For the most part I feel good about the way I look but I really do not like my voice and feel like it will never sound female. I practice quite a bit but I can't help but feel like I'll never make enough progress to get my voice to where I want it. Hearing other trans girls with beautiful femme voices really triggers my dysphoria and makes me really jealous.
How long did it take for you to be happy with your voice? For those like me that started with a deep voice, how much progress have you made? How much did you practice?
In that other thread, about passing privilege, it was said that 80% of passing was voice, so I looked up a regime and started practicing right away, lol.
I thought that I sounded phony and awful, but I recorded it, and thought that it sounded a lot better in playback than in my head, and sounded somewhat like my sister at points.
I think that I'm more confident that I will be able to pull off a decent sounding voice, than a convincing look, lol. Hoping that voice makes all of the difference, and I'll put a lot of effort into that.
Working on it. I have an app called Eva MTF for the iphone which I found quite insightful
I too, am working on it.
I absolutely *hate* my voice, to the point where I won't talk a lot of times and just smile and nod yes or no to answer questions instead. The other day my wife said that I'm going to have to start using my voice or people are going to think I'm being a mega-bitch. She's right of course so I practice every chance I get but it sounds fake to me. I'll have to try recording it again, I did that once before and it was ok I guess. While it's not out of the question for me, I'm not big on surgery, I've got enough of those to plan for already.
I'll have to give the Eva app a look again, I was going to try it but it wasn't available for Android when I first tried to get it.
I felt that training wasn't working for me so I had surgery. I have exactly zero regrets.
It is very true that voice is a major factor in passing. I have no problems passing at all now.
If you can train, great. If not, there area few surgical options and some are minimally invasive.
Ikate do you have any audio sample of your voice that i could listen?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rainbow passage, about 2 months:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1yb4AnA3CJM
Free talking about 3 months post op:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZqDvZL8uQR
My (horrible) attempt at singing a few days ago. But my consolation is that I couldn't sing very well pre op anyway:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Awgskkknbo
I'm about 4.5 months post op now and I sound even better. I can make a new recording soon.
This is what I used to sound like:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZS7zGTO6IM
I think Yeson should pay you and use your pre-op/post-op results for their advertising :)
Quote from: Lagertha on November 20, 2015, 03:12:32 PM
I think Yeson should pay you and use your pre-op/post-op results for their advertising :)
Hahahaha. I don't think I would want that... Besides Jenny is already doing a fantastic job!
The voice section has more results and people who saw different surgeons. As for me, my voice was so low it couldn't reached the feminine range so I walked around for years in a dress sounding like a man. Post surgical, I am in the lower end of the feminine range (voice still isn't fully healed) but at least the pitch isn't an issue any more.
Quote from: iKate on November 20, 2015, 03:04:38 PM
Rainbow passage, about 2 months:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1yb4AnA3CJM
Free talking about 3 months post op:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZqDvZL8uQR
My (horrible) attempt at singing a few days ago. But my consolation is that I couldn't sing very well pre op anyway:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Awgskkknbo
I'm about 4.5 months post op now and I sound even better. I can make a new recording soon.
This is what I used to sound like:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZS7zGTO6IM
Ok, that's pretty incredible... You sound great!
Maybe I need to look into surgery, what method did you have done? I went to a voice clinic awhile back and they wanted to do something where they used thread to bind my vocal cords? Sorry, it's been awhile and I still really was only interested in training so I didn't pay as close attention as I should have. They didn't want to even start voice therapy unless I had the surgery so I moved on at the time.
Quote from: Emjay on November 20, 2015, 05:39:53 PM
I went to a voice clinic awhile back and they wanted to do something where they used thread to bind my vocal cords?
That's the same method (it's called glottoplasty), and is today pretty much used worldwide for treating some vocal-cord related conditions (androphonia being just one of them). You can find at least a few ENT doctors in every larger city, who are performing it on a regular basis. More and more are starting to smell easy money that transwomen are willing to pay, and they started advertising it as a "voice feminization surgery" (and raising prices, like 400% of what was the original price for non trans patients)
The process involves damaging the parts of the cord that need to heal together as one and tying the together while they heal. The process of damaging the cords may differ and the tie material can be different but the net effect is the same. I went with Dr Haben who used laser and dissolvable cord. Yeson uses permanent cord and a custom designed knife. There are other surgeons as well but I am not familiar with their procedure.
