinking about it which is why I do consider that VFS option to just have that withough effort. And then I tried to go up into what people usually consider a regular female pitch but I noticed that this is straining me. Tell me what you think:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s03QRLjg9j6E 100-110 Hz
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12OUSqSDztw 130-140 Hz
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0ESeHS5oaYj 160 -180Hz
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WwF0Bhee7h 180-220Hz
The 160-180Hz range sounds more natural to me than 180-220, although it's kind of androgynus, but leaning towards female. It's a very good voice already! Higher than most male voices, actually about higher than 80-90% of adult male voices, if I recall correctly! Perhaps working on resonance will make it more feminine. Also, with training 180-220Hz will start coming more naturally, until it becomes your relaxed voice, right now it doesn't sound natural, but it will some day. :)
What do you think about my voice? :)
Hello aurora.
I Think your voice sounds feminine but I personally think you are right and it is a bit high. I feel in the 069 recordning that you seem to strain your voice so it cannot be as full and loud as it could be. A bit like what is happening to me in that highest pitch recording I posted, although I think yours sound more natural.
thanks for the comments. I agree tha tthe 160-180 recording of me is the best - do you think it really is androgynous? I wonder why that is. is it the rahter androgynous pitch? female pitch supposedly starts at 180 Hz. Or maybe it is the intonation, I am working on that with my voice trainer now. She said owever that resonance is fine. Do you think there is a male resonance in there (except the very low recording of course)
My normal speaking range now is the 140 Range which is sadly about slightly above average only for men. My original voice is the 100 hz which is low for men. The 160-180 hz takes conscious effort to maintain, so I wish I could do that without effeor tor thinking
Can anyone tell me what I need to improve about my voice and speech, beside the bad english?
My Female Voice (http://www.4shared.com/music/MYt_j_vUba/Female_Voice.html)
Quote from: anjaq on March 21, 2014, 08:26:16 PM
Hello aurora.
I Think your voice sounds feminine but I personally think you are right and it is a bit high. I feel in the 069 recordning that you seem to strain your voice so it cannot be as full and loud as it could be. A bit like what is happening to me in that highest pitch recording I posted, although I think yours sound more natural.
thanks for the comments. I agree tha tthe 160-180 recording of me is the best - do you think it really is androgynous? I wonder why that is. is it the rahter androgynous pitch? female pitch supposedly starts at 180 Hz. Or maybe it is the intonation, I am working on that with my voice trainer now. She said owever that resonance is fine. Do you think there is a male resonance in there (except the very low recording of course)
My normal speaking range now is the 140 Range which is sadly about slightly above average only for men. My original voice is the 100 hz which is low for men. The 160-180 hz takes conscious effort to maintain, so I wish I could do that without effeor tor thinking
The recordings were made on my phone, and I might not have managed to put the volume high enough. Although I do admit that I sometimes have a problem with my loudness in real life, which I am working on. :)
When I said it sounded androgynus, well, that's because the 160-180 is on the androgynus range! But you do sound mostly feminine, and I agree with you, a little more intonation would help your case, sometimes there's a little hint of "maleishness", but it's not really that much, and it could be resonance, but it probably is still pitch, because 180 is squarely female, while 160 is a bit more masculine. And I'm not a therapist of any kind, so if your therapist says it's not resonance, she is probably right!
Also for someone who has started with out with 100Hz as your average speaking voice, you've done extradordinary progress and developed your high notes a lot, so don't be demoralized and don't give up just now, you're going to get there, I am sure.
Have you considered any more radical procedure like vocal surgery? With a 140Hz picth, you would probably have successfully reached a fundamental frequency within the normal female range.
Kiss :)
PS. Aquarelle: going to listen to it now!
Quote from: Aquarelle on March 22, 2014, 06:03:53 AM
Can anyone tell me what I need to improve about my voice and speech, beside the bad english?
My Female Voice (http://www.4shared.com/music/MYt_j_vUba/Female_Voice.html)
It's very feminine, and it sounds natural. :) I think you need a little more variation and less monotony! I am not sure, but your pitch is on the female range, right? Maybe working on resonance will make it even better.
Quote from: Auroramarianna on March 22, 2014, 04:06:26 PM
The recordings were made on my phone, and I might not have managed to put the volume high enough.
Ah yes - I used a higher quality USB microphone for my recordings as phone or laptop mics are just so distorted... never can tell if a voice is good or not with them
Quote
I agree with you, a little more intonation would help your case, sometimes there's a little hint of "maleishness", but it's not really that much, and it could be resonance, but it probably is still pitch, because 180 is squarely female, while 160 is a bit more masculine. And I'm not a therapist of any kind, so if your therapist says it's not resonance, she is probably right!
I might get a second opinion but will definitely work on the intonation.
QuoteAlso for someone who has started with out with 100Hz as your average speaking voice, you've done extradordinary progress and developed your high notes a lot, so don't be demoralized and don't give up just now, you're going to get there, I am sure.
Nah, I dont give up. I can by now make a glissando, a not broken pitch "siren" sound going with an "u" sound from about the 100 Hz up to nearly 800 Hz. So I am amazed at what is possible.
But yes - I dont give up because I think I am sure I will have a good voice within the next 18 months. Either by actually getting it with the training, or as you suggested:
Quote
Have you considered any more radical procedure like vocal surgery? With a 140Hz picth, you would probably have successfully reached a fundamental frequency within the normal female range.
I am all over the threads on voice surgery in Korea ;) - even talked to my voice therapist about it.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0pBX4DzTH5v
Just speaking right now, trying to do a recording. Haven't really practiced it, but it seems to work a fair share. What do you think?
Quote from: Auroramarianna on March 22, 2014, 04:14:14 PM
It's very feminine, and it sounds natural. :) I think you need a little more variation and less monotony! I am not sure, but your pitch is on the female range, right? Maybe working on resonance will make it even better.
Thank you :) I supposed it was monotony, but I have no voice range to make it better :( I lost the ability to go in falsetto, when I was in puberty, so I have only a few notes from the female range (which I am using in this recording) and that's all... Everything above these notes, that I am trying to produce is just an air and no sound at all...
Nevertheless, I will work on resonance more - I hope it will compensate the lack of range.
Hi Aquarelle,
I am sceptical about you not being able to sing falsetto. Breathiness of the sort that you describe, in me, is when I am constricting my throat so much that it doesn't resonate. By gently going as high as I can without any strain, my vocal range has extended pretty quickly, I think.
This guy, and many others, have tips that are essentially describing how to distribute where you place stress to more of your throat, so that you are not squeezing a small area with a lot of stress:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLiiFZvKxPY&list=UUAbzTcqsroqxJG1qhzXns-Q
He doesn't really hold back though and make a big point about being cautious. I did do his exercises violently by trying to match what he is doing and it made my throat sore. So, I know do it much more gently and slowly.
I think his points are to try to introduce nasality that then moves stress away from your throat and to practice glotal stacatto to develop control and introduce vocal fry which is when your throat is so relaxed that it makes white noise.
Essentially, it's voice yoga. When I bend over to touch my toes, if I bounce violently it hurts and presumably is causing tears. Some bouncing can help, but gently. Otherwise, the goal is to extend how much you can stretch while being relaxed.
The same idea applies to the vocal exercises that Mr. I have no inferiority complex that would make me want to choose an exaggerated name guy above.
I've been trying many times each one of the things this guy in the video is showing, but I can't produce any sound...only air...
I've been visiting vocal teachers for years and changed three of them and noone could help, nor figured out what is the problem with my throat. I saw a doctor as well and I know there is no physical damage, but the problem still persist... :(
Quote from: GorJess on March 23, 2014, 09:39:26 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0pBX4DzTH5v
Just speaking right now, trying to do a recording. Haven't really practiced it, but it seems to work a fair share. What do you think?
Ha! It doesn't like the answer violets are violet...
Hi GorJess,
I like the inflection and that it is not falsetto. It sounds like a weird comment maybe, but it doesn't sound stereotypically gay, it sounds more feminine and sweet, to me. There is a component that sounds like it's male to me, that I don't know how to describe and can't figure out how to get rid of in my own voice. Maybe it is what you mean when you say it works sometimes and not other times.
Maybe doing the same thing but feeling confident about it removes that quality that i can't describe. I think you are on to something by not trying to do falsetto.
You should consider the source of this comment too. I don't know anything and my voice is awful.
Unice
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gTnqPY3HMX
Not sure how good my voice sounds. My only real input thus far has been one friend. I did make a thread about it, but I realized it was like a 9 minute long audio recording that was meant for that sort of thing, so yeah.
Here's 20 seconds.
Thanks for any input.
I am a novice with a big mouth.. So, seek a different opinion.
It sounds like falsetto to me, but just barely, meaning it is very close to sounding genuine rather than faked. I don't know how to identify what it is that makes it sound falsetto.
Here is me and my thoughts about where I am doing falsetto instead of genuine voice. I think it sounds weird because I slip into affecting the pronunciation of "cold". The falsetto quality becomes more obvious around the word "legs", to my ears anyway:
https://soundcloud.com/cheyrn/erythromycin
You probably want to stop the sound as soon as you hear the next clip that is a siren sound with the voice, otherwise you will be subjected to even worse falsetto.
The advice from genderlife.com to add a breathiness has sounded to me like it makes a difference when I have managed to do it, I think. Also, if I am not relaxed or I am thinking about how to pronounce the words, then it sounds fake.
The singing teachers that I have heard talk about mixed voice vs. head voice. I think this is like what Melanie Anne refers to when she says you make cartoon voice and then relax your throat while keeping your larynx there. Yawning forms the shape that opera singers use. Between being all in the throat when doing falsetto and the yawning shape is maybe mixed voice or genuine sounding higher pitched voice...
The guy in the video above demonstrates this when he starts saying that you make the voice go up the back of your head and out the top of your palette.
https://soundcloud.com/llerret/audio-recording-on-tuesday/s-3tsFX
HELP ME! I don't know how to make my voice sound more female
Quote from: NicholeD on March 25, 2014, 05:47:24 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gTnqPY3HMX
Not sure how good my voice sounds. My only real input thus far has been one friend. I did make a thread about it, but I realized it was like a 9 minute long audio recording that was meant for that sort of thing, so yeah.
Here's 20 seconds.
Thanks for any input.
Not gonna lie it doesn't sound so great. This takes a lot of work though.
From what I can hear it sounds like your voice is on the edge of breaking a lot (listen to when you said "probably not"), if you know what I mean? Like your vocal muscles are trembling a bit or something while you try to speak like this. Keep practicing until that doesn't happen and you will be making progress at least on that front. You gotta develop your control.
Sounds kinda falsetto to me too.
Quote from: Unice on March 25, 2014, 11:22:16 PM
I am a novice with a big mouth.. So, seek a different opinion.
It sounds like falsetto to me, but just barely, meaning it is very close to sounding genuine rather than faked. I don't know how to identify what it is that makes it sound falsetto.
Here is me and my thoughts about where I am doing falsetto instead of genuine voice. I think it sounds weird because I slip into affecting the pronunciation of "cold". The falsetto quality becomes more obvious around the word "legs", to my ears anyway:
https://soundcloud.com/cheyrn/erythromycin
You probably want to stop the sound as soon as you hear the next clip that is a siren sound with the voice, otherwise you will be subjected to even worse falsetto.
The advice from genderlife.com to add a breathiness has sounded to me like it makes a difference when I have managed to do it, I think. Also, if I am not relaxed or I am thinking about how to pronounce the words, then it sounds fake.
The singing teachers that I have heard talk about mixed voice vs. head voice. I think this is like what Melanie Anne refers to when she says you make cartoon voice and then relax your throat while keeping your larynx there. Yawning forms the shape that opera singers use. Between being all in the throat when doing falsetto and the yawning shape is maybe mixed voice or genuine sounding higher pitched voice...
The guy in the video above demonstrates this when he starts saying that you make the voice go up the back of your head and out the top of your palette.
Yea you are too falsetto as well sounds to me.
Btw the best advice I ever got for the throat positioning of the larynx and stuff is to get in the position of how it would be if you were sucking hard on a lemon. Also you need to learn to hold it while opening your mouth and breathing too. You should practice like doing kegels except with your larynx goin up and down.
You seriously just gotta practice and get control of those muscles to make progress. There aint no magic tricks.
Not that my voice is particularly good, but I have gone a long way from where I started, my starting point is crazy deep. Hell I assume its terribad since every time I ever posted a clip on this site it gets totally ignored. I go to better sites though for voice stuff mostly.
So this may sound like a dumb question, but what is falsetto? I mean I thought it was a fake high that goes way beyond the natural limits. Like it was to my understand that the average male voice is around 120hz, the average female voice is around 210hz, and falsetto would be 400+hz. Generally my new voice sits at about 200hz and around the 180hz range is where my voice will always break.
So yeah, what is falsetto and what do I do about it? I've never been one for singing, playing an instrument or having any sort of musical inclination, so this all still new to me. If a bit more vocal evidence is required or appreciated:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0c2wjA8eemn
Thanks for the input thus far though!
Quote from: llerret on March 25, 2014, 11:46:58 PM
https://soundcloud.com/llerret/audio-recording-on-tuesday/s-3tsFX
Hi llerret,
This is the blind leading the not so blind, but maybe I have thoughts that can be like pointers to seek answers to from people that have gotten somewhere with their voice. Have doubts about what I say.
The modulation of your pitch sounds good to me. There is some deep resonance, but woman with deep voices still sound feminine, which means that pitch is not what makes the difference, like you say in your clip. A physical difference generally between male and female voices is the size of the throats and voice boxes. Both Melanie Anne Philips and Andrea James describes ways to make your throat have a smaller shape in order to resonate like that of a vaginally endowed person.
If you haven't already, you might want to watch their youtube videos and go to their sites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTbQviDaGnk&list=PL04329A4C04D8112D
http://heartcorps.com/page2.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO41CpUW7IM&list=PL0CCD9AF3C587C9A2
http://genderlife.com
You can also listen to "counter tenors" who are men who sing soprano. The italian guy above demonstrates some counter tenor singing techniques. The advice sounds similar to Melanie Anne talking about starting with a cartoon voice and then relaxing your throat.
I think it would be good to support both people for their hard work by buying their lessons.
Quote from: NicholeD on March 26, 2014, 06:23:55 AM
So this may sound like a dumb question, but what is falsetto?
Falsetto means fake voice, more or less. It is usually used to mean the sound of a man talking like a woman, often for comic effect. A "counter tenor" sings in a way that supposedly sounds "not fake" but is higher in pitch.
In the clip of Melanie Anne above, she shows an exercise where you feel the vibration around your adam's apple and she says that when doing falsetto you can still feel vibration below the Adam's apple. When she speaks now, she says that she can't feel vibration below the Adam's apple. But, advice goes beyond that and talks about other aspects of vocal timbre and modulating one's voice instead of talking like Frankenstein as men tend to do (to hide emotions typically).
In my clip above, it sounds to me like there are areas where it is more and less fake sounding. Some seems to me to be about the way that I pronounce words that is forced and some is a difference in the sound, there is like a secondary resonance that is deeper when I sound the most falsetto, I think
For me anyway, I can't follow advice that is a procedure, it has to make some kind of sense to me. Do this with your Adam's apple and then you will magically start sounding natural, is unlikely to work.
Also, anjaq has posted a lot of very interesting information, it seems to me. She warns about damaging one's voice by attempting to affect a female voice. Probably, doing anything incorrectly for a long time will have negative results. So, I can at least get that it is important to stop whenever it feels uncomfortable.
Getting surgery instead sounds much more scary and permanent to me. Also, women don't sound different just because of shorter vocal cords. But, I'm very new to this and that is just my opinion. You can read other people's posts and go look at web sites.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,153931.0.html
Post transition vs pre transition voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12tqcmhilSe
I personally muuch prefer my post transition voicr, mostly cuz I think it's more feminine/age appropriate, but some people say it's annoying
Quote from: jussmoi4nao on March 27, 2014, 03:52:21 AM
Post transition vs pre transition voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12tqcmhilSe
I personally muuch prefer my post transition voicr, mostly cuz I think it's more feminine/age appropriate, but some people say it's annoying
To me your pre-transition voice was very good. Sounds to me like a young professional. The post-transition voice sounds like you are trying a bit to hard to me. I don't know was I am bad with voices and things of that nature. Still great work girl.
Quote from: Unice on March 26, 2014, 08:32:54 AM
In the clip of Melanie Anne above, she shows an exercise where you feel the vibration around your adam's apple and she says that when doing falsetto you can still feel vibration below the Adam's apple. When she speaks now, she says that she can't feel vibration below the Adam's apple.
It was the other way around in the video, wasn't it? "clamp down on the top and let loose at the bottom - no vibration at the top but vibration at the bottom" - did I misunderstand that?
QuoteGetting surgery instead sounds much more scary and permanent to me. Also, women don't sound different just because of shorter vocal cords.
Permanent is what most people here will welcome, the scary part not so much. Things have improved since Melanie did these tapes in 1999 but still it is something to consider carefully. Surgery only can affect pitch, which is NOT what Melanie was showing there. What she showed in the video linked above was resonance - the most important factor. I doubt Melanie had a low pitch to begin with, she tries to go low in the female resonance register and does not get that low IMO - dropping the female resonance would allow her to go deeper probably but it becomes impossible after a while. Pitch is however not without importance I believe - not as much as the other things like resonance most of them all - but still it is a factor if it is too low. As long as it is medium, its fine, but if it leaves the range where women usually talk in, it becomes a "tell" even with female resonance unless you are perfect in all other parameters.
Urff. You're right. I have it backwards. I wasn't being modest when I said to have doubt about what I say.
Well, that is a rather significant thing to get wrong... When I try it right now, it vibrates a little at the top and a lot on the bottom if I try not to sound falsetto by trying to open my throat, but it still sounds falsetto. I will have to play around with that. Thank you for correcting me.
There is a video of Melanie Anne from years before her transition and her voice then was not very deep but it was certainly deeper than most women's voices that I have heard.
About surgery, I don't want to trivialize the idea. I imagine it is a very emotionally taxing decision to make and I don't want to serve to negatively affect your courage. Also, I mean it when I say that I am very new and unsure. You have real experience. I do not.
I am an expressing an opinion. I hope it doesn't sound like a negative criticism. I am happy for you about taking action toward what you want.
Hehe, no problem there. I actually used melanie Phillips voice tips 15 years ago to get my voice better. It largely worked but is not perfect for me. Maybe I should habe trained more, IDK. Re surgery - everyone says its a bad idea, I am used to that ;) - so if I should do it, I will go up against the opinion of about everyone around me, but thats how it is... But I believe, either I have to come to terms with an exotic deep voice that I may be able to get more female sounding than it is now somehow, find a way to increase pitch by training or do surgery...
Quote from: Hayley on March 27, 2014, 09:00:54 AM
To me your pre-transition voice was very good. Sounds to me like a young professional. The post-transition voice sounds like you are trying a bit to hard to me. I don't know was I am bad with voices and things of that nature. Still great work girl.
Yeah, I'm not sure why that would be cuz that voice actually comes most naturally to me (I probably don't sound my best cuz I made that at 4 AM). And imo it matches a 19 year old better. Tho my pre transition voice sounds exactly like my mom's and my little sister's is starting to sound that way now that she's in puberty...but then I feel like they have husky/androgynous voices?
Quote from: jussmoi4nao on March 27, 2014, 07:08:33 PM
Tho my pre transition voice sounds exactly like my mom's and my little sister's is starting to sound that way now that she's in puberty...but then I feel like they have husky/androgynous voices?
Lol. I would love to have your pre transition voice as a goal ;) - Seriously it is really great already. But do what makes you happy :) - just make sure you dont strain your voice
Quote from: anjaq on March 27, 2014, 07:41:34 PM
Lol. I would love to have your pre transition voice as a goal ;) - Seriously it is really great already. But do what makes you happy :) - just make sure you dont strain your voice
Haha, it's not a strain at all xD does it sound strained? Cuz i've been using it for so long now, it just feels natural, even more so than my pre transition voice.
But yeah, I guess I have a high range. My voice never broke and I never really got much of if any adam's apple (not sure how to tell if theres one at all but i really can't see it).
I wish mine would not have broken. Ah well... tough luck.I wonder how the adams apple relates to voice. I have none either. Not a hint. Yet I sadly dont have your nice pretransition voice even if I do my training sessions :/
Quote from: jussmoi4nao on March 27, 2014, 03:52:21 AM
Post transition vs pre transition voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12tqcmhilSe
I personally muuch prefer my post transition voicr, mostly cuz I think it's more feminine/age appropriate, but some people say it's annoying
They both sound female to me. It wouldn't have occurred to me that that voice was not born with a hoo hoo. Neither is annoying.
Quote from: jussmoi4nao on March 27, 2014, 07:49:26 PM
Haha, it's not a strain at all xD does it sound strained? Cuz i've been using it for so long now, it just feels natural, even more so than my pre transition voice.
But yeah, I guess I have a high range. My voice never broke and I never really got much of if any adam's apple (not sure how to tell if theres one at all but i really can't see it).
You really have a good voice, both of them are amazing actually, however I feel that your pre-transition voice sounds way more natural and still feminine. The post-transition is sounding too squeaky and young, although I kind of have the same problem so I may not be the best judge. I think we need to find a a middle ground as to sounding comfortable to us and high enough so we perceive our voices as feminine, but still natural and not falsetto.
Also, an information many may find usefull! Even if you think your voice is not feminine enough, only a recording can tell, because people tend to hear their voices distorted because when we hear ourselves, we're also hearing the vibrations our vocal cords transmit, we're hearing it through the bones and our organs, which also vibrate. That creates the fuller, richer, deeper and unique voice we hear ourselves. When played back, the recording reveals the truth: and the voice is often distinctively higher. :)
What do you think about my recordings?
I dunno, I guess I get the annoying/squeaky comments, but not so much unnatural. It isn't an effort at all,it just comes out. And I didn't really try to sound like it per se, it just sort of happened. I was actually surprised to hear how much it changed from pre transition, just cuz it was incremental, but yeah. My pre transition voice is actually harder to find cuz it's been so long since I talked that way.
Also, as for falsetto, no, lol. I can go a looot higher than that, like seriously,haha. If my voice sounded falsetto it was cuz it was 4 AM and i was trying not to wake people,cuz that's simply not a problem for me.
As for the age thing, I don't feel like its 'too young' considering I'm only 18. I think maybe that's a response tailored to an older age group.
But thanks for all your commentsss!
I dunno, I guess a part of me likes to believe my current voice is my real one because of how natural it feels and the old one was like my best attempt to sound male. My family all said they remembered id talk like i do now sometimes, in fact it happened frequently (they just thought id be a voice actor or sumthin lol)
If you dont have to do anything to make that voice , it does not strain you and people think it sounds female - I would not worry. You are in a much better position then compared to many others who have to train to get a voice that is close to any of these voices ;)
Quote from: jussmoi4nao on March 28, 2014, 11:04:18 AM
I dunno, I guess I get the annoying/squeaky comments, but not so much unnatural. It isn't an effort at all,it just comes out. And I didn't really try to sound like it per se, it just sort of happened. I was actually surprised to hear how much it changed from pre transition, just cuz it was incremental, but yeah. My pre transition voice is actually harder to find cuz it's been so long since I talked that way.
Also, as for falsetto, no, lol. I can go a looot higher than that, like seriously,haha. If my voice sounded falsetto it was cuz it was 4 AM and i was trying not to wake people,cuz that's simply not a problem for me.
As for the age thing, I don't feel like its 'too young' considering I'm only 18. I think maybe that's a response tailored to an older age group.
But thanks for all your commentsss!
Okay! Fair enough! If it doesn't hurt at all and you're not straining and you feel good about it, then great :) You're only 18 and I'm 17, yay!! But I think my voice sounds too young for my age, I often get comments that I sound like a baby, which I am not sure. What do you all think?
Both voices sounds good jussmoi4nao
but your pre voice sounds a lot more natural
and btw, it has nothing to do with age , im 19 I have female friends with much lower voice , still sounds really nice...
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-091
Okay, this is my best attempt at a masculine voice. I personally think it is kinda low, not sure if how this voice would be gendered, tell me what you think :)
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-088 ---> this is me reading a book passage (in my native language, sorry!) yes, with an infuriated tone because the character was really angry and upset at social injustice at that moment.
I don't know if anyone else notices, I do seem to get slightly hoarse a lot of times :( I think it is because of the acid reflux, a disease I have, even with medication it continues to affect me. I don't know what else this could be.
I might be having cultural blindness, but your clips might sound nervous. That would be rapid speech in the California. So, it's hard to say. I can't picture what you would sound like with a slower more relaxed voice.
Acid reflux is supposedly very bad for the vocal tract, I heard someone say once. It seems like it would be. It can also be related to stress... So, if it is true that you sound nervous, maybe relaxing is important in more than one way.
aurora, just a word of caution - not sure if this applies to you. I personally had hoarseness and the feeling that something is stuck or burning a bit in the throat for the past 2 years. I had a lot of issues with digestion as well and I was thinking the the reflux causes these issues. Eventually i went to an ENT who is also phoniater and they checked and found that not the reflux caused the isses but me soverstraining my voice by using it wrong. so i went into a voice rehab training. if you get issues like that - maybe they are really from reflux, but keep in mind that it still may be an issue with your speaking habits
Quote from: anjaq on March 28, 2014, 09:35:00 PM
aurora, just a word of caution - not sure if this applies to you. I personally had hoarseness and the feeling that something is stuck or burning a bit in the throat for the past 2 years. I had a lot of issues with digestion as well and I was thinking the the reflux causes these issues. Eventually i went to an ENT who is also phoniater and they checked and found that not the reflux caused the isses but me soverstraining my voice by using it wrong. so i went into a voice rehab training. if you get issues like that - maybe they are really from reflux, but keep in mind that it still may be an issue with your speaking habits
I actually had therapy for that at the time they also diagnosed reflux, and supposedely the issue was fixed. They wanted to get me to lower my voice to a man's range, but I didn't. So when I began using it properly, I quit going! However, I am not really that hoarse during the day, I seem to get on morning and night, I don't know. But yes, I do have reflux and it is horrible. If I forget to take the medication, I feel really sick and also feeling a lump in my throat.
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-096
Here I tried to sound lower and more relaxed. I don't know if anyone else feels this, but no matter how high my voice actually is, I fear that sometimes it sounds masculine or that it slips into male mode sometimes. I don't know if it's me who is being self-conscious or anything, because even when it sounds low to me, on recordings it is still high, so I don't know, maybe it is my distorted self-perception which leads me to believe in things that are not true.
Tell me what you think about this new recording!
And I do have very intense acid reflux, to the point of coughing really hard, even though I take all medication.
jussoi4nao's new avatar is cute.
The voice in your new recording sounds high pitched to me. I don't think of it as breaking into a masculine voice. It sounds like someone who is trying to make their voice sound some way. That is my problem now.
When I listen to Andrea James doing the monotone exercise with enunciation (this is the voice I want to use), it is more than just the enunciation the pitch and a static tone. She is doing a complicated set of actions unconsciously.
Matching the actions isn't going to make me sound like that. There are subtle cues that are like mannerisms. That is why the people that have female sounding voices on here give advice that is not specific, I think. It's like teaching a bird to fly. Or how people develop accents when they visit places, unintentionally. There are key pointer and the rest is largely subconscious, probably.
The videos around candiFLA on youtube have people sounding feminine without doing the specific things that are suggested by the two voice coarses I know of. I think other aspects are as important or more important than trying to raise one's adam's apple, etc.
Thank you! I guess you are right. ACid reflux really affects my voice, to the point the I have a lot of mucus in my throat and have to make an effort to sound normal, because it's really weird to hear my voice with all the alterations and hoarseness that come from it, and also maybe from my self-consciousness of recording my voice. Maybe if someone recorded my voice wihout my knowledge it would come more naturally.
It's been a while since I've posted here...but here's my voice.
It sounds like I'm crying, but don't be alarmed, I'm not. It's just the difficulty I'm having with sustaining the voice. Once I get used to talking in that register I guess it'll smooth out.
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/audio-recording-on-monday
Quote from: riversong on April 07, 2014, 09:53:11 AM
It's been a while since I've posted here...but here's my voice.
It sounds like I'm crying, but don't be alarmed, I'm not. It's just the difficulty I'm having with sustaining the voice. Once I get used to talking in that register I guess it'll smooth out.
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/audio-recording-on-monday
I think you need to increase pitch. The difficulty you have in sustaining your voice does show a little bit. You'll get there with training :)
The only issue I feel I have currently is volume control, and I can hardly project my voice without the urge to yell in guy mode. I'm starting to use my voice online thru voice chat programs, which is helping my dysphoria with my voice :)
edit: I sent a few people to this page to listen to my recording, and their computers/mobile devices couldn't play the file.
Here's one I made reading a few sentences off of one of my facebook chats using that online thing I see people using.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0DgId2HyUC9
http://vocaroo.com/i/s18kBhKXvP2Z
Quote from: Hideyoshi on April 15, 2014, 10:08:36 PM
The only issue I feel I have currently is volume control, and I can hardly project my voice without the urge to yell in guy mode. I'm starting to use my voice online thru voice chat programs, which is helping my dysphoria with my voice :)
edit: I sent a few people to this page to listen to my recording, and their computers/mobile devices couldn't play the file.
Here's one I made reading a few sentences off of one of my facebook chats using that online thing I see people using.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0DgId2HyUC9
http://vocaroo.com/i/s18kBhKXvP2Z
Sounds female to me Hideyoshi! Nice work!
I would say to grow from this point, you might want to look at pitch dynamics aka going up and down with your pitch while speaking. Right now it does sound female, but it is all very close to one tone.
Some girls talk like this though, so I don't see it being a problem for you... Your pitch and resonance are telling my ears that you are a female in these recordings.
Quote from: Jennygirl on April 22, 2014, 10:10:19 AM
Sounds female to me Hideyoshi! Nice work!
I would say to grow from this point, you might want to look at pitch dynamics aka going up and down with your pitch while speaking. Right now it does sound female, but it is all very close to one tone.
Some girls talk like this though, so I don't see it being a problem for you... Your pitch and resonance are telling my ears that you are a female in these recordings.
Yay I'm so happy.
I'll work on fluctuating pitch more.
Quote from: Auroramarianna on April 11, 2014, 05:43:47 PM
I think you need to increase pitch. The difficulty you have in sustaining your voice does show a little bit. You'll get there with training :)
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/audio-recording-on-friday
I've raised my pitch. Is it high enough? I can't really hear anything that specifically sounds masculine, but I'm still not sure if it's passable.
Quote from: riversong on April 25, 2014, 01:29:17 PM
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/audio-recording-on-friday
I've raised my pitch. Is it high enough? I can't really hear anything that specifically sounds masculine, but I'm still not sure if it's passable.
You sound a bit uncomfortable, but it's normal. I think your voice is sounding feminine now, I just think you need vary your intonation a little bit, because it is a bit monotone and you don't vary much, which makes it sound a bit robotic. But to be honest, I think you'll get there with practise :) Practise raising your voice as well, but go nicely on it, don't demand too much of yourself right now so there is no tendency to strain the voice too much.
You could try recording it again a little more relaxed, talk in the highest relaxed pitch you can and try to vary it to see if it's passable. :)
Hi everyone, it's been awhile since I last posted on here. Here is my newer recording. I hope this sounds better.
https://soundcloud.com/user831092101/new-recording-may-17-2014
Hideyoshi you sound female to me!
Riversong. The clip you posted on here sounds like your almost in falsetto and is not a comfortable speaking pitch. I listened to your clip from tuesday, which sounds much better. Just work on your infections and intonation and it will be perfect.
Every time around this year my voice likes me, and I like it back in return, hooray! I actually care about this, since I have to present on back to back days in 2 weeks for big presentations. My audience won't care if it does or not, but I do, since I'm A) Being filmed B) It's for the Philly Trans-Health Conference, so I want to look professional up there, you know? Especially considering the other folks I'm working with, too, everything has to be Grade A. If you're going to said conference and want to see me, or just more info, shoot me a message, and I'll tell you the sessions.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1EdLu01TSPv
Hi!
It's my voice after 30 months of practice and using it in every day talking. I'm 40 years old and English is not my native or even spoken regularly language, so have mercy.
https://soundcloud.com/freja-draco/test-en
I think that it sound pretty good now, but still not excellent. I don't know, if it is possible to make it better and how to do it. Maybe it's just a matter of time, but how long? Next 30 months? It seems that with every next month the voice sounds better, but the progress is slower.
I think, the pitch isn't a problem. Resonance - maybe. Intonation - probably.
What do you think? What do you suggests?
Hello everyone,
I'm Krista, I just have recently finally accepted myself. I was diagnosed with GID at 14 and I'm 25 now. Been working with my voice tell me what yal think.
http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-tuesday-evening
Edit: here is another recording with me pushing my voice to the highest passable voice I can go. http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-tuesday-evening-1
Ya I know what you mean I have only been doing this a month so I can only get better. But I know what you mean if I focus on my talking I have issues but if I let it flow it sounds a lot better.
Quote from: GorJess on May 31, 2014, 02:43:56 AM
Every time around this year my voice likes me, and I like it back in return, hooray! I actually care about this, since I have to present on back to back days in 2 weeks for big presentations. My audience won't care if it does or not, but I do, since I'm A) Being filmed B) It's for the Philly Trans-Health Conference, so I want to look professional up there, you know? Especially considering the other folks I'm working with, too, everything has to be Grade A. If you're going to said conference and want to see me, or just more info, shoot me a message, and I'll tell you the sessions.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1EdLu01TSPv
You sound like one of my classmates, and she is a girl XD "yeee"
Here is another sample of my voice I think I have got a lot better in the past week. Let me know what you think.
http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-friday-evening-2
@riversong: In the first recording, you are still croaky and it sounds like there is too much "gravel."
In the next one (Tuesday, not posted), you sound muuuuch better.
The next one you posted (Friday) is way too forced.
@Hideyoshi: You sound a bit robotic, but I think you just need to work on it more to make your voice sound smoother :)
@katiew88: Okay, I asked my husband for some help analysing this:
You sound a bit nasally, but you will want to fluctuate your pitch so that it lilts UP as opposed to down. You shouldn't start your words higher, and you should try to better enunciate your vowel sounds.
