Transcribing vocal expression from polyphonic music

A method for transcribing vocal expressions such as vibrato, glissando, and kobushi separately from polyphonic music is described. The expressions appear as fluctuation in the fundamental frequency contour of the singing voice. They can be used for search and retrieval of music and for expressive singing voice synthesis based on singing style since they strongly reflect the individuality of the singer. The fundamental frequency contour of the singing voice is estimated using the Viterbi algorithm with limitation from a corresponding note sequence. Next, the notes are aligned with the fundamental frequency sequence temporally. Finally, each expression is identified and parameterized in accordance with designed rules. Experiments demonstrated that this method can transcribe expressions in the singing voice from commercial recordings.