Quote from: Dena on November 20, 2015, 05:59:34 PM
The process involves damaging the parts of the cord that need to heal together as one and tying the together while they heal. The process of damaging the cords may differ and the tie material can be different but the net effect is the same. I went with Dr Haben who used laser and dissolvable cord. Yeson uses permanent cord and a custom designed knife. There are other surgeons as well but I am not familiar with their procedure.
That's it...... I remember now. They did say they used a laser to cut the vocal cords and then bound them afterward. So, once it's healed the cord is no longer necessary in some cases? One of the reasons I kind of shied away from surgery is that I heard a horror story about the cord breaking and the whole thing having to be repeated. If that's not the case then it's definitely worth looking into again.
I'm not sure if i will ever be satisfied with mine., though i am making progress. My spouse and others tell me i sound feminine but I just don't hear it in myself. I sound softer with way less resonance but not where i want to be. Everything i have done is self taught using YouTube tips etc. I have not done any coaching, although i practice with my family members constantly.
I take inspiration from trans women with deep voices who still rock their femininity. Voice surgery is not an option for me financially speaking for years and years so there's not much point in me thinking about that right now. By the time I get enough money for vocal surgery I will hopefully have done enough vocal training as to make it unnecessary. I can get my voice pitch into the female range I just need to work on making it sound natural and sustaining it in conversation.
Quote from: Emjay on November 20, 2015, 05:39:53 PM
Ok, that's pretty incredible... You sound great!
Maybe I need to look into surgery, what method did you have done? I went to a voice clinic awhile back and they wanted to do something where they used thread to bind my vocal cords? Sorry, it's been awhile and I still really was only interested in training so I didn't pay as close attention as I should have. They didn't want to even start voice therapy unless I had the surgery so I moved on at the time.
I did a glottoplasty with Dr Kim at Yeson in Korea. There are other surgeons who do it too, some in combination with other procedures.
Check out the voice forum. There's a wealth of info there. It may be more doable than you think.
Trust me, my quality of life post VFS has improved very dramatically. I'm not saying the surgery is magic but it can help a lot.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 20, 2015, 07:40:28 PM
I take inspiration from trans women with deep voices who still rock their femininity. Voice surgery is not an option for me financially speaking for years and years so there's not much point in me thinking about that right now. By the time I get enough money for vocal surgery I will hopefully have done enough vocal training as to make it unnecessary. I can get my voice pitch into the female range I just need to work on making it sound natural and sustaining it in conversation.
Honestly I think some of them can do a deep voice and be very feminine with it. Jenny Boylan for example. She definitely seems Trans but she doesn't seem masculine either. She has that aura of a proud and confident Trans woman. She seems very proud of who she is too.
Quote from: Emjay on November 20, 2015, 06:15:10 PM
That's it...... I remember now. They did say they used a laser to cut the vocal cords and then bound them afterward. So, once it's healed the cord is no longer necessary in some cases? One of the reasons I kind of shied away from surgery is that I heard a horror story about the cord breaking and the whole thing having to be repeated. If that's not the case then it's definitely worth looking into again.
My surgery involved a cord that dissolved and I think it came apart about a month and a half ago. If anything, the pitch my voice is improving after to cord was gone.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 20, 2015, 07:40:28 PM
Voice surgery is not an option for me financially speaking for years and years so there's not much point in me thinking about that right now.
Just for info... Realistic price for glottoplasty procedure is between 1500-2000€ in Europe, and between $2000-3000 in US. There are more than 100 ENT doctors in Europe alone, who did the training and do this procedure on a regular basis. The number in US must be about similar. So there aren't just two or three doctors who do this. But there are two doctors who promote themselves very well, and thanks to youtube and websites like this, they are known in the online trans "community". Which is why they are able to charge $7,000 or $8,000, because there are people who are willing to pay them. It's a simple, very straightforward procedure, and if you go to your nearest city and nearest ENT doctor who specializes in phonosurgery, it's likely he/she had done hundreds of this surgeries, or they can give you a contact to their colleague who had done so.
Here's just some stuff I wanted to say on this topic, hopefully some advice. Listening to it, I do realize my voice has been dipping a bit lower than I'd like it to, but then when I'm around friends or family or those that know I'm trans, I don't have a problem dipping a bit lower because well.. it's just more comfortable, lol. Passability has been my main concern and focus, and like I mention in my recording, there is going to be a ceiling where it becomes both difficult to maintain and leaves you with nowhere else to go, even if it does sound more feminine.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0fhXLOlLJtt
Also, I don't think I mentioned it but my timeline was something like this... Three months in I was passable, and four months in I went full-time and this is where I just wanted to be mute. But I occasionally mustered up a brief but 'passable-ish' voice, mostly ordering food or something. Five or six months into my transition, I used it more and about eight months in I had it down pretty well and felt comfortable enough speaking in public as I normally would. I haven't really done much to try to improve it since then except for trying to be consistent with it. If you find something that can work or that you can work with, stick with it! Otherwise your voice won't physically change and it will remain hard to do and you may also find it harder to identify your new range if you jump in and out of it.
