Optimizing choir sound balance through simulated annealing: A computational method for improving ensemble performance

Abstract

Choral music, as a collective art form, achieves harmonious and rich musical effects through multi-voice coordination and cooperation. However, sound balance issues often affect the quality of choir singing. Traditional methods mainly rely on subjective adjustments by conductors and vocal teachers, lacking consistency, objectivity, and adaptability. To address this issue, this article proposed a choir sound balance optimization model based on simulated annealing (SA) algorithm. The experiment included sound data collection, environmental characteristic measurement, and evaluation index setting, which verified the effectiveness of this method in dealing with different voice parts and complex environmental factors. The outcomes demonstrated that the simulated annealing algorithm significantly reduced the standard deviation of the volume and frequency of each voice and improved the balance of the volume and frequency. In all scenarios, the volume standard deviation of the simulated annealing adjustment method was smaller or equal to the standard deviation of the conventional adjustment method