VTAR: A Matlab-based computer program for vocal tract acoustic modeling

A Matlab‐based computer program for vocal tract acoustic response calculation (VTAR) has been developed. Based on a frequency‐domain vocal tract model [Z. Zhang and C. Espy‐Wilson, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (2004)], VTAR is able to model various complex sounds such as nasals, rhotics, and liquids. With input in the form of vocal tract cross‐sectional area functions, VTAR calculates the vocal tract acoustic response function and the formant frequencies and bandwidths. The user‐friendly interface allows directed data input for defined categories: vowels, nasals, nasalized sounds, consonant, laterals, and rhotics. The program also provides an interface for input and modification of arbitrary vocal tract geometry configurations, which is ideal for research applications. [Work supported by NIH Grant 1 R01 DC05250‐01.]