Quote from: iKate on November 20, 2015, 03:04:38 PM
Rainbow passage, about 2 months:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1yb4AnA3CJM
Free talking about 3 months post op:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZqDvZL8uQR
My (horrible) attempt at singing a few days ago. But my consolation is that I couldn't sing very well pre op anyway:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Awgskkknbo
I'm about 4.5 months post op now and I sound even better. I can make a new recording soon.
This is what I used to sound like:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZS7zGTO6IM
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you sound soooo good!!!
Quote from: Lagertha on November 20, 2015, 08:05:55 PM
Just for info... Realistic price for glottoplasty procedure is between 1500-2000€ in Europe, and between $2000-3000 in US. There are more than 100 ENT doctors in Europe alone, who did the training and do this procedure on a regular basis. The number in US must be about similar. So there aren't just two or three doctors who do this. But there are two doctors who promote themselves very well, and thanks to youtube and websites like this, they are known in the online trans "community". Which is why they are able to charge $7,000 or $8,000, because there are people who are willing to pay them. It's a simple, very straightforward procedure, and if you go to your nearest city and nearest ENT doctor who specializes in phonosurgery, it's likely he/she had done hundreds of this surgeries, or they can give you a contact to their colleague who had done so.
I'm a grad student on a small stipend and even $2-3k is outside of my budget until I get a real job sometime in the next few years. Besides my credit card is straining to pay for facial hair removal, clothes, and shoes :) I've only been transitioning for 6 months - I need to give vocal training more time before I consider something like VFS.
Quote from: Ashey on November 20, 2015, 08:25:40 PM
Here's just some stuff I wanted to say on this topic, hopefully some advice. Listening to it, I do realize my voice has been dipping a bit lower than I'd like it to, but then when I'm around friends or family or those that know I'm trans, I don't have a problem dipping a bit lower because well.. it's just more comfortable, lol. Passability has been my main concern and focus, and like I mention in my recording, there is going to be a ceiling where it becomes both difficult to maintain and leaves you with nowhere else to go, even if it does sound more feminine.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0fhXLOlLJtt
Also, I don't think I mentioned it but my timeline was something like this... Three months in I was passable, and four months in I went full-time and this is where I just wanted to be mute. But I occasionally mustered up a brief but 'passable-ish' voice, mostly ordering food or something. Five or six months into my transition, I used it more and about eight months in I had it down pretty well and felt comfortable enough speaking in public as I normally would. I haven't really done much to try to improve it since then except for trying to be consistent with it. If you find something that can work or that you can work with, stick with it! Otherwise your voice won't physically change and it will remain hard to do and you may also find it harder to identify your new range if you jump in and out of it.
Thank you for this so much! You are an inspiration to me big time. You have a beautiful voice now.
Quote from: Lagertha on November 20, 2015, 08:05:55 PM
Just for info... Realistic price for glottoplasty procedure is between 1500-2000€ in Europe, and between $2000-3000 in US. There are more than 100 ENT doctors in Europe alone, who did the training and do this procedure on a regular basis. The number in US must be about similar. So there aren't just two or three doctors who do this. But there are two doctors who promote themselves very well, and thanks to youtube and websites like this, they are known in the online trans "community". Which is why they are able to charge $7,000 or $8,000, because there are people who are willing to pay them. It's a simple, very straightforward procedure, and if you go to your nearest city and nearest ENT doctor who specializes in phonosurgery, it's likely he/she had done hundreds of this surgeries, or they can give you a contact to their colleague who had done so.
I'm not exactly sure who in the USA does this but I mean the same can be said of any surgery such as SRS but there are a few surgeons that people go to because they are known for good results.
That said Dr Haben isn't too expensive and he is in Syracuse NY so no overseas travel is necessary.
And yes the surgeon can charge $3000 but there is also hospital and anesthesia cost.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 20, 2015, 11:27:14 PM
Thank you for this so much! You are an inspiration to me big time. You have a beautiful voice now.