@GorJess: The laugh at the end is great, you did slip into that lower pitch when you said "New York, New York" but otherwise you sounded fine. Your voice is a little deeper than the average woman's, but your vocal patterns are great :)
@Freja Draco: You sound great! My hubby said that you should also try starting words and sentences off low, then raising the pitch at the end (to kind of end in an exclamation!).
@krista2007: Try working your pitch higher! Also, I find that working with your guy voice while working on your female voice is detremental. I used to do it because I it helped to hear the difference, but it seems to do damage my progress more. In the latest one, it seems like you are blocking your nasal passage too much, but the pitch is a little better. It is also not as smooth-flowing as the ideal would be.
Now that I've offered up a bunch of my own opinions (and my husband's since I don't have headphones) here is my voice. I was trying to help others out at the time (a few days ago):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hx9ZZpSbEv
By the way, my husband picked it apart, saying that I need to work on not letting my words start high and drop low and whatnot.
Zeda,
I think you have a great feminine voice! Up until the cartoon voice (I sampled t0=0s and t1=24s) you were at a base frequency of 207-208Hz. Even though its up there, there's a nice amount of resonance? Raspiness? I don't know, but it makes your voice seem very authentic.
Quote from: Jennifer.Alexandria on June 11, 2014, 11:38:29 AM
Zeda,
I think you have a great feminine voice! Up until the cartoon voice (I sampled t0=0s and t1=24s) you were at a base frequency of 207-208Hz. Even though its up there, there's a nice amount of resonance? Raspiness? I don't know, but it makes your voice seem very authentic.
Thanks! I still need to practice, but I think I have a better understanding of what I need to do, now (as opposed to a year ago when I just couldn't figure it out).
I'm pre-everything so my voice is not as deep as I would like it to be.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0XheQECzEjG
Quote from: Marcel on June 12, 2014, 10:22:46 AM
I'm pre-everything so my voice is not as deep as I would like it to be.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0XheQECzEjG
Holy crud, that little bit was pretty good and I would say it passes if you are young (teens/early 20s). I definitely wouldn't mistake it as a woman unless you look too much like a female. I'm not sure what you are doing, but I went through a phase trying to make my voice deeper and what I did was:
-Yawn wide, try to make a deep-ish noise associated with it. Remember the muscle control.
-Keeping the muscles in basically the same position, hum deeply and with your mouth closed.
I don't know how well this will work since I only did this after puberty struck, but if it does, your voice should be a bit deeper for a little while. Also, have you ever noticed how teenage boys, when their voice is deepening, they tend to jerk their head a little bit, facing slightly downwards? It's because it helps make that throat cavity wider and it makes a deeper noise come out.
But excellent job!
EDIT: I should point out that I was AMAB so I had a lot of testosterone with which to work.
Quote from: Zeda on June 12, 2014, 10:51:42 AM
Holy crud, that little bit was pretty good and I would say it passes if you are young (teens/early 20s). I definitely wouldn't mistake it as a woman unless you look too much like a female. I'm not sure what you are doing, but I went through a phase trying to make my voice deeper and what I did was:
-Yawn wide, try to make a deep-ish noise associated with it. Remember the muscle control.
-Keeping the muscles in basically the same position, hum deeply and with your mouth closed.
I don't know how well this will work since I only did this after puberty struck, but if it does, your voice should be a bit deeper for a little while. Also, have you ever noticed how teenage boys, when their voice is deepening, they tend to jerk their head a little bit, facing slightly downwards? It's because it helps make that throat cavity wider and it makes a deeper noise come out.
But excellent job!
EDIT: I should point out that I was AMAB so I had a lot of testosterone with which to work.
I'm pretty young, I'll be 22 this Saturday. Some friends pointed out that I sound like a 12 year old boy.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1RqYsn7Nk8y
I remember that, before I even knew I was FTM, I started to talk with my chest when I was around 12 years old.
Thanks for the tips, I just attempted them right now and I just woke up so my throat feels like I caught a cold.
You don't sound like a 12 year old, and I'm not one to be dishonest. But since the recording is short, I can't fully analyze how would I gender it. First impression is male but maybe a longer recording would help us give more insightful input and get to think about why people seem to mistake for younger. I don't think I would mistake you voice for a female, maybe for a bit younger, but not female. :)
how do you guys feel about my voice?
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-130
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-131
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-132
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-133
Thanks!! :)
EDIT: Oh, I just noticed you posted a second recording. To me, that's not a female voice. Male, total pass. You sound a bit younger, yes, but I wouldn't worry. Testosterone will make it gradually deeper. :)
Some more advice is work on monotone talking. I heard you pitch shoot higher while you spoke. Not trying to be mean. But give advice on the things I'm working to losing so i can gain my female voice . So I know the bad habits I had to stop useing which are the habits you need. But good job. Never can practice for to long lol.
Auroramarianna: 133 and 131 sound great! The others are too high and sound too "flat." (I don't know a better word.)
Heres my voice I really need honest, but not brutal feedback about it https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/video201406190013
this one has my guy voice as a comparison and me talking louder https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/video201406190020
Quote from: Annabolton on June 19, 2014, 08:36:39 PM
this one has my guy voice as a comparison and me talking louder https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/video201406190020
Your pitch is nice but its nasaly you should try focusing on breathing try exhaling your words it helps with a more passable voice
I plan to deepen my voice later on. How's it so far?
https://soundcloud.com/cjgrant75/voice
http://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample
https://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample-2
from using praat and the voice spectrum, i'm in the female androgyne range. o: sry my fan was on and my throat is sore xD
Quote from: CjGrant on June 24, 2014, 01:49:54 AM
I plan to deepen my voice later on. How's it so far?
https://soundcloud.com/cjgrant75/voice
your voice is very passable great job
Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on June 24, 2014, 06:15:01 PM
http://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample
https://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample-2
from using praat and the voice spectrum, i'm in the female androgyne range. o: sry my fan was on and my throat is sore xD
your fist clip can't be found and your second is to short for me to really judge.
ah, so imma have to say a sentence. i'll upload new once in a moment than
Hey everyone,
Can I please get yals opinion of my voice. I have been practicing for about 2 months now. And if someone can please check the average hz of my voice. The only thing I have right now is a spectrogram on my phone and it says I'm normally around 220 hz. http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-tuesday-night
ok, i hope they are long enough to judge.
https://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample-1
https://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample-3
Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on June 24, 2014, 11:05:01 PM
ok, i hope they are long enough to judge.
https://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample-1
https://soundcloud.com/umiko-nixie/sample-3
yes I personally believe your voice is at the high end of androgynous. So work on your pitch a little more and I think you got it.
Quote from: krista2007 on June 24, 2014, 11:13:23 PM
yes I personally believe your voice is at the high end of androgynous. So work on your pitch a little more and I think you got it.
thnx. for now, i'm trying to keep it at the high end of androgyny. lucky my vocal cords havent hardened as of yet lol
Well then your right where you want to be. If you don't mind check my voice pleaze and tell me what you think. It's post #895
Quote from: krista2007 on June 24, 2014, 11:27:05 PM
Well then your right where you want to be. If you don't mind check my voice pleaze and tell me what you think. It's post #895
if i was to give you a guesstimation, i'd say your at about 187 hertz on FV scale which puts you at a normal female voice.
Quote from: CandiceSkirvin on June 24, 2014, 11:50:48 PM
I just recent watched Milk for like the 1000th time, and the first thing I thought when I heard your voice was, ''Is that Anita Bryant?'' Of course you're not Anita, thankfully, or I'd have to throw a pie in your face followed by a glitter bomb, but you sound like her I think--so yes, your voice ''passes'' to me. It has that breathy, classical sound to it. I like it.
o: now i'm curious on who this anita bryant is. i already was told i look like Michonne from the walking dead so i just slap on make up stuff a bra and there ya go xD glad to see i at least have a starting point xD
Quote from: Zeda on June 13, 2014, 11:13:16 AM
Auroramarianna: 133 and 131 sound great! The others are too high and sound too "flat." (I don't know a better word.)
Thank you, and okie dokie! :) Oh and I think I know what you mean, my voice kind be kind of monotone, yeah, I really have to work on that!!
Quote
how do you guys feel about my voice?
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-130
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-131
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-132
https://soundcloud.com/auroramariana/voz-133
Can I get more input please? Thank you :)
https://soundcloud.com/ephemereality-1/record-0008-1/s-tY8hC
https://soundcloud.com/ephemereality-1/record-0007-1/s-7H7EX (for those sensitive I use the F word once in this recording, whatever cba to make another one)
How would you guys gender my singing voice? And do you think it could eventually be pretty? I'm trying to get more comfortable with it. :-\
https://soundcloud.com/user882899060/sample1
https://soundcloud.com/user882899060/sample2
Quote from: Ephemeral on June 28, 2014, 04:37:08 PM
https://soundcloud.com/ephemereality-1/record-0008-1/s-tY8hC
https://soundcloud.com/ephemereality-1/record-0007-1/s-7H7EX (for those sensitive I use the F word once in this recording, whatever cba to make another one)
I do think you pass. There are some parts where it's not absolutely 100% and sounds a little high, because I know, but overall definitely pass. If your voice drops more it will be 100% for sure. :)
*waves to kitties* I have 2 cats too!
@
auroramariannaYou're close in 133 just sometimes still too much falsetto. Otherwise it sounds pretty good. :)
Quote from: sad panda on June 30, 2014, 09:41:16 AM
How would you guys gender my singing voice? And do you think it could eventually be pretty? I'm trying to get more comfortable with it. :-\
https://soundcloud.com/user882899060/sample1
https://soundcloud.com/user882899060/sample2
Initial impression says female to me, though in the first clip you could perhaps pass as a young boy too if you present as such. Are you on T btw? It's difficult to judge how a voice is going to change. Have you tried to run it through those programs where you can change the pitch? I'd lie if I say I would even remotely know.
QuoteI do think you pass. There are some parts where it's not absolutely 100% and sounds a little high, because I know, but overall definitely pass. If your voice drops more it will be 100% for sure. :)
*waves to kitties* I have 2 cats too!
Cheers. Yes, it will definitely drop more and I think I speak at a higher pitch than what is necessary as in, I could speak lower just fine but I don't. Also, depends a lot on the day, how strained I am from speaking overall etc.
Quote from: Ephemeral on June 30, 2014, 01:15:50 PM
Initial impression says female to me, though in the first clip you could perhaps pass as a young boy too if you present as such. Are you on T btw? It's difficult to judge how a voice is going to change. Have you tried to run it through those programs where you can change the pitch? I'd lie if I say I would even remotely know.
Thanks, yes technically I am cis male but still living as a girl, sorry, I know it's confusing. ^^; but my voice by now is where it's going to be. I can go a bit lower or higher too though I'm just trying to sing in a comfortable range.
QuoteCheers. Yes, it will definitely drop more and I think I speak at a higher pitch than what is necessary as in, I could speak lower just fine but I don't. Also, depends a lot on the day, how strained I am from speaking overall etc.
Yeah, I know what you mean, keeping hydrated and using your voice a lot makes a big difference to how it sounds! :D good luck!
Quote from: Ephemeral on June 30, 2014, 01:15:50 PM
Initial impression says female to me, though in the first clip you could perhaps pass as a young boy too if you present as such. Are you on T btw? It's difficult to judge how a voice is going to change. Have you tried to run it through those programs where you can change the pitch? I'd lie if I say I would even remotely know.
What programs are those? I kinda want to hear what I'll roughly sound like once I start taking T.
Quote from: Blue Senpai on June 30, 2014, 03:52:21 PM
What programs are those? I kinda want to hear what I'll roughly sound like once I start taking T.
You can do it in audacity which is free. (:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net
(it can sound a lil funny though)
Quote from: sad panda on June 30, 2014, 03:49:19 PM
Thanks, yes technically I am cis male but still living as a girl, sorry, I know it's confusing. ^^;
Yeah, I don't get that...
Quotebut my voice by now is where it's going to be. I can go a bit lower or higher too though I'm just trying to sing in a comfortable range.
All right. I can't say if you want it to sound male or female or androgyne based on that, but I guess it doesn't matter.
QuoteYeah, I know what you mean, keeping hydrated and using your voice a lot makes a big difference to how it sounds! :D good luck!
Yep. I also know of these exercises that you can practice daily to drop your voice further but I think I wait until it has settled before I may feel a need for that.
Quote from: sad panda on June 30, 2014, 03:57:09 PM
You can do it in audacity which is free. (:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net
(it can sound a lil funny though)
Okay I'll give it a shot, thanks!
one month on T: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0EM0MG66x27
lets see if its passable lol
Quote from: Ryan55 on July 01, 2014, 07:41:09 PM
one month on T: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0EM0MG66x27
lets see if its passable lol
You sound like you've been on testosterone for months already. You've been blessed.
I know my voice doesn't pass. But given the fact that I used to sing base in a choir, this is progress..... I guess.
http://tinypic.com/m/icu4n5/4 (http://tinypic.com/m/icu4n5/4)
And April's natural voice. I didn't want to show this, but what the heck?
http://tinypic.com/m/icu6nc/4 (http://tinypic.com/m/icu6nc/4)
Quote from: sad panda on June 30, 2014, 03:49:19 PM
Thanks, yes technically I am cis male but still living as a girl, sorry, I know it's confusing.
ah, so that explains it lol. i didnt want to pry but i was wondering what was going on. lol its actually not as confusing as you think lol
Quote from: Blue Senpai on July 01, 2014, 07:58:13 PM
You sound like you've been on testosterone for months already. You've been blessed.
Thanks blue, you sound like a young guy from your voice recording I heard for being pre T, I think you will do great on T
Quote from: Ryan55 on July 01, 2014, 09:46:08 PM
Thanks blue, you sound like a young guy from your voice recording I heard for being pre T, I think you will do great on T
Wow really? That's great and I can't wait to get them near the end of the year.
Tried to control my voice better pre-T and attempted another fast rap. Thoughts?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1khWr7jWRfo
Quote from: April Lee on July 01, 2014, 09:39:28 PM
I know my voice doesn't pass. But given the fact that I used to sing base in a choir, this is progress..... I guess.
http://tinypic.com/m/icu4n5/4 (http://tinypic.com/m/icu4n5/4)
And April's natural voice. I didn't want to show this, but what the heck?
http://tinypic.com/m/icu6nc/4 (http://tinypic.com/m/icu6nc/4)
WOOOW! That's a huuuge evolution :D you should be happy, your voice is getting there!! Congrats~ :)
Also, guys, your voices are good too! Testosterone will make them deeper, so as time goes by, it only gets better for you :)
All feedback welcome, been working on my voice on and off for the last 2-3 months:
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=x5tr0g%3E&s=8 (http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=x5tr0g%3E&s=8)
Quote from: antonia on July 02, 2014, 07:52:15 PM
All feedback welcome, been working on my voice on and off for the last 2-3 months:
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=x5tr0g%3E&s=8 (http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=x5tr0g%3E&s=8)
Your voice is really soft, but I think you're still resonating from your chest. I'm not an expert, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think the next thing you should work on is raising the resonance from your chest to your head.
Here's my attempt:
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/voice-205
I was told before that my pitch was too low, so that's the main thing I've been working on lately. I've managed to get it all the way up to a D4 on the scientific scale. I don't really hear any masculinity in this voice, but others might hear it differently. What do you think? Is it good? Where could I use improvement?
Hi Riversong,
I think your pitch is high enough for sure, If I remember correctly everything above an A3 is considered unmistakably female.
My only thought would be to add more inflections, and perhaps open up your voice a little bit, it's tricky to get the voice into your head without it becoming nasal and "pinchy" but try to add a little more breath to your voice.
I'll work on "squeezing" my voice to reduce the resonance, I think that's the part I have the hardest time with and requires the most physical effort in my experience.
Quote from: riversong on July 03, 2014, 11:51:37 AM
Your voice is really soft, but I think you're still resonating from your chest. I'm not an expert, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think the next thing you should work on is raising the resonance from your chest to your head.
Here's my attempt:
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/voice-205
I was told before that my pitch was too low, so that's the main thing I've been working on lately. I've managed to get it all the way up to a D4 on the scientific scale. I don't really hear any masculinity in this voice, but others might hear it differently. What do you think? Is it good? Where could I use improvement?
Quote from: riversong on July 03, 2014, 11:51:37 AM
Your voice is really soft, but I think you're still resonating from your chest. I'm not an expert, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think the next thing you should work on is raising the resonance from your chest to your head.
Here's my attempt:
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/voice-205
I was told before that my pitch was too low, so that's the main thing I've been working on lately. I've managed to get it all the way up to a D4 on the scientific scale. I don't really hear any masculinity in this voice, but others might hear it differently. What do you think? Is it good? Where could I use improvement?
D4 is pretty high for a speaking voice o.o My spouse has a fairly high pitched voice (and he has worked it down all the way to the B3/C4 range since I met him). I believe my voice, after some training, is around an A3 (with a note in either direction). You sound like you are going too hard at it, and it is sounds falsetto to me. You should bring your voice down to a range where your speaking isn't so pinched and constricted :)
EDIT:@Blue Senpai: You sound like a boy in the early stages of puberty. You occasionally slipped into a more feminine sound, but not enough to throw it off much.
@Ryan55: You definitely sound like a guy :P You sound like a guy around 16 or 17 years old, more specifically. Ky (my spouse, he's a genderqueer person) remarked that you sounded like you were trying to force your voice lower, but that is something a lot of guys do when their voice is deepening :) Kinda limbering up those vocal cords, stretching the throat cavity stuff. I wonder how you will sound in a few more months. 1.25 months already... T is pretty potent stuff!
Hey everyone,
Can I please get yals opinion of my voice. I have been practicing for about 2 months now. And if someone can please check the average hz of my voice. The only thing I have right now is a spectrogram on my phone and it says I'm normally around 220 hz. http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-tuesday-night
riversong- I tend to agree, it sounds a little falsetto and a bit unnaturally high. D4 is very high for a speaking voice, female fundamental pitch is usually anywhere from F3 - B3 so you could definitely come down a bit and that would help. Chances are, this is also right where your break is between chest and falsetto voice, so I can understand if it is hard.
It is better though to use the upper range of your chest voice to avoid it sounding unnatural or forced up there
krista- I think your pitch is right where it needs to be, you could work some on changing your pitch up and down more frequently.. that would help. Also it is slightly nasally, I think probably because of the way you are modifying the resonance? Try to relax the muscles not required to raise your larynx. Try placing a finger on your adam's apple and feeling the position of your larynx. Then, try to relax different sets of muscles until you find just the one set that raises your larynx- that might give you a better larynx position to hold. After a while it will become second nature to relax the muscles surrounding
When I modify my resonance, I am basically raising the very back portion of my tongue, but if I raise too much in the middle of my tongue it starts to sound nasally. Imagine lifting the very back of your tongue up and back :)
Quote from: Zeda on July 03, 2014, 07:17:58 PM
D4 is pretty high for a speaking voice o.o My spouse has a fairly high pitched voice (and he has worked it down all the way to the B3/C4 range since I met him). I believe my voice, after some training, is around an A3 (with a note in either direction). You sound like you are going too hard at it, and it is sounds falsetto to me. You should bring your voice down to a range where your speaking isn't so pinched and constricted :)
EDIT:
@Blue Senpai: You sound like a boy in the early stages of puberty. You occasionally slipped into a more feminine sound, but not enough to throw it off much.
@Ryan55: You definitely sound like a guy :P You sound like a guy around 16 or 17 years old, more specifically. Ky (my spouse, he's a genderqueer person) remarked that you sounded like you were trying to force your voice lower, but that is something a lot of guys do when their voice is deepening :) Kinda limbering up those vocal cords, stretching the throat cavity stuff. I wonder how you will sound in a few more months. 1.25 months already... T is pretty potent stuff!
Yay! I've been getting comments that I sound like a 12-13 year old boy. ;D
I'd say you need to slow down just a tad bit, I have a really hard time with that myself because my brain is racing at 1000mph but my tongue can only do 100mph.
- Antonia
Quote from: krista2007 on July 03, 2014, 07:19:26 PM
Hey everyone,
Can I please get yals opinion of my voice. I have been practicing for about 2 months now. And if someone can please check the average hz of my voice. The only thing I have right now is a spectrogram on my phone and it says I'm normally around 220 hz. http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-tuesday-night
Quote from: antonia on July 03, 2014, 07:30:40 PM
I'd say you need to slow down just a tad bit, I have a really hard time with that myself because my brain is racing at 1000mph but my tongue can only do 100mph.
- Antonia
Ya I know I have always had issues talking fast due to a mixture of ADHD and aspergers
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hh1oFnCwpC
Have at it folks.
If possible you might want to try to improve your Mic setup and audio quality, there was quite a bit of feedback and noise which makes it hard to tell.
Quote from: Two Bodies/Same Soul on July 04, 2014, 09:13:20 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hh1oFnCwpC
Have at it folks.
OK - looking for some input. I've been working at this pretty consistently for several months and I feel like it's semi-workable but at the same time I'm not very satisfied with it. I also am feeling a little lost in the sense that I've had some professional coaching and I feel like he's kind of out of tricks, so to speak, so I'm not sure what I should be doing at this point.
clicky click click (http://vocaroo.com/i/s13reNyAPbwa)
My two cents:
I think you sound really good, all you need to do is add a little breathy-ness and perhaps emphasise your "S"es a little more, think Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday but not that extreme.
Quote from: the bore worms on July 05, 2014, 10:03:00 PM
OK - looking for some input. I've been working at this pretty consistently for several months and I feel like it's semi-workable but at the same time I'm not very satisfied with it. I also am feeling a little lost in the sense that I've had some professional coaching and I feel like he's kind of out of tricks, so to speak, so I'm not sure what I should be doing at this point.
clicky click click (http://vocaroo.com/i/s13reNyAPbwa)
Quote from: antonia on July 05, 2014, 10:19:08 PM
My two cents:
I think you sound really good, all you need to do is add a little breathy-ness and perhaps emphasise your "S"es a little more, think Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday but not that extreme.
Thanks for the input! I went back and listened to your sample and I kind of agree with the prior comment about chest resonance and your own about inflection and such. Have you gone to a speech therapist? I'm not thrilled with my voice but it really was helpful in the early going to get me focused on head resonance.
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 04:09:19 PM
Ave, this thread is just about getting our voice to a place we're happy with ;) Higer, lower or whatevs makes you happy is all good.
Brc, thanks so much for uploading :) my first impression is that I'm listening to a female speaker :) I do notice a little bit of vocal fry happening, I wonder if perhaps you're tired when you recorded this or it could just be a totally normal feature of your voice. I absolutely love your accent!
A new cis female thing is vocal fry at the end of sentences in America, so that could be a cultural thing.
I've just been working on my voice at home and reading up on everything online, right now my voice isn't my biggest concern but as I move more and more out of the androgynous zone I might find a speech therapist to work with be it online or local. I think getting an early start on voice work is helpful though since it's one of the hardest thing in our transitions and takes months of practice.
Quote from: the bore worms on July 06, 2014, 12:00:22 AM
Thanks for the input! I went back and listened to your sample and I kind of agree with the prior comment about chest resonance and your own about inflection and such. Have you gone to a speech therapist? I'm not thrilled with my voice but it really was helpful in the early going to get me focused on head resonance.
Quote from: Zeda on July 03, 2014, 07:17:58 PM
D4 is pretty high for a speaking voice o.o My spouse has a fairly high pitched voice (and he has worked it down all the way to the B3/C4 range since I met him). I believe my voice, after some training, is around an A3 (with a note in either direction). You sound like you are going too hard at it, and it is sounds falsetto to me. You should bring your voice down to a range where your speaking isn't so pinched and constricted :)
EDIT:
@Blue Senpai: You sound like a boy in the early stages of puberty. You occasionally slipped into a more feminine sound, but not enough to throw it off much.
@Ryan55: You definitely sound like a guy :P You sound like a guy around 16 or 17 years old, more specifically. Ky (my spouse, he's a genderqueer person) remarked that you sounded like you were trying to force your voice lower, but that is something a lot of guys do when their voice is deepening :) Kinda limbering up those vocal cords, stretching the throat cavity stuff. I wonder how you will sound in a few more months. 1.25 months already... T is pretty potent stuff!
thanks zeda, i appreciate it, yeah T is pretty powerful, its funny people notice the changes, but when it comes to myself, I have a hard time seeing or hearing the changes, maybe cause I'm around myself so much (if that makes any sense lol)
Quote from: Ryan55 on July 07, 2014, 12:36:43 PM
thanks zeda, i appreciate it, yeah T is pretty powerful, its funny people notice the changes, but when it comes to myself, I have a hard time seeing or hearing the changes, maybe cause I'm around myself so much (if that makes any sense lol)
Have you done recordings to track your progress? I recommend it. It's really fun to go back and see how much you've changed.
Quote from: ThePersona on July 06, 2014, 12:05:53 AM
A new cis female thing is vocal fry at the end of sentences in America, so that could be a cultural thing.
Something I actually have been trying to get rid of, even T doesn't change that, it's apparently habit not chords.
Well here's my attempt at uploading, I only have my iPhone to use so I'm not sure how to upload Voice Memos to anything, if anyone knows a sure fire way please tell me.
Voice.m4a
Quote from: JCardiff on July 07, 2014, 08:09:17 PM
Well here's my attempt at uploading, I only have my iPhone to use so I'm not sure how to upload Voice Memos to anything, if anyone knows a sure fire way please tell me.
Voice.m4a
There's no link I can click for that. :(
Quote from: Blue Senpai on July 07, 2014, 08:16:20 PM
There's no link I can click for that. :(
Was afraid that would happen... Any ideas how to upload audio files from either my email or from iPhone (if email I'll just email myself the file and upload it) it would have to be .m4a format though.
Quote from: Blue Senpai on July 07, 2014, 08:16:20 PM
There's no link I can click for that. :(
Quote from: JCardiff on July 07, 2014, 08:21:44 PM
Was afraid that would happen... Any ideas how to upload audio files from either my email or from iPhone (if email I'll just email myself the file and upload it) it would have to be .m4a format though.
Nvm I figured it out... I hope... Ok let's try this.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rzjb83stxyhv48s/Voice.m4a
That should work.
EDIT
You will need Dropbox to view it though, sorry, it's the best I can do at the moment.
Quote from: JCardiff on July 07, 2014, 08:21:44 PM
Was afraid that would happen... Any ideas how to upload audio files from either my email or from iPhone (if email I'll just email myself the file and upload it) it would have to be .m4a format though.
I wonder if this would work: http://media.io/
I've always had a naturally high voice for a guy, and have had some troubles getting it to... well, actually sound feminine regardless of pitch. Pitch isn't at all my problem, it's everything else! I'd love for your thoughts. I feel this clip is a little muffled due to my microphone, but hopefully it comes through okay.
https://soundcloud.com/uponastar-1/voicesample/s-Kebcy
Quote from: UponAStar on July 11, 2014, 08:43:09 PM
I've always had a naturally high voice for a guy, and have had some troubles getting it to... well, actually sound feminine regardless of pitch. Pitch isn't at all my problem, it's everything else! I'd love for your thoughts. I feel this clip is a little muffled due to my microphone, but hopefully it comes through okay.
https://soundcloud.com/uponastar-1/voicesample/s-Kebcy
I'd say it's a pass, although you should work on volume control.
I think you sound really good and you should try to use your voice more, I think by using it more it will get even better.
Quote from: UponAStar on July 11, 2014, 08:43:09 PM
I've always had a naturally high voice for a guy, and have had some troubles getting it to... well, actually sound feminine regardless of pitch. Pitch isn't at all my problem, it's everything else! I'd love for your thoughts. I feel this clip is a little muffled due to my microphone, but hopefully it comes through okay.
https://soundcloud.com/uponastar-1/voicesample/s-Kebcy
Quote from: UponAStar on July 11, 2014, 08:43:09 PM
I've always had a naturally high voice for a guy, and have had some troubles getting it to... well, actually sound feminine regardless of pitch. Pitch isn't at all my problem, it's everything else! I'd love for your thoughts. I feel this clip is a little muffled due to my microphone, but hopefully it comes through okay.
https://soundcloud.com/uponastar-1/voicesample/s-Kebcy
I think it sounds very good, although the muffled quality of the sample makes it a little difficult to fully evaluate for things other than pitch...
A sample of my voice (always in progress)...
Untrained Voice
http://soundcloud.com/justannica/untrained-voice (http://soundcloud.com/justannica/untrained-voice)
Trained Voice
http://soundcloud.com/justannica/trained-voice (http://soundcloud.com/justannica/trained-voice)
Comments welcome.
Quote from: thegreenrabbit on July 14, 2014, 03:34:39 PM
A sample of my voice (always in progress)...
Untrained Voice
http://soundcloud.com/justannica/untrained-voice (http://soundcloud.com/justannica/untrained-voice)
Trained Voice
http://soundcloud.com/justannica/trained-voice (http://soundcloud.com/justannica/trained-voice)
Comments welcome.
That's an amazing improvement :o You sound perfectly feminine in the trained voice. You sound a little hoarse, but definitely passable.
Here's another sample for me. I'm practicing speaking in the highest pitch possible. I recall I was advised to lower my pitch, but I would much prefer a voice on the high end of the feminine voice range (as high as possible), so I'm hoping that with some time and experience I can get it to sound natural without having to lower the pitch.
Has it improved?
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/audio-recording-on-friday
Quote from: riversong on July 18, 2014, 11:00:02 PM
Has it improved?
https://soundcloud.com/princess_catherine/audio-recording-on-friday
I haven't heard your previous recordings but I will comment on this one in particular.
In the beginning, you said that it hurts a little bit. It shouldn't hurt to speak!
I know you do not want to lower the pitch but I think that if you start at a lower pitch, have your throat adjust to it and then slowly raise your pitch one notch at a time, making sure your voice adjusts normally without pain as you do so, you should be able to speak at the pitch you desire without straining yourself or hurting your throat in the process.
Going to the highest pitch possible and hoping that your voice will adjust to that pitch is putting too much pressure on your vocal cords. There are no shortcuts around it, sadly. I hope I wasn't too harsh!
Here are my recordings of the Rainbow Passage - I have been on T for four years so my voice has significantly deepened. My goal is to train my voice to have an androgynous female voice.
Untrained Male Voice
https://soundcloud.com/jacey-mitchell/untrained-male-voice?in=jacey-mitchell/sets/voice-practise
Attempted Androgynous / Female Voice
https://soundcloud.com/jacey-mitchell/attempted-androgynous-female
I have never trained my voice before so if my attempt of an androgynous/female voice is pretty laughable or needs a lot of work, please be brutally honest!
I'm not really sure if my voice is in the passable range or not. I've been practicing for about 4 months of so, I know there is probably something I can do to improve my voice, but I'm sort of at a loss as to what to do. Hopefully someone can give me some pointers.
Untrained voice (Male Voice):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1syfF9LYGsW
Trained voice (Attempted Female Voice):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12aFPxM8I8V
Quote from: Vicki on July 26, 2014, 12:07:51 PM
I'm not really sure if my voice is in the passable range or not. I've been practicing for about 4 months of so, I know there is probably something I can do to improve my voice, but I'm sort of at a loss as to what to do. Hopefully someone can give me some pointers.
Untrained voice (Male Voice):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1syfF9LYGsW
Trained voice (Attempted Female Voice):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12aFPxM8I8V
Your trained voice sounds quite good considering its only 4 months...
Hey everyone, I hope I'm not on the wrong part of the forum from what I have seen and heard before. Erm, I'm pre T but I have been trying to lower my range with both talking and singing. I think I have been able to pretty well, somewhat. But, I wanted to see if anyone else had perhaps some tips? Or perhaps if anyone is up for listening and telling me how they hear my voice?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nOqjljaqA2
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Wnsj2rCl0L
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1w4nASYRcJY
Quote from: Dalex on July 28, 2014, 05:17:00 PM
Hey everyone, I hope I'm not on the wrong part of the forum from what I have seen and heard before. Erm, I'm pre T but I have been trying to lower my range with both talking and singing. I think I have been able to pretty well, somewhat. But, I wanted to see if anyone else had perhaps some tips? Or perhaps if anyone is up for listening and telling me how they hear my voice?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nOqjljaqA2
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Wnsj2rCl0L
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1w4nASYRcJY
Your speaking voice I would say sounds a bit like a pre-pubescent male to me. The speech pattern sounds male to me completely. I can't say I know exactly how to make a voice sound more masculine. I know run I tried to sound very deep I would push my voice down into my chest if that makes sense. Also dropping towards the end of words. Like your bored with that word or something. The loudest more pronounced pitch part of the word should be the start with a downward slope at the end. Like you want to keep the pitch pretty even when speaking without going mono tone. Not a vocal person but I did spend quite a few years trying to sound "bigger"
Your singing voice I absolutely love. It's just amazing. AS someone who can't sing to save my life color me jealous.
Just dropping off one of my rambling recordings
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1J1C636U4QO
Hayley your voice is totally femme and natural, did you had the surgery or you are just lucky? XD
Quote from: Emily29 on August 01, 2014, 10:07:34 PM
Hayley your voice is totally femme and natural, did you had the surgery or you are just lucky? XD
Aww thanks!! No, no surgery. Just loads and loads of practice. I still have things to work on. I did think surgery would've the only way if have a passable voice. But working at it every day for almost a year had helped.
Quote from: Vicki on July 26, 2014, 12:07:51 PM
Trained voice (Attempted Female Voice):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12aFPxM8I8V
To be honest, I think it needs more work. Maybe concentrate less on pitch, your original pitch is not that low, so you should not need to raise it too much to get into a neutral zone. You should focus more on the timbre and prosody. I think it still is a bit monotonous in parts and it sounds a little bit weak at times. Maybe you are forcing it too much and cutting off all the resonances instead of selectivley cutting of the male ones. I hear a bit of nasality there, try to bring more airflow into it and maybe do some yawning to get a feel what you can do with your velum - try to have an open throat, not squeeze it. Are you straining your voice when doing the trained version?
Definitely it will be a good idea to find a voice therapist who can make sure you do not train yourself to get a voice that is overstrained with time like I did back then , leading me to some vocal chord issues last year.
So this is where I am at right now http://vocaroo.com/i/s14ZPK1jCjRP (I recorded it for a PM but what the heck ;) ) - sadly at a rather low pitch but at least I got myself fixed well enough now to not have pain anymore while speaking from forcing it too much. So I guess still some work to do on that one now... pitch of course, I guess I am also still a bit monotonous - any other comments?
