Harder to keep voice now after 15 years - pondering VFS

[anjaq]

Thanks, Anja.  This is very hard to do!  It just sounds forced if I do a recording lower than 160Hz average, at least in the rainbow passage. ...
As for why I was curious, I guess it's just in relation to potential increases after surgery, etc.

Well , thats hard to say then. The problem with "us" long time post transitioners is , that we don't remember out physically original voices anymore. We have developed a muscle memory to change our voices. IMO a result of this is less pitch increase with surgery, because letzs say the original pitch was 110 Hz, as it was probably with me, I never used a pitch lower than 140 Hz for years though, usually I was at 160 Hz and actually had to deliberately go down to reach the 110 Hz or lower again. The pitch increase with surgery will take the original pitch as a starting point though, so I ended up at 180 Hz (sometimes 170) on average.
Now comparing it to pre op , thats just 20-30 Hz higher maybe, but comparing it to the original pitch, its 50-70 Hz. But due to the change in the vocal folds, I am now able to speak without using those changes I made to my voice before, on the other hand that means to unlearn a lot of habits that became subconscious, so I don't force my voice up in pitch anymore...
So its a bit weirder in our case than it may be for those who are just in transition now

Hmm, I guess I can wait to find out from Dr. Kim on this.  It seems all over the place, etc.

I think Dr Kim usually only tests average pitch of the original and the trained voice. I could not really do the original voice, so I ended up doing a 134 Hz voice which was about the most relaxed I could give him. He does not test vocal range though, AFAIK

[Denjin]

Well , thats hard to say then. The problem with "us" long time post transitioners is , that we don't remember out physically original voices anymore. We have developed a muscle memory to change our voices. IMO a result of this is less pitch increase with surgery, because letzs say the original pitch was 110 Hz, as it was probably with me, I never used a pitch lower than 140 Hz for years though, usually I was at 160 Hz and actually had to deliberately go down to reach the 110 Hz or lower again. The pitch increase with surgery will take the original pitch as a starting point though, so I ended up at 180 Hz (sometimes 170) on average.
Now comparing it to pre op , thats just 20-30 Hz higher maybe, but comparing it to the original pitch, its 50-70 Hz. But due to the change in the vocal folds, I am now able to speak without using those changes I made to my voice before, on the other hand that means to unlearn a lot of habits that became subconscious, so I don't force my voice up in pitch anymore...
So its a bit weirder in our case than it may be for those who are just in transition now

Thanks, Anja - that all makes sense.   It would seem like less of an increase, but in reality the same as others I guess.  I'm totally fine with just having my trained voice be less effort at least.

After messing about in Praat I find it unlikely I was 110 fundamental as that seems far too much work and sounds like my brothers.  However, I am of different build, etc., than them... The 130-145 range seems less fake.  Anyway, who knows - I'll find out some day so pointless just pondering it all in public like this.

Once I get a date confirmed, etc., I'll just participate in the Yeson 2.0 thread instead of this one.