Aww thanks. :) I'm just hoping to help, because I've been there. It was a very discouraging thing for me just last year. I went on a trip with a friend, my first time just going full-time, and I passed fine visually.. but I didn't talk to anybody unless I was alone and absolutely had to, and I just kept it quiet and concise. So, I'm just glad I kept at it and worked on it. Especially now that the estrogen has warped my lil mind and made me a lot more talkative and social, lol. I think if I just stopped talking it would be difficult for me now.
I also made another recording, just touching on a few other points that may or may not be helpful.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Xo98t4bjH2
I without a doubt consider my voice to be my weakest facet of my transision, I have watched and tried a dozen videos two or three voice training regiments and I even payed more than I could reasonably afford for voice lesson and have seen only the slightest improvement. I truly hate it and have to keep this post short or I will get myself into a self hateing rant over it. I am forced by my jobs to talk to people pretty much constantly, that said just about everyone from my doctor, to friends, to my therapist and random people I talk about it keep telling me my voice is not too bad.
I try and work on it, but when i am tired or upset or excited or talking to friends or family I have trouble keeping things up and always fall back into doing nothing or even pushing it deeper just to be heard. Its tough to sweetly and feminienly scream at a room full of talking people to find out who the heck ordered pizza.
Serena
Quote from: iKate on November 21, 2015, 12:22:11 AM
I'm not exactly sure who in the USA does this but I mean the same can be said of any surgery such as SRS but there are a few surgeons that people go to because they are known for good results.
That said Dr Haben isn't too expensive and he is in Syracuse NY so no overseas travel is necessary.
And yes the surgeon can charge $3000 but there is also hospital and anesthesia cost.
I'm shure there are at least 10 other ENT doctors in a NY area who are performing glottoplasty on a regular basis. Trans patients are less than 1% of patients who are treated by this procedure.
I meant $2000 - $3000 as a full price, anesthesia and all fees included, not just surgeons fee. Most ENT doctors who specialize in phonosurgery are in health care institutions, not in private business. They get paid monthly salary, not $2000 surgeons fee for every surgery done. It's basically free in Europe, because it's covered by insurance as androphonia treatment (speach therapy included). Everybody with decent insurance in US should also have it covered, because it's not trans-specific surgery. Because people don't know how common this procedure is (for the last 15 years), and don't even bother visiting the nearest phonosurgical specialist for a little info at least, I think they should watch youtube videos and fly to South Korea and pay them very well.
Right now my voice is my most hated feature. My voice is very deep (think James Earl Jones), so I try to limit my speaking when I am talking with strangers. There are times where I can raise my pitch to maybe a Katherine Hepburn level, but I am unable to get adequate volume. I am somewhat fortunate that I have a wicked surgical scar on my neck from a biopsy around 20 years ago. I can get away with blaming that for my voice, but I am still not happy with it.
Quote from: iKate on November 21, 2015, 12:22:11 AM
I'm not exactly sure who in the USA does this but I mean the same can be said of any surgery such as SRS but there are a few surgeons that people go to because they are known for good results.
That said Dr Haben isn't too expensive and he is in Syracuse NY so no overseas travel is necessary.
And yes the surgeon can charge $3000 but there is also hospital and anesthesia cost.
Hmm... I live less than two hours from Syracuse.
Quote from: Lagertha on November 21, 2015, 04:21:16 AM
I'm shure there are at least 10 other ENT doctors in a NY area who are performing glottoplasty on a regular basis. Trans patients are less than 1% of patients who are treated by this procedure.
I meant $2000 - $3000 as a full price, anesthesia and all fees included, not just surgeons fee. Most ENT doctors who specialize in phonosurgery are in health care institutions, not in private business. They get paid monthly salary, not $2000 surgeons fee for every surgery done. It's basically free in Europe, because it's covered by insurance as androphonia treatment (speach therapy included). Everybody with decent insurance in US should also have it covered, because it's not trans-specific surgery. Because people don't know how common this procedure is (for the last 15 years), and don't even bother visiting the nearest phonosurgical specialist for a little info at least, I think they should watch youtube videos and fly to South Korea and pay them very well.
What scared me about going to a local surgeon is someone I know who did go to a local surgeon in NYC and she sounds like almost all air now. They really screwed her up.
So yeah, the proven results did encourage me to fly to Korea and it all worked out in the end.
For me, I have one body, one voice and it's worth paying for a good, proven result.
Quote from: iKate on November 21, 2015, 06:38:02 AM
What scared me about going to a local surgeon is someone I know who did go to a local surgeon in NYC and she sounds like almost all air now. They really screwed her up.
So yeah, the proven results did encourage me to fly to Korea and it all worked out in the end.