Hello everyone. So I'm finding this is pretty hard for me, like my voice still cracks when I try going higher, but I figured I could ask here without my usual fears of judgement:
http://yourlisten.com/whowillstopme0069/test-01 (http://yourlisten.com/whowillstopme0069/test-01)
Suggestions?
Still pre-T but I don't sound too girly, right?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gI7eRPxrm3
Quote from: Hayley on August 01, 2014, 09:38:58 PM
Your speaking voice I would say sounds a bit like a pre-pubescent male to me. The speech pattern sounds male to me completely. I can't say I know exactly how to make a voice sound more masculine. I know run I tried to sound very deep I would push my voice down into my chest if that makes sense. Also dropping towards the end of words. Like your bored with that word or something. The loudest more pronounced pitch part of the word should be the start with a downward slope at the end. Like you want to keep the pitch pretty even when speaking without going mono tone. Not a vocal person but I did spend quite a few years trying to sound "bigger"
Your singing voice I absolutely love. It's just amazing. AS someone who can't sing to save my life color me jealous.
Just dropping off one of my rambling recordings
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1J1C636U4QO
Thank you so much :) I will take those tips and try them out and see if I can get my voice to reach a bit lower :)
And again, thank you :) I'm glad you like my singing voice, I'm actually looking forward to how it will sound once I start T :)
Your rambling sounds adorable if I say so myself :P And very feminine.
Quote from: Neospector on August 04, 2014, 11:11:14 AM
Still pre-T but I don't sound too girly, right?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gI7eRPxrm3
From the little I heard I would say you sound male, but I think I would have liked to hear more.
Quote from: Dalex on August 04, 2014, 01:51:44 PM
Thank you so much :) I will take those tips and try them out and see if I can get my voice to reach a bit lower :)
And again, thank you :) I'm glad you like my singing voice, I'm actually looking forward to how it will sound once I start T :)
Your rambling sounds adorable if I say so myself :P And very feminine.
Oh that would be an interesting change. Never really looked into that. I'm sure you'll sound just as amazing once you start T! :) And thank you! I've been working for nearly a year now trying to sound better. Finally feeling confident!! *dances* anyway keep being awesome and you'll have a head start sounding super dude like before it even get on T!!
https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=318214971674055&id=100004566638364&ref=bookmark (https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=318214971674055&id=100004566638364&ref=bookmark)
Check the video for my voice. I think its fine :)
Quote from: Dalex on August 04, 2014, 01:51:44 PM
From the little I heard I would say you sound male, but I think I would have liked to hear more.
http://picosong.com/cgiv/
Here's me rapping then.
Quote from: Vicki on July 26, 2014, 12:07:51 PM
I'm not really sure if my voice is in the passable range or not. I've been practicing for about 4 months of so, I know there is probably something I can do to improve my voice, but I'm sort of at a loss as to what to do. Hopefully someone can give me some pointers.
Untrained voice (Male Voice):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1syfF9LYGsW
Trained voice (Attempted Female Voice):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12aFPxM8I8V
I just listened to the trained voice, and I would say you pass, but if you want it to sound more natural and less forced, try taking a deep breath before speaking (it might help, not sure). I know I have a problem with keeping a minimal amount of breath in my lungs, so my voice usually sounds strained.
Quote from: Dalex on July 28, 2014, 05:17:00 PM
Hey everyone, I hope I'm not on the wrong part of the forum from what I have seen and heard before. Erm, I'm pre T but I have been trying to lower my range with both talking and singing. I think I have been able to pretty well, somewhat. But, I wanted to see if anyone else had perhaps some tips? Or perhaps if anyone is up for listening and telling me how they hear my voice?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nOqjljaqA2
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Wnsj2rCl0L
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1w4nASYRcJY
In the first one, I would gender it as that of a girl or woman. However, your singing voice definitely sounds like a guy singing and it sounds quite nice!
Quote from: Hayley on August 01, 2014, 09:38:58 PM
Just dropping off one of my rambling recordings
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1J1C636U4QO
Your voice is excellent o.o
Quote from: Avery.u2205 on August 03, 2014, 09:14:31 AM
Hello everyone. So I'm finding this is pretty hard for me, like my voice still cracks when I try going higher, but I figured I could ask here without my usual fears of judgement:
http://yourlisten.com/whowillstopme0069/test-01 (http://yourlisten.com/whowillstopme0069/test-01)
Suggestions?
I'm sorry, the page wasn't loading for me :/
Quote from: Neospector on August 04, 2014, 11:11:14 AM
Still pre-T but I don't sound too girly, right?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gI7eRPxrm3
Definitely not girly, but you sound like a young boy (like early puberty or pre-puberty).
Quote from: Neospector on August 06, 2014, 03:14:35 PM
http://picosong.com/cgiv/
Here's me rapping then.
Dang o.o For pre-T, you are doing quite well! There are a few moments in there where it started to sound more like a woman, but for the most part, you sound like a typical teenage boy.
Here is me trying to sound more androgynous:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1O41dek0GhO
Hi everyone, here's a sample of my voice...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0z9XlOqwkGX
http://youtu.be/KfGjkD8Poys (http://youtu.be/KfGjkD8Poys)
I was very scared but here is the first video I made for my youtube channel LOL I wanted some feedback on my voice (I never putted anything here and I'm very self-conscious about my voice)
Here are 2 samples, both are very similar. I was told one sounds much higher and I shouldnt use it, but I thought it sounded better. So here are both, I could really use some feedback because I just don't know what to work on right now, just that it isn't good.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Wh1r93Z1IN (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Wh1r93Z1IN)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s031sGT6xl6o (http://vocaroo.com/i/s031sGT6xl6o)
Quote from: Emily29 on August 16, 2014, 01:00:26 AM
http://youtu.be/KfGjkD8Poys (http://youtu.be/KfGjkD8Poys)
I was very scared but here is the first video I made for my youtube channel LOL I wanted some feedback on my voice (I never putted anything here and I'm very self-conscious about my voice)
I would recommend increasing the volume or speak louder next time. I can barely hear even when I turn it up a lot. You sound ok though, the little that I heard but it's difficult to tell due to the volume being so low.
Quote from: Emily29 on August 16, 2014, 01:00:26 AM
http://youtu.be/KfGjkD8Poys (http://youtu.be/KfGjkD8Poys)
I was very scared but here is the first video I made for my youtube channel LOL I wanted some feedback on my voice (I never putted anything here and I'm very self-conscious about my voice)
I can't hear you well in this video, but what I did hear sounded passable to me. You also look great in the video. Just turn up the volume and you should be fine.
This voice thing is hard, well here it goes.
https://soundcloud.com/zo-tustin/first-attempt-mtf-voice
Quote from: JenP on August 18, 2014, 11:16:16 PM
Here are 2 samples, both are very similar. I was told one sounds much higher and I shouldnt use it, but I thought it sounded better. So here are both, I could really use some feedback because I just don't know what to work on right now, just that it isn't good.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Wh1r93Z1IN (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Wh1r93Z1IN)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s031sGT6xl6o (http://vocaroo.com/i/s031sGT6xl6o)
Your voice actually sounds quite good, in my opinion. :) I do agree with your self-assessment regarding prosody - you still have a somewhat masculine cadence that undermines things (a little). There's not really a quick fix for this problem that I'm aware of, although Kathe Perez has a few pointers in her Crash Course videos. I think it really is a matter of trial and error, with hopefully a series of tiny breakthroughs that add up over time.
One other comment - your voice has a tendency to briefly "crack" into your lower register. One thing that has helped me to work on this is by analyzing my voice in Praat. The pitch spectrogram tends to have a lot of spikes in it - you want to eliminate the ones that go downward. This is satisfying for me in the sense that it's nice and objective, plus you can hear the results as well.
Doing rap covers for monthly voice comparisons once I start T.
Pre-T: http://picosong.com/czaM/
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
I'm a phenomenon
And I gotta bring pain in The Octagon
When I wanna spit game at a soccer mom
I get it quicker than the left lane in the Autobahn (fast!)
Like Ramadan and I battle young padawans all the damn day
I'm getting naked and I'm hopping on a wrecking ball
So hot I got the <removed> a la flambé
I go to Miley's house, I see that Miley's home
I play Miley's ribcage with my <removed>, like it's a Xylie-phone
Yes, that was highly >-bleeped-<ed up, but my skills are highly honed
And if I was highly hyphy, I might be more widely-known
C'est la vie, better pay my fee
They kick it in Seattle in a Patagonia jacket
They get it in the Bay in a plain white tee
Hey mami! You a P.Y.T (P.Y.T)
You wanna see me speak, then I go, go, go, go, go
Every time I get a beat, I know I gotta beat it up
I bend it, then I break it, then I chop it, then I eat it up
And PETA would never approve of the way I've been treating the music
I bleed it, I bruise it, I kick it to the curb
And then I'm sipping on my bourbon, I be freaking it doing it, keeping it moving
I'm picking apart the muscle when I'm thinking about the hustle
But I'm nice (nice!)
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
I jump the freeway median, I'm savage
Cause my mode is that I'm meaner than the average
Like my teacher taught me, when I heard the crowd applaud
I thought I was an atheist until I realized I'm a God!
It could hurt a bit when I murder >-bleeped-<
In a moment I'll be tying off a tourniquet
When I burn them and I hit them in the sternum
I don't even got to enter, but I'm gonna win the tournament
That's what I'm all about
I do what I got to do and never gonna pout
And I hope that it would have been the end of it and I'm out
But they never tend to give me the benefit of the doubt
Ever since I was a little kid
I know that I've been looking for the hot, hot spotlight
And if you really wonder what I think about the competition
They were not-not-not tight
I've been reading my scripture
Every photo bomber wanna be in my picture
And you better bet I'm living every single day
like it's the <removed> Catalina Wine Mixer
Bada bing, bada boom!
When I walk in, I'm the king of the room
And I get it locked in, like the king in a tomb
When I spit a toxin and they cough on the fumes
Cause I'm back in the nick of time
And I'm attacking the fickle mind
I'm a jackal, I'll rip his hide
I'ma tackle him, pick a fight
I be Dracula set to bite
In the black of the bitter night and I'm out! (poof)
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
Whoa whoa whoa
What do you take us for?
Okay, so I have been passing with this voice, but I still don't like it too much. Any tips or pointers could be helpful.
Also, I am not holding the S, I recorded this on my phone and for some reason the file sounds like that, it sounds just fine on my iPhone. I am not sure what is going on there.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0OopawGzsbq
Quote from: Hikari on August 20, 2014, 04:06:41 PM
Okay, so I have been passing with this voice, but I still don't like it too much. Any tips or pointers could be helpful.
Also, I am not holding the S, I recorded this on my phone and for some reason the file sounds like that, it sounds just fine on my iPhone. I am not sure what is going on there.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0OopawGzsbq
Your voice sounds pretty close to me. Still, something about it still seemed a bit androgynous/male-in-a-high-register to me. Can you deepen it slightly without going back to your male resonance? I'm thinking specifically of candiFLA's voice tips in her YouTube channel (not sure if you've seen these already), whereby she would start at her former male voice, go up to falsetto, then begin "softening" her voice by applying some pressure to her voicebox with her muscles, and from there she would "soften" it until she slips into a recognisably female register. After finding that register, she would begin lowering her voice again, adding some bass back into it. But because she is still within a female register, it comes off as a passable female voice.
In case you haven't seen her videos, this is a link to one of her many uploads specifically about finding one's female voice, in which she goes between her very different male and female voices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbaj4tIX1kw&list=UUIUQw0IUKOQYavxmUThdVFQ
I hope that helps a bit. I think you're close already. There's a lot of variation in female voices. And because you already definitely pass as far as how you look, even if you don't think your voice is completely there yet, I think people will still lean towards correctly gendering you.
Hi I was just hoping to get some input on my voice ;) I dont practice it much but I have on and off, Ive just been going out a lot and doing the best I can... I do OK with it in person I guess, not so great on the phone though... I KNOW it could be better so any honest input would be great, thanks :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0N6okZFIjVA
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1NaI1TTpQi9
Does this sound masculine? I have always tightned my larynx to speak subconsciously and I'm stuck with a child voice, so now I'm trying to sound more relaxed. Does it sound okay?
Well, I decided to try to do a cover I have always wanted to try while trying to sound as low and masculine as possible. Though, I think once I have started and have been on T for a while I will redo the cover but I wanted to ask what everyone here thinks.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1pNYR96oSWz
Feedback encouraged, constructive or otherwise :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ouCXhMDH9v
Quote from: antonia on September 17, 2014, 08:50:34 PM
Feedback encouraged, constructive or otherwise :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ouCXhMDH9v
Hi Antonia, the pitch of your voice sounds good, but it sounds a little pinched; I would suggest trying to relax your vocal chords a little. :)
Thanks for the feedback, I think perhaps I'm just trying too hard :)
Quote from: missymay on September 18, 2014, 11:21:17 AM
Hi Antonia, the pitch of your voice sounds good, but it sounds a little pinched; I would suggest trying to relax your vocal chords a little. :)
Just wondering how girly my voice is pre-T.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSu1mWwSTE
I think you sound pretty good, especially for pre-T, one think I learned about (in my case I'm going the other way but ...) is to emphasise sentences and words by starting them with slightly higher volume.
Quote from: Marcellow on September 19, 2014, 08:15:22 PM
Just wondering how girly my voice is pre-T.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWSu1mWwSTE
Quote from: antonia on September 21, 2014, 07:27:11 PM
I think you sound pretty good, especially for pre-T, one think I learned about (in my case I'm going the other way but ...) is to emphasise sentences and words by starting them with slightly higher volume.
Ahhh I see what you mean. I'll try and see how I sound like when I speak louder.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1xJZbKguVp4
Curious how I sound. No vocal coach or anything, just me. Thanks. Please be honest by the way <.<;' Help is appreciated.
Your mannerisms certainly sound female to me!!
Your pitch is great as well, although you seem to be having issues with voice strength and loudness.
Because it's quite high, it might be worth lowering it a few.pitches just to see if you can get the strength and volume that's in a normal speaking voice.
But I'm sure that will come with practice anyway.
Hugs
I've decided that today is the day I start working on my voice. So I've spent a bit reading and watching youtube videos, and this is my progress after about an hour (reading the blurb from the back of a book):
Before: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1tHxFmu5AyF
After 1: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1naDhU9ygi9
After 2: http://vocaroo.com/i/s024h2Qb46cp
After 3: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0oZ8wW0TjQK
I'm under absolutely no illusions about how well it sounds, or how female it sounds, but it's an hour's work on my first try. So I'm happy enough. I think. Although my throat feels pretty tired now, so probably going to stop for now. Don't want to strain it too much and like break it or something, I dunno.
Any criticism or suggestions, or any feedback at all, really, would be most welcome.
a quick feedback: read slower. about the speed as in the before reading. I could barely understand a word in the other ones ;)
Haha, thanks. Talking fast is an Irish thing. I was speaking deliberately slowly in all of them!
Quote from: Eva on September 07, 2014, 11:52:11 PM
Hi I was just hoping to get some input on my voice ;) I dont practice it much but I have on and off, Ive just been going out a lot and doing the best I can... I do OK with it in person I guess, not so great on the phone though... I KNOW it could be better so any honest input would be great, thanks :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0N6okZFIjVA
Well I have been practicing a little more but Im not sure its getting any better than a few weeks ago :'(
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1OzbGAPGIXo
I have quit smoking for two weeks now... Also lowered my spiro from a pretty high dose and went with higher E... Hoping that and more practice will help me... Unfortunately there is nobody around here that does TS voice therapy so Im all on my own there...
Im hoping too stay off the cigs for good and do some voice feminization surgery over the winter....
I know it aint great but any help or critique here would be welcome
Quote from: belfast girl on September 26, 2014, 05:01:36 PM
Haha, thanks. Talking fast is an Irish thing. I was speaking deliberately slowly in all of them!
Well Im sure you dont talk THAT fast in real time because NOBODY would understand a word you said ;)
Relax and slow down...
Ok, so if I ever to to Ireland for vacation, I better take a recorder with an option to replay a recording in slow with me - or I will be lost. I know this only from Irish folk songs - they are incredibly fast.
Now - I tried something new now. Everybody keeps telling me that I am stressing and forcing myself too much and I should relax my voice. So I did that. The pitch is at the low end of the male speaking range as a result, but since so many people claim it is not about pitch, I treid to no focus at all on that. I dunno - I personally think it is androgynous at best: http://vocaroo.com/i/s17j0nAaNmEu - If I allow me some more control and tension and less relaxation, it comes out http://vocaroo.com/i/s16OxcZxfQP3
been awhile since I posted in the voice thread, so figured I would post a 4 month on T voice thing, I feel like my voice is passing more now
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1d1281nPyXz
let me know what you all think
Quote from: Ryan55 on September 29, 2014, 06:15:00 PM
been awhile since I posted in the voice thread, so figured I would post a 4 month on T voice thing, I feel like my voice is passing more now
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1d1281nPyXz
let me know what you all think
Sounds male for sure. Good job! ;D
Yes, Ryan, I think this works :) - You are using a lot of vocal fry though (forcing the voice deeper), if I get that right - it makes the voice sound deeper overall but I dont think you need this too much , your voice is low in any case.
Here is me again - the voice therapy allowed me to relax and use more of a spectrum of pitches, so thats cool. Still - the one is the more relaxed everyday voice I have now, rather deep, the other is an attempt to increase pitch, but it costs me considerable effort, so I will probably not use this - at least not without a voice enhancing surgery.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Hg7xQpsFTL
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1wAQ424glTe
Ooh, here's a fun thread :)
I'm pre-t, but I'm wondering how y'll hear my voice? I don't know what to make of it really. I'm also noticing I sound different depending on whether I speak English or my mother tongue (German) - I'm wondering if you notice that as well?
I'm reading a poem/a text by Kafka, so the speech "pattern" isn't natural. But seeing that I'm not a native speaker of English, I'm not sure if I'd even get what the different is...
English: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0B0hStWX53z
German: http://vocaroo.com/i/s11uJ7NKu6pm
Oh - Die Verwandlung - hehe - I think the voice sounds maybe a bit like a boys voice but sadly I would say for a grown up man it would be rather unusual - but hey - T will do the job for you ;)
I didn't know that this topic was here, except for a few new posts today that brought it back on the new posts list.
I've felt kind of ill today, so its been really nice to rest and listen to everyone's voices. I went through all 50 pages too.
You all are just amazing, and all have wonderful voices.!
Quote from: anjaq on October 08, 2014, 12:53:52 PM
Oh - Die Verwandlung - hehe - I think the voice sounds maybe a bit like a boys voice but sadly I would say for a grown up man it would be rather unusual - but hey - T will do the job for you ;)
Ha, Anja - thanks. Yeah, I know my voice doesn't pass as that of a grown-up guy. But it's definitely not the aspect of myself I'm most dysphoric about ;). Hopefully t is in my future!
I am sure it is - adrian. If you want it. I heard a clip of someone this week who had T - he did weekly recordings and cut them together. it was amazing to see the change. In the end he dropped down to my relaxed pitch even, which is really more at the low end or the male range. crazy what T can do. So sad that we cold not change - for me there is only using effort as I did in the reordings i just posted , or surgery.
Omg! Everyone is doing so well! I am going to go through all 50 pages soon! I love hearing people's progress!
And here's my little rambling recording of my voice. Forgive me. lol! http://vocaroo.com/i/s1s8bw4Fuyw4
Errr.. my voice has always felt as the most awkward thing. To use and to show to others x___x. But here goes anyway :P.
Please let me know if it is any good :P. I try not to pitch it that much so that it feels more natural. But well! What do I know, I think everyone still recognizes their old voice in their feminine voice x_x.
Here goes D:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0cfImmKY5sp
Oh and I forgot to pronounce the K with ohke. Nevermind that please :P.
Kirey, I think the voice is ok. You did not say a lot, so I dont know about the prosody, but I think resonance is rather good and pitch is ok to my ears
Quote from: ASoulBird on October 10, 2014, 03:27:08 PM
Omg! Everyone is doing so well! I am going to go through all 50 pages soon! I love hearing people's progress!
And here's my little rambling recording of my voice. Forgive me. lol! http://vocaroo.com/i/s1s8bw4Fuyw4
Sounds a little deep to me but you have good prosody, I think you will do very well with just a little work 8)
Here is my latest on a cool windy rainy day...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0nW6ERz7tjS
Quote from: Eva on October 12, 2014, 04:05:02 PM
Sounds a little deep to me but you have good prosody, I think you will do very well with just a little work 8)
Yes, my voice is in the bass/baritone range.. merrr.. Thank you! :) I have just recently started to work on my voice deliberately. :D
Quote from: ASoulBird on October 10, 2014, 03:27:08 PM
Omg! Everyone is doing so well! I am going to go through all 50 pages soon! I love hearing people's progress!
And here's my little rambling recording of my voice. Forgive me. lol! http://vocaroo.com/i/s1s8bw4Fuyw4
Your voice sounds very feminine to me.
Tell me what yal honestly think. My voice started at around 85hz 95hz average. So I have made a lot of progress. Thanks in advance for yals opinion.
http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-wednesday-morning (http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-wednesday-morning)
85 Hz average? Thats almost inconceivable! It would be below bass range... The low end with me is at that range but since the voice always goes up and down, the average is higher
Sorry I meant 95Hz. If you want specifics my starting average was 96.26Hz and I'm currently at 243.3Hz. Or that's what praat tells me.
Quote from: krista2007 on October 15, 2014, 01:29:19 AM
Tell me what yal honestly think. My voice started at around 85hz 95hz average. So I have made a lot of progress. Thanks in advance for yals opinion.
http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-wednesday-morning (http://soundcloud.com/krista-croy/sounds-from-wednesday-morning)
Quote from: krista2007 on October 20, 2014, 11:17:13 PM
Sorry I meant 95Hz. If you want specifics my starting average was 96.26Hz and I'm currently at 243.3Hz. Or that's what praat tells me.
Any comments? No one has given a opinion of my voice.
Honestly, I think you are talking too high, too much pitch, so it sounds falsetto. It just sounds kinda fake to me, sorry. I think if you lowered the pitch a bit it would help you out a lot though, would sound more natural.
Sorry for the crummy reply, I saw it before but didn't wanna say it, but since nobody else replied I did.
Wow you sound great!
I wish I could sound femanine :C
my falsetto isn't thay high.
Some honest feedback would be awesome.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/24oct/s-1cFlL
I know the pitch is fine. I used to sound super fake and forced when I spoke that high but I sorted that out and am just really working on resonance. I don't know if it is quite there. ANyway I can take it if you have bad stuff to say, please do, I need to know. I am too shy to do it in front of people I know and ask them.
Ssssooooooooo.... here we go with this. Let's see what you all think about it. :)
I realized at the end of this clip that I had recorded the entire thing on one breath... so I sound really strained about 3/4 of the way through. Durrr.... I thought I would keep it that way.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QGa2Uwewrv (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QGa2Uwewrv)
Sounds decent, you are right though, it does sound strained at the end. Prob cause you ain't breathing. :P
I think maybe you could improve your resonance a little. It sounds to me at least, and I am no specialist that a little of the more harsher syllables sound less feminine than others, but overall good. I suspect you will sort that out just continuing to practice whatever you are doing.
Quote from: Delsorou on October 23, 2014, 08:48:21 PM
Ssssooooooooo.... here we go with this. Let's see what you all think about it. :)
I realized at the end of this clip that I had recorded the entire thing on one breath... so I sound really strained about 3/4 of the way through. Durrr.... I thought I would keep it that way.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QGa2Uwewrv (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QGa2Uwewrv)
Your voice sounds very feminine. You don't sound strained to me at all except for a little near the end. But you've explained that. All in all IMHO you sound great!
Ally ;)
kristina - I think you should not push it that far up. If your original voise is at 100 Hz, better aim for something in the 180 Hz range, it will sound more natural than to go way above 200 Hz. Also I think at that range it would be easier to concentrate on resonance more
Sears - i think it sounds feminine, but its super breathy. You need to gasp for air every few words. Maybe add a bit more "squeeze" to the voice. Although breathy is not that bad, its better than squeezing too much.
Delsorou - that was all one breath? You must have gigantic lungs - but then maybe it can be true, since you are squeezing a lot and that makes the voice go longer with the same breath, but it also has a bit of a harsh sound to it. I think it sounds female, but it has that twangy sound to it. I think if your voice and Sears' voice would mix, it would be perfect :P - more breathyness for you and more twang for her ;) - I did similar things and using too much squeezing/twang can be harsh on the vocal chords
Everyone here sounds so fantastic I figured I'd throw in a sample of my voice after a couple of months of practicing.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0OEoBdbeDsx
Sorry if it sounds a bit stilted, I try to counteract the spanish accent by enunciating as much as possible @_@
I'd love to hear what I could do to improve on it!
Thank you so much!
I think that voice sounds OK Fairyhime, overall I think the recording was pretty good. Listen back to the recording though some parts were slightly less good, in as much as my amateur ear can tell. Maybe I am wrong but try listen to when you first say "colours" and that horizon bit just before 24 seconds. I think you will hear what I mean? Either way you sound a lot better than I did after just 2 months. I cringe when I hear my recordings from then.
Anyway I been workin on my voice a bit on and off, or just singing along with stuff. I am slowly developing a bit more control. I think in this recording I have arrested the breathy-ness to some degree, however I really do think my mic emphasis my breathing in, it is not actually so loud in real life. I would really appreciate an opinion on this voice. I think it sounds more natural than the last one.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/6thnovpushin/s-Cd9sR
No sugar coats, also thanks a lot Anjaq for the feedback previously <3
Quote from: anjaq on October 24, 2014, 04:37:40 PM
Delsorou - that was all one breath? You must have gigantic lungs - but then maybe it can be true, since you are squeezing a lot and that makes the voice go longer with the same breath, but it also has a bit of a harsh sound to it. I think it sounds female, but it has that twangy sound to it. I think if your voice and Sears' voice would mix, it would be perfect :P - more breathyness for you and more twang for her ;) - I did similar things and using too much squeezing/twang can be harsh on the vocal chords
Yes... and sadly a ribcage big enough for them. :P I tried to do one where I added a bit more breath to it, but I can't tell if there's any difference...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0myLY3w2Wv0 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0myLY3w2Wv0)
Quote from: Seras on November 05, 2014, 10:55:24 PM
I think that voice sounds OK Fairyhime, overall I think the recording was pretty good. Listen back to the recording though some parts were slightly less good, in as much as my amateur ear can tell. Maybe I am wrong but try listen to when you first say "colours" and that horizon bit just before 24 seconds. I think you will hear what I mean? Either way you sound a lot better than I did after just 2 months. I cringe when I hear my recordings from then.
Anyway I been workin on my voice a bit on and off, or just singing along with stuff. I am slowly developing a bit more control. I think in this recording I have arrested the breathy-ness to some degree, however I really do think my mic emphasis my breathing in, it is not actually so loud in real life. I would really appreciate an opinion on this voice. I think it sounds more natural than the last one.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/6thnovpushin/s-Cd9sR
No sugar coats, also thanks a lot Anjaq for the feedback previously <3
Thank you so much! I listened to it again with what you said in mind and there is definitely a dip during those moments. Definitely need more practice to avoid those ^^
Naturally I don't feel good enough to really give proper feedback for the clip you posted (to me it sounds fantastic all over and I wouldn't doubt for a second), and I'm sure others here can give better feedback
..... but I
do want to mention that I freaking love your accent!
It actually makes me wish the recording had been longer.
You really think so Fairy? Damn I always hate how I sound but that is cool I guess :)
Accent is alright I suppose just a boring south east England one. Not very exotic :P
Anyway just keep practicing Fairy I think you are off to a good start, just using your voice and practicing alone irrespective of progress will actually strengthen your muscles and allow you to grab control where before you had none, then you will be able to hold the line where you once had dips and whatnot. A lot of voice training is actually just blind practice, far as I can tell anyway.
Quote from: Seras on November 06, 2014, 03:43:09 AM
You really think so Fairy? Damn I always hate how I sound but that is cool I guess :)
Accent is alright I suppose just a boring south east England one. Not very exotic :P
Anyway just keep practicing Fairy I think you are off to a good start, just using your voice and practicing alone irrespective of progress will actually strengthen your muscles and allow you to grab control where before you had none, then you will be able to hold the line where you once had dips and whatnot. A lot of voice training is actually just blind practice, far as I can tell anyway.
Exotic or not it just sounds ... good you know? Like you were meant to talk. Like there's no bridge between your
voice and the sounds coming out of your mouth, if that makes any sense.
For me, I have a south american spanish accent, so sometimes when I talk in English, no matter how articulate I try to be or how much I enunciate, it sounds like there's a potato in my mouth. And going into a female voice while having a potato in your mouth is such a challenge. @_@
So yes ... all of the jealousy from me to you.
Granted, then there's the situation of my boyfriend saying the accent makes my voice sound attractive, so maybe I'm being too hard on myself. Well, even so, the jealousy is there. (good kind of jealousy ^^)
1 month on T. Do I sound like a guy yet or still needs some more work?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0df6dbhBNDv
Ya know when I post a voice on here I normally have a little look about and see if there are any other people who want their voice listened to and an opinion given. It is kind of a give and take thing you know.
Since I am nice though I will give you some feedback.
I think you sound OK. You speak quite monotone which is good and it is reasonably low and full sounding. I think once T has done its job you will sound a lot better, though you will I expect have to change your style of speaking a little more. Really though it is just a wait and see right. That your voice box will fatten up and give you a deeper voice is inevitable and should also change the tone, which I think sounds kinda female atm.
Anyway if anyone else would care to give a quick opinion on what sounds better out of these two I would be very appreciative:
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/6nov3/s-Jz9TU
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/9novpitchpushin2/s-a2leM
I don't know if the pitch sounds fake? Or is it just me. Like seriously any feedback is great even if there is nothing constructive.
I think you sound great, I actually prefer the Nov 6 one, sounds more natural which I think gives it the edge :)
Quote from: Seras on November 09, 2014, 01:30:59 PM
Anyway if anyone else would care to give a quick opinion on what sounds better out of these two I would be very appreciative:
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/6nov3/s-Jz9TU
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/9novpitchpushin2/s-a2leM
I don't know if the pitch sounds fake? Or is it just me. Like seriously any feedback is great even if there is nothing constructive.
Quote from: Seras on November 09, 2014, 01:30:59 PM
Ya know when I post a voice on here I normally have a little look about and see if there are any other people who want their voice listened to and an opinion given. It is kind of a give and take thing you know.
Since I am nice though I will give you some feedback.
I think you sound OK. You speak quite monotone which is good and it is reasonably low and full sounding. I think once T has done its job you will sound a lot better, though you will I expect have to change your style of speaking a little more. Really though it is just a wait and see right. That your voice box will fatten up and give you a deeper voice is inevitable and should also change the tone, which I think sounds kinda female atm.
Anyway if anyone else would care to give a quick opinion on what sounds better out of these two I would be very appreciative:
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/6nov3/s-Jz9TU
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/9novpitchpushin2/s-a2leM
I don't know if the pitch sounds fake? Or is it just me. Like seriously any feedback is great even if there is nothing constructive.
You definitely sound female, the 2nd recording was better.
It sounds a bit like you're straining yourself, practice will make it perfect though.
Thanks so much, I really do appreciate the feedback so thanks a lot!
I guess three people saying it sounds OK is worth listening to :D
And yea I think I prefer the higher pitch but it is more effort so is harder to make natural sounding. With some more work though I guess I can transfer that quality up the pitch level.
<3
I've been on and off practicing for the past few months, and by practicing I mean following zero structure and just trying random things and perfecting my falsetto in my car because my favorite band loves their falsetto :P
But I'm horrible at out loud reading regardless of what voice i'm using so i'm not even going to make a fool of myself doing that :P I think I'm close but something seems horribly off and i have no clue what to adjust or change.
Tell me if 6 seconds doesn't suffice and I'll try to read something and likely sound dumb http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hqUOZu9Gaw
I think if you look decent while speaking with that voice then it might be just about ok? Your mean average pitch is 212hz which is on the low end of the female range I think but within it.
I think the tone could be improved some. You know that hard to explain resonance junk. Where does your voice feel like it is coming from?
Ofc something a little longer would also be more useful!
Quote from: Seras on November 12, 2014, 05:54:53 PM
I think if you look decent while speaking with that voice then it might be just about ok? Your mean average pitch is 212hz which is on the low end of the female range I think but within it.
I think the tone could be improved some. You know that hard to explain resonance junk. Where does your voice feel like it is coming from?
Ofc something a little longer would also be more useful!
How did you find the mean average pitch?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,150142.0.html
This sticky topic will easily explain how to do it. Courtesy of Jennygirl.
Though ofc since I am so nice ;)
I ran your last vocaroo through it just now and your average mean hz in that was 152hz. Which is actually quite deep, though I do not know where you started. However the very end of the word "month" was your lowest point at a deep 120hz. Maybe try repeating month all day and trying to take that deepness into other words. That is like the exact opposite of how I raised pitch.
Quote from: Seras on November 12, 2014, 06:00:57 PM
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,150142.0.html
This sticky topic will easily explain how to do it. Courtesy of Jennygirl.
Though ofc since I am so nice ;)
I ran your last vocaroo through it just now and your average mean hz in that was 152hz. Which is actually quite deep, though I do not know where you started. However the very end of the word "month" was your lowest point at a deep 120hz. Maybe try repeating month all day and trying to take that deepness into other words. That is like the exact opposite of how I raised pitch.
I see, thanks so much! Well I had to dig around my computer for a pre-T recording XD
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0mffXRlK0h8
202hz :)
Quote from: Seras on November 12, 2014, 06:50:17 PM
202hz :)
Well dang, that was a huge drop considering it's only been 1 month.
For sure. Like some of it maybe you consciously or subconsciously trying to lower pitch as well. That is a really big change though. But listen to them both, you can hear it, easy.
Quote from: Seras on November 12, 2014, 07:00:19 PM
For sure. Like some of it maybe you consciously or subconsciously trying to lower pitch as well. That is a really big change though. But listen to them both, you can hear it, easy.
Well I have an awful sore throat today and the average mean pitch (using Praat and that tutorial) dropped down to 130.5Hz
Quote from: Seras on November 12, 2014, 05:54:53 PM
I think if you look decent while speaking with that voice then it might be just about ok? Your mean average pitch is 212hz which is on the low end of the female range I think but within it.
