The "Does my voice pass?" thread

[Jamie D]

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.

https://soundcloud.com/olivier-de-sill-gue/5-weeks-on-t

An extremely short clip does not allow anyone much opportunity for thoughtful analysis.

I refuse to cut my hair any shorter    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.

[Seras]

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?

[OlivierDeSillegue]

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.

[Seras]

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!

[Frostice]

So this is my first upload with my voice and I talk Swedish.

https://soundcloud.com/sn-frost/alice

[Seras]

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!

[Jamie D]

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.

[MadelineB]

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

And here I am reciting a poem I wrote last August, called "Jagged Edges":
https://soundcloud.com/madelineb-1/jagged-edges-by-madeline-adams

[katiew88]

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

[Zeda]

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 (Compressed to MP3 format before uploading)
Sample 2 (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 Needless to say, I learned my lesson:
Sample 3 (Just recorded)

[Jennygirl]

zeda- total pass, you sound great!

Very natural sounding!

[ZoeM]

So, here's mine thrown into the mix.

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.

[Jennygirl]

So, here's mine thrown into the mix.

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

[VanessaM]

So, here's mine thrown into the mix.

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.

[ZoeM]

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?

[Jennygirl]

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?

[eloij]

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...

[Julie1957]

Does my voice pass at all?  Thanks for your comments.  Lori

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.

[AusBelle]

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.

[Jamie D]

Does my voice pass at all?  Thanks for your comments.  Lori

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.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1LqROOZq1tj

another one that should be better quailty

I hear no problem, but the clip was very short.

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.