For me, I have one body, one voice and it's worth paying for a good, proven result.
I met someone in person who went to Yeson, and she had completely messed up voice after surgery (one year post-op at the time). Which doesn't mean that most of Yeson patients end up with terrible result, in fact it's the opposite.
I went to consult a local ENT phonosurgical specialist (in a small city, 25-times smaller than NY)... He had done around 400 glottoplasty procedures in the past 7-8 years or so, on patients with various conditions. During consultation I had a chance to hear pre-op/post-op recordings of about 30 cis-female patients with androphonia, and 6 trans-female patients. I could hear many more examples from cis-female patients, but there really wasn't a need to hear more than I did. I heard different range of results, most of them were great, some of them were less so, but it was explained why and what was the condition and reason behind it.
You can't really pay for a good, proven result, because there are no guarantees with any surgery or with any surgeon. You pay for your expectations... which worked out fantastic for you, and good enough for most other Yeson patients. Some had been less lucky, but it happens with any glottoplasty procedure, even to the most experienced specialists. But it is usually because of pre-existing conditions, and any expert will make their patient aware of this, and related risks.
I would never consider having this procedure done by someone who doesn't have enough experience. But it is generally very safe and simple procedure, with expected results in most cases.
Well that's pretty good to know. I hope more take advantage of such a widely available local option because most haven't heard of it. But maybe this can encourage more local surgeons to advertise that they do it.
But as I said, no regrets here.
As for insurance coverage, it does vary. It may be covered by some but some will deny coverage based on it being classified as plastic surgery. That may be changing though but as it is some don't even cover SRS.
Quote from: iKate on November 21, 2015, 07:38:36 AM
maybe this can encourage more local surgeons to advertise that they do it.
I think that's a good thing. Regardless if they raise the price along with it or not. The thing is, most ENT doctors who specialize in this really aren't in the private business, and most view this as a health care (which is not to be advertised, but available to those who need help).
Quote from: iKate on November 21, 2015, 07:43:22 AM
As for insurance coverage, it does vary. It may be covered by some but some will deny coverage based on it being classified as plastic surgery. That may be changing though but as it is some don't even cover SRS.
Yeson calls it plastic surgery. I think most specialists wouldn't call androphonia treatment elective plastic surgery. Correct classification might be the difference when it comes to insurance companies. If you classify it as an elective voice feminization surgery, I can see why most insurance companies wouldn't want to be a part of that.
I'm a guy and isn't happy with my voice. Since I hasn't got voice change, I sound too childish or feminine. That's very annoying. I'm not happy with my look either. I'm pre-everything. But even I hate my voice, I talk a lot. It's because I think it's important to talk due social situation and school. I hate listening to my voice, but talking is so very important. All the other guys in my class has been in the voice change a while and I'm jealous at them. Some of them got hairs at their legs as well. But my legs are bald. :(
Quote from: Lagertha on November 21, 2015, 08:01:30 AM
I think that's a good thing. Regardless if they raise the price along with it or not. The thing is, most ENT doctors who specialize in this really aren't in the private business, and most view this as a health care (which is not to be advertised, but available to those who need help).
That would be the case in Europe but not here. Many if not most doctors operate independently but some are affiliated with hospitals and clinics. It is especially a problem with billing when determining who is in and out of network.
Health care is a booming business here and all sorts of surgery is prominently advertised here, including plastic surgery, bariatric for weight loss and even erectile dysfunction, abortion and other reproductive care. We have drug companies splattering ads for drugs all over prime time TV too.
QuoteYeson calls it plastic surgery. I think most specialists wouldn't call androphonia treatment elective plastic surgery. Correct classification might be the difference when it comes to insurance companies. If you classify it as an elective voice feminization surgery, I can see why most insurance companies wouldn't want to be a part of that.
Dr Kim actually wrote a comprehensive androphonia diagnosis on my medical certificate which I received when discharged, so that is incorrect.
Over here in the end it is the insurance companies and regulators who decide what is paid for and most insurers would classify it as elective cosmetic surgery, for now. There are really no regulations mandating coverage for transgender related surgery and the few guidelines that we do have only recommend hormones and SRS. Some insurers even have explicit exclusions for "gender or sex change procedures." Maybe in the future we can get that but based on the current legislative climate I doubt it would happen within the next year or two.
That said some companies are offering transition related health coverage as part of their efforts to support LGBT employees and to attract more diverse talent.
I get very frustrated with my voice :P my talking voice isn't the lowest, but still very man-like, and I can't seem to change it without sounding like mini mouse :-/
but what really makes me crazy is my singing voice, what is coming out of my mouth totally is mismatched from what I look like.