I think the tone could be improved some. You know that hard to explain resonance junk. Where does your voice feel like it is coming from?
Ofc something a little longer would also be more useful!
I'm pretty sure this is in reply to me. But my voice feels like it's at the like back of my mouth I guess? Like my throat I dunno it's hard to explain. I know basically nothing I've just give off of the little singing knowledge I have from a middle school music class so I dunno.
Im still WIP but I heard that you want it in the front of your mouth in more than one place. Appears to be workin for me decently atm I guess.
So this is the first time I have posted my voice online for people to analyze. Not going to lie, kinda nervous, but it's the voice I use everyday so curious what people hear. I haven't had any training other than some tips from YouTube and my voice was already on the higher end of the male spectrum before I started adjusting my speech about 9 months ago. I don't think my voice has been affected by HRT at all, at least not a noticeable amount.
Anyways I recorded this -->https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/thisisatest/s-Q1jVN (https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/thisisatest/s-Q1jVN) at my desk at work, it is my normal talking voice, but I wasn't sure what to say so read an emergency broadcast script....
I used Pratt to find my mean pitch ~160 Hz and mean resonance ~3200 Hz, well kinda... not super experienced with the software so my analysis could be off. I think regardless, whether I look at numbers or hear it, I can still improve more with patience and time.
Hi, sounds pretty good. I think your voice has a good tone to it. I don't trust the formant thing in PRAAT though. It seems wonky (it seems to measure my normal male voice F3 at ~2900-3000), but your resonance is good for sure. Since despite the relatively low pitch I think the tone makes you sound better than my significantly higher pitched recording.
I think if you could pull up your pitch even a little it might sound better, so long as you do so strain free, but I do not think you necessarily need to, to me at least it sounds feminine for sure.
Quote from: Seras on November 13, 2014, 10:24:05 PM
Hi, sounds pretty good. I think your voice has a good tone to it. I don't trust the formant thing in PRAAT though. It seems wonky (it seems to measure my normal male voice F3 at ~2900-3000), but your resonance is good for sure. Since despite the relatively low pitch I think the tone makes you sound better than my significantly higher pitched recording.
I think if you could pull up your pitch even a little it might sound better, so long as you do so strain free, but I do not think you necessarily need to, to me at least it sounds feminine for sure.
Thanks! I had a chance to listen to yours, I personally like the one from the 6th, since it sounds more natural, and yes you definitely have a higher pitch than me. It might have just been the way you recorded, but I feel like you're voice didn't have a lot of force behind it. But definitely very female if you ask me.
I feel like a combination of the reliability of Praat and my lack of knowledge/experience with the software and analysis of voices in general may have skewed the results I got. I also got a similar, but slightly lower mean resonance than my speaking voice when I tried to drop my voice down to ~120 Hz. I don't have old recordings to be sure, but I think that's about where my voice started. It does feel really strange trying to lower my voice.
I feel like it's really hard to listen to your own voice, even in a recording. Always helpful to get feedback :)
Cool, thanks for the feedback always appreciate it :D
And yea, listening to my own voice is prob one of my #1 disliked things atm since I am back on training every day again.
Bit of a creak at 12 seconds, which makes me feel you are not comfortable in the voice yet. Although transitioning from male to female voice is hard, so maybe that is why. I think you pull the pitch up quite well, but you need to work your resonance better. Some sounds you make sound quite good others less so. However it is actually only a very short section where you are using your feminine voice. How long you been workin on it? You figured how to shift your larynx?
https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/audio-recording-on-thursday ok so heres my best voice as of now... is it passing or close? If not please give me advice
and heres another comparing the voice I started with and my female voice...https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/audio-recording-on-thursday-1
Hanazono - I think that sounds pretty good. It is hard to tell exactly cause you do have quite a strong accent and a lot of a voice is inflection and pronounciation etc. So I cannot help on that front. But to me it does not sound masculine at all. Pitch is great and so is resonance.
Annabolton - I think it is decent. I think it is very close to passing if not already passing. It is kinda like that stereotypical nasal American voice? I think it is too nasal though. I am sure I don't need to point out the "thank you UHHCRACKUH bye" cause that was pretty obvious. I think you need to firstly get more used to it so that you don't do that. I think you secondly need to make it less nasal. I think you thirdly need to loosen up a bit, it is very pinched. Once you are more relaxed with being able to do it more easily try to hold less tightly, do less with your nose and let a little more breath in. Keep it up :)
Hearing the latest clip it was obvious that you could! :D
Voice keeps gradually dropping, waiting to stabilize.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0xUQhks1bHR
Damn son.
130hz. Nice, oh how I wish that E had the same effect on an MTF!
You did have a big peak though on "amazed" it went up to 180hz for just a moment, but I think it is OK to have a little inflection just not too much. Otherwise very monotone and boring, perfect :P
----
edit:
If anyone would like to give an opinion on these I would be grateful. They are pretty much the same. Although slightly different.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/21stnovember/s-i8rAY
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/21stnov2/s-PGM0x
for reference my last upload was this one.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/quitegoodnow/s-ecRiu
I have lowered the pitch some but improve my ability to use it I think. It is I think a bit less strained and maybe sounds nicer. However as always my own voice sounds super weird (to me)! I think the 2nd one is better, I tried to inject more, like, positivity? Personality? I dunno somethin.
---
I am thinking I am getting good enough maybe to prank call my sister soon and pretend to be someone who has found my phone to see if she believes it. >:-)
You mean like volume?
I literally never tried this before. It sounds a bit strained but maybe it is ok as a test of concept. I could prob go louder but I don't wanna be yellin like a mental in the house. I think it sounds a bit different but the pitch is OK so there's that.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/22ndnov/s-SpeFL
If I have to apolagise for shouting at you then that's awesome, so long as it still sounded even half ok. :P
I have always spoken quite softly though, never much liked talking and being the centre of attention.
PS Not gonna do that again for a little while though still a little hoarse from my cold :-\
I think very well :) :) ;D
Quote from: Natalatalie on November 12, 2014, 04:54:59 PM
I've been on and off practicing for the past few months, and by practicing I mean following zero structure and just trying random things and perfecting my falsetto in my car because my favorite band loves their falsetto :P
But I'm horrible at out loud reading regardless of what voice i'm using so i'm not even going to make a fool of myself doing that :P I think I'm close but something seems horribly off and i have no clue what to adjust or change.
Tell me if 6 seconds doesn't suffice and I'll try to read something and likely sound dumb http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hqUOZu9Gaw
I think very well, especially for early in transition ;D :)
A new voice rambly update! Yay!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0uczg1gPQup
Quote from: Hanazono on November 22, 2014, 12:35:11 AM
the first time you say the word Break... it breaks.
actually in parts of your clip when you drop your pitch abit you achieve wider dynamic range and sound better too.
I know! D: That was semi-deliberate! Thanks for your input! I'm so afraid of going down into my bass/baritone range at all, which would be totally outing, I think, as I'm not a gorgeous enough girl for people to think "oh she has quite a deep voice!" haha!
Quote from: Hanazono on November 22, 2014, 12:31:44 AM
it's loud enough to over power a noisy cafe.
:P
I think it doesn't sound quite right though, tone wise.
@Soul, you might only be ~200hz but I think it sounds better than my ~220!
So I've been practicing harder than usual for the past week and now my voice seems pleasantly stuck in what is to me, a very female sounding voice.
Here's what my voice sounds like this morning: https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/wake-up/s-pnjel
My voice feels lower than when I've been awake and talking for a while, but it still seems good to me.
Here's a recording of me training with a friend a couple days ago: https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/scale-training/s-OWxee
notice how my voice cracks at the end doing a scale very loudly and not in falsetto. Obviously if you can tell, I have trouble figuring out when I am and am not in falsetto. Also I'm not a singer, so I doubt this is in key.
I'm feeling a bit lazy and didn't use pratt to analyze these two recordings. I would love to hear thoughts and/or criticism of my voice. If you want to see what I sounded like a weekish ago before I started trying to train really hard, I quoted my last post.
Quote from: JustASeq on November 13, 2014, 09:42:02 PM
So this is the first time I have posted my voice online for people to analyze. Not going to lie, kinda nervous, but it's the voice I use everyday so curious what people hear. I haven't had any training other than some tips from YouTube and my voice was already on the higher end of the male spectrum before I started adjusting my speech about 9 months ago. I don't think my voice has been affected by HRT at all, at least not a noticeable amount.
Anyways I recorded this -->https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/thisisatest/s-Q1jVN (https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/thisisatest/s-Q1jVN) at my desk at work, it is my normal talking voice, but I wasn't sure what to say so read an emergency broadcast script....
I used Pratt to find my mean pitch ~160 Hz and mean resonance ~3200 Hz, well kinda... not super experienced with the software so my analysis could be off. I think regardless, whether I look at numbers or hear it, I can still improve more with patience and time.
https://soundcloud.com/bunny443/voice
This is my voice. I know it's not passable buttttt what are some tips you guys can give me for making it sound more natural? I feel like the voice sounds forced & unnatural
Your voice is really not as bad as you say Jasmine. You just need to raise your pitch a bit. The resonance and inflection is all fine I think?
Quote from: Seras on November 22, 2014, 09:44:09 PM
Your voice is really not as bad as you say Jasmine. You just need to raise your pitch a bit. The resonance and inflection is all fine I think?
Raising it will be so difficult lol Or maybe not actually. How many octaves do you think? Maybe I'll start using that voice on a daily basis so that way I can get used to it & raising the pitch will get easier
Well I fed like 20 seconds of the sound of your voice back into my mic and it said you were 150hz average, of course it went up and down. That was just the average level. So you really wanna gain quite a lot of pitch.
An octave is actually not a specific amount of HZ so if you raised one octave from your current level you would be at 300hz and if you raised an octave from 300hz you would be 600hz get it? So you would maybe wanna try and go up half an octave? Then you would have 225hz, 220hz is middle C and is the average HZ for a womans voice I hear. Are you musically minded? If it will help you can can find out which note you are at currently (ish) but not till tomorrow cause my insomniac self needs to go sleep. It is 4am :P
Really though just increase pitch. It is not hard, well it is hard work, but not difficult!
Quote from: Seras on November 22, 2014, 09:58:31 PM
Well I fed like 20 seconds of the sound of your voice back into my mic and it said you were 150hz average, of course it went up and down. That was just the average level. So you really wanna gain quite a lot of pitch.
An octave is actually not a specific amount of HZ so if you raised one octave from your current level you would be at 300hz and if you raised an octave from 300hz you would be 600hz get it? So you would maybe wanna try and go up half an octave? Then you would have 225hz, 220hz is middle C and is the average HZ for a womans voice I hear. Are you musically minded? If it will help you can can find out which note you are at currently (ish) but not till tomorrow cause my insomniac self needs to go sleep. It is 4am :P
Really though just increase pitch. It is not hard, well it is hard work, but not difficult!
Hmmm okay :3 Thanks! If you don't mind me asking, what did you use to measure the Hz? I had an app but it's kind of retarded lol
Just brushed my teeth, lucky you were quick. I used PRAAT which is kinda tricky to use. So you can use it if you want but you will have to follow a guide to figure it out.
http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/download_win.html
Or if you want an easier but less effective piece of software you can use overtone analyser. It can only record 10 second segments though unless you buy it (though there is a free trial) but 10 seconds is easily enough to check out your pitch, also it has some really nice visuals. I often actually have it running at the same time as PRAAT anyway because of this:
http://www.sygyt.com/en/overtone-analyzer-editions
Don't stress your voice! Make sure you have water to drink. If it hurts leave it a while.
I need opinions!:
Morning voice: https://soundcloud.com/divineinter/audio-recording-on-monday
Normal voice: https://soundcloud.com/divineinter/audio-recording-on-monday-1
I pass over the phone but would just like some feedback C: Thanks
I must state this before too much damage is done. You do not do not do NOT need to raise your pitch Jasmine. You sound perfectly fine. If you raise it you might sound ridiculous.
Quote from: Skeptoid on November 26, 2014, 11:19:22 PM
I must state this before too much damage is done. You do not do not do NOT need to raise your pitch Jasmine. You sound perfectly fine. If you raise it you might sound ridiculous.
This is honestly what went through my head too but I figure some of these girls sound like natal women so I assume the feedback will be reputable (hopefully). There's quite a few mixed opinions though sooo :/ Kind of hard to tell lol I think I might just try to get voice training one day.
Quote from: Hanazono on November 22, 2014, 06:35:44 PM
you sound a bit robotic
I'm into technology ;)
But seriously, a lady robot or a boy robot?
Sweet! I work on a lot of IT support calls at work and it must be interesting to get instructions from the "Microsoft Mary" Like Windows Operating System, I come with my own optional voices to enrich the listeners experience blah blah...
But in all seriousness, my voice is still a work in progress that I maintain by using everyday. I'll try and record some other things after I make some more progress. Anyone every try to do accents?
Daria is female too. There's nothing wrong with that.
I'm back, girls! :angel:
I've been talking with my voice slightly raised lately & it's becoming easier to reach a higher pitch. I've been working on my voice & I know it doesn't come over night but I want more feed back. In this one I actually show you guys my original voice so you guys can better know where my starting range is. Praat averaged it at 120 Hz when I tried. Not sure where the voice I was talking on the clip averages out at, but I'm not sure I trust praat all that much. Don't have much choice though I guess haha Anyways, here you go. Please give me all the feedback you can & don't hold back :) It'll help me in the long run.
https://soundcloud.com/bunny443/voice-12-4-14
@TSJasmine, I think you pass right away. Your low voice sounds like a girl who just woke up from a late night of partying. You come off playful and very cheerful, I would see if you can a portion of the novel and how your higher pitch sounds like.
Quote from: teamkp on December 04, 2014, 09:14:07 AM
@TSJasmine, I think you pass right away. Your low voice sounds like a girl who just woke up from a late night of partying. You come off playful and very cheerful, I would see if you can a portion of the novel and how your higher pitch sounds like.
Like, finish the novel & see how my voice adapts? & Thanks for the compliment :) Getting a female voice down is so difficult :(
@TSJasmine, sorry I missed a verb there. I meant record yourself reading a novel or something serious so you can hear how you sound. I think your voice will pass in a casual setting, but I think the test is if you can pass in a professional or academic setting. Good luck girl. My female voice right now sounds like a drag queen, oiy I have many miles to go.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0snwL7tFtxF
There's two voices in that, one where it usually is, and a small sample of the higher voice, that I can't sustain, not so much from lack of practice, but probably from how broken my vocal chords are. A member here who met me in person said the normal voice as androgynous, doubt it's even that good.
My mother says it just gives me away, which hurts a lot...she means well, and wants me to succeed, but it doesn't change those feelings. :(
Quote from: GorJess on December 06, 2014, 10:23:47 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0snwL7tFtxF
There's two voices in that, one where it usually is, and a small sample of the higher voice, that I can't sustain, not so much from lack of practice, but probably from how broken my vocal chords are. A member here who met me in person said the normal voice as androgynous, doubt it's even that good.
My mother says it just gives me away, which hurts a lot...she means well, and wants me to succeed, but it doesn't change those feelings. :(
Your usual voice is androgynous. It sounds like a girl with a deep voice :)
Thanks for the timely feedback; much appreciated. That's pretty reassuring, all considered, since it is at least female in other areas, right?
Hopefully it suffices for when I job hunt next fall, or I'll need to get some serious money for surgery and such...
Quote from: GorJess on December 06, 2014, 10:42:55 PM
Thanks for the timely feedback; much appreciated. That's pretty reassuring, all considered, since it is at least female in other areas, right?
Hopefully it suffices for when I job hunt next fall, or I'll need to get some serious money for surgery and such...
People are telling me my voice is androgynous too & I'm realizing that I can bring it into the female range insanely easy. I wish I would've realized before. You probably can too
Hmm, fascinating. My voice was always low, basically broken to be low when I was born. I can reach female range pretty easily, yeah, but I can't sustain it. It's my problem if I try to sustain a sung note as well. If I can get past that hurdle, and my voice not tiring out so easily, I'm gold.
is this any better? is it close to passing? https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/win-20141210-135515mp4
Quote from: Annabolton on December 10, 2014, 01:02:29 PM
is this any better? is it close to passing? https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/win-20141210-135515mp4
I feel like you are "there" with the pitch, but I feel like the one you put up on Nov 20th sounded way more natural and more passable because of that.
Quote from: Annabolton on December 10, 2014, 01:02:29 PM
is this any better? is it close to passing? https://soundcloud.com/anna-bolton-1/win-20141210-135515mp4
It's getting better but it's still somewhat nasally. Just work on getting rid of the nasalness & you'll practically be there :)
So I have recorded another recording. This is also in the morning like 10 minutes ago and I haven't done much (if any) talking today.
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/northwind-12-13/s-nJPC2
For comparison here's a link to one from a week ago. It was taken in the evening.
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/the-north-wind-and-the-sun/s-hFjBN
Do you all see any improvement or degradation in my voice? Any tips?
https://soundcloud.com/user636000848/voice-test-december
I'm already naturally soft spoken, so sorry if its too soft. I've been practicing since March and recently I've been trying to use it at school lately where I'm away from family and by understanding friends.
Quote from: JustASeq on December 13, 2014, 01:01:41 PM
So I have recorded another recording. This is also in the morning like 10 minutes ago and I haven't done much (if any) talking today.
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/northwind-12-13/s-nJPC2
For comparison here's a link to one from a week ago. It was taken in the evening.
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/the-north-wind-and-the-sun/s-hFjBN
Do you all see any improvement or degradation in my voice? Any tips?
Your voice sounds really nice. <3
Quote from: Serenahikaru on December 24, 2014, 10:11:55 AM
Your voice sounds really nice. <3
Thank you :) Here's an updated one from today about 2 weeks later.
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/northwind/s-MP1kH
Quote from: JustASeq on December 26, 2014, 12:44:41 AM
Thank you :) Here's an updated one from today about 2 weeks later.
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/northwind/s-MP1kH
Your voice sounds great, its definitely rings female to me!
I've really been working on my voice relgiously for 2 months now. Let me know what you girls think I should work on. Pweasee & Thank you! :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KJUScw2l2L
Quote from: Jewelxo on December 27, 2014, 02:53:23 PM
Your voice sounds great, its definitely rings female to me!
I've really been working on my voice relgiously for 2 months now. Let me know what you girls think I should work on. Pweasee & Thank you! :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0KJUScw2l2L
Yes, your voice is great! I don't know what your voice sounded before training, but I think you work shows :)
Sounding good JustaSeq. Better than when I last passed judgement upon it ( :P ). You have really improved greatly :)
Jewelxo you also sound great!
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/28dec3/s-q5vzT
This is my latest recording. I decided to continue letting the pitch drop some. My sister has an equivalent pitch and she gets gendered female on her voice so whatevs. I think it sounds a lot more relaxed than my previous recordings a couple months or whatever it was back. Still feel anxious whenever I have to use it in front of people but I can do this voice without warmups pretty much. The first time I used it in front of a real person I crumbled hard under the pressure but luckily it was with someone cool and subsequent attempts also with people I know I have been able to do it. Opinions? Be honest please k thanks!
Quote from: Seras on December 27, 2014, 09:39:56 PM
Sounding good JustaSeq. Better than when I last passed judgement upon it ( :P ). You have really improved greatly :)
Jewelxo you also sound great!
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/28dec3/s-q5vzT
This is my latest recording. I decided to continue letting the pitch drop some. My sister has an equivalent pitch and she gets gendered female on her voice so whatevs. I think it sounds a lot more relaxed than my previous recordings a couple months or whatever it was back. Still feel anxious whenever I have to use it in front of people but I can do this voice without warmups pretty much. The first time I used it in front of a real person I crumbled hard under the pressure but luckily it was with someone cool and subsequent attempts also with people I know I have been able to do it. Opinions? Be honest please k thanks!
Wow, amazing progress Seras! Your tone has improved and definitely sounds more natural, and your pitch was/is fine. I think that you are dead on about where you need to work on resonance a bit still. I was actually thinking about your accent and at about the time you addressed it.
Definitely a female voice, but I totally understand wanting to go that much further with training.
Personally at this point, I have just implemented my training into my day to day talking instead of doing any exercises at home. Nobody has said anything about me sounding funny, although a coworker noticed my pitch was higher than it was at one point, she thought it was HRT :p
Thanks guys :)
Yea, I think I need to start just using my voice all the time regardless of presentation and who might hear but it just still feels so weird!
Hi everyone, here is my first post on this thread, still a ton of work to do but infinitely better than when I started ( I keep some recordings to track my progress ).
Thank You For any feedback you have to give me.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0evwYzSBAKY
Hi Ellie, good work so far it sounds like to me. Some parts you sound quite good in other parts give it away as a voice in progress. I am not going to point out where because it is obvious but in certain parts you can hear your voice breaks. Anyway since you are on the right track it should be quite simple for you. Keep doing what you are doing and once you have strengthened your voice so that you can make a solid recording or even just a better one come back and ask for more feedback :)
If you go back you would be able to find plenty of recordings from me (amongst other people) that show me/them in a similar place so keep it up!
Hooray! It's 2015 :)
So I thought it would be cool to hear my voice today compared to when I first posted a sample to Susan's. Wow what a difference. Anyways, I think I want to start a new separate thread to post my weekly recordings I plan to do this year... I tried to do it regularly before, but I am really trying to be as dedicated to working on that as I can be, since it causes me so much stress to worry about if I sound like a man or woman.
Anyways here's my first recording of the year, Happy New Years :)
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/northwind-1/s-IcdM3
And for easy comparison, here's my first post about my voice on Susan's still not that long ago even.
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/thisisatest/s-Q1jVN
***Edit: Here's the like to the new tread I started to track my weekly progress.***https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,180734.msg1598945.html#msg1598945 (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,180734.msg1598945.html#msg1598945)
Quote from: Ellie_L on December 31, 2014, 04:24:02 PM
Hi everyone, here is my first post on this thread, still a ton of work to do but infinitely better than when I started ( I keep some recordings to track my progress ).
Thank You For any feedback you have to give me.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0evwYzSBAKY
To be honest your voice sounds hoarse? Are you sick right now? Just wondering, NBD anyways, women have raspy voices sometimes. I would say that your voice sounds somewhere between androgynous and feminine in both tone and pitch (at least to my ear). Working on one's voice is very hard and takes time, dedication and patience to see progress. Recording has done wonders for me as far as seeing my progress along the way in measurable ways and being able to hear "flaws", for lack of a better word, in my voice. I even started a soundcloud account just to put recordings up weekly, which it is my plan to actually stick to this year :p
Hi, this is my first audio file. I read the following script:
"This email was sent because you joined the Red Robin Royalty Program online. Your email address will not be shared with anyone."
Male voice:
http://bit.ly/1zDEcce (http://bit.ly/1zDEcce)
Attempted female voice:
http://bit.ly/1xyEQN3 (http://bit.ly/1xyEQN3)
I tried watching and imitating all the YouTube videos, but no luck for me. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks for the feedback :)
Seras, you are sounding really good, there is a huge improvement from your first post to now.
Justaseq, same as with Seras, plus it sounds like you have gained about 20 - 30 hz in pitch :) My speaking voice is normally kind of raspy, but even more so it is very nasally ( which drives me nuts, and is one of the main things I want to get rid of in my female voice ).
Jenpa, Here are the things that helped me out a lot with my voice. This is in no particular order and just what has helped me out.
Practicing the stuff from this page.
http://www.everythingspeech.com/articles/resonant-voice-therapy/
Also from various other sites, and posts
Having a slight smile when you speak
Try to speak from the tip of your nose ( it sounds odd but kind of what you want to shoot for ) you will feel the vibrations shift from your chest to to the roof of your moth and the front of your mouth.
Trying to keep your mouth a bit open as you speak
Adding breathiness to your speaking
Adding a bit of sing song when you speak, and not speaking in monotone, and ending sentences with a slight uplift in pitch.
Record yourself and keep recordings and notes so you know what you did to get the results. I started 2 months ago and I was getting really discouraged with my voice until I listened to my first recoding and the recordings from a month ago and saw how much improvement had taken place.
Practice ( of course )
Lastly - DO not overtax your voice, take it easy to start and work your way up, take a sip of water in between reading or practicing, do not let the vocal cords dry out. When they start to get tired or sore take a break until they are better.
I wonder if my voice made any progress on T?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1VoqfhKyGOl
Quote from: Marcellow on January 02, 2015, 03:29:27 PM
I wonder if my voice made any progress on T?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1VoqfhKyGOl
Unless you started out with a 100hz speaking voice then I would say you have made quite a bit of progress on your speaking voice :) I would not think that as a female voice in manner of speech or pitch.
Damn Marcellow. Very dudely. Your there, trust me. Solid sub 100hz according to PRAAT with a flat pitchline.
http://www.spreaker.com/user/7844451/seras
Go to like the last 40 seconds.A lot of it is my man voice.I haven't practiced that is my first try with female voice.
Been working on my voice lately, an hour or two every other day roughly just when I get a chance. Think I've made some progress, especially the last day or two.
Here I am reading a few paragraphs of an article from the Guardian:
This is my natural voice (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0lTjU5yfDJ7)
This is where I am now (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kU8JzfE1a2)
I know it's still miles away, but I think I'm slowly getting there. Speaking for long periods still isn't really an option. It gets a bit squeaky as the pitch goes up, which is pretty annoying, and I'm not sure how it sounds to anybody else in terms of resonance/inflection/intonation,etc. Any ideas on what I need to be doing to move things forward? Thoughts / tips very much appreciated!
Quote from: belfast girl on January 27, 2015, 11:58:24 AM
Been working on my voice lately, an hour or two every other day roughly just when I get a chance. Think I've made some progress, especially the last day or two.
Here I am reading a few paragraphs of an article from the Guardian:
This is my natural voice (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0lTjU5yfDJ7)
This is where I am now (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kU8JzfE1a2)
I know it's still miles away, but I think I'm slowly getting there. Speaking for long periods still isn't really an option. It gets a bit squeaky as the pitch goes up, which is pretty annoying, and I'm not sure how it sounds to anybody else in terms of resonance/inflection/intonation,etc. Any ideas on what I need to be doing to move things forward? Thoughts / tips very much appreciated!
Pitch wise your fine, in fact bring a down just a little to make it sound more natural. You need to slow way down. You sound like you are rushing it and you need to articulate every syllable slowly. Cis women do this in there speech. You have lots of hills (up and down) in your voice and that is good and when you slow down and articulate with the hills it will give a more feminine voice. Because you were talking so fast and the echo in the room it was hard to get a good read on the resonance, but it wasn't bad from what I could tell. Hope this helps.
I'm VERY new to this, this website, and attempting to sound female. Actually, I've only been trying to sound female in private for the last two days. Still, I'd love feedback. I don't know much about audio terminology, but I'm assuming I'll have to learn at some point if I wanna get this right.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0jXRegJtH6n
Well, I'm extremely new to this voice practicing. I'm not on any hormones yet (Which is probably evident, haha) but this is about as deep as I can make my voice while comfortable keeping it this way throughout a whole conversation. I think I still do some upward inflections here and there, especially when making jokes, so that probably doesn't help. Haha!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0NpqNTE8gk6
I hope to start talking to a speech therapist fairly soon, after I move back to the east coast next month.
So hi again. I have returned from the quest that is voice therapy. This is still a work in progress I have had just three appointments over three months.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/3rdmarch/s-VUHGX
Quote from: badwolf on January 30, 2015, 08:56:58 PM
I'm VERY new to this, this website, and attempting to sound female. Actually, I've only been trying to sound female in private for the last two days. Still, I'd love feedback. I don't know much about audio terminology, but I'm assuming I'll have to learn at some point if I wanna get this right.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0jXRegJtH6n
You want to pull up your pitch by 20-40hz or so. Your current pitch is 175 according to my audio software which is just about in androgynous range but a bit higher would be useful. You also need to fix up your resonance. This is a hard thing to do. There is not really an easy way to explain it, but you need to feel the voice resonating in your mouth like below your nose.
Quote from: Taius on February 14, 2015, 04:33:41 AM
Well, I'm extremely new to this voice practicing. I'm not on any hormones yet (Which is probably evident, haha) but this is about as deep as I can make my voice while comfortable keeping it this way throughout a whole conversation. I think I still do some upward inflections here and there, especially when making jokes, so that probably doesn't help. Haha!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0NpqNTE8gk6
I hope to start talking to a speech therapist fairly soon, after I move back to the east coast next month.
170hz mean pitch so androgynous pitch. I think your inflections are not really overtly feminine. Even guys sometimes have an upward inflection when saying some things like jokes, I think... Anyway T should sort you right out. Check out Marcellow's clips over time!
Quote from: Seras on March 02, 2015, 09:46:48 PM
So hi again. I have returned from the quest that is voice therapy. This is still a work in progress I have had just three appointments over three months.
https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/3rdmarch/s-VUHGX
You want to pull up your pitch by 20-40hz or so. Your current pitch is 175 according to my audio software which is just about in androgynous range but a bit higher would be useful. You also need to fix up your resonance. This is a hard thing to do. There is not really an easy way to explain it, but you need to feel the voice resonating in your mouth like below your nose.
170hz mean pitch so androgynous pitch. I think your inflections are not really overtly feminine. Even guys sometimes have an upward inflection when saying some things like jokes, I think... Anyway T should sort you right out. Check out Marcellow's clips over time!
Marcellow is now DragonBeer hehe.
So far 5 months on T....
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0CPgfwF09r4
It's been a little over a month of me practicing when I can, and I can hear myself just how bad I sounded on my first post. I am once again calling on the experts here. This one, I have a feeling will be much better than my last, but still not yet ythere
January 30th
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0jXRegJtH6n
Today:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1wPZRXDZ9nw
I apologise to be the bearer of bad news but I do not think your voice sounds all that much better. You are using the same mic and stuff? Your voice sounds a lot smaller, you need to be able to project I don't know if you can with the means by which you are attempting to feminise your voice. You also sound a lot more strained, you cannot be strained, speaking is meant to be easy. Of course you can sometimes resolve that with practice but not always, depending on a few things.
Don't be discouraged though. Voice is hard work. I worked mine by myself for over a year before going to a voice therapist and I still don't think I am there.
http://www.spreaker.com/user/7844451/random-thoughts My first try.
Yeah, both me. Today... one right after the other.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0au5BAQUjyK
Quote from: Cindi Jones on March 16, 2015, 10:12:23 PM
Yeah, both me. Today... one right after the other.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0au5BAQUjyK
Oh wow Cindi your voice is fantastic sounding! :D 100% passable, and you sound very similar to someone I know, my godmother's sister.
Thanks Taius. I keep working on it. It seems like a lifetime effort.
Alright, here's my go at this
http://vocaroo.com/i/s128fIaQigo0 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s128fIaQigo0)
Quote from: Cindi Jones on March 16, 2015, 10:12:23 PM
Yeah, both me. Today... one right after the other.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0au5BAQUjyK
That is really amazing Mrs.Jones :)
Quote from: Sapphire87 on March 17, 2015, 07:48:10 PM
Alright, here's my go at this
http://vocaroo.com/i/s128fIaQigo0 (http://vocaroo.com/i/s128fIaQigo0)
Perfect. I wouldn't know from just hearing this that you were anything but a natural woman. Very feminine. Did you do voice training or did it on your own like I did? Do you have a hard time holding it?
After much laziness and yeah being really busy, I had some time to record my voice. It has changed from my last recording but sounds way more natural. Anyways, feel free let me know if there is any place I could improve. Thanks!
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/northwind-5/s-rx9l4
PS- Here's the link to my vocal progress log so you can listen to my progress so far. I have found it helpful to listen to my voice as I fall into it and it evolves. Feel free to join me :)
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=180734.msg1645045#msg1645045
Quote from: JustASeq on March 18, 2015, 01:27:30 AM
After much laziness and yeah being really busy, I had some time to record my voice. It has changed from my last recording but sounds way more natural. Anyways, feel free let me know if there is any place I could improve. Thanks!
https://soundcloud.com/just-a-seq/northwind-5/s-rx9l4
PS- Here's the link to my vocal progress log so you can listen to my progress so far. I have found it helpful to listen to my voice as I fall into it and it evolves. Feel free to join me :)
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=180734.msg1645045#msg1645045
Absolutely perfect, darling! You have absolutely NOTHING. To worry about. Have you had training or voice feminization surgery!
Quote from: Cindi Jones on March 17, 2015, 11:29:25 PM
Perfect. I wouldn't know from just hearing this that you were anything but a natural woman. Very feminine. Did you do voice training or did it on your own like I did? Do you have a hard time holding it?
I did it on my own. Found a little guide online to try and follow. I had actually found it withing two nights of practice but it was fairly high. Spent a few months working on it with friends while i was part time. When i first started full time it was a little hard to hold it all day and I would always revert back to original voice in the morning but now its just the natural voice for me. I have to actually work a bit to try and get it back to original, Which I pretty much never do unless I'm joking around with friends.
I did have one voice therapist session but all that was for was just to check and see if there were any issues with voice and where about i was speaking at, which was right on average pitch for normal female. Also found out I probably have acid reflux which kinda sucks and makes my voice sound rougher than it should, but the food i'm supposed to stay away from is just tooooooo tatsty so i don't worry about it very much anymore :p
Quote from: Cindi Jones on March 18, 2015, 07:52:09 AM
Absolutely perfect, darling! You have absolutely NOTHING. To worry about. Have you had training or voice feminization surgery!
I only have done training. I watched a lot of YouTube videos on it and kind of just combined all the techniques I found. Last year I had a super crappy situation waiting for my food at a fast food place where a couple of teenagers where staring at me. I asked them is they had "eye problems" to which they responded "I was just trying to figure out if you were a female.". I told them I was, and they responded about my voice not sounding like a female so I was not and proceeded to talk out loud to each other while I sat next their booth and waited for my food. It drove me so insane being stuck waiting for my food and listening to them talk to me that at that point getting my fairly androgynous voice to be more feminine became a priority.
That was back in Novemberish of last year. Since then I have tried to actively work on my voice every day to perfect it. I have made a lot of progress since then but still think I can improve with more focus and training. Thanks for your feedback :)
This my 'female' speaking voice at the minute: http://vocaroo.com/i/s17qR69Wrf4W
I'm not confident in it at all, to me it sounds quite a lot like a man speaking in a higher pitch which is obviously a bit of an issue. Praat reckons my pitch is about 220 Hz, so I'm happy with that, but the overall sound of it isn't right to me. Any advice or anything would be massively appreciated, this is the single biggest thing that's holding me back from going full time. I've been referred for voice therapy, although that's yet to come through, so I'm hoping that'll maybe help with things, but in the mean time I've been trying to do at least an hour every day speaking out loud with it and any help is received with great gratitude!
