Human beatboxing : A multi-instrumental pilot

This comparative study aims to describe laryngeal, acoustic, and aerodynamic characteristics of instrumental imitations that is the beatboxed classic kick drum [pã] and snare drum [pëÀ] (PF-snare) by one artist. Beatboxed sounds were produced in isolation and in beatboxed patterns. Aerodynamic (intraoral pressure, oral airflow, and nasal airflow), acoustic, electroglottographic, and laryngoscopic data were acquired. Laryngeal and aerodynamic data show that the classic kick drum is produced as a bilabial voiceless glottalic egressive plosive [p] or as a bilabial voiceless glottalic egressive affricate [pè¡]. The PF-snare was produced as a labial voiceless glottalic egressive affricate [pëÀf]. Sounds in isolation were shorter than those in a pattern. Acoustic analysis revealed high amplitude burst for all realizations that is consistent with ejective realization (i.e., high increasing intraoral pressure). Spectral analysis shows a peak in the low frequencies for [p] as well as for [pëÀf]’s onset but when turning to the fricative offset [f], we noted a peak in high frequencies and a flattening spectrum. Based on the acoustic and aerodynamic data, we discuss the coordination of the articulators and the planification of articulatory commands of the classic kick drum and the PF-snare drum.