I was the singer in a band for years and sang with a deep gruff voice. I kinda retired for a while and I'm getting back into it, but I haven't found my voice yet. I replied on another thread here about someone who is hoping to get a great female singing voice, saying when I get depressed about it I just listen to Nico sing (she had a low deep voice), last night I was messing around in my studio and started playing "all tomorrows parties" and I think I may have found my voice lol
in all the work we put into a higher pitch, we have to remember, it's timber breath and inflection that make the voice sound male or female :)
now, if only my talking voice didn't sound so manly :P
xox, Candi
My pitch ranges between 200-275 hz when speaking, and Pre transition I had a typical low male voice. I haven't had any surgery, just some voice coaching, plus I transitioned in 2007, so the old voice has been completely replaced.
Surgery typically doesn't magically make your singing voice into a female one so that one you have to train for.
I think hormones do more for the voice than is currently accepted theory.
I have to agree with iKate, seems like it had a bit of an impact for me. However, I am still not fully satisfied with my speaking voice. However, I am just scared that if I do go under the knife that results may not be as good as what iKate got from her VFS in SKorea.
Here's a sample of my speaking voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1EsTg4qru9G
Quote from: iKate on November 21, 2015, 12:28:56 PM
Surgery typically doesn't magically make your singing voice into a female one so that one you have to train for.
I think hormones do more for the voice than is currently accepted theory.
Quote from: April_TO on November 21, 2015, 01:59:57 PM
I have to agree with iKate, seems like it had a bit of an impact for me. However, I am still not fully satisfied with my speaking voice. However, I am just scared that if I do go under the knife that results may not be as good as what iKate got from her VFS in SKorea.
Here's a sample of my speaking voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1EsTg4qru9G
I like the voice. It's a mid range feminine voice and contains enough inflection to sound feminine. Surgery would raise the pitch but I don't see a need for surgery as the voice should pass the telephone test. Ikate's before voice was sing song and very expressive. The surgery gave her an out of the box voice that didn't need therapy to sound right. The first time I heard her post surgical voice, I couldn't understand where it came from and then she posted her original voice and I understood.
"Does anyone else just get really frustrated by their voice"
AB - SO - Bloody - LUTELY!!!!
Do I WHAT??
The trouble my voice has got me into is unbelievable. You should hear some of the things it says. No, when I mean yes; yes when I mean no. And as for those porky-pies it tell the constable when he's caught me speeding. Where does it dream up those stories? My voice has a mind of it's very own.
Geez if there's an operation that can fix this (apart from a lobotomy) I'm in. Fix me up.
Speak to you as soon as I'm out of jail.
Huggs
Catherine
Quote from: Catherine Sarah on November 21, 2015, 02:40:54 PM
"Does anyone else just get really frustrated by their voice"
AB - SO - Bloody - LUTELY!!!!
Do I WHAT??
The trouble my voice has got me into is unbelievable. You should hear some of the things it says. No, when I mean yes; yes when I mean no. And as for those porky-pies it tell the constable when he's caught me speeding. Where does it dream up those stories? My voice has a mind of it's very own.
Geez if there's an operation that can fix this (apart from a lobotomy) I'm in. Fix me up.
Speak to you as soon as I'm out of jail.
Huggs
Catherine
How about removing your tongue or stitching up you lips? I have also heard about a procedure where they wire you teeth together. Then again, there is always a big cork.
Thanks for coming to the rescue Dena,
Quote from: Dena on November 21, 2015, 02:47:08 PM
How about removing your tongue or stitching up you lips? I have also heard about a procedure where they wire you teeth together. Then again, there is always a big cork.
Tried all those, but that wretched voice of mine learnt how to use my nose and ear cavities to get it's vile message out.
Can you imagine the embarrassment walking down the street with this voice belting out at top C, "Get me out of here, she's stitched me in"
Speak to you as soon as I pluck my brows.
Huggs
Catherine
@ April_TO your voice is great! totally passes :D
I won't post mine, I KNOW it doesn't pass :'(
xox, Candi
April_TO said...
QuoteHere's a sample of my speaking voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1EsTg4qru9G
Totally female. I like the description I read in this thread - does it pass the phone test? I would definitely call you "miss" on the phone.
Instead of posting my high-pitch practice voice that I don't actually use, I am going to post my most natural conversational voice even though I don't think it passes at all - I have never been gendered female on the phone.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1DQf7b6ta1c
Someone told me today I shouldn't worry about my voice because it sounds fine but I don't believe them at all and think my voice just sounds so masculine and it probably like throws people off when they're talking to me. Thoughts? Brutal honesty please.