(for reference this is my 'natural' voice: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ANPW7T4ZLt)
Quote from: belfast girl on March 20, 2015, 01:32:04 PM
This my 'female' speaking voice at the minute: http://vocaroo.com/i/s17qR69Wrf4W
I'm not confident in it at all, to me it sounds quite a lot like a man speaking in a higher pitch which is obviously a bit of an issue. Praat reckons my pitch is about 220 Hz, so I'm happy with that, but the overall sound of it isn't right to me. Any advice or anything would be massively appreciated, this is the single biggest thing that's holding me back from going full time. I've been referred for voice therapy, although that's yet to come through, so I'm hoping that'll maybe help with things, but in the mean time I've been trying to do at least an hour every day speaking out loud with it and any help is received with great gratitude!
(for reference this is my 'natural' voice: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ANPW7T4ZLt)
Try lowering your voice by about one step. That's a full note down on the piano. Skip the black keys. Let's see what that souns like. Remember pitch isn't everything. However, with that said, I doubt you'll have any issues if you throw in a bit more inflection on some words. End some sentences as though they were questions, like the Irish dd. And it doesn't hurt to pause a bit here and there. Experiment and have fun!
Re-recording a new clip on Vocaroo, feedback would be great!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kh810WhwcB
Seras, I think you'd do very well here in the US just due to your accent! I think it sounds fine. Try dropping it a half pitch and see if it isn't more comfortable for you. I don't think that you'd sound less feminine. It might be easier. Who knows. In any case, I'm interested to find out if you are going to continue voice therapy or not.
Cindi
Quote from: michelle82 on March 25, 2015, 11:46:50 AM
Re-recording a new clip on Vocaroo, feedback would be great!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kh810WhwcB
That's pretty much where I'm at when I'm at ease. I can sound like a totally different person if I concentrate, but I can't hold it. I would say that if you get by in public, you're doing great. I can't see why you wouldn't. I did notice a couple times when you went down. Listen for those and try to get rid of them. I really like your inflections on the upside. They sound very natural.
Chin up!
Cindi
Quote from: Cindi Jones on March 25, 2015, 04:12:39 PM
That's pretty much where I'm at when I'm at ease. I can sound like a totally different person if I concentrate, but I can't hold it. I would say that if you get by in public, you're doing great. I can't see why you wouldn't. I did notice a couple times when you went down. Listen for those and try to get rid of them. I really like your inflections on the upside. They sound very natural.
Chin up!
Cindi
Thanks cindi for your input! i did notice i slightly dropped a few times slightly, and can hear some deeper resonance that returns to my tone. I'm pretty happy with my results after 3 months, i will just keep at it. I'm not planning on being full-time for atleast 6 months to a year, but i plan on slowing incorporating a female voice over time, so that its seamless with my transition.
I'm surprised at how many people say that they can't go back to their old voice. I'm bedazzled. Truly. I can flip back and forth in a flash. Perhaps I could become a book reader. That might be something interesting and new. I think I could find at least five pitches. The foreign accents would be hard though. Maybe I could go to a voice therapist to learn Brit.
It's been a while since I have been on this thread myself but I thought since I am not about to hit 5 months on T to ask what everyone here thinks of my voice?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0fZyShQKUv8
Here is the recording, I will admit, my voice has been all over the place and a bit hard to have control of, so be gentle :P
Quote from: Dalex on March 31, 2015, 10:19:38 AM
It's been a while since I have been on this thread myself but I thought since I am not about to hit 5 months on T to ask what everyone here thinks of my voice?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0fZyShQKUv8
Here is the recording, I will admit, my voice has been all over the place and a bit hard to have control of, so be gentle :P
Sounds pretty good! Could be in a boy band... ok just kidding. Sorta. :)
Quote from: Dalex on March 31, 2015, 10:19:38 AM
It's been a while since I have been on this thread myself but I thought since I am not about to hit 5 months on T to ask what everyone here thinks of my voice?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0fZyShQKUv8
Here is the recording, I will admit, my voice has been all over the place and a bit hard to have control of, so be gentle :P
Man, not only is your voice in the right range, but I love your singing range. NO WAY would I ever consider this made by anyone but a male. I am truly envious that you can sing. I have sung all my life. I performed professionally in a rock band before my transition and we did four part harmonies all the time. I so miss that. But I can no longer do leads. I have to do a soft tenor third down from the primary vocalist to even get by. And it's not worth the potential read.
Fantastic!
Cindi
Thank you Kate and Cindi :)
I'm glad to hear you like my singing range Cindi, I am rather happy with where the voice is going. Before T and before I tried to lower my range I was actually a soprano, and back in the day when I was singing in choirs I was a high soprano. So this has been a rather interesting journey to take with singing as well.
Again, thank you :D I'm really glad to hear that you wouldn't consider the voice as anything but a male, that makes me over the moon happy to hear.
I'm currently practicing at getting my voice deeper pre-T but it's difficult :x
My voice is most notably feminine unfortunately. Like, you guys have seen Mulan, right? You know when she tries to sound like a guy? Yeah that's me. It's laughably horribad. I've listened to others and it's like...wow. Can't even tell. I hope I can reach that one day
Here goes round three?
January 30th
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0jXRegJtH6n
March 11th (bad)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1wPZRXDZ9nw
Today
http://vocaroo.com/i/s005uM7errdU
http://vocaroo.com/i/s15RiZvAEB7V
In which I monologue and have no idea what I'm doing. I've only been doing this for a week and don't really plan to present female in public for a little while, so just some context/disclaimers.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FxAlfaqVXl (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FxAlfaqVXl)
Let me know what you all think! I was really nervous about uploading this!! I haven't had any sort of training... I feel like I have some work to do, but for right now I'm decently happy with it.
ashly i think you did great, especially for no training! i think what is particularly impressive is the stamina for which you can keep up your voice, that's a great thing to be able to do so early on. I think, and I'm not really sure how your voice sounded before, but you might want to get away from talking in voice that high, and try to put more behind it and i think with time itll get higher, immediately i was reminded of Nico who has a super rich voice. Shes a terrible person but shes a great singer and her speaking voice is like mesmerizing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAs0h8_n0g8
i know my speaking voice doesn't pass because I dont know where to start, but I would hope that I have at least a fairly adrogynous singing voice. im an amab trans girl btw
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gQ2AeQY7e2
okay sorry about this recording because my dad walked in and started singing along with me but i dont know if you can hear him because the mic on the computer is super bad and i left my proper microphone somewhere
Quote from: topit on May 13, 2015, 06:05:14 PM
i know my speaking voice doesn't pass because I dont know where to start, but I would hope that I have at least a fairly adrogynous singing voice. im an amab trans girl btw
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gQ2AeQY7e2
okay sorry about this recording because my dad walked in and started singing along with me but i dont know if you can hear him because the mic on the computer is super bad and i left my proper microphone somewhere
Super cool!!
Quote from: acd_92 on May 05, 2015, 06:20:53 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FxAlfaqVXl (http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FxAlfaqVXl)
Let me know what you all think! I was really nervous about uploading this!! I haven't had any sort of training... I feel like I have some work to do, but for right now I'm decently happy with it.
Awesome sauce! Your voice sounds awesome, and really natural sounding. You have a dynamic range of sounds. I would say 100% pass :)
Quote from: badwolf on April 30, 2015, 07:31:44 PM
Here goes round three?
January 30th
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0jXRegJtH6n
March 11th (bad)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1wPZRXDZ9nw
Today
http://vocaroo.com/i/s005uM7errdU
I definitely hear a lot of progress. In the first one your voice was fairly androgynous. The second it seemed like you were trying really hard to just soften the sounds which made the "power" of your voice decrease. In the third you can hear the "power" a little more. I think that if you focus more on raising the pitch slightly you will be in awesome shape. Great work!!
Quote from: michelle82 on March 25, 2015, 11:46:50 AM
Re-recording a new clip on Vocaroo, feedback would be great!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kh810WhwcB
Sounds great and natural to me :)
Quote from: JustASeq on May 13, 2015, 10:55:41 PM
Awesome sauce! Your voice sounds awesome, and really natural sounding. You have a dynamic range of sounds. I would say 100% pass :)
Oh my goodness, thank you so much! This really means a lot; I've been working so hard! :)
Quote
I definitely hear a lot of progress. In the first one your voice was fairly androgynous. The second it seemed like you were trying really hard to just soften the sounds which made the "power" of your voice decrease. In the third you can hear the "power" a little more. I think that if you focus more on raising the pitch slightly you will be in awesome shape. Great work!!
Thank you JustASeq, my first positive feedback!!! ;D
Quote from: badwolf on May 15, 2015, 06:24:34 PM
Thank you JustASeq, my first positive feedback!!! ;D
Hey just being honest. Also....Are you a fan of the Doctor? Just a hunch based on your screen name....
Aww, you're sweet! Yeah I'm a fan of Dr who (thus the bad wolf reference). Ironically I started using the handle before I even find out what bad wolf was. And when i found out, it was awesome! The fact that it had a female AI was just a huge bonus
-Jamie
QuoteHey just being honest. Also....Are you a fan of the Doctor? Just a hunch based on your screen name...QuoteThank you JustASeq, my first positive feedback!!! ;D
I've been trying my voice on and off for over a year, usually giving up out of shyness (the walls are really thin next to both my neighbours) and embarassement (I'm really self-critical so I end up cringing a lot and shutting down too early).
Anyway, the last couple of weeks I've managed to overcome these two things somewhat and practice far more consistently.
How bad is my voice? Honest criticism is welcome.
Rainbow Passage:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1dnL2j6OrdH
A small snippet I wished I sounded like more often:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0NqBPFsdYs5
Dash, to me, your voice recording just sounds like a northern woman talking - sounds good :)
Quote from: Dash on May 20, 2015, 06:03:38 PM
I've been trying my voice on and off for over a year, usually giving up out of shyness (the walls are really thin next to both my neighbours) and embarassement (I'm really self-critical so I end up cringing a lot and shutting down too early).
Anyway, the last couple of weeks I've managed to overcome these two things somewhat and practice far more consistently.
How bad is my voice? Honest criticism is welcome.
Rainbow Passage:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1dnL2j6OrdH
A small snippet I wished I sounded like more often:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0NqBPFsdYs5
Sounds excellent. 😁
Ok this will probably suck but anyway....
First upload: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0O52vj7ahjl . I haven't done any training whatsoever (at least yet).
Quote from: kelly_1979 on May 24, 2015, 09:18:50 AM
Ok this will probably suck but anyway....
First upload: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0O52vj7ahjl . I haven't done any training whatsoever (at least yet).
Your pitch is good : ), but I'd try lowering a little. One of my biggest flaws in practicing at the moment is to go too high.
Quote from: kim27 on May 24, 2015, 05:21:35 AM
Dash, to me, your voice recording just sounds like a northern woman talking - sounds good :)
Thanks : ). You don't think it sounds too male though? One of my biggest problems in practicing that it can be such a head screw trying to objectively pick apart what works with my voice in recordings because I'm forever hearing the masculine aspects of it having lived with it for so long.
Quote from: thegreenrabbit on May 24, 2015, 06:54:20 AM
Sounds excellent. 😁
Cheers hun. : )
Two new passages after some prolonged practicing (got so sick of the rainbow one).
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0u4zrWoEZe5
What do you ladies think? It's the voice I'll be using publically tomorrow when I go for my glottonplasty consultation.
You sound decent Dash. Tone of voice and speaking pattern is quite good, though some vowel sounds were worse than others. Pitch is on the low side but at avg. pitch of 150hz you are not too bad, just on the bottom end of female range I am reckoning. Your voice does swing up and down though a little which of course is good, that is typical of female speech patterns though this does mean you sometimes drop a tad low, 130hz or so. On the bright side it also shows how you can reach higher pitches since parts of your recording do reach 180hz which is solidly in female range.
Have you ever had speech therapy?
This is me, no warmups, not said anything all day: https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/voicepwn/s-0qPNo
I would appreciate any feedback.
Quote from: Seras on May 26, 2015, 10:20:38 AM
This is me, no warmups, not said anything all day: https://soundcloud.com/olivia1988-1/voicepwn/s-0qPNo
I would appreciate any feedback.
THIS. IS. AWESOME. I love your voice so much, well done, well done. So soothing. You should look into audiobooks. ;) Don't worry about your voice dropping down, my does lots and I think that you'll be doing less and less of that with time. Remember, we are essentially asking our vocal cords to run a marathon here! ;D
Thanks! I really appreciate such a positive opinion!
Last time I got some positive feedback. I'm hoping for more this time around
January 30th
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0jXRegJtH6n
March 11th (bad)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1wPZRXDZ9nw
April 30th
http://vocaroo.com/i/s005uM7errdU
June 9th
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1I55QM4syY5
Let me know what you think :D
I've begun working on this a few days ago and could really use a second opinion. I myself, don't think I pass. But, thoughts? :)
Original Voice: https://soundcloud.com/josieberrry/male (https://soundcloud.com/josieberrry/male)
Female Voice: https://soundcloud.com/josieberrry/female (https://soundcloud.com/josieberrry/female)
Accent: https://soundcloud.com/josieberrry/accent (https://soundcloud.com/josieberrry/accent)
(I've seen a couple times where someone sounds more passable under an accent, so I thought I'd give that a try)
Dash, your accent is gorgeous, I love it... how old are you if you don't mind me asking, I ask because your voice does pass, I just want to know exactly what type of critique you're hoping for as in age, pitch, ect.
I was really glad to see this thread still alive and kicking.
I'm new to posting here at Susan's so forgive me if I'm barging in on your conversation.
I am MTF and 66 yrs. old ;D
That's just to give you all a little background on me. I have been on E for over a year now and don't look too bad for an old lady (I'll post a pic or two when I have enough posts to be allowed :) or at least put my face on my Avatar), so I've been told I pass pretty well, however when I open my big fat mouth....ugh!
I bought an online course for voice training, but when I try to get the resonance right, and then the pitch, my voice cracks like Mrs. Doubtfire. At my age I have a bit of croupy cough that results, and then I really have problems trying until I can clear my throat. Then it's back to cracking and sounding like I'm going through male puberty (which was a bad memory for me). Any help? Plus I don't have a recorder so I don't really know what I sound like....to my own ear I sound horrible.
Again I'm sorry for breaking in, I just need a bit of help if you all don't mind.
LesleyAnne
Hey everyone! I just figured I would post an update for you all. I got some really great feedback last time, so some reassurance would mean a lot right now. As I note in my recording, I'm pretty sure my voice passes because I never get weird looks when I use it in public, and people gender me correctly; I even had an hour-long talk on the metro with a cis woman and I completely passed, so...I think I just need to embrace my voice more?
Anyway, I hope you all are well! I've been away due to some life changes, but I am definitely back now!
The recording: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0VZLrLJp11u (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0VZLrLJp11u)
Quote from: acd_92 on July 11, 2015, 09:18:58 AM
Hey everyone! I just figured I would post an update for you all. I got some really great feedback last time, so some reassurance would mean a lot right now. As I note in my recording, I'm pretty sure my voice passes because I never get weird looks when I use it in public, and people gender me correctly; I even had an hour-long talk on the metro with a cis woman and I completely passed, so...I think I just need to embrace my voice more?
Anyway, I hope you all are well! I've been away due to some life changes, but I am definitely back now!
The recording: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0VZLrLJp11u (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0VZLrLJp11u)
First of all, girl you sound great :) I think that you sound more natural this time around. Now that you are using your oice everyday, it will just get more and more natural sounding. Keep up the great work!!
Throwing my hat in the ring, so to speak. I've been speaking like this for over a year now, so I know it passes, and I'm comfortable with it, but I'd still like some opinions from some more discerning ears. So here's the ubiquitous 'rainbow passage' in my normal speaking voice. I can go higher fairly comfortably and sound normal, but it's not as natural for me.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FAGriMWRF5
So, this will be my first time uploading my voice here. I'm nervous; I feel very uncertain about my voice because at times I think I'm moving in a good direction, and at other moments I think I've simply deceived myself that I sound anything less than like a man. I want to have a somewhat deeper female voice, one that will sound female over the phone or in any situation not involving visuals that might otherwise help me pass, as I am far less worried about visual passing; my voice is the main problem. I have been ma'am'ed only once based on my voice alone, which was at a Starbucks drive-thru speaker, and that made feel euphoric for a bit, but then I got Sir'd at another drive-thru speaker about two weeks later. I wasn't using the same voice--I think the second voice had 'slipped' back into my male range more--but it still made me feel crummy for a bit.
This is my latest attempt. Thanks in advance for any feedback you may have! http://vocaroo.com/i/s1eLDIkB2yVw
Quote from: Ashey on July 15, 2015, 07:40:55 PM
Throwing my hat in the ring, so to speak. I've been speaking like this for over a year now, so I know it passes, and I'm comfortable with it, but I'd still like some opinions from some more discerning ears. So here's the ubiquitous 'rainbow passage' in my normal speaking voice. I can go higher fairly comfortably and sound normal, but it's not as natural for me.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FAGriMWRF5
Hi Ashey,
I think your voice unquestionably sounds passable, as you know, and, beyond that, I think it sounds quite lovely! The only things I noticed are so minor that I would not have really thought to mention them had you not asked, which were that your voice has a slight nasal quality at times, and a few of your linking words are slightly slurred--not that it prevents me from understanding said words or makes your voice unclear. It was just something I noticed, the way that most words were enunciated quite well, though a few others seemed a bit rushed, pronunciation-wise. But this is nothing more than nit-picking because you asked for it. Your voice sounds beautiful, and I'm not just saying that to be nice.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0mLNvuWUBFk
my voice. bare in mind this is no training, practice or surgeries what so ever, this is my natural voice
Quote from: Gabrielle_22 on July 15, 2015, 08:01:51 PM
So, this will be my first time uploading my voice here. I'm nervous; I feel very uncertain about my voice because at times I think I'm moving in a good direction, and at other moments I think I've simply deceived myself that I sound anything less than like a man. I want to have a somewhat deeper female voice, one that will sound female over the phone or in any situation not involving visuals that might otherwise help me pass, as I am far less worried about visual passing; my voice is the main problem. I have been ma'am'ed only once based on my voice alone, which was at a Starbucks drive-thru speaker, and that made feel euphoric for a bit, but then I got Sir'd at another drive-thru speaker about two weeks later. I wasn't using the same voice--I think the second voice had 'slipped' back into my male range more--but it still made me feel crummy for a bit.
This is my latest attempt. Thanks in advance for any feedback you may have! http://vocaroo.com/i/s1eLDIkB2yVw
I think you sound better than last time!
You're definitely getting there, just need to work on the resonance I think. There are a few lower tones but it would gender female for me.
Quote from: Echo Alcestis on July 26, 2015, 06:24:25 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0mLNvuWUBFk
my voice. bare in mind this is no training, practice or surgeries what so ever, this is my natural voice
I wish I could have heard more in a clearer setting but you sound pretty good. I'd give it a pass, in passing.
Quote from: Ashey on July 15, 2015, 07:40:55 PM
Throwing my hat in the ring, so to speak. I've been speaking like this for over a year now, so I know it passes, and I'm comfortable with it, but I'd still like some opinions from some more discerning ears. So here's the ubiquitous 'rainbow passage' in my normal speaking voice. I can go higher fairly comfortably and sound normal, but it's not as natural for me.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FAGriMWRF5
Your voice sounds good!
Hello.
I'm hoping for some honest opinions on my voice. I'm generally satisfied with it and it seems to pass reasonably well, as far as I can tell. The problem is that it's just too inconsistent, and on days when it's not sounding its absolute best I'm wracked with insecurity over it which only exacerbates the problem (ie. it sounds best when I'm relaxed/confident). I've given a lot of consideration to vocal surgery but the idea of even more surgery and yet another prolonged recovery period is very unappealing. SRS is in less than a month, so just focusing on getting through that for now. It's difficult - I feel the voice is manageable but constantly struggling with it is a real drag and surgery really seems like it's been the Holy Grail for some. Anyway - any thoughts/criticisms are appreciated. Thanks!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s10r6zGtFJrw
Quote from: the bore worms on August 09, 2015, 08:55:45 PM
Hello.
I'm hoping for some honest opinions on my voice. I'm generally satisfied with it and it seems to pass reasonably well, as far as I can tell. The problem is that it's just too inconsistent, and on days when it's not sounding its absolute best I'm wracked with insecurity over it which only exacerbates the problem (ie. it sounds best when I'm relaxed/confident). I've given a lot of consideration to vocal surgery but the idea of even more surgery and yet another prolonged recovery period is very unappealing. SRS is in less than a month, so just focusing on getting through that for now. It's difficult - I feel the voice is manageable but constantly struggling with it is a real drag and surgery really seems like it's been the Holy Grail for some. Anyway - any thoughts/criticisms are appreciated. Thanks!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s10r6zGtFJrw
Well as one of those people who had surgery and can just open her mouth and talk, I can say that if that is your worst voice you don't have anything to worry about. The fry does concern me though but it could add a touch of femininity if used right.
But I would say based on that recording 100% pass.
Quote from: the bore worms on August 09, 2015, 08:55:45 PM
Hello.
I'm hoping for some honest opinions on my voice. I'm generally satisfied with it and it seems to pass reasonably well, as far as I can tell. The problem is that it's just too inconsistent, and on days when it's not sounding its absolute best I'm wracked with insecurity over it which only exacerbates the problem (ie. it sounds best when I'm relaxed/confident). I've given a lot of consideration to vocal surgery but the idea of even more surgery and yet another prolonged recovery period is very unappealing. SRS is in less than a month, so just focusing on getting through that for now. It's difficult - I feel the voice is manageable but constantly struggling with it is a real drag and surgery really seems like it's been the Holy Grail for some. Anyway - any thoughts/criticisms are appreciated. Thanks!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s10r6zGtFJrw
The biggest problem in voice surgery recover is keeping your mouth shut. Even if you go to Dr. Haben, the voice isn't going to be very usable for the first month. There are also lifting restrictions and you shouldn't breath through your mouth. The day after surgery, I checked out of the hospital, got on a plane in New York at 1:30, flew to florida where I had a three hour layover, then returned to Phoenix getting home around 10 with three hours of jet lag. Combine that with the fact I didn't sleep much on the trip but yet the next day I hopped in my car and visited with my mom at work. I haven't been at work much the last three weeks because there isn't any need for me and I was limited how much I could speak but other than that, voice surgery slows you down very little. It's pretty comparable to getting your wisdom teeth extracted.
As for the voice sample, it sound pretty good and if you can maintaining it, it would always be gendered female.
Thanks to both of you for the commentary (and surgical info). I know the recovery from VFS isn't too grueling but the idea of taking another month off of work is not appealing. Plus, I am speaking to clients literally all day at my job, to the point that even my natural voice would often be very tired and throat sore by the end of a full day. So everything would have to go quite swimmingly for me to be even semi-useful after only a month off.
Quote from: the bore worms on August 09, 2015, 10:00:08 PM
Thanks to both of you for the commentary (and surgical info). I know the recovery from VFS isn't too grueling but the idea of taking another month off of work is not appealing. Plus, I am speaking to clients literally all day at my job, to the point that even my natural voice would often be very tired and throat sore by the end of a full day. So everything would have to go quite swimmingly for me to be even semi-useful after only a month off.
I really don't think you'd need it to be honest. Your voice is easily passable.
It's probably going to be years before I can afford surgery (if I choose to get it). So I'm doing my best with training my voice. I get lots of practice with my job, but still get misgendered on the phone occasionally. Thoughts?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1BK9Tc4VPKe
Quote from: Alaia on August 13, 2015, 01:21:09 PM
It's probably going to be years before I can afford surgery (if I choose to get it). So I'm doing my best with training my voice. I get lots of practice with my job, but still get misgendered on the phone occasionally. Thoughts?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1BK9Tc4VPKe
That recording sounds pretty femme to me. You say you get misgendered occasionally? This was one of the big reasons I did voice surgery, because while I probably could train my voice, there was always the potential to slip back and I did not want that.
But without surgery you sound pretty passable in this recording. So keep doing whatever you're doing.
Quote from: iKate on August 13, 2015, 01:37:53 PM
...because while I probably could train my voice, there was always the potential to slip back and I did not want that.
Yeah, this is one of the biggest issues for me. I think I do great when I'm consciously aware of my voice, but sometimes I tend to slip, especially when around friends where I'm just chilling and more at ease. And then I say something that sounds way too low and I'm like 'GAH!! Damnit!'
Then there's also coughing which is very difficult to make sound feminine.
Femme. Do you ever get called sir on the phone with that voice? I doubt it.
Cindi
Quote from: the bore worms on August 09, 2015, 08:55:45 PM
Hello.
I'm hoping for some honest opinions on my voice. I'm generally satisfied with it and it seems to pass reasonably well, as far as I can tell. The problem is that it's just too inconsistent, and on days when it's not sounding its absolute best I'm wracked with insecurity over it which only exacerbates the problem (ie. it sounds best when I'm relaxed/confident). I've given a lot of consideration to vocal surgery but the idea of even more surgery and yet another prolonged recovery period is very unappealing. SRS is in less than a month, so just focusing on getting through that for now. It's difficult - I feel the voice is manageable but constantly struggling with it is a real drag and surgery really seems like it's been the Holy Grail for some. Anyway - any thoughts/criticisms are appreciated. Thanks!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s10r6zGtFJrw
Quote from: Alaia on August 13, 2015, 04:01:01 PM
Yeah, this is one of the biggest issues for me. I think I do great when I'm consciously aware of my voice, but sometimes I tend to slip, especially when around friends where I'm just chilling and more at ease. And then I say something that sounds way too low and I'm like 'GAH!! Damnit!'
Then there's also coughing which is very difficult to make sound feminine.
The problem with voice surgery is you still need to be pitch aware. I need to stay in the mouth voice and it can go a low as 170 hz and up to 300hz or better. The sweet spot where it is most effective is around 210hz but the voice still isn't stable enough for me to work on locking it in.
Surgery for me was the result of no other options. My voice was so low it wasn't possible for me to use that pitch without being on the very upper end of my falsetto and I lacked control there.
Quote from: Dena on August 18, 2015, 09:47:32 PM
The problem with voice surgery is you still need to be pitch aware.
This is by no means universal. I do not watch my pitch. I just talk and nobody (so far) has gendered me male by my voice.
Hi,
I've been full time for quite some time now but I still have a ton of anxiety over my voice even though multiple friends have said it's fine. I feel like I've reached a point where it's not quite right but I have no idea what I still need to do. According to the programs I've used my pitch is fine but I still feel like it's missing something. I would really love to get an unbiased opinion on how I sound and if needed some tips on where to go next. Thank you for your time.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gJW5eNYgj3
Well, I've been full time for three years... although my passing has gone off as hit or miss basically. I have tons of anxiety over my appearance and my voice but this is about voice. Friends tell me all the time I sound normal, especially considering I recovered from a throat injury(related to the vocals.) I haven't exactly checked myself with programs, so I wouldn't really know.
I'm 100% self trained, haven't seen a coach or anything.. just watched videos and read webpages.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Plr7AterR1
Quote from: Guinevere on September 07, 2015, 07:51:50 PM
Hi,
I've been full time for quite some time now but I still have a ton of anxiety over my voice even though multiple friends have said it's fine. I feel like I've reached a point where it's not quite right but I have no idea what I still need to do. According to the programs I've used my pitch is fine but I still feel like it's missing something. I would really love to get an unbiased opinion on how I sound and if needed some tips on where to go next. Thank you for your time.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gJW5eNYgj3
You talk a bit fast, but it sounds really good.
Quote from: TheMissingM on September 09, 2015, 11:40:51 PM
Well, I've been full time for three years... although my passing has gone off as hit or miss basically. I have tons of anxiety over my appearance and my voice but this is about voice. Friends tell me all the time I sound normal, especially considering I recovered from a throat injury(related to the vocals.) I haven't exactly checked myself with programs, so I wouldn't really know.
I'm 100% self trained, haven't seen a coach or anything.. just watched videos and read webpages.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Plr7AterR1
I feel really bad for saying this, but I can definitely tell in some of it. The first ~3 seconds are really obvious. I think you can probably listen to it to help know what to avoid. It gets much better after that and if you weren't intently listening for it I don't think someone would notice. It's sort of a soft airiness that you can hear from time to time, but I probably only recognize it because I've heard a lot of girls talking in trained voices. You're really really close though, apart from your opening I'd say you're about 95% there. Just keep at it, okay? You're very close. It may be related to speech or a way of talking itself and since you're 100% self trained I'm betting something like that would easily push you into completely passable all the time, even to really discerning ears.
I'll definitely have to have the surgery myself. It's not because I can't change my voice (I'm actually really good with various voices), it's just... it feels so silly for some reason that I just start laughing before I can ever even get a word or two out, and I'm too embarrassed to even do it while home alone... well alone around others. :P
Quote from: Venus on September 11, 2015, 09:14:33 PM
I feel really bad for saying this, but I can definitely tell in some of it. The first ~3 seconds are really obvious. I think you can probably listen to it to help know what to avoid. It gets much better after that and if you weren't intently listening for it I don't think someone would notice. It's sort of a soft airiness that you can hear from time to time, but I probably only recognize it because I've heard a lot of girls talking in trained voices. You're really really close though, apart from your opening I'd say you're about 95% there. Just keep at it, okay? You're very close. It may be related to speech or a way of talking itself and since you're 100% self trained I'm betting something like that would easily push you into completely passable all the time, even to really discerning ears.
I'll definitely have to have the surgery myself. It's not because I can't change my voice (I'm actually really good with various voices), it's just... it feels so silly for some reason that I just start laughing before I can ever even get a word or two out, and I'm too embarrassed to even do it while home alone... well alone around others. :P
Honestly, thank you for being honest with me. In the past I've had people I trusted to be my ears lie to me and tell me that I sound absolutely fine and presentable when I didn't. It's actually going to bring me to my next point.. I'm actually at my limit for what I can do. I do sing to myself and I do try to practice certain things but I can't hear myself, or I guess the better way to put it is... I can't hear what I really sound like. I hear what I sounded like before I started training my voice. When I listen back to recordings no matter how hard I try to make it sound different, all of it sounds the exact same to me; A low masculine voice. I've lived with this for quite a long time and it's made practicing my voice extremely difficult... but I've gotten where I am now by basically trying to play it off. Now that I know something is wrong with how I speak, even if it is minor I can maybe try to do something about it so I do thank you for this.
I suffered vocal damage about 6 years ago, so if it's an option I'll probably be aiming for the surgery myself.
Quote from: Venus on September 11, 2015, 09:14:33 PM
You talk a bit fast, but it sounds really good.
I feel really bad for saying this, but I can definitely tell in some of it. The first ~3 seconds are really obvious. I think you can probably listen to it to help know what to avoid. It gets much better after that and if you weren't intently listening for it I don't think someone would notice. It's sort of a soft airiness that you can hear from time to time, but I probably only recognize it because I've heard a lot of girls talking in trained voices. You're really really close though, apart from your opening I'd say you're about 95% there. Just keep at it, okay? You're very close. It may be related to speech or a way of talking itself and since you're 100% self trained I'm betting something like that would easily push you into completely passable all the time, even to really discerning ears.
I'll definitely have to have the surgery myself. It's not because I can't change my voice (I'm actually really good with various voices), it's just... it feels so silly for some reason that I just start laughing before I can ever even get a word or two out, and I'm too embarrassed to even do it while home alone... well alone around others. :P
Thank you, I know I talk a bit fast normally and I think it's exasperated because I was a bit nervous posting this. :)
I think it's probably just self perception that makes me worry, so thank you for saying that.
I would like to say also I agree with Venus about the first 3 seconds are very breathy and not very natural sounding, also I feel like it might sound a bit strained. I defiantly think it passes, though the main thing I noticed was your lack of confidence. I know it may be hard but you need to sound confident even if your not, because otherwise you can't sound natural. This might be just because you where recording though so don't read too much into it. I hope you don't mind me saying this because I've not had any training either but I hope this does help. :)
*
Isabelle: Your voice is quite feminine. You have much different between your former male voice and current female voice. Keep doing what you are doing because it is working fine. You accent is cute.
Erica: Your voice is fabulous. Love the raspy quality.
*
Quote from: Guinevere on September 07, 2015, 07:51:50 PM
Hi,
I've been full time for quite some time now but I still have a ton of anxiety over my voice even though multiple friends have said it's fine. I feel like I've reached a point where it's not quite right but I have no idea what I still need to do. According to the programs I've used my pitch is fine but I still feel like it's missing something. I would really love to get an unbiased opinion on how I sound and if needed some tips on where to go next. Thank you for your time.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gJW5eNYgj3
On average it sounds feminine but I am not a fan of the "valley girl" accent. As far as passing goes, you pass. The fry is an especially nice touch.
Quote from: TheMissingM on September 09, 2015, 11:40:51 PM
Well, I've been full time for three years... although my passing has gone off as hit or miss basically. I have tons of anxiety over my appearance and my voice but this is about voice. Friends tell me all the time I sound normal, especially considering I recovered from a throat injury(related to the vocals.) I haven't exactly checked myself with programs, so I wouldn't really know.
I'm 100% self trained, haven't seen a coach or anything.. just watched videos and read webpages.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Plr7AterR1
Sounds good to me!
Quote from: iKate on September 25, 2015, 10:32:37 AM
On average it sounds feminine but I am not a fan of the "valley girl" accent. As far as passing goes, you pass. The fry is an especially nice touch.
Hi, I tried to send you a PM but I can't. I just saw what you wrote and I'm not sure if you quoted the right people, because I'm not sure if my voice could be considered "valley girl". I just wanted to check because I really want to sound natural, but I find I'm a bad judge of my own voice so I might have missed it? (My voice was http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gJW5eNYgj3.) I'm guessing if you did mix them up, then you're saying my voice sounds good. That means I pass, right? Thanks for your time.
