Marko Vanska

Method for converting speech using lossless tube models of vocals tracts

A method of converting speech, in which reflection coefficients are calculated from a speech signal of a speaker. From these coefficients, characteristics of cross-sectional areas of cylinder portions of a lossless tube modelling the speakers vocal tract are calculated. Sounds are identified from those characteristics of the speaker and provided with respective identifiers. Subsequently, differences between the stored characteristics representing at least one sound and respective characteristics representing the same at least one sound are calculated, a second speakers speaker-specific characteristics modelling that speakers vocal tract for the same at least one sound are searched for in a memory on the basis of the identifier of the respective identified sound, a sum is formed by summing the differences and the second speakers speaker-specific characteristics modelling that second speakers vocal tract for the respective same sound, new reflection coefficients are calculated (614) from that sum, and a new speech signal is produced from the new reflection coefficients.