Quote from: April_TO on November 21, 2015, 01:59:57 PM
I have to agree with iKate, seems like it had a bit of an impact for me. However, I am still not fully satisfied with my speaking voice. However, I am just scared that if I do go under the knife that results may not be as good as what iKate got from her VFS in SKorea.
Here's a sample of my speaking voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1EsTg4qru9G
I don't think you need surgery whatsoever you sound great.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 21, 2015, 05:50:20 PM
Instead of posting my high-pitch practice voice that I don't actually use, I am going to post my most natural conversational voice even though I don't think it passes at all - I have never been gendered female on the phone.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1DQf7b6ta1c
Someone told me today I shouldn't worry about my voice because it sounds fine but I don't believe them at all and think my voice just sounds so masculine and it probably like throws people off when they're talking to me. Thoughts? Brutal honesty please.
It could use some improvement. You need to get Praat for your pc or PitchLab for mobile devices and check you pitch. Compare it agains the link If you can, target 220 Hz but if that's a stretch, go for 190 Hz or above. You are using inflection and your voice isn't all that low but pitch is why it's failing the telephone test. In person, your looks override what people hear in the voice so they will gender you female from your appearance.
http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/
Quote from: Dena on November 21, 2015, 06:09:59 PM
It could use some improvement. You need to get Praat for your pc or PitchLab for mobile devices and check you pitch. Compare it agains the link If you can, target 220 Hz but if that's a stretch, go for 190 Hz or above. You are using inflection and your voice isn't all that low but pitch is why it's failing the telephone test. In person, your looks override what people hear in the voice so they will gender you female from your appearance.
http://www.nyspeechandvoicelab.net/transgender/voice-feminization/
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Yg2S6wxem9
So I can get my voice around 190hz but I just think it sounds so forced and fake that I am highly reluctant to speak like that around other people until I can somehow get it to sound more natural.
Thanks Rachel :) now for my feedback - I believe if you continue with this pace with an emphasis on inflection and just making more your voice more airy (can't remember the technical term they use for that) I believe I would consider it Female voice on the lower end of the spectrum.
I once saw a youtube video where you should always feel your adams apple and it has to be consistently on an upward position to produce a more feminine voice. She said you may sound unnatural when you hear yourself talk. However, always ask a friend or post a voice recording here so we can give you another feedback.
Nonetheless, I think it's progress.
Hugs,
April
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 21, 2015, 05:50:20 PM
Instead of posting my high-pitch practice voice that I don't actually use, I am going to post my most natural conversational voice even though I don't think it passes at all - I have never been gendered female on the phone.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1DQf7b6ta1c
Someone told me today I shouldn't worry about my voice because it sounds fine but I don't believe them at all and think my voice just sounds so masculine and it probably like throws people off when they're talking to me. Thoughts? Brutal honesty please.
Thanks again Dena, PJ and Candi xoxo
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 21, 2015, 06:23:57 PM
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Yg2S6wxem9
So I can get my voice around 190hz but I just think it sounds so forced and fake that I am highly reluctant to speak like that around other people until I can somehow get it to sound more natural.
Right out the gate, this voice is much more feminine sounding. You still have enough inflection that it sound feminine. Between the two voices I think the second one will work better for you and you shouldn't fear it.
Hi Candi, I'm sure with practice it will improve. Why dont you post it here so we can at least give you some feedback :)
xoxo
Quote from: Candi.Krol on November 21, 2015, 03:37:09 PM
@ April_TO your voice is great! totally passes :D
I won't post mine, I KNOW it doesn't pass :'(
xox, Candi
Quote from: Dena on November 21, 2015, 07:00:19 PM
you shouldn't fear it.
I think I do have a lot of fears associated with using a higher-pitched voice. I don't know why. I feel less comfortable speaking like that around people who knew me pre-transition because I dont want them to think I am just faking it. I cant explain it. I just have these psychological hangups about it that I default to the lower pitch. I feel like I am so close to making the switch over to the second voice in natural conversation - I feel like I am almost there but I struggle to connect the voice I do in practice with the voice I do in conversation.
It is but natural to feel that way since you are not used to hearing yourself in a much higher pitched voice. Thats why sometimes when we look at ourselves in the mirror we still see the old us when others don't see it anymore because our mind I think is just wired this way.
Be strong!