Quote from: Guinevere on September 25, 2015, 06:34:13 PM
Hi, I tried to send you a PM but I can't. I just saw what you wrote and I'm not sure if you quoted the right people, because I'm not sure if my voice could be considered "valley girl". I just wanted to check because I really want to sound natural, but I find I'm a bad judge of my own voice so I might have missed it? (My voice was http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gJW5eNYgj3.) I'm guessing if you did mix them up, then you're saying my voice sounds good. That means I pass, right? Thanks for your time.
Oh sorry, it was someone else... You do sound good, and feminine, and your voice does pass.
Quote from: TheMissingM on September 09, 2015, 11:40:51 PM
Well, I've been full time for three years... although my passing has gone off as hit or miss basically. I have tons of anxiety over my appearance and my voice but this is about voice. Friends tell me all the time I sound normal, especially considering I recovered from a throat injury(related to the vocals.) I haven't exactly checked myself with programs, so I wouldn't really know.
I'm 100% self trained, haven't seen a coach or anything.. just watched videos and read webpages.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Plr7AterR1
This is the one I thought sounded "valley girl." If that's your thing, great. Your voice passes. However, I'm not a fan, and there are some who encourage it to pass, so if you're talking this way strictly to pass, I'd say don't do it.
I like the pitch and resonance of your voice, Missing. I agree with Kate that your inflection does come off Valley girl, but to each her own. :)
Here's my contribution to this thread. Feedback appreciated!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s03ZLo4RZYJC (http://vocaroo.com/i/s03ZLo4RZYJC)
Quote from: Cadence Jean on September 26, 2015, 02:07:46 PM
I like the pitch and resonance of your voice, Missing. I agree with Kate that your inflection does come off Valley girl, but to each her own. :)
Thanks but Kate did actually hit the reasoning why I spoke like that..
You definitely sound amazing yourself, but you should go drink some water.
Quote from: iKate on September 26, 2015, 10:41:41 AM
This is the one I thought sounded "valley girl." If that's your thing, great. Your voice passes. However, I'm not a fan, and there are some who encourage it to pass, so if you're talking this way strictly to pass, I'd say don't do it.
Being told I pass, but in such a negative tone really isn't great.. at all. It really goes against everything I've heard in the past and it doesn't make me feel so great. You basically hit it on the head, that I was using the other voice basically to pass.. hence why I call it a presentation voice. It isn't how I naturally speak at all... I don't want to do it that way but I don't take rejection all that well and my actual voice gave me so much trouble..
I also used it to mask the fact that I have trouble regularly speaking which you'll probably hear me having to take breaths because of my injury 6 years ago that involved my vocal chords.
So I guess, here's my "actual results" this time.
Thanks for the brutal honesty, and sorry again.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0dqHvchz2T3
Quote from: TheMissingM on September 27, 2015, 03:14:30 PM
Thanks but Kate did actually hit the reasoning why I spoke like that..
You definitely sound amazing yourself, but you should go drink some water.
Being told I pass, but in such a negative tone really isn't great.. at all. It really goes against everything I've heard in the past and it doesn't make me feel so great. You basically hit it on the head, that I was using the other voice basically to pass.. hence why I call it a presentation voice. It isn't how I naturally speak at all... I don't want to do it that way but I don't take rejection all that well and my actual voice gave me so much trouble..
I also used it to mask the fact that I have trouble regularly speaking which you'll probably hear me having to take breaths because of my injury 6 years ago that involved my vocal chords.
So I guess, here's my "actual results" this time.
Thanks for the brutal honesty, and sorry again.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0dqHvchz2T3
Well, wow. I didn't mean to offend you. But here is honesty.
I think if you perfect this voice without the "valley girl" accent it will work much better than the other.
To me it sounds very passable. Based on the voice alone I would read you female 100%. However I don't see your whole presentation and that is why maybe people don't use feminine pronouns with you as there may be something else that tips them off and the voice just kind of pushes it over the edge.
For me for example I know it is not my voice that makes me pass 100% because I get gendered female before I speak many times. It has always been that way (and when I did speak before I die my VFS they would call me "sir" or "him" or "he.")
So I would say perfect this voice and it will do good.
I do apologize if you were offended in any way. I was just trying to be helpful and to be honest it's mostly my preference. You are free to speak however you want.
Missing: I just listened to both voices and of the two I like the second one better. It sounds more professional and like you have you act together. I think you may be misreading people when you use the second voice in public. I think the reason they give you the look is because the voice is very young pitch wise. It is in the female voice range but I think it's on the upper end. Most but not all women past the age of about 25 would have a lower voice and people may be trying to resolve the difference between your voice pitch and the age they think you are. Just checked you profile for your age and that could be the problem. A question for you is do you pass the telephone test with the second voice. I suspect you do.
Pronouns tend not to be used on younger people and are reserved for adults. If they consider your voice to be teenage, you will find pronouns few and far between.
I consider the second voice to be clear and understandable, contains enough inflection and genders female. I would be happy of my surgical voice ends up half as good as yours.
Quote from: iKate on September 27, 2015, 06:24:05 PM
Well, wow. I didn't mean to offend you. But here is honesty.
I think if you perfect this voice without the "valley girl" accent it will work much better than the other.
To me it sounds very passable. Based on the voice alone I would read you female 100%. However I don't see your whole presentation and that is why maybe people don't use feminine pronouns with you as there may be something else that tips them off and the voice just kind of pushes it over the edge.
For me for example I know it is not my voice that makes me pass 100% because I get gendered female before I speak many times. It has always been that way (and when I did speak before I die my VFS they would call me "sir" or "him" or "he.")
So I would say perfect this voice and it will do good.
I do apologize if you were offended in any way. I was just trying to be helpful and to be honest it's mostly my preference. You are free to speak however you want.
Honestly, you didn't really offend me. You just gave me an opinion I guess I really needed to hear.
With how old I am now, I really shouldn't be trying to go the valley girl route... I guess to be fair though, I am going off the past when my hair wasn't as long as it is now and also the fact I had literally zero confidence in myself. That could of been what was making people read me as masculine, even though I have little confidence now I'm still better then I was then. If anything is probably pushing in person for masculine pronouns, it's probably my appearance and I'm a tad uneasy to go showing that just quite yet.
So I'll take your advice and try to work with my natural voice, rather then the presentation voice. Thank you again.
Quote from: Dena on September 27, 2015, 07:15:53 PM
Missing: I just listened to both voices and of the two I like the second one better. It sounds more professional and like you have you act together. I think you may be misreading people when you use the second voice in public. I think the reason they give you the look is because the voice is very young pitch wise. It is in the female voice range but I think it's on the upper end. Most but not all women past the age of about 25 would have a lower voice and people may be trying to resolve the difference between your voice pitch and the age they think you are. Just checked you profile for your age and that could be the problem. A question for you is do you pass the telephone test with the second voice. I suspect you do.
Pronouns tend not to be used on younger people and are reserved for adults. If they consider your voice to be teenage, you will find pronouns few and far between.
I consider the second voice to be clear and understandable, contains enough inflection and genders female. I would be happy of my surgical voice ends up half as good as yours.
Honestly, thanks for this. In the past I just didn't know what to think as far as my voice went but maybe the problem wasn't fully my voice or I just can't read people. I honestly didn't realize my pitch made me sound very young, that'd probably be part of the looks.. cause I definitely don't look younger then my age. I actually have tried the telephone test with my natural voice and usually people will again, avoid pronouns or I will get a ma'am. It's mostly been social gatherings that led me to believe my natural voice was bad that and online 'calls' which could of arguably been my microphone at the time.
Thank you, really.. I'm sure your voice will come out really amazing after surgery.
Hi All,
Well I finally decided to give it a try. I'm pretty sure I have lots to work on. Anyway here's my first attempt.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1KmlYHYEYzG
Thanks,
Paige :)
Quote from: Paige on October 05, 2015, 11:50:28 AM
Hi All,
Well I finally decided to give it a try. I'm pretty sure I have lots to work on. Anyway here's my first attempt.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1KmlYHYEYzG
Thanks,
Paige :)
It isn't bad for your first shot. The inflection is good and and it is close to female. The problem and I don't know if you can overcome it is the pitch is on the boarder line between male and female. I would suggest software on your computer or smart phone so you can see where you are. The voice might work if you present a strong feminine image but sadly you might expect the voice on a older woman. The pitch shouldn't need to move much. 30Hz may be enough to put it the feminine ranges. The chart in the link might help you if you don't already have it.
http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/
Quote from: Dena on October 06, 2015, 12:02:36 AM
It isn't bad for your first shot. The inflection is good and and it is close to female. The problem and I don't know if you can overcome it is the pitch is on the boarder line between male and female. I would suggest software on your computer or smart phone so you can see where you are. The voice might work if you present a strong feminine image but sadly you might expect the voice on a older woman. The pitch shouldn't need to move much. 30Hz may be enough to put it the feminine ranges. The chart in the link might help you if you don't already have it.
http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/
Thanks for the advice Dena. I've started using the Praat software and got my average pitch up to as high as 245Hz. Sounds a little squeaky so I need to play with it but not that bad. I'll practice for a bit and then post a new recording.
Thanks again for the help,
Paige :)
Quote from: Paige on October 06, 2015, 09:59:36 AM
Thanks for the advice Dena. I've started using the Praat software and got my average pitch up to as high as 245Hz. Sounds a little squeaky so I need to play with it but not that bad. I'll practice for a bit and then post a new recording.
Thanks again for the help,
Paige :)
Target 190-220 Hz depending on what's comfortable for you. 245 Hz is higher than you need.
Quote from: Dena on October 06, 2015, 03:34:04 PM
Target 190-220 Hz depending on what's comfortable for you. 245 Hz is higher than you need.
I was seeing how high I could go and still have a reasonable voice. I will take your advice and bring it down a bit.
Thanks Dena,
Paige :)
Remember that pitch isn't everything. You have a good foundation but I can see some resonance issues plaguing you.
So this is my speaking voice. I used the Rainbow passage thing. I'm not sure if I sound differently than this because of the microphone I'm using. I haven't done any therapy or speaking classes, though I probably will in the future.
https://soundcloud.com/ultravioletknight/voice-refording
Lemme know how I sound.
Quote from: VioletKnight on October 07, 2015, 09:42:03 PM
So this is my speaking voice. I used the Rainbow passage thing. I'm not sure if I sound differently than this because of the microphone I'm using. I haven't done any therapy or speaking classes, though I probably will in the future.
https://soundcloud.com/ultravioletknight/voice-refording
Lemme know how I sound.
That one was a hard one to figure out because it is pretty good but was a little off. I had to play it three times to figure it out. The pitch sound like it is in the right range and it genders female and while has inflection, there isn't quite enough. If you can put a bit more feeling in to the voice you will have a pretty good voice. From the sound of it I think you have been working on it/using it for a while.
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Quote from: VioletKnight on October 07, 2015, 09:42:03 PM
So this is my speaking voice. I used the Rainbow passage thing. I'm not sure if I sound differently than this because of the microphone I'm using. I haven't done any therapy or speaking classes, though I probably will in the future.
https://soundcloud.com/ultravioletknight/voice-refording
Lemme know how I sound.
I think you sound good. The inflection could be a bit more but the pitch and timbre sounds femme.
So, I've been using this voice for public for a while now but I am really not sure about it. My family says it's alright but I'm really iffy on it when I hear my self.
Anyway, here's the link: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1OKxjyy5nkO
How is it? I think I keep changing pitch but I'm not sure.
The voice sound good but it also sounds young. This is because the pitch is higher than where most women speak. If you are small in size, that voice would be fine but if you are physically large in size you might want to go a bit lower in speech.
Quote from: DollTG on October 16, 2015, 03:45:31 AM
So, I've been using this voice for public for a while now but I am really not sure about it. My family says it's alright but I'm really iffy on it when I hear my self.
Anyway, here's the link: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1OKxjyy5nkO
How is it? I think I keep changing pitch but I'm not sure.
Dena said it sounds young and I agree a bit. But it may fit you. I sound like a 20 something year old at times but I also look it sometimes.
Wait, how young is young? Cause I'm turning 26 next year.
Quote from: DollTG on October 17, 2015, 04:07:46 AM
Wait, how young is young? Cause I'm turning 26 next year.
By young, I mean teen years. If you have a small body size then the voice would go with the body size. If you are like me at 5'14" it would be a bit out of place and may present a rather different confusing set of passing problems as people wouldn't be able to match the voice with the body.
Ah, got it. Gonna have to try practicing a bit more.
Thanks for the help.
Still not happy with my voice...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0t4eZ1l4Pkn
Quote from: Snöfrost on October 20, 2015, 08:40:49 PM
Still not happy with my voice...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0t4eZ1l4Pkn
Not sure what you're not happy about... it sounds pretty good.
Quote from: Snöfrost on October 20, 2015, 08:40:49 PM
Still not happy with my voice...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0t4eZ1l4Pkn
It was a short clip and a little hard to judge but the pitch sound good, inflection should good and it also sounds like you have the faster female delivery rate nailed as well. To me it sounds like a young adult female and I detect no flaws. Well done.
Quote from: Aus76 on November 08, 2015, 03:40:40 PM
Hello all,
My fiancee says my voice needs no work, but I waver back and forth between thinking its ok and thinking a nip/tuck may make things nicer. Thoughts on if this sounds feminine?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0nrbxzGItId
It passes for me. There is only a teeny tiny bit of lower undertone but that is easily overlooked
Quote from: Snöfrost on October 20, 2015, 08:40:49 PM
Still not happy with my voice...
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0t4eZ1l4Pkn
Your voice sounds wonderful. I am working to improve mine daily. You've given me a level for my goal :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nBWzj1xScC
I hate my voice. This is the best I can do at attempting a female voice while reading a text. I still have a hard time raising my pitch in real-life conversation or over the phone. It just sounds so fake and forced like I am a man pretending to be a girl. I having been practicing on my own for about 4 months but I seem to be making little progress. I know my voice is preventing me from passing - everytime I open my mouth I am instantly outed as trans.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s17z4c6Rfp2h
This is another recording that is more natural since I am not reading from a text. Probably a closer approximation of the "natural" voice I use when speaking with people in real-life. As you can tell the pitch is still in the male range.
Quote from: Aus76 on November 08, 2015, 03:40:40 PM
Hello all,
My fiancee says my voice needs no work, but I waver back and forth between thinking its ok and thinking a nip/tuck may make things nicer. Thoughts on if this sounds feminine?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0nrbxzGItId
It sound feminine but it could use the nip and tuck. The two areas would be it has almost continuous vocal fry. A small amount on low notes give the illusion the that is the bottom of your range but it shouldn't be continuous. The other issue is it could use a bit more inflection. You have a fair amount so a small amount more would do the job.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 13, 2015, 11:32:15 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nBWzj1xScC
I hate my voice. This is the best I can do at attempting a female voice while reading a text. I still have a hard time raising my pitch in real-life conversation or over the phone. It just sounds so fake and forced like I am a man pretending to be a girl. I having been practicing on my own for about 4 months but I seem to be making little progress. I know my voice is preventing me from passing - everytime I open my mouth I am instantly outed as trans.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s17z4c6Rfp2h
This is another recording that is more natural since I am not reading from a text. Probably a closer approximation of the "natural" voice I use when speaking with people in real-life. As you can tell the pitch is still in the male range.
I only listened to your natural voice as that will be the critical voice for you. The base pitch seem to be about 190 to 200Hz which is in the feminine range. The inflection also sounds good with one small issue. Every once in a while your voice dips just a little bit to low. I suspect most people would never pick up on it. Over all you have done a pretty good job with the voice and should be proud of it and not worry so much about it.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 13, 2015, 11:32:15 AM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1nBWzj1xScC
I hate my voice. This is the best I can do at attempting a female voice while reading a text. I still have a hard time raising my pitch in real-life conversation or over the phone. It just sounds so fake and forced like I am a man pretending to be a girl. I having been practicing on my own for about 4 months but I seem to be making little progress. I know my voice is preventing me from passing - everytime I open my mouth I am instantly outed as trans.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s17z4c6Rfp2h
This is another recording that is more natural since I am not reading from a text. Probably a closer approximation of the "natural" voice I use when speaking with people in real-life. As you can tell the pitch is still in the male range.
The second voice is not too bad but I can see how you'd be clocked by it. The lower undertones and resonance seem to be the issue. You can probably train those out. Look for "finding your female voice" by Andrea James which is free (ad supported) on YouTube now.
The first one is borderline passable. I would say that it does slip down sometimes as Dena said. There is still some resonance in that too.
But you have a good foundation I would say.
iKate and Dena - thank you for the boost in confidence. You have encouraged me to keep practicing.
I'm so iffy with my voice I just want to squeal because I just don't know what works. I've always had a really squeaky voice and although I'm turning 19 soon I still get mistaken for a 13 or 14 year old... So my voice is just... weird.
Here is my voice with not much effort. It sounds blegh http://vocaroo.com/i/s01B66waEiIY
Here is my voice with a teensie bit of effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QNqAbk8kYm I think I sort of dropped pitch as I went farther into the article I read. <<
Here is my voice with a lot more effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FYjvSGL3tY Honestly this one doesn't even sound female to me, just a little boy. u -u
Here is with an even higher pitch but I think it sounds really fake. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1C01nvv3acS
Quote from: Punzie on November 15, 2015, 02:10:02 PM
I'm so iffy with my voice I just want to squeal because I just don't know what works. I've always had a really squeaky voice and although I'm turning 19 soon I still get mistaken for a 13 or 14 year old... So my voice is just... weird.
Here is my voice with not much effort. It sounds blegh http://vocaroo.com/i/s01B66waEiIY
Here is my voice with a teensie bit of effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QNqAbk8kYm I think I sort of dropped pitch as I went farther into the article I read. <<
Here is my voice with a lot more effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FYjvSGL3tY Honestly this one doesn't even sound female to me, just a little boy. u -u
Here is with an even higher pitch but I think it sounds really fake. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1C01nvv3acS
I can understand why people think you are 13 or 14 years old. You are higher than you need to be and that makes you sound young. Get some software on your phone or computer then target the 220 to 240 Hz range. You are better off staying away from a squeaky voice unless you wish to remain 13 years old. I don't think you have the vocal ability to do a squeaky voice without sounding fake.
I first voice sounds feminine (young girl) and other than the pitch, it is very believable.
I would like to know what your before voice is like because it may not have changed and may be in the feminine range.
Quote from: Punzie on November 15, 2015, 02:10:02 PM
I'm so iffy with my voice I just want to squeal because I just don't know what works. I've always had a really squeaky voice and although I'm turning 19 soon I still get mistaken for a 13 or 14 year old... So my voice is just... weird.
Here is my voice with not much effort. It sounds blegh http://vocaroo.com/i/s01B66waEiIY
Here is my voice with a teensie bit of effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QNqAbk8kYm I think I sort of dropped pitch as I went farther into the article I read. <<
Here is my voice with a lot more effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FYjvSGL3tY Honestly this one doesn't even sound female to me, just a little boy. u -u
Here is with an even higher pitch but I think it sounds really fake. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1C01nvv3acS
I think your first "low effort" voice actually sounds really really good - super feminine and passable. Just maybe bring it down a notch.
Quote from: Punzie on November 15, 2015, 02:10:02 PM
I'm so iffy with my voice I just want to squeal because I just don't know what works. I've always had a really squeaky voice and although I'm turning 19 soon I still get mistaken for a 13 or 14 year old... So my voice is just... weird.
Here is my voice with not much effort. It sounds blegh http://vocaroo.com/i/s01B66waEiIY
The first voice is all you need.
The rest sound too high.
Stick with the first one.
Just a little demonstrative ramble.. not really been practicing, it is what it is! lol!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0H8xdmLmkvR
Also here's my soundcloud in case anyone wanted to hear some really weird stuff.. I'm a fan of speaking poems over ambient experimental music.. my voices can sound quite strange. lol!
https://soundcloud.com/damaradreams
Quote from: Damara on November 16, 2015, 06:56:48 PM
Just a little demonstrative ramble.. not really been practicing, it is what it is! lol!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0H8xdmLmkvR
Actually that sounds perfectly natural. I felt the same way when I started though. Thought for a long time I was too low and that pitching up was too unnatural. Well, the pitching up turned out to be the problem, and almost prevented me from getting it right. Women can have low speaking voices a lot of the time, or even gravelly, throaty, 'husky' kind of voices which you don't even have. Plus vocal fry is a common thing these days, and some low croaky creakiness is almost an unconscious trend now. And that kind of thing happens to me a bit when my voice lowers. To me I feel like my voice is a lot lower than it is, but then when I lower it to what it was, I realize the difference. When relaxed, my voice is around the middle of my overall range and is still female enough though it may start getting androgynous if it went any lower. So keep in mind that the female range is broad.
Quote from: Damara on November 16, 2015, 06:56:48 PM
Just a little demonstrative ramble.. not really been practicing, it is what it is! lol!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0H8xdmLmkvR
Also here's my soundcloud in case anyone wanted to hear some really weird stuff.. I'm a fan of speaking poems over ambient experimental music.. my voices can sound quite strange. lol!
https://soundcloud.com/damaradreams
I think you sound pretty good!
Quote from: Punzie on November 15, 2015, 02:10:02 PM
I'm so iffy with my voice I just want to squeal because I just don't know what works. I've always had a really squeaky voice and although I'm turning 19 soon I still get mistaken for a 13 or 14 year old... So my voice is just... weird.
Here is my voice with not much effort. It sounds blegh http://vocaroo.com/i/s01B66waEiIY
Here is my voice with a teensie bit of effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QNqAbk8kYm I think I sort of dropped pitch as I went farther into the article I read. <<
Here is my voice with a lot more effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FYjvSGL3tY Honestly this one doesn't even sound female to me, just a little boy. u -u
Here is with an even higher pitch but I think it sounds really fake. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1C01nvv3acS
The first voice - hte "no effort" voice sounds totally fine to me - not masuline at all and certainly in the female pitch range. Don't get hung up on trying to improve your voice too much - it is already good and you should definitely not go higher or force your voice into something. You can be happy to have a good voice while relaxing. Don't let someone tell you it is too masculine.
I do not like my voice, but would like to know how it sounds, but as much honest as possible, what is bad what is needed to improve. I am trying few months to improve my voice, but it sounds terrible to me, I do not know :/ . I may pass somehow, because I am talking with this voice (which is actually regular one now) to people and was not misgendered with it. (Face to face or via internet.)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1c7BPMme4ty
Quote from: Michelle3 on November 24, 2015, 11:26:33 AM
I do not like my voice, but would like to know how it sounds, but as much honest as possible, what is bad what is needed to improve. I am trying few months to improve my voice, but it sounds terrible to me, I do not know :/ . I may pass somehow, because I am talking with this voice (which is actually regular one now) to people and was not misgendered with it. (Face to face or via internet.)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1c7BPMme4ty
Pitch and inflection sounds good. Sounds a bit nasal but is that your microphone? It sounds like you were talking into a cardboard tube.
Hi all, here's my voice... I've been practicing on and off for quite some time. I wish I could afford voice surgery, but that's at the moment a bit too expensive. Anyway, honest comments and suggestions are welcomed!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZDhTAyZEmN
Quote from: likealolita on November 24, 2015, 08:04:03 PM
Hi all, here's my voice... I've been practicing on and off for quite some time. I wish I could afford voice surgery, but that's at the moment a bit too expensive. Anyway, honest comments and suggestions are welcomed!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZDhTAyZEmN
A pretty good start. I think once you get the resonance under control you'll have a decently passable voice.
Quote from: Michelle3 on November 24, 2015, 11:26:33 AM
I do not like my voice, but would like to know how it sounds, but as much honest as possible, what is bad what is needed to improve. I am trying few months to improve my voice, but it sounds terrible to me, I do not know :/ . I may pass somehow, because I am talking with this voice (which is actually regular one now) to people and was not misgendered with it. (Face to face or via internet.)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1c7BPMme4ty
Quote from: iKate on November 24, 2015, 01:38:18 PM
Pitch and inflection sounds good. Sounds a bit nasal but is that your microphone? It sounds like you were talking into a cardboard tube.
The voice sounds good but the nasal is something else. She isn't a native english speaker and in her native language blocking the sinus cavities when speaking is the proper way to generate the correct sounds. Her english is very good but the sinus cavity thing is a carry over from her native language.
I would say it's a great voice, very passable and you shouldn't need to worry about it.
Quote from: likealolita on November 24, 2015, 08:04:03 PM
Hi all, here's my voice... I've been practicing on and off for quite some time. I wish I could afford voice surgery, but that's at the moment a bit too expensive. Anyway, honest comments and suggestions are welcomed!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZDhTAyZEmN
The primary issue with the voice is the lack of inflection. Your voice needs a little more emotional punch to take away the monotone. The pitch sounds like it's pretty close to where it should be and it's a good start on your voice.
Quote from: Punzie on November 15, 2015, 02:10:02 PM
I'm so iffy with my voice I just want to squeal because I just don't know what works. I've always had a really squeaky voice and although I'm turning 19 soon I still get mistaken for a 13 or 14 year old... So my voice is just... weird.
Here is my voice with not much effort. It sounds blegh http://vocaroo.com/i/s01B66waEiIY
Here is my voice with a teensie bit of effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QNqAbk8kYm I think I sort of dropped pitch as I went farther into the article I read. <<
Here is my voice with a lot more effort. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1FYjvSGL3tY Honestly this one doesn't even sound female to me, just a little boy. u -u
Here is with an even higher pitch but I think it sounds really fake. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1C01nvv3acS
The first three sound amazing! In the fourth one, your voice feels like it's really tense, but I guess that's just because you were trying to get the highest pitch possible. You sound great! (Although, I do have to agree that you sound pretty young.)
Here's an attempt from a couple weeks ago, which I just uploaded...
https://soundcloud.com/thalia-nyx/voice-test-11-22-15-25
Here's an attempt from today...
https://soundcloud.com/thalia-nyx/voice-test-11-25-15-1
Quote from: ThaliaNyx on November 26, 2015, 01:00:29 AM
Here's an attempt from a couple weeks ago, which I just uploaded...
https://soundcloud.com/thalia-nyx/voice-test-11-22-15-25
Here's an attempt from today...
https://soundcloud.com/thalia-nyx/voice-test-11-25-15-1
You have improved but it still sounds like you are in the 160-170 Hz range which is a bit on the low side. You should be around 190 on the low end and if you can handle it 220 Hz would be better. if not, target 190 Hz. Get Praat on your computer or Pitch Lab on your mobile device to check your pitch. You have inflection and really the only issue appears to be pitch. The chart will give you a feel where voices fall in the pitch.
http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/
Quote from: Dena on November 29, 2015, 07:48:36 PM
You have inflection and really the only issue appears to be pitch.
:D
That is really great to know! Thanks! I'm working on slowly increasing my pitch, because if I try to move it too much my voice just falls apart.
While I cannot clearly understand everything you are saying I do hear a woman's voice. Clearly a woman's voice.
Quote from: Michelle3 on November 24, 2015, 11:26:33 AM
I do not like my voice, but would like to know how it sounds, but as much honest as possible, what is bad what is needed to improve. I am trying few months to improve my voice, but it sounds terrible to me, I do not know :/ . I may pass somehow, because I am talking with this voice (which is actually regular one now) to people and was not misgendered with it. (Face to face or via internet.)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1c7BPMme4ty
I agree. Raise your pitch and play with your pitch a lot more. Man speak is monotone. Woman speak is filled with dipthong and fluctuations. I find it best to resonate in the "mask" ie: the teeth and jaw and nose. You can tell if you're resonating here by making a zzzzzzzzzz sound. Move the sound around your face until your teeth vibrate. That means you're resonating in the mask. You want to keep the sound out of the chest and not too far up into the nose.
Also, there's kind of a squeeze you put on your voice to kick it over the gender wall. Just a little bit of a squeeze and it does the trick.
Quote from: Dena on November 29, 2015, 07:48:36 PM
You have improved but it still sounds like you are in the 160-170 Hz range which is a bit on the low side. You should be around 190 on the low end and if you can handle it 220 Hz would be better. if not, target 190 Hz. Get Praat on your computer or Pitch Lab on your mobile device to check your pitch. You have inflection and really the only issue appears to be pitch. The chart will give you a feel where voices fall in the pitch.
http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1TW4OIFGFWA
This is a rough recording of my voice without warming up into it. I don't live full time girl yet so I still drop down into male range often. Constructive criticism is very welcome.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kFukEhv5wv
This recording is a more relaxed version where I let pitch sink low. Does it come across as male? I'm experimenting/practicing.
Hi Erica
I think your voice sound so pretty. I had surgery 2 time with Dr. Haben and my voice sounds like >-bleeped-<
You are a very lucky girl
Hugs Lyndsey
Your voice hovers the gender line in my opinion but I think it's passable. Maybe raise the pitch a little and try to resonate in the mask but I think you're voice is very good.
Quote from: likealolita on November 24, 2015, 08:04:03 PM
Hi all, here's my voice... I've been practicing on and off for quite some time. I wish I could afford voice surgery, but that's at the moment a bit too expensive. Anyway, honest comments and suggestions are welcomed!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZDhTAyZEmN
Last I checked voice surgery was not often successful. I think the surgery is still very new and they don't know what they're doing but I haven't looked into this procedure in a couple years.
Your voice is pretty good as is. A couple things that may make it more feminine is to resonate in the mask ie: in the teeth and jaw. And to try to NOT let the sound resonate in your chest. Resonating in the chest can make a voice boom which often sounds masculine. And maybe raise the pitch just a little.
Quote from: Aus76 on November 08, 2015, 03:40:40 PM
Hello all,
My fiancee says my voice needs no work, but I waver back and forth between thinking its ok and thinking a nip/tuck may make things nicer. Thoughts on if this sounds feminine?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0nrbxzGItId
Rachel your voice is very very good. Keep working at it. I think you are very close to a purely feminine voice. During the sound clip where you were just casually speaking often, your voice sounds 100% woman. It hits a masculine note when you let the pitch drop and when you resonate in the chest. When you're resonating in the face/jaw/teeth and you're using the higher pitch demonstrated in the sound clip you have a beautiful feminine voice.
I haven't practiced speaking in a more feminine voice very much, but I am a semi-competent singer so I have some sort of idea of what I'm doing. I also sound nervous in the recordings, which is a mixture of me not knowing what to say and the fact that there's other people in the house. They all know that I'm trans, but I probably sound a bit silly talking to myself.
The first one is just me speaking in my everyday voice. I naturally have a pretty deep voice (sits around 100hz), and have about three octaves of range in my modal register.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZFBD8oGE7f
The second is near the top of my range, or at least as high as I can get before I have to belt. Belting is way to loud for talking though. It worries me that's is so high up in my range because my speech may be squished pitch wise. It's about 200hz.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s09XHHzzRE6v
The last one I'm straining my voice but it gets me 50hz higher. I don't really want to talk in this voice since it will hurt in the long run, and it sounds strained. On a side note I say "215" but I mean 250.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1CamjqGbJJR
Quote from: WishnHopeN on December 06, 2015, 10:53:34 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1TW4OIFGFWA
This is a rough recording of my voice without warming up into it. I don't live full time girl yet so I still drop down into male range often. Constructive criticism is very welcome.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kFukEhv5wv
This recording is a more relaxed version where I let pitch sink low. Does it come across as male? I'm experimenting/practicing.
It depends on how comfortable you are with the voice. It sounds very good with pitch and inflection but you have fry sometimes that you would be better off without. If the voice is a strain to maintain. You could drop the pitch a bit and use less inflection and still have a very passable voice. Your current voice would pass the telephone test with flying colors.
Quote from: .Olivia. on December 10, 2015, 07:53:54 PM
I haven't practiced speaking in a more feminine voice very much, but I am a semi-competent singer so I have some sort of idea of what I'm doing. I also sound nervous in the recordings, which is a mixture of me not knowing what to say and the fact that there's other people in the house. They all know that I'm trans, but I probably sound a bit silly talking to myself.
The first one is just me speaking in my everyday voice. I naturally have a pretty deep voice (sits around 100hz), and have about three octaves of range in my modal register.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZFBD8oGE7f
The second is near the top of my range, or at least as high as I can get before I have to belt. Belting is way to loud for talking though. It worries me that's is so high up in my range because my speech may be squished pitch wise. It's about 200hz.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s09XHHzzRE6v
The last one I'm straining my voice but it gets me 50hz higher. I don't really want to talk in this voice since it will hurt in the long run, and it sounds strained. On a side note I say "215" but I mean 250.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1CamjqGbJJR
Welcome to Susan's Place. When measure speaking pitch, you want to go with the average pitch instead of the peak pitch. For the high notes, you might be hitting 250 but your average speaking voice is a good deal lower. Another point is you need to use the head voice instead of the mixed or chest voice when doing a feminine voice. Depending on your age and level of skill you may not have had the training to sing in the head voice. If not, then you will need to learn about it as it's critical to voice work.
At a 100Hz you may have difficulty hitting the feminine range, possibly needing a trained voice combined with surgery but this early in the game. speech therapy might benefit you as you get far faster feedback on your voice.
If the voice is strained, don't use it and figure out what the problem is. You might not be using your voice correctly or you voice may not be to hit the correct pitch without surgery.
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I almost forgot that I posted in this thread :/ . Thank you all for the replies for judging my voice :) .
@iKate - Thank you, actually you are right, it was the microphone. Will post more clear recording at the end of the post.
@Dena - :) . Yep i am not a native English speaker. Maybe I am a little bit nasal, but the recording was not the best. Thank you for the opinion :) .
@WishnHopeN - Thank you :)
So, this should have more clear recording of my normal speaking voice. Hearing myself again and again is building my self-conscious at least about my voice, because I am still pre-HRT, I hope that only for 1-2 months.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0COoSRex3PV
Quote from: ThaliaNyx on November 26, 2015, 01:00:29 AM
Here's an attempt from a couple weeks ago, which I just uploaded...
https://soundcloud.com/thalia-nyx/voice-test-11-22-15-25
Here's an attempt from today...
https://soundcloud.com/thalia-nyx/voice-test-11-25-15-1
Inflection sounds good. Pitch needs work. A good start. Keep practicing.
Quote from: WishnHopeN on December 06, 2015, 10:53:34 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1TW4OIFGFWA
This is a rough recording of my voice without warming up into it. I don't live full time girl yet so I still drop down into male range often. Constructive criticism is very welcome.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1kFukEhv5wv
This recording is a more relaxed version where I let pitch sink low. Does it come across as male? I'm experimenting/practicing.
I think both come across as feminine.
Quote from: WishnHopeN on December 06, 2015, 11:09:43 PM
Last I checked voice surgery was not often successful. I think the surgery is still very new and they don't know what they're doing but I haven't looked into this procedure in a couple years.
That hasn't been my experience. Surgery has been pretty good for me, as well as many others.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1AkhJgKC2aa
Yuck I have a bad Head cold and had laryngitis So my voice is rough
Lynn
I would welcome constructive comments on this recording
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WCi4wnKUEy
Quote from: gentlebreeze on December 26, 2015, 05:11:52 AM
I would welcome constructive comments on this recording
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WCi4wnKUEy
Hi Sweetie
Your voice is very Hard to judge. I would say more female than man. but I would not on the phone say Sir or Ms For as not to say the wrong thing. I do know that your voice would be very easy to train ether way. :angel: :angel:
Hugs
Lyndsey
Quote from: Lyndsey on December 26, 2015, 11:37:28 AM
Hi Sweetie
Your voice is very Hard to judge. I would say more female than man. but I would not on the phone say Sir or Ms For as not to say the wrong thing. I do know that your voice would be very easy to train ether way. :angel: :angel:
Hugs
Lyndsey
Thanks. Gender neutral would be OK, but sounding female something I need. Its quite difficult for me to judge myself. Using PRAAT the Mean pitch is at 200Hz and the minimum is at 134 Hz and maximum pitch is 351 Hz, so its not the pitch that seems to be the problem. I hear some resonance but still need that definitive head voice and I do try to use intonation. The accent also seems to be a problem. :)
Quote from: gentlebreeze on December 26, 2015, 12:57:15 PM
Thanks. Gender neutral would be OK, but sounding female something I need. Its quite difficult for me to judge myself. Using PRAAT the Mean pitch is at 200Hz and the minimum is at 134 Hz and maximum pitch is 351 Hz, so its not the pitch that seems to be the problem. I hear some resonance but still need that definitive head voice and I do try to use intonation. The accent also seems to be a problem. :)
Hey sweetie
Your accent is cute. I like it. A little practice and you will be great! Head voice is all you will need. My voice was so low that I had to have voice surgery and then I had to work at it. After a while it will become second nature and you will have a very hard time going back to your old voice. LOL :angel: :D
Hugs
Lynn
Quote from: Lyndsey on December 26, 2015, 01:15:22 PM
Hey sweetie
Your accent is cute. I like it. A little practice and you will be great! Head voice is all you will need. My voice was so low that I had to have voice surgery and then I had to work at it. After a while it will become second nature and you will have a very hard time going back to your old voice. LOL :angel: :D
Hugs
Lynn
I seem to really struggle with resonance, which seems to be much more important than pitch.
Quote from: Michelle3 on December 19, 2015, 09:53:22 AM
I almost forgot that I posted in this thread :/ . Thank you all for the replies for judging my voice :) .
@iKate - Thank you, actually you are right, it was the microphone. Will post more clear recording at the end of the post.
@Dena - :) . Yep i am not a native English speaker. Maybe I am a little bit nasal, but the recording was not the best. Thank you for the opinion :) .
@WishnHopeN - Thank you :)
So, this should have more clear recording of my normal speaking voice. Hearing myself again and again is building my self-conscious at least about my voice, because I am still pre-HRT, I hope that only for 1-2 months.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0COoSRex3PV
Now THIS one sounds really nice. Very good for pre HRT and without surgery. Or just very good in general.
Hi,
First time post, new to the board.
I've read quite a few posts regarding vocal therapy, and surgery. I am very interested in doing both. I contacted Yesson, but was told that anyone over 50, with fundamental lower than 125, would not have a good expectation of successful result. I believe I'm somewhere around 117 to 125, depending on various parameters, i.e, the full moon, sleep, how many photons are tingling my optic nerve, etc!
That leaves Dr. Haben, I presume, if I am understanding all the helpful advice available here. And of course, professional voice therapy. My *trained* sample here is simply what I use day in/out, and based on my own work.
I welcome any advice, and winning lotto #'s, if you are so inclined 8)
Normal speaking voice
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0kh1TXEj0IU
Trained chimp voice
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Bmm7dksNOl
Thanks, Shelley
Welcome to Susan's Place. I was 63 last summer and my voce was about 90-100 Hz before going to Dr Haben. I didn't have the triple but Dr Haben was able to raise my voice enough that my trained voice was pushed into the feminine range. You have a higher starting point so 80 Hz should put you into the feminine range. I think you need to check this option if you are considering voice surgery.
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Thanks Dena,
Im just a little younger than you. The small amount research Ive done, much of it from reading thru the numerous posts here, it would appear that given my age, and fo, Dr. Haben is probably the best option for me. I am concerned, like anyone, about the downtime with no or little voice. Anecdotally, it seems that Habens patience show a little more variability here, in terms of time with voice recovery? To be fair, this is not a criticism of his techniques, instead that larger number he sees have more challenges, lower fundamental, median age is higher, etc.
I think I recall that you didn't opt for the triple, but might have some regrets?
I am going to make consultation appointment next week, and hopefully see in in the next few weeks.
Thank you for the PM with voice tips. That is a lot of info - very appreciated :)
Shelley
Quote from: shelleyg on January 09, 2016, 09:02:04 PM
Thanks Dena,
Im just a little younger than you. The small amount research Ive done, much of it from reading thru the numerous posts here, it would appear that given my age, and fo, Dr. Haben is probably the best option for me. I am concerned, like anyone, about the downtime with no or little voice. Anecdotally, it seems that Habens patience show a little more variability here, in terms of time with voice recovery? To be fair, this is not a criticism of his techniques, instead that larger number he sees have more challenges, lower fundamental, median age is higher, etc.
I think I recall that you didn't opt for the triple, but might have some regrets?
I am going to make consultation appointment next week, and hopefully see in in the next few weeks.
Thank you for the PM with voice tips. That is a lot of info - very appreciated :)
Shelley
My starting voice was so low that the triple wouldn't allow me to get away from the trained voice. Because of that, I felt it was better to have more flexibility in my voice than the small additional bump I would get out of the triple. My voice appears it will settle out around 220 Hz which for my size is a pretty good match. My trained voice can range between 160 Hz and 500 Hz which was a far better outcome than I ever expected.
Had Dr Haben told me the triple was needed, I would have handed the money over on the spot but I am glad that I didn't need the triple.
As far as recover time, we are getting a large number of his patients reporting here so you will see more issues. From what I understand, Yeson also has patients with problems who post on the internet but not here. I fully expected a long recovery time before surgery based on how my body recovered from past surgeries so I don't consider a long recovery abnormal for me.
I also suspect that Yeson rejects more difficult cases and they go somewhere else like Dr Haben. In addition, if you are old, a smoker or just have a really low starting voice, Dr Haben may be the only game in town. The first two are likely to have longer healing times.
One last item, Dr Haben will correct damage or defects while he is in there. The additional surgery will require a longer rest time and possibly longer healing time. If you look at Dr Haben's site, you will see he is a general voice surgeon and people come from all over the world for non feminization surgery.
Well, I was planning to get some practice in while I am out on business in the hotel room but... the hotel, quite frankly, is scary and has paper-thin walls. The neighborhood is too sketchy to take a walk and do it, so that is out :(
Instead I figured I'd introduce myself over here and see if there is any feedback on where I can improve. It's so hard to tell! I've been doing some vocal exercises over the past month or two, not very formal but at least working on the resonance and pitch some - finally broke down and got the exceptional voice program last week and have been doing it every day since. I am a singer, and my range goes fairly high comfortably, though I natural sit around 120hz. The recording below averaged around 220hz.
Here is what I have accomplished so far (recorded through a logitech gaming headset, doesn't have the best sound, I know). Sorry if you are bored with the rainbow passage, but I kind of like it :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1CkUvMJgzdX
I am seriously considering VFS and have made room in the budget for it (yeson perhaps?) so that it is truly natural. Also I suspect the years of abusing my voice have taken their toll and it may need some attention anyways. However I do want to give 110% effort to see if I can swing this comfortably (and at far lower cost) without it.
Quote from: shelleyg on January 07, 2016, 11:14:37 PM
Hi,
First time post, new to the board.
I've read quite a few posts regarding vocal therapy, and surgery. I am very interested in doing both. I contacted Yesson, but was told that anyone over 50, with fundamental lower than 125, would not have a good expectation of successful result. I believe I'm somewhere around 117 to 125, depending on various parameters, i.e, the full moon, sleep, how many photons are tingling my optic nerve, etc!
That leaves Dr. Haben, I presume, if I am understanding all the helpful advice available here. And of course, professional voice therapy. My *trained* sample here is simply what I use day in/out, and based on my own work.
I welcome any advice, and winning lotto #'s, if you are so inclined 8)
Normal speaking voice
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0kh1TXEj0IU
Trained chimp voice
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Bmm7dksNOl
Thanks, Shelley
I think your voice sounds like it will pass with some more practice and training out the resonance. However it could pass in many situations already.
Quote from: kelseygal on January 13, 2016, 07:01:36 PM
Well, I was planning to get some practice in while I am out on business in the hotel room but... the hotel, quite frankly, is scary and has paper-thin walls. The neighborhood is too sketchy to take a walk and do it, so that is out :(
Instead I figured I'd introduce myself over here and see if there is any feedback on where I can improve. It's so hard to tell! I've been doing some vocal exercises over the past month or two, not very formal but at least working on the resonance and pitch some - finally broke down and got the exceptional voice program last week and have been doing it every day since. I am a singer, and my range goes fairly high comfortably, though I natural sit around 120hz. The recording below averaged around 220hz.
Here is what I have accomplished so far (recorded through a logitech gaming headset, doesn't have the best sound, I know). Sorry if you are bored with the rainbow passage, but I kind of like it :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1CkUvMJgzdX
I am seriously considering VFS and have made room in the budget for it (yeson perhaps?) so that it is truly natural. Also I suspect the years of abusing my voice have taken their toll and it may need some attention anyways. However I do want to give 110% effort to see if I can swing this comfortably (and at far lower cost) without it.
I think your voice sounds feminine and passable, and pretty good actually!
Do you have to make effort for this voice or just natural? If you can do this voice on demand without thinking then you do not need VFS.
Quote from: iKate on January 13, 2016, 08:02:26 PM
I think your voice sounds feminine and passable, and pretty good actually!
Do you have to make effort for this voice or just natural? If you can do this voice on demand without thinking then you do not need VFS.
Thanks, you really think so? This was after about a 20 minute practice session, so it is at its best - I did feel very relaxed reading the passage. I can hit my natural pitch easily from the start, B3, but the voice as a whole is something I need to think about constantly, I'm hoping this will fade with time. Right now I live male 90% (well, outwardly >:-)) so I get very little chance to practice. It just feels awkward or uncomfortable for me to unnaturally raise my pitch and resonance around others. Especially those that have known me as male.
I'll give time to internalize the voice and get used to hearing it myself before opting for VFS. Would much rather spend that allotted money on a trachea shave (not enough in the budget for both).
K
Quote from: kelseygal on January 13, 2016, 09:16:32 PM
Thanks, you really think so? This was after about a 20 minute practice session, so it is at its best - I did feel very relaxed reading the passage. I can hit my natural pitch easily from the start, B3, but the voice as a whole is something I need to think about constantly, I'm hoping this will fade with time. Right now I live male 90% (well, outwardly >:-)) so I get very little chance to practice. It just feels awkward or uncomfortable for me to unnaturally raise my pitch and resonance around others. Especially those that have known me as male.
I'll give time to internalize the voice and get used to hearing it myself before opting for VFS. Would much rather spend that allotted money on a trachea shave (not enough in the budget for both).
K
Hi kelsey
You voice sounds Great!!
Hug's Lyndsey
Alright! First time on this thread and first time using Vocaroo (which is pretty awesome, by the way). Sooo... here's me rambling because I wanted to record a somewhat natural conversational voice instead of the Rainbow Passage (which I also do all the time). Anyway, since I can't trust myself to be objective, I leave it to you:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Mj2ZNsi6EB
I have been so busy I haven't been checking this thread. The pitch is high enough but here are three areas that could use a little work. Your speech pattern is a bit flat and you could use a little more inflection in your voice. The second is your deliver rate could be a bit faster. The fix for this to to think of what you will say before you start speaking so it's like reading from your mind instead of thinking on the fly. The third issue is vocal fry. The buzz in your voice when you drop low can be use in small amounts but it shouldn't be a regular feature of your voice.
Overall, the voice isn't bad and may be passable but it isn't interesting. What I suggest will make it a voice people want to listen to .
Quote from: Dena on January 29, 2016, 07:46:06 PM
I have been so busy I haven't been checking this thread. The pitch is high enough but here are three areas that could use a little work. Your speech pattern is a bit flat and you could use a little more inflection in your voice. The second is your deliver rate could be a bit faster. The fix for this to to think of what you will say before you start speaking so it's like reading from your mind instead of thinking on the fly. The third issue is vocal fry. The buzz in your voice when you drop low can be use in small amounts but it shouldn't be a regular feature of your voice.
Overall, the voice isn't bad and may be passable but it isn't interesting. What I suggest will make it a voice people want to listen to .
I don't know if that was directed at me or not but, either way, it is good advice. Thank you.
Quote from: Abysha on January 29, 2016, 08:46:38 PM
I don't know if that was directed at me or not but, either way, it is good advice. Thank you.
Yes it was directed at you, and you are welcome.
I'm back.
Let me know which sounds better
https://soundcloud.com/ultravioletknight/rainbow1
https://soundcloud.com/ultravioletknight/sunlight2
I feel like I have no idea how my voice sounds, please let me know what you think.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Pm7ZOjxosC (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Pm7ZOjxosC)
Quote from: VioletKnight on February 20, 2016, 09:09:12 PM
I'm back.
Let me know which sounds better
https://soundcloud.com/ultravioletknight/rainbow1
https://soundcloud.com/ultravioletknight/sunlight2
Definitely the second link, I prefer it because your cadence feels much more natural! Pitch and tone sound good to me! I would have gendered you female in both clips though.
J
Quote from: Bobbie on February 23, 2016, 04:12:30 PM
I feel like I have no idea how my voice sounds, please let me know what you think.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Pm7ZOjxosC (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Pm7ZOjxosC)
Your voice is on the lower end, but it still sounds distinctly feminine. I would have gendered you female as well.
Ok, so I've learned and practiced a lot over the past month, and would like your opinion/feedback. It's so hard to tell when it is your own voice... to me, I still hear a lot of the same ol' "me" sound, if that makes sense. Overall I've been happy with the Kathe Perez perfect voice training, and have practiced daily for just over a month now, but had a rude awakening last night when I tried to use my voice with real people for the first time - apparently speaking off the cuff is MUCH different than speaking along with an instructor or reading books/poems out loud.
Here is a little free speech (sorry, it is a little long, I totally rambled and repeated myself, not the best public speaker FYI):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IiFnoZUvAM
PRAAT showed this recording as a total average of 193hz. It's hard to see the total range because it is picking up phantom stuff that is much lower or higher, but it looks to be between about 150 and 270
This is my boy voice, pretty big difference, I think:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QrzfTKmENk
One interesting thing I noted about this clip, is that my boy speech has actually gotten higher! the clip I sent to Yeson a few months back was 123hz as I recall, and this was a little over 140 hz.
This is my newest test. A friend of mine said my older voice sounded fake and strained and so I should try it closer to my natural pitch. I pull up the pitch a little bit at the end, but she thinks it sounds good, I still think I sound like a guy.
https://soundcloud.com/gabrielle-annalise-huffstutler/round-2 (https://soundcloud.com/gabrielle-annalise-huffstutler/round-2)
This sample is a mixed lot and I am having a little trouble picking out the problem with were it goes wrong. First the good news. Most of the sample sound feminine and you would not have problems using the voice. The problem seems to be there are spots where either the pitch drops or you fall into a flat male speech pattern. When you do that, my brains switches to male and then back to female when you leave that zone. I suggest you run a Praat check and see how low you are dropping. If you are in the feminine range, then it's the speech pattern I am hearing.
Speech patterns can be controlled by not talking on the fly. Figure out what you are going to say before you start to talk and deliver the entire thought. The Aaaahhhhs and Eeeerrrrrrs are real killers so they should be avoided as much as possible.
I think you are much closer than you think to a feminine voice.
Quote from: kelseygal on February 26, 2016, 08:16:48 PM
Ok, so I've learned and practiced a lot over the past month, and would like your opinion/feedback. It's so hard to tell when it is your own voice... to me, I still hear a lot of the same ol' "me" sound, if that makes sense. Overall I've been happy with the Kathe Perez perfect voice training, and have practiced daily for just over a month now, but had a rude awakening last night when I tried to use my voice with real people for the first time - apparently speaking off the cuff is MUCH different than speaking along with an instructor or reading books/poems out loud.
Here is a little free speech (sorry, it is a little long, I totally rambled and repeated myself, not the best public speaker FYI):
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1IiFnoZUvAM
PRAAT showed this recording as a total average of 193hz. It's hard to see the total range because it is picking up phantom stuff that is much lower or higher, but it looks to be between about 150 and 270
This is my boy voice, pretty big difference, I think:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1QrzfTKmENk
One interesting thing I noted about this clip, is that my boy speech has actually gotten higher! the clip I sent to Yeson a few months back was 123hz as I recall, and this was a little over 140 hz.
The pitch and inflection are both good and the voice sounds feminine but there is one place that could use improvement. When you speak, the syllable are not distinctive and kind of run into one. It something that I suspect people normally wouldn't pick up on and most likely it wouldn't out you but if you can correct that, I think your voice would really shine.
Does my voice pass and what can I do to make it sound more feminine/better? Thank you!
https://soundcloud.com/luxmid_xo/rainbowpassage-04082016 (https://soundcloud.com/luxmid_xo/rainbowpassage-04082016)
Quote from: Jewelxo on April 08, 2016, 07:44:28 PM
Does my voice pass and what can I do to make it sound more feminine/better? Thank you!
https://soundcloud.com/luxmid_xo/rainbowpassage-04082016 (https://soundcloud.com/luxmid_xo/rainbowpassage-04082016)
The voice is in the proper pitch range and mostly sound feminine. The one place where it could use work is it sounds tired and flat. A little more excitement or inflection would greatly improve the voice and make it interesting to listen to. The voice would pass in public but somebody with a trained ear would detect something off without knowing exactly what it is but inflection will correct that.
Quote from: Dena on April 09, 2016, 12:56:14 PM
The voice is in the proper pitch range and mostly sound feminine. The one place where it could use work is it sounds tired and flat. A little more excitement or inflection would greatly improve the voice and make it interesting to listen to. The voice would pass in public but somebody with a trained ear would detect something off without knowing exactly what it is but inflection will correct that.
Thank you Dena! :) I will work on my inflection and do another voice recording when I've improved.
I am 9 month post-op with Dr. Haben now (Had surgery July 8, 2015). The surgery helped increase my pitch but I still feel that voice training is a must after vocal surgery. Without training my voice drops down into something more androgynous sounding :-\
Pitch is not as important in gendering a voice as inflection is. A woman can have a pretty low voice but with the proper speech pattern, it will be gendered feminine. I have heard voices at or above your pitch that sounded male because of the speech pattern. They worked on their voice a little and the gender switched from masculine to feminine.
Some people have naturally expressive voices and can get away without therapy but you are correct in saying that therapy is an important part of voice surgery.
I believe resonance rather than voice inflection or pitch is key to sounding female. I don't have female speech patterns and pass 100% of the time.
Hey y'all so here's a video of my voice. I know my voice doesn't pass at all yet but I was curious to hear some feedback and possibly some tips for improvement. Thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTABRp8vuxg
For some reason the embedding videos doesn't seem to work. I can't get the video to show up for me and I can't seem to post a link to the url no matter what I do.
I fixed the link changing it to a watch link. As for your voice, you go into vocal fry far to much and it could use a bit more inflection but it's in the feminine range and sounds feminine. As it is, it would be passable but it will sound better if you make those two changes.
How do you improve inflection?
Quote from: VioletKnight on April 12, 2016, 07:32:16 PM
How do you improve inflection?
Inflection is speaking using more pitch range. Listen to men's and women's voice and you will hear that men use a relatively flat voice and women's voices are almost musical. You could record something like a new broadcast and then attempt to duplicate the pitch range or you could use something like PRAAT to analyze the range of the voice you are using. You don't want to get carried away with it because to much of a good thing can be bad as well. Someone like a speech therapist with a trained ear that can hear and give feed back on the spot is another option.
There isn't an exact pattern as when to raise or lower the pitch but a woman's voice carries more emotion than a man's and that is reflected in the pitch changes.
I... am pretty sure I sound terrible.
https://soundcloud.com/elyas-485893700/professional-rambling
Quote from: Ceradona on April 15, 2016, 05:26:39 PM
I... am pretty sure I sound terrible.
https://soundcloud.com/elyas-485893700/professional-rambling
Welcome to Susan's Place. The sound sample is pretty bad but the voice is pretty good. My complaint is that the voice isn't very understandable because it's a bit mumbling and rambling. You need to work on your enunciation and delivery. Part of the solution is to construct the entire sentence in your mind before you start speaking. You also need to slow your word rate so you can define the syllables better. Be proud of your voice, speak loud and clear. With the range and inflection you have the voice could be very good.
Quote from: Dena on April 15, 2016, 05:46:47 PM
Welcome to Susan's Place. The sound sample is pretty bad but the voice is pretty good. My complaint is that the voice isn't very understandable because it's a bit mumbling and rambling. You need to work on your enunciation and delivery. Part of the solution is to construct the entire sentence in your mind before you start speaking. You also need to slow your word rate so you can define the syllables better. Be proud of your voice, speak loud and clear. With the range and inflection you have the voice could be very good.
https://soundcloud.com/elyas-485893700/professional-quality-public-speaker
I fixed the quality (read: I stopped being lazy and actually did 15 seconds of editing.)
Sorry 8(
Edit: Fix really means you can hear it better. Is it too loud?
..Maybe. I'm bad I'm sorry 8(
Quote from: Ceradona on April 17, 2016, 12:06:33 AM
https://soundcloud.com/elyas-485893700/professional-quality-public-speaker
I fixed the quality (read: I stopped being lazy and actually did 15 seconds of editing.)
Sorry 8(
Edit: Fix really means you can hear it better. Is it too loud?
..Maybe. I'm bad I'm sorry 8(
Still sound feminine and it was more understandable. The pitch was about mid range feminine and there was enough inflection. It match the subject matter of a girl in a lazy day day dreaming or a casual voice. It that was the image you wished to project, you accomplished it.
I know for fact my voice doesn't pass and i've been practicing but i only sound like a high pitch gay guy whose voice is on the verge of cracking. I plan on having surgery with Dr.Haben however i don't how many hz my voice is. This is my regular everyday voice. Does anyone know what my hz range is now and what can i expect from surgery?
https://soundcloud.com/james-connor-666282680
By ear, I would guess you are 120-130 HZ and your voice should respond well to therapy at a much lower cost. The upper limit on voice surgery is about 80hz which is why I need to use a combination of surgical and trained voice. Without using a trained voice, surgery might give you 200HZ which would be a lower feminine voice. Expect the surgery to run between $7,000 and $8,000 by the time all the bills are paid. There may be additional speech therapy added to the surgery just to teach you feminine speech patterns. Without the therapy, you could end up sounding like a guy with a hight pitched voice. Any therapy you have now will still be useful after surgery.
You can use Praat on your computer or PitchLab on a mobile device to do your own measurements.
Male voice vs female voice - thoughts on my progress? I know it's a work in progress and it's still a highly clockable voice but am I at least moving in the right direction?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0z5DLvkgTuA
The male voice wasn't terribly low but it was clearly in the male range. The female voice is in the feminine range but it could use a bit more inflection/emotion. It's not flat but it's kind of right on the edge between male and female in that area. You really don't have much more to reach a totally feminine voice.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1dTluD7sdun
This is my attempt to add more inflection to my voice - better?
You have the idea so now all you need to do is practice with it so it become comfortable to use. It sounds good and most people would never question it but practice will make it more natural. The pitch and range sound good.
Quote from: Dena on April 19, 2016, 10:22:26 PM
You have the idea so now all you need to do is practice with it so it become comfortable to use. It sounds good and most people would never question it but practice will make it more natural. The pitch and range sound good.
Omg thank you so much - you have no idea how encouraging this is to me - I've really been practicing a lot in recent weeks and feeling like I am getting ever so closer to my goals.
Quote from: Dena on April 18, 2016, 11:23:35 PM
By ear, I would guess you are 120-130 HZ and your voice should respond well to therapy at a much lower cost. The upper limit on voice surgery is about 80hz which is why I need to use a combination of surgical and trained voice. Without using a trained voice, surgery might give you 200HZ which would be a lower feminine voice. Expect the surgery to run between $7,000 and $8,000 by the time all the bills are paid. There may be additional speech therapy added to the surgery just to teach you feminine speech patterns. Without the therapy, you could end up sounding like a guy with a hight pitched voice. Any therapy you have now will still be useful after surgery.
You can use Praat on your computer or PitchLab on a mobile device to do your own measurements.
Thank you for the response. I'll look into voice therapy before surgery.
Well, here's my first shot at this... I've been doing voice therapy for a few months and still have some trouble with the low end of the female range (for example, "haircut."). The overall pitch might be a little on the strain-ey side, too. The laugh was a surprise, though -- I didn't expect it to sound even remotely feminine.
Anyway, please critique! :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0dtIC203bhD
To both Meghan and Rachel, you both sound great... :) No BS. The truth and nothing but the truth. :)
Quote from: MeghanMe on April 24, 2016, 11:46:53 AM
Well, here's my first shot at this... I've been doing voice therapy for a few months and still have some trouble with the low end of the female range (for example, "haircut."). The overall pitch might be a little on the strain-ey side, too. The laugh was a surprise, though -- I didn't expect it to sound even remotely feminine.
Anyway, please critique! :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0dtIC203bhD
The voice is in the feminine range and is pretty good as it is but a little more emotion in the inflection would help it if you have the range to do it. A few more higher notes from time to time would brighten it up.
KayXo, Dena, thank you both so much!
Dena, by 'emotion' do you mean more high-end? Listening to it again, I can hear that the range could stand to be a bit wider overall. I can physically go higher, but it's hard to hear what I need while speaking. The higher stuff is also still a little hard to control. I'll work on it! Maybe in a couple of weeks I'll upload another.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on April 19, 2016, 10:05:07 PM
This is my attempt to add more inflection to my voice - better?
Wow, Rachel, this sounds fantastic!
A combination of a bit more pitch if you can handle it and a bit more emotion. If you listen to a woman speak when she is happy, you can hear the emotion in her voice. Consider something as simple as good morning. A woman might go high on good, low on mor and slide up to ning. It make a feminine voice interesting to listen to and separates it from a masculine speech pattern.
Voices are not something that you get right over night. it can take months to lock the new speech pattern in and once it is, it's difficult to return to the old voice. Before voice surgery, I attempted it and it took several tries to return to that range. It will come in time as long as you keep working on it.
I see! Thanks for the explanation.
Transition has been the best practice for developing patience I could have asked for. :)
This is my latest update of the Rainbow Passage.
https://soundcloud.com/user410399471/passage-201604251410
Quote from: gentlebreeze on April 25, 2016, 07:25:05 AM
This is my latest update of the Rainbow Passage.
https://soundcloud.com/user410399471/passage-201604251410
I went back and checked out your last voice sample and you have improved. The pitch is in the feminine range and the inflection while good could use a touch more range. Other than that, I think the current voice would pass the telephone test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szt6IeKeuSE
Quote from: gentlebreeze on April 25, 2016, 07:25:05 AM
This is my latest update of the Rainbow Passage.
https://soundcloud.com/user410399471/passage-201604251410
Keep going, Gentlebreeze, it's coming along!
Quote from: RachelsMantra on April 26, 2016, 09:48:42 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szt6IeKeuSE
You sound definitely feminine to me Rachel and i'm so jealous!
Next step is make-up and hairstyle.
Welcome to the club!
Brenda :-*
I am still unsure of my voice. Can anyone comment on it and tell me how it sounds? I have had months of voice therapy sessions but I don't practice a lot since I am only living part time right now.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Fb8LI1CEdP
Quote from: Lauren Nicole on May 17, 2016, 10:13:59 AM
I am still unsure of my voice. Can anyone comment on it and tell me how it sounds? I have had months of voice therapy sessions but I don't practice a lot since I am only living part time right now.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Fb8LI1CEdP
I think it sounds pretty good, really. It does sound a bit 'stressed' and you need to practice or use it more to help out with that. However, resonance is also pretty good given the lack of practice.
Quote from: Denjin on May 17, 2016, 10:40:12 AM
I think it sounds pretty good, really. It does sound a bit 'stressed' and you need to practice or use it more to help out with that. However, resonance is also pretty good given the lack of practice.
Thank you so much, any other tips? Should I consider lowering my pitch just a little so it doesn't sound stressed or just continue practicing where I am at? I have been practicing at 220hz and sometimes a little higher.
Thank you again!
Even though I have had VFS, I'll be the first to admit that pitch isn't that important. Resonance is THE most important thing. You'd be better off keeping it near 200 and working on resonance a bit more. If you keep it a bit lower it will make it easier to use prosody as well. Basically, you want to try to be using a voice that is at a pitch which isn't that stressful to use, and then add the right prosody and resonance. In my humble opinion, of course.
Will do, thank you so much! With my voice coach I was staying around 195hz and I decided to gradually pull it up to 220hz on my own recently... It's good to be reasured to pull it back down were I practiced with them. Thank you again! :)
Quote from: Lauren Nicole on May 17, 2016, 10:13:59 AM
I am still unsure of my voice. Can anyone comment on it and tell me how it sounds? I have had months of voice therapy sessions but I don't practice a lot since I am only living part time right now.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Fb8LI1CEdP
I agree, it sounds really good. The only thing I can comment on is that it sounds like the phrases aren't really resolving (pitch-wise)... if you can bring the average down, while leaving that high end where it is (just reaching for it less frequently) it might sound more natural.
In my opinion, pitchwise, you are OK. However, try to work on your resonance as women usually use less power. They are more softly spoken than men!
Here's a voice sample I recorded today. I started training my voice just 3 months ago, and I think I've made a lot of progress very quickly. I started with the Kathe Perez 30-day Crash Course. I didn't really have a feminine voice after that 30-day course, but it did lay the foundation for what lay ahead. After that, I worked with a professional voice trainer in Chicago, Liz Jackson. web site: http://www.thevoicelabinc.com/ There's nothing quite like being in a quiet room, sitting across from someone with a trained ear who can see and listen to every nuance of your face, throat, and voice. Liz was immensely helpful and really helped take my voice to the next level. She's also incredibly friendly and encouraging in every way! It was a joy to take lessons from her. :)
I think I also had a bit of an advantage as my natural male speaking voice was about 170 Hz, which I know is very high to begin with. And I also had lots of musical training when I was younger, which helped too.
I'm not entirely satisfied with my voice and still think there's room for improvement, so I'm going to keep trying to find ways to get better. I also really hope to someday be able to sing in a feminine voice too!
June 21 rainbow passage:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1O45KKh2wFr
This is my latest rendition of the Rainbow passage :)
https://soundcloud.com/user410399471/passage-201606261402
Thought I would give the rainbow passage another try. What do you think?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HFLcCC84cO
I think I'm getting better.
Paige :)
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1rnLAxR5zUU
I feel really really lucky because I only just started working on my voice a few weeks ago and have had less than 10 total hours practicing it thus far and this sounds WAAAY better than I could have expected (not that it's perfect or anything but still).
I've been following this guide, I can't remember if I saw it posted here or if I found it myself but it's done wonders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbTtASux7ys&list=PLC5375389210FC490&index=1
It's a short sample but what there was of it isn't bad. It would be better if used a larger frequency range even if you needed to go a bit lower in pitch as the voice sounds a little flat/mono tone.
Quote from: Dena on September 27, 2016, 10:28:48 PM
It's a short sample but what there was of it isn't bad. It would be better if used a larger frequency range even if you needed to go a bit lower in pitch as the voice sounds a little flat/mono tone.
Thanks; yeah, the sample was short because I kind of cherry-picked the best recording I could get. I'll try and work on that, my voice has always been incredibly monotone even for a guy so I don't expect to be perfect right away.
Could any kind person give me feedback on this recording of the "Rainbow Passage" and the million dollar question does it pass ? I'm pretty new to it all and not sure at all. Many thanks in advance.
https://soundcloud.com/user-982444173/recording-28 (https://soundcloud.com/user-982444173/recording-28)
Welcome to Susan's Place. The voice is difficult to judge as the gender is middle of the road. I think the main issue is that the pitch is still a bit on the low side. A secondary consideration would be that the inflection could use a bit more range. I suggest you look at the top of this forum in the stickies and get PRAAT so you can check the pitch that you are using in normal speech. This link (http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/) will tell you what you are looking for when you use PRAAT.
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Thank you so much ! and yes ......
Quote from: Dena on November 20, 2016, 10:53:39 PM
The voice is difficult to judge as the gender is middle of the road.
That could sum me up in a number of ways :)
This sounds more like a femmy gay man's voice, sorry.
As Dena says, pitch is still low. To my ears it sounds like there's still too much resonance at the bottom of the throat/in the chest, and there's also a nasally quality that gives off the "gay" voice affect.
Hi, I started voice training in this October, now started to learn to speak using feminine range.
I would appreciate a feedback :)
Thanks!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s124UzgS8nvr
Moonscented, I ran your Rainbow passage through Singscope. It looks like your pitch is running somewhere around E3, a bit low. Many of your sentences start off at a good pitch, A3 to B3, but then dip within a word or two. Pitch swings are good, as a feminine voice swings much more than a male voice, but the average should be a bit higher.
(I do pretty much the same thing. It ain't easy, but I'm working on it.)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Well here goes nothing let me know that you think please.
https://soundcloud.com/user-879056570/arianna_valentine
Quote from: Arianna Valentine on January 25, 2017, 09:06:54 AM
Well here goes nothing let me know that you think please.
https://soundcloud.com/user-879056570/arianna_valentine
Hi Arianna,
I'm no expert but I would suggest you're in the middle. Your voice sounds pretty androgynous to me. I can see how people would pick either. Have you tried playing with Praat the free sound analyzing software. I would think if you could raise your pitch a bit it might help.