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 21, 2015, 07:10:32 PM
I think I do have a lot of fears associated with using a higher-pitched voice. I don't know why. I feel less comfortable speaking like that around people who knew me pre-transition because I dont want them to think I am just faking it. I cant explain it. I just have these psychological hangups about it that I default to the lower pitch. I feel like I am so close to making the switch over to the second voice in natural conversation - I feel like I am almost there but I struggle to connect the voice I do in practice with the voice I do in conversation.
When I first started speaking with my female voice in public, I knew it wasn't that good, but I allowed myself to have a steep learning curve, and I put other peoples' feeling about it on the back burner, because I was determined to have a good voice, and I wasn't going to let anyone hold me back.
Quote from: RachelsMantra on November 21, 2015, 07:10:32 PM
I think I do have a lot of fears associated with using a higher-pitched voice. I don't know why. I feel less comfortable speaking like that around people who knew me pre-transition because I dont want them to think I am just faking it...
yeah, that's totally how I feel.
but is a cis woman faking it by wearing make-up to look like the woman in magazines?
same thing no?
I don't feel I'm faking it by not wearing jeans and a t-shirt, putting on a skirt and top instead. I don't feel I'm faking it by going on HRT to feminize my body and mind (as if that needs more feminizing lol).
Intellectually I see all this stuff as the same thing. I wish I could just get over the voice thing :P
I've only just started to play with a new talking voice... last time (I spent most of my adult life in a skirt, but I stopped a while back due to crappy stuff, but I'm back now) last time I noticed my voice went softer and a bit higher without thinking... I think unconsciously I was adapting and trying to fit in... it's happening a bit this time as well, but I think I'm going to actually try to work on it this time.
I'm more concerned with my singing voice, as that's what I do :P
Quote from: April_TO on November 21, 2015, 07:07:36 PM
Hi Candi, I'm sure with practice it will improve. Why dont you post it here so we can at least give you some feedback :)
xoxo
I will, as soon as I make a bit of an effort. :)
xox, Candi
Not to sound mean or dumb . but personally I cold care less about my voice. I do fine just going softly and maybe an octave higher and no one has said anything except this gorgeous hunk of a cashier yesterday that kept asking me to repeat myself.
This is a painful topic for me too. :(
Long story short, I developed a basso profondo range during puberty. Being ignorant of ability to actually make my voice sound female, I spent almost two decades doing nothing to explore my luck of having 2,5 octaves of clean voice. Since I also stopped singing long ago, I did lose part of range both up and down.
Now I am training sparsely. Sometimes I have success of a passing voice, enough that people stop clocking me as I pretend to be talking on a phone call. Sometimes I just can't nail it, and that are ugly times when I get chuckles. : ((((
If the surgery option was safe and predictable, I would have gone for it unreservedly, if safely possible before HRT*. Voice training is going to be much work and much further prodding of the dysphoria.
* - As HRT is waited for ages here, whilst the surgery would be outsourced and done elsewhere
I sound like Lemmy from Motorhead. I hated my voice but now I accept it's part of my character like being tall and having green eyes.
Quote from: big kim on November 22, 2015, 03:46:17 AM
I sound like Lemmy from Motorhead. I hated my voice but now I accept it's part of my character like being tall and having green eyes.
It would be nice if I just accepted that I will always have a deep voice but I know also that I could benefit from more vocal training so I persist in this endeavor to feminize my voice.
Quote from: April_TO on November 21, 2015, 01:59:57 PM
I have to agree with iKate, seems like it had a bit of an impact for me. However, I am still not fully satisfied with my speaking voice. However, I am just scared that if I do go under the knife that results may not be as good as what iKate got from her VFS in SKorea.
Here's a sample of my speaking voice:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1EsTg4qru9G
Oh stop it!!! I've talked to you so many times over the phone and I never heard anything but a woman. You pretty much pass right away. I know we can be insecure but you're fine.
LOL - thanks sweets.
Quote from: iKate on November 22, 2015, 11:19:18 AM
Oh stop it!!! I've talked to you so many times over the phone and I never heard anything but a woman. You pretty much pass right away. I know we can be insecure but you're fine.
I do get quite frustrated with it at times. I'm happy with it a lot of the time but it's so...inconsistent. Still working on it though.
I honestly stopped caring. For me it's a "I am who I am" thing, I don't have terribly bad dysphoria, I'm tom-boyish (I ride quads and mx bikes), and I'm completely okay with all of the above. However, I definitely would like to get rid of these awful sunken eyes that I'm not only genetically predisposed to, but that were caused from years of boozing and depression; I'll take that over VFS any day.