Take care,
Paige :)
Quote from: Paige on January 26, 2017, 09:27:57 AM
Hi Arianna,
I'm no expert but I would suggest you're in the middle. Your voice sounds pretty androgynous to me. I can see how people would pick either. Have you tried playing with Praat the free sound analyzing software. I would think if you could raise your pitch a bit it might help.
Take care,
Paige :)
Thanks i tried using it it is so confusing i couldn't figure it out
I learned about using praat from some YouTube videos, there are a few good ones out there, and then I just sort of experimented with it until I got it to do what I wanted. Not sure if this is helpful, but I love working with Praat to guage my pitch. It is wonderful in that regard
Quote from: Elina on December 27, 2016, 09:50:44 PM
Hi, I started voice training in this October, now started to learn to speak using feminine range.
I would appreciate a feedback :)
Thanks!
http://vocaroo.com/i/s124UzgS8nvr
I'm sorry, just want to confirm. You ARE a transgender mtf, correct?
All I heard on that clip was a very nice sounding woman (French?)
Coming from the ftm side here and found the thread. Thought it was an interesting experiment so let me know what you all think
https://soundcloud.com/user-783369545/recording-11
Quote from: patrick1967 on January 27, 2017, 04:00:43 PM
Coming from the ftm side here and found the thread. Thought it was an interesting experiment so let me know what you all think
https://soundcloud.com/user-783369545/recording-11
This is a complex voice. Mostly I hear male but every so often the pitch and the lilt gives me hints of feminine. My brain keeps switching back and forth. Most people will likely hear your voice as male and the reason I hear it is because I was trained to listen for clues like that. I suspect in 2-3 months your voice will have dropped enough that it will be solid in the masculine range and the clues I am hearing will be gone.
Interesting thing about your voice is I don't hear that in the MTF voices. MTF voices seem to lock in as one gender and tend not to cross back and forth.
Quote from: Arianna Valentine on January 25, 2017, 09:06:54 AM
Well here goes nothing let me know that you think please.
https://soundcloud.com/user-879056570/arianna_valentine
There are three problems I can hear. The first is vocal fry. This is when you allow your voce to drop low and you get the low frequency buzz in your voice. The next issue is pitch. I am unsure if you are using a head voice but it sounds like you might not be. The head voice is simply tensing the upper neck muscles causing the larynx to rise in your neck. Doing this will allow you to gain 40 HZ or more in pitch. The last issues is inflection as your voice still sounds a bit on the flat size. Delay working on inflection until you have the first two under control.
As for Praat, Jenny put an instructional post in the voice forum that will help you get through the basics. If you haven't looked at that, give it a try.
Thanks Dena, nice to get an outside opinion. I can't wait for the next drop and see where i ultimatly end up.
Quote from: Inarasarah on January 27, 2017, 01:26:18 PM
I learned about using praat from some YouTube videos, there are a few good ones out there, and then I just sort of experimented with it until I got it to do what I wanted. Not sure if this is helpful, but I love working with Praat to guage my pitch. It is wonderful in that regard
Thanks i tried with the instructions posted on this site and couldnt figure it out to well i will check youtube and see what i can find.
Quote from: TechGirl on January 27, 2017, 03:04:57 PM
I'm sorry, just want to confirm. You ARE a transgender mtf, correct?
All I heard on that clip was a very nice sounding woman (French?)
Yes, that's right.
Now when I listen to it myself I hear so many flaws so this is somewhat surprising that I hear something positive about the recording ^^ But thank you very much for listening to it and feedback! To tell you the truth this was one of the most positive things for the last few days and it made me happy! :3
P.S.
That's surprising that so many over the internet tell me that I have French accent, while in real life people tell me it is Slavic. Actually my native language is Russian so as accent (I suppose?)... Do you mind sharing why does it sound French? I am just curious...
I just wanted to share with you all a few things. Its been a while since You have heard or seen me but I speak quite different now. Just the last year really getting into it. This is a sample of me doing Susan and Charlie boy and girl plus a interjection with Charlie's mom real quick.
https://soundcloud.com/shawnsunshine/charlie-and-susan-wav
then a few demo outtakes from a few months ago:
https://soundcloud.com/shawnsunshine/demo-outtakes
and Then my Soul and Joy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyaUO_R_fw0
I would download Da Tuner from the Google store. It is a guitar tuner you can use to monitor your voice. My therapist wants me to be in the F3 175 htz area. The monotone is because that is your guy voice at a higher pitch. Women use more of a singsong voice. Emily also told me to find a female celebrity to watch doing interviews and mirror their gestures, facial expression, tempo, notice they smile when they talk. How they use their hands when they talk. Breathing from the diaphragm rather than the chest. I do that by holding my hand on my stomach to make sure I concentrate. Practice practice practice. I use Meryl Streep as my example.
Oh Darling I know, practice,practice,practice. Thats a voice actors motto too
I have one I like better called singsharp on android. It tests frequency and note as well as exercise
Hello kind people,
This is a wonderfully helpful site.
I have made one recording in PRAAT and another using WASP. The WASP file is saved as a wav file. WASP is excellent to show the frequency throughout the recording.
The PRAAT analysis tells me my average frequency is 226.2Hz and the F3 formant is 2955.6 Hz. Thank you very much Jenny. According to Jenny's description of PRAAT, my voice should sound feminine, however, I would like other people to listen and give me their assessment. I am over 60 years old.
How can I attach the PRAAT recording to a message to the forum so that other's can assess my voice, please?
Bronwen.
Use sound cloud, vocaroo or some other hosting site to hold the voice file then bring the link here and include it in your post. You can look at a previous post with the quote function to see how other users did it. Vacaroo will only hold message for a limited amount of time before they are deleted so if you want the voice to remain here, consider another hosting site.
Thank you very much, Dena.
Hi All,
I haven't tried this in a while. I think I'm getting better. What do you think?
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0AHgBDd6zFM
Thanks,
Paige :)
Your voice threw me for a moment until I checked your location so I knew what the accent was. There is plenty of inflection and for the most part the pitch is in the feminine range. There are a couple of time that I think you momentarily dropped to the bottom of the feminine rage but it's not anything the ordinary listener would pick up on. I think the voice should be gendered feminine and it shouldn't be misgendered over the phone.
Quote from: Dena on March 31, 2017, 06:17:46 PM
Your voice threw me for a moment until I checked your location so I knew what the accent was. There is plenty of inflection and for the most part the pitch is in the feminine range. There are a couple of time that I think you momentarily dropped to the bottom of the feminine rage but it's not anything the ordinary listener would pick up on. I think the voice should be gendered feminine and it shouldn't be misgendered over the phone.
Hi Dena,
So you like my Canadian accent eh? :) I think I need to practice a lot more, but thank you so much for the input, it's very encouraging. It's funny I've tried a few times using my voice with telemarketers, I'm getting better at fooling them.
Paige :)
My first full time job was with a doctor who moved here from Canada. I should have asked where he was from but I suspect it was from the western part of the country because the accent was very similar to our plain featureless american accent. I suspect you live near the french part of the country and thus your accent is a mix of the two. Once I understood that, it was easer to separate out the components of your voice.
Quote from: Dena on March 31, 2017, 11:46:28 PM
My first full time job was with a doctor who moved here from Canada. I should have asked where he was from but I suspect it was from the western part of the country because the accent was very similar to our plain featureless american accent. I suspect you live near the french part of the country and thus your accent is a mix of the two. Once I understood that, it was easer to separate out the components of your voice.
Hey Dena,
It kind of amazes me you pick all that up. I grew up in central Ontario, there's probably some french influence but it would be subtle, there's not a lot of french spoken there. I have lived in Ottawa for a few years and taken French off and on but I'm not bilingual.
Now I'm curious why the components of my voice would be affected by my accent. Could you explain that a bit more.
Thanks so much for your help,
Paige :)
It really doesn't affect your voice but my ability to analyze it. I have spent a good deal of time with my therapist learning to listen for different issues in a voice and as such, I want to break each feature out separately. At first the accent was a distraction that prevented me from seeing the rest of the voice. Once I determine what the accent was, I could put it to the side and listen to the remainder of the voice. There is nothing wrong with an accent as everybody has one but when you are not used to listing to it, your ear may take time to adjust to it.
Quote from: Dena on April 03, 2017, 08:55:17 AM
It really doesn't affect your voice but my ability to analyze it. I have spent a good deal of time with my therapist learning to listen for different issues in a voice and as such, I want to break each feature out separately. At first the accent was a distraction that prevented me from seeing the rest of the voice. Once I determine what the accent was, I could put it to the side and listen to the remainder of the voice. There is nothing wrong with an accent as everybody has one but when you are not used to listing to it, your ear may take time to adjust to it.
That makes sense. Thanks for the help.
Paige :)
A definite yes! Not only is the pitch excellent, but the vocal mannerism sound quite feminine. This is something I want to focus on. I would be very happy if I could reach this level.
Hello there :)
I managed to obtain this voice this morning: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1DW19PRf2ET
I'm still beginning my voice journey but for the first time I feel I've almost managed to eliminate chest resonance.
I'd like to know if this still sound male. If it sounds ambiguous it's still fine by me. I can't really tell for myself.
Anybody willing to share a honest opinion?
Thankies
Quote from: BeckyCNJ on May 20, 2017, 09:47:52 PM
A definite yes! Not only is the pitch excellent, but the vocal mannerism sound quite feminine. This is something I want to focus on. I would be very happy if I could reach this level.
Hi Becky,
If you're referring to me, thank you very much. :) :) :)
Paige :)
Quote from: Lcleo on May 31, 2017, 10:37:35 AM
Hello there :)
I managed to obtain this voice this morning: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1DW19PRf2ET
I'm still beginning my voice journey but for the first time I feel I've almost managed to eliminate chest resonance.
I'd like to know if this still sound male. If it sounds ambiguous it's still fine by me. I can't really tell for myself.
Anybody willing to share a honest opinion?
Thankies
I thought your voice sounded quite feminine.
Paige :)
The pitch is good and while it sounds feminine, the voice is pretty flat lacking inflection. Even if you have to go a little lower in pitch so you have more range to work with, additional inflection would finish off the voice.
Thank you for you replies!
I'll try to add some inflection as you said, but I guess I have to get more comfortable with this voice first, as it was the first time I spoke like this.
I had my sister listen to it and she said it sounded feminine but a little bit artificial, perhaps that's what she meant.
I'll keep practicing, thank you all :)
edit:
If I understand correctly, adding inflection would mean putting emphasis on syllable by shifting the pitch right?
That's correct. If you listen to women carefully, their voice sounds somewhat like they are singing. They use a large pitch range and may change pitch several times in a single word. This comes naturally to them but it can be learned. Men sometimes do this with volume so you might attempt to use your volume changes as a guide to pitch changes.
In my opinion, pitch is good, however, male resonance is still a tiny bit present;, and there's a lack of emotion in your speech (flat tone). If you manage to fix these then I think your voice will pass flawlessly.
Good luck!
Thank you all for your help
I've got another question: I practiced this voice a little bit today again, and it made my throat hurt.
What does it mean? Will it get better over time or should I find a different technique altogether?
I've practiced for ~30 min four hours ago and I still feel a discomfort.
I got gendered right on the phone though, even after giving my male name to set an appointment. That's still encouraging.
Pain and damage to the voice happen when you are to high, to low or to loud. If you start feeling discomfort, stop until you figure out whats wrong. The best way to figure out the pitch you should be is say EEEEEEEEEEEE and vary the frequency up and down. There will be a pitch where your voice is the strongest and that's the area where you should be using your voice.
Ok, thanks a lot Dena for all your help, I'll look into this :)
I've done CTA surgery and I dont think i pass , its always falsetto, I want it to be like a speaking voice,
I think my resonant is not right, some say to say the word "sting" and you voice will vibrate in the nose cavity,
is this the right way to do it?so I can practice, im not concerned about my pitch now, just the resonance part that makes a voice sound like real girl not gay male
Hi everybody. I need a little help with my voice. I don't have anyone in real life to ask.
I've been practicing for two years and 6 months now, everyday. I've never used the voice in public so I don't know if it passes or if it can be clocked or if it sounds weird or what I need to work on, etc. Can I get some feedback? Here's the link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/afae6gdpk16kn25/170802_034.MP3?dl=0
My original/natural 'guy voice' is a G2; I just checked. And the 'girl voice' fluctuates between a C4 & D4. I switch voices in the recording so you guys can here the difference.
I appreciate any feedback, thanks.
The voice would pass as feminine but it doesn't sound right and it might be stressful to maintain it. You need to do two things. The first to use a lower pitch. this chart (http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/) will show you that 220 HZ or A3 is what you should be targeting. Slipping a bit lower in normal conversation isn't a problem as long as the rest of the voice is there. The second problem is the range of your voice. In a normal feminine voice, it should range more than a couple of notes so with the lower pitch, you should be able to use a wider range of pitch. Make those adjustments and you should be much closer to a final voice.
Quote from: Dena on August 02, 2017, 11:09:28 PM
The voice would pass as feminine but it doesn't sound right and it might be stressful to maintain it. You need to do two things. The first to use a lower pitch. this chart (http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/) will show you that 220 HZ or A3 is what you should be targeting. Slipping a bit lower in normal conversation isn't a problem as long as the rest of the voice is there. The second problem is the range of your voice. In a normal feminine voice, it should range more than a couple of notes so with the lower pitch, you should be able to use a wider range of pitch. Make those adjustments and you should be much closer to a final voice.
Ah... I'll work on those two things! Range... take it down a few notes. I guess I pushed my voice up to far. Okay... I'll bring it down so I can get that Range. Thank you for your advice!
https://soundcloud.com/user-795890589/vocal-training-day-3
pfft my voice cracked a bit. My voice is naturally very high so going deeper has been hard. Constructive criticism is wanted and appreciated
Try to usebe your chesr voice making your voice vibrate more in the chesr.. Not only your pitch is high pitched but your resonance seem to be through your nasal cavities and mouth ie a female one.
To use the chest voice, you need to relax the muscles between your jaw and your larynx while you speak. This may drop your voice into the lower feminine range which is sufficient for a prepuberty male voice. The other issue is males use a relatively limited frequency range and several time in the sample I heard your voice go way up into the feminine range. If you need to express emotion in your voice, do it with volume instead of pitch. I trained myself to do just the reverse where instead of volume, I used pitch for emotions.
Heya, I'm trying to get a female voice not just while talking, but also while singing.
How well do you think am I doing in that here?
https://youtu.be/oHLhUMMc7lY (https://youtu.be/oHLhUMMc7lY)
Quote from: Ruth Ruthless on November 01, 2017, 01:21:04 PM
Heya, I'm trying to get a female voice not just while talking, but also while singing.
How well do you think am I doing in that here?
Hi Ruth,
Love your singing. I'm guessing you're asking about the high parts you're singing? They don't seem as strong as your regular voice, but that could be practice or trying to go too high. There's a bit of falsetto sound to it as well. There are others that are much better than I am at this but I do think singing is much harder to do than speaking and speaking with a female voice isn't easy.
Take care,
Paige :)
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 02:14:55 AM
Hi all, I thought I'd start a thread where people can upload audio clips of their voices and get feedback, in the hope we can all help each other out :)
Anyway, I'll go first... I should point out this is from my first day training my voice.. It's not great but, my "male" voice was pretty andro to begin with.. Anyway take a listen and Id love to hear what people think
http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1 (http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1)
Please feel free to comment, and upload your own clips !
(I use soundcloud.com for a free account, and there is an app for smartphones that's easy to use and simple to share sounds on :) )
Niceeee,
Heres mine:P
https://soundcloud.com/allie-bee-826207505/my-voice
Quote from: GraysonIsVeryConfused on September 11, 2017, 04:38:49 PM
https://soundcloud.com/user-795890589/vocal-training-day-3
pfft my voice cracked a bit. My voice is naturally very high so going deeper has been hard. Constructive criticism is wanted and appreciated
https://soundcloud.com/allie-bee-826207505/sounds-from-thursday-morning
How do you even train your self to sound more masculine? I have hated my voice ever since I started identifying as a male. It is just not my ideal voice...
Lots of wonderful information in this thread and what an AWESOME activity to share with everyone!
I think my voice is the only thing so far that really is very feminine about me, but it could still use work of course, heh heh ;D
Anyway, BONUS - I put my my old voice on the tail end of the recording, so you can hear the difference.
Also, I am a big fan of poetry(but mostly just Edgar Allan Poe!)
https://soundcloud.com/user-455138761/a-dream-within-a-dream-by-edgar-allan-poe-both-genders
PS: I flumbed my reading on the male-side, lol
I've barely begun doing any vocal training or practice, but here are my earliest attempts:
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/catan/s-P8DRo (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/catan/s-P8DRo)
This is a segment from the Settlers of Catan rules. The first part is my natural voice, the second part is me trying to change the tone without changing the pitch, and the third is me trying to change both the pitch and tone.
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/insurance/s-NEBHD (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/insurance/s-NEBHD)
This is a snippet from an insurance bill I had lying around. The first part is my natural voice, the second part is me trying as hard as I can to change both the pitch and tone, but it strained my neck a lot and took so much breath I was getting light-headed. The third part is me trying the same thing but without straining nearly as much.
I've been practicing for like 3 years now. I starting to get comfortable with my voice, but I wanted to see how passable it was. PS. Does anyone have any singing tips?
https://soundcloud.com/user636000848/reading-test
Sounds great to me! Maybe a bit mumbly, but I don't know that that's really a male vs. female thing in this case.
I've got a couple more clips, reading a snippet from a review for Hyrule Warriors:
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors/s-oq8PP (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors/s-oq8PP)
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors2/s-BhZfo (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors2/s-BhZfo)
Still sounds pretty fake, but I'm not exactly sure what it is that needs work.
Quote from: Lucca on June 03, 2018, 06:03:34 PM
Sounds great to me! Maybe a bit mumbly, but I don't know that that's really a male vs. female thing in this case.
I've got a couple more clips, reading a snippet from a review for Hyrule Warriors:
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors/s-oq8PP (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors/s-oq8PP)
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors2/s-BhZfo (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/hyrulewarriors2/s-BhZfo)
Still sounds pretty fake, but I'm not exactly sure what it is that needs work.
Yes, it does. But I can hear some genuine moments, too. Getting the proper resonance takes time, and I do think you're progressing even faster than I did, Lucca!
Another thing I think that really helped me is not having a safety net of sorts? Like when you're working on your voice, you're scared and timid and embarrassed, so I think we naturally don't "go for it" completely and always hold back a little(even when we think we're not)
But, in situations where you kind of need to go for it, there's a 'push' and something starts to click, I feel. That is certainly how it happened for me, in addition to everything I've done. I remember, despite forgetting my water in the car, when I first talked to my therapist I talked for about 20 minutes straight and I was very critical about not breaking my voice or reverting for the sake of ease(but the loss of personal comfort) and afterwards, I sang a bit smoother in my car.
An analogy I can use is like you don't know how to swim, you've seen videos and people have explained it to you, then you get dropped into a pool. Do you flail around, or try to over think everything and even hope maybe someone will come to rescue you? Or do you decide to try and swim. Even when you do decide to try and swim, you won't be an olympian over night, y'know?
Give yourself more credit, hun!
After I made my video, I have been so busy and my throat so sore from lack of sleep that I don't really want to post any new recordings yet lol But also(and I will hopefully be updating my blog thread soon) I went to Sephora's today for the Transgender class, and there was about 20 girls there and I was the only one that I know of which tried to use a feminine voice.
And because I need to get more comfortable speaking aloud to others, my voice sounded much worse than when I'm by myself in the car. It is very difficult(at least, for me) to get over that nervous feeling when right in front of someone.
Thanks so much! That makes me feel a bit more confidant.
One thing I'm having trouble with is modulating my pitch without going too low or having my voice crack, unless I concentrate really hard and/or get lucky, it falls apart on the lower end. It also sounds kind of "thin" at times, like it just sounds like loud whispering and needs a fuller timbre to it besides just being high-pitched with less resonance.
Quote from: Serenahikaru on June 02, 2018, 01:37:01 PM
I've been practicing for like 3 years now. I starting to get comfortable with my voice, but I wanted to see how passable it was. PS. Does anyone have any singing tips?
https://soundcloud.com/user636000848/reading-test
@Serenahikaru I'm sorry I missed your post originally, Serena! I think you have a very lovely voice, sometimes it does sound a bit like 'doing a voice' but I think you'd pass pretty much all the time in real life! It reminds me of Pichu or what's her face that I hear those League of Legions commercials for...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIiHm1N1Ozk
I am not a singer, but I enjoy singing, and all I can suggest is doing daily warm-up exercises to allow you to have more strength and control over your voice; and at least for me, I just have lots of different female sung songs that I listen to in the car and try to sing along to. What I've noticed is certain vocalists(or songs) I mesh extremely well with in terms of harmonizing, and others, not so much. And I think if you can find vocalists that are closer to your own natural singing voice, that will help you sing much much better.
For me, I sang along, then I sang along with the volume lowered, I also sang along to male vocalist songs, but attempting a female singing voice, and now I'm trying all sorts of stuff. I don't know how 'femme' I sounded tonight, but I was singing along to Greenday's American Idiot ^_^
Thank you. ^~^ I agree, I should practice more on a daily basis. It's just that it feels awkward practicing with others around. >>
@Eryn T great advice in this thread! Also, major props for posting the YouTube video. Your male voice is very similar to mine, so that gives me hope yet for the future.
I guess I'm overdue to join in the fun in this thread, so here's a short clip (about ten seconds) of me doing the first sentence of the rainbow passage:
https://clyp.it/vnxzvzmv
Any constructive criticism is welcomed and I will definitely not be offended by any advice to improve.
Sounds pretty good to me, I'd assume it was from a woman. If it sounds fake, it's more just because it sounds like you're reciting something, if you spoke with more conversational intonation it would be more natural-sounding.
Thanks
@Lucca ! I tried to do that (even while reading something) and you're right that it's made a huge improvement to me. In addition, when I saw my speech therapist today, she noticed a major improvement by me adding better intonation.
Quote from: SammyHatesGreenEggs on June 11, 2018, 07:15:47 PM
@Eryn T great advice in this thread! Also, major props for posting the YouTube video. Your male voice is very similar to mine, so that gives me hope yet for the future.
I guess I'm overdue to join in the fun in this thread, so here's a short clip (about ten seconds) of me doing the first sentence of the rainbow passage:
https://clyp.it/vnxzvzmv
Any constructive criticism is welcomed and I will definitely not be offended by any advice to improve.
Thank you so much, Sammy! That's all I can hope for from throwing myself out there. I'm not a very good teacher, but I was hoping to give girls like you some courage in their beautiful voices! :)
The link is dead for me. Was it like a temporary thing? I wanted to have a listen, you can also just send me the file at TransGamingYoutube@hotmail.com too, if you'd like.
I always want to be helpful, but im so new to everything that I usually hang out in the introductions forums, and only feel comfortable(somewhat) giving advice on voice.
I got another clip, me reading from the rules for Pathfinder:
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/pathfinder/s-z9GiH (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/pathfinder/s-z9GiH)
This is pretty typical of what it sounds like when I practice now, I know something's still off but I can't quite put my finger on what. Is it too high-pitched? Is it too weak-sounding?
In my opinion, Lucca, yes, and yes.
It is very difficult(but also necessary, or at least it was for me) to speak femme for long stretches at a time; and it's definitely not something I would recommend doing right away.
I think your voice doesn't really sound weak, it IS weak, you are cracking all over the place, hun! I think you should calm down on practicing your voice and focus a bit more on your muscle control in your neck and stuff.
Unfortunately, I wasn't really hearing girl so much, but right at the beginning and also at 1:10 or so, you sounded completely female to me. Sometimes it can be certain phrases or what not that help, too. And it does take a lot of work to maintain your voice properly when speaking for longer than a few sentences.
It seems like you get it very close to right when you're thinking about it, but when you start to do it(maybe caused by the strength of your vocal chords) you struggle and then the sound isn't as smooth as it used to be.
I know that feeling very well, but right now for me, it's kinda the opposite. When I first start talking, it comes out a bit 'off' and then after I've said a few words, I can 'correct' myself and then focus more on the intonation, etc.
For me, what was always my training(and still is) go-to is "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. My wife says that's a terrible thing to practice in a female voice lol but it works for me!
See, part of thing I think is, if you have something like an opening line of a book or a poem that you've memorized, and you recite it over and over- you start to know how it sounds in your head and have a better idea of when you're improving or what you should sound like. I do read all sorts of things, but if there's nothing to read, I start reciting that poem again. If I didn't have a go-to series of lines that I have memorized, then I think it would be much more difficult for me to really notice when I am making positive progress.
Similar to how I said you sound in the beginning and at 1:10 of your recording; if you can pin-point the moments/phrases spoken when you sounded your best, you can begin to understand how(for you) to apply that same feeling to other things. I notice this more closely with music, too; because some songs just flow out more naturally and it isn't totally reliant upon who the singer is.
Hmm, you think the very beginning and end are the best? The beginning still sounds kind of "Mickey Mouse" to me but is still one of my better attempts, but the end is where my voice is cracking and straining the most.
Also, I'm not sure where the big THUMP near the end came from, haha.
Quote from: Lucca on June 19, 2018, 08:25:43 AM
Hmm, you think the very beginning and end are the best? The beginning still sounds kind of "Mickey Mouse" to me but is still one of my better attempts, but the end is where my voice is cracking and straining the most.
Also, I'm not sure where the big THUMP near the end came from, haha.
Sorry, Lucca. I didn't mean the whole end after 1:10, just a few seconds there.
Mentally, I equate it to running a race/marathon. At the start of the race, you burst out the gate in full sprint, in the middle you're kinda of still running but not quite able to push your body, and then when you anticipate the finish line, you get that last little push and run faster.
Maybe that's not a good analogy, but it's what reminds me of it. Without good muscle control(I think) it's going to be more 'breaky' the higher pitched you are, so you might want to try at a bit lower pitches to start with, until you really find that smoothness. Yes, I did advocate pushing higher to hear how 'off' I am, but it's not going to be helpful if you haven't the muscle strength yet in your neck.
The larynx-swallowing and holding exercise is something I do every day, and whenever I am not talking; also, it doubles in public because I have an extremely protruding adams apple and when doing that, I can somewhat hide it, so I find that I do this in public often.
I'll try more muscle exercises and lower pitch. The breaking I presume is largely due to difficulty holding my larynx up after a bit, so that will probably improve with stronger throat muscles. The pitch though is really throwing me off, if it's high it sounds fake, but if it's lower it just sounds like a smoother male voice. I can't quite find the proper range.
Here is my voice at the moment, it's easy to do though I don't feel fully comfortable with it yet :S.
https://vocaroo.com/i/s06SEeeDNBA7 (https://vocaroo.com/i/s06SEeeDNBA7)
Quote from: Isabelle on September 19, 2012, 02:14:55 AM
Hi all, I thought I'd start a thread where people can upload audio clips of their voices and get feedback, in the hope we can all help each other out :)
Anyway, I'll go first... I should point out this is from my first day training my voice.. It's not great but, my "male" voice was pretty andro to begin with.. Anyway take a listen and Id love to hear what people think
http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1 (http://soundcloud.com/natjs/voice-day-1)
Please feel free to comment, and upload your own clips !
(I use soundcloud.com for a free account, and there is an app for smartphones that's easy to use and simple to share sounds on :) )
You sound awesome!
Quote from: Lucca on June 19, 2018, 10:52:42 PM
I'll try more muscle exercises and lower pitch. The breaking I presume is largely due to difficulty holding my larynx up after a bit, so that will probably improve with stronger throat muscles. The pitch though is really throwing me off, if it's high it sounds fake, but if it's lower it just sounds like a smoother male voice. I can't quite find the proper range.
I know it's a while after you posted the clip, though I was bored and decided to download it to run it through praat(amazing software to analyze voice btw). Your mean frequency is 200 hz, a female voice is 165hz to 255hz. So you are within the range for pitch, your pitch varies alot(which is good). The problem is where your voice is coming from(resonating).
You can have full control of your larynx and still sound male, you have to kinda push your voice up, try to make it feel like your voice is just coming from the top of your mouth(like the inside). After that you can start relaxing it out to get a fuller voice. Though until you know the feeling it's hard to describe.
Thanks, I'll try to work on that. I haven't been practicing for awhile because I wasn't feeling very well, but I'm doing better now, so I'll try to get back into the groove.
Your voice sounds great, though!
Here's what I sound like, trying to make it more conversational... slow process :embarrassed:
https://soundcloud.com/user-452595566/voice
Quote from: Sarah1979 on August 13, 2018, 01:05:07 PM
Here's what I sound like, trying to make it more conversational... slow process :embarrassed:
https://soundcloud.com/user-452595566/voice
Sarah, I think your pitch is a bit too high. You sound like you are into falsetto. It sounds more child like. Try letting it come down just a bit and I think you will sound perfect.
I'm definitely at the edge of falsetto, but not quite into it, I'll try letting it down a little. Thank you
I've got a new clip, this is me reading part of a Super Smash Bros. review (http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu/super_smash_bros_for_wii_u):
https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/smashbros/s-Rw4BC (https://soundcloud.com/lucca-connor/smashbros/s-Rw4BC)
Hi guys and gals!
I think my voice "passes" well enough, but I really want some honest feedback on it and I don't feel like my friends/family members are unbiased enough to give that to me.
So from the sample do you think I sound good? My goals with my voice are to sound pleasant, natural, and consistent, in that order. I really want to have a beautiful voice; my voice was honestly the biggest source of my gender dysphoria (it still is, in a way).
https://soundcloud.com/angela-lawter/vocal-sample-09282018/s-IKOcx (https://soundcloud.com/angela-lawter/vocal-sample-09282018/s-IKOcx)
Sounds absolutely perfect to me! 100% female.
If your family and friends seem hesitant to answer, maybe it's because they're just so used to your old voice that it's hard for them separate it from your new one? I don't know, but it sounds good to me.
Thanks Lucca!
You're probably right about my family. I asked my brother last night and he told me that I basically sound the same to him except a little higher pitched. NOT what I wanted to hear lol. >:(
Quote from: Angela H on September 29, 2018, 09:37:45 AM
Thanks Lucca!
You're probably right about my family. I asked my brother last night and he told me that I basically sound the same to him except a little higher pitched. NOT what I wanted to hear lol. >:(
Well, sort of, sounding like the higher pitched version of your voice might not be bad, if the voice had feminine resonance and modulation, which to me your voice had. The thing I search for in my voice is "authenticity" and to my ear, your voice was completely authentic as a female voice. And, I am not just trying to be nice... ;D
Kate
https://soundcloud.com/adam-alexander-461578212/new-recording/s-0X3jp
Hi everyone,
I've been sporadically training my voice for the last week, and just recorded myself reading the Rainbow Passage.
Please don't be afraid to tell me if I don't pass; I don't expect to. And if you any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!
It's a bit monotonous with a deep resonance, I'm afraid.
To me it doesn't pass quite well.
Sorry, it's my honest opinion.
Quote from: autumn08 on November 02, 2018, 01:18:31 AM
https://soundcloud.com/adam-alexander-461578212/new-recording/s-0X3jp
Hi everyone,
I've been sporadically training my voice for the last week, and just recorded myself reading the Rainbow Passage.
Please don't be afraid to tell me if I don't pass; I don't expect to. And if you any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!
Autumn,
Thanks for feeling confident enough to share your recording. That isn't easy!
Voice training is the biggest hurdle I see in my transition, and from some friends I've talked to it took them a long time as well! Keep up the hard work!
I listened to your recording several times. I think you are definitely in an androgynous range. The one thing that I have noticed with my training, is women tend to end words going up in their modulation, while men tend to go down.
For example, take the way you say
"Prism",
"Rainbow", "Colors" and
"Horizon". You are starting the words with a higher pitch and ending the second syllable on a lower note. Making your voice do the opposite is very hard!
That might be an area you could listen to other women in your daily life or on TV and hear what I mean. Try to start making the pronunciation more "sing song" the way they do.
You can do it!
Lacy
Quote from: Angela H on September 29, 2018, 09:37:45 AM
You're probably right about my family. I asked my brother last night and he told me that I basically sound the same to him except a little higher pitched. NOT what I wanted to hear lol. >:(
Angela!
You sound super confident in your recording. You pass 100%. If any one of your friends/family say otherwise, it is definitely because they are biased. I can't even imagine what you would sound like with a male voice, as there isn't any trace of one!
You sound beautiful!
Lacy
So my voice is the thing that I'm the most self conscious about. As a kid I knew it was higher than the other boys so I tried to make it sound deeper, and even somewhat as a young adult, because I didn't want to be given away as "a girl", because THAT would be a terrible thing for me to be (sarcasm). Now I'm slowly working on getting it higher and higher.
I have to admit I hate my voice when recorded, even though I don't think I have a particularly deep voice to start off with.
Here is my voice without having done any real voice training in the past few days: https://soundcloud.com/user-920594508/pre-voice-practice?in=user-920594508/sets/voice-samples-1
Here is my voice about 45min later after doing a full round of voice training: https://soundcloud.com/user-920594508/post-voice-practice?in=user-920594508/sets/voice-samples-1
How far off the mark am I right now? Are there some thing I should be working on to better hit a female sounding voice?
Quote from: Sam1066 on January 06, 2019, 09:50:21 PM
So my voice is the thing that I'm the most self conscious about. As a kid I knew it was higher than the other boys so I tried to make it sound deeper, and even somewhat as a young adult, because I didn't want to be given away as "a girl", because THAT would be a terrible thing for me to be (sarcasm). Now I'm slowly working on getting it higher and higher.
I have to admit I hate my voice when recorded, even though I don't think I have a particularly deep voice to start off with.
Here is my voice without having done any real voice training in the past few days: https://soundcloud.com/user-920594508/pre-voice-practice?in=user-920594508/sets/voice-samples-1
Here is my voice about 45min later after doing a full round of voice training: https://soundcloud.com/user-920594508/post-voice-practice?in=user-920594508/sets/voice-samples-1
How far off the mark am I right now? Are there some thing I should be working on to better hit a female sounding voice?
Ik I'm finding this way later than when you posted, but I still thought it was good for you to at least have 1 response. I think both clips are pretty similar, yet both have a feminine pitch to them. I'm sure by now you've gotten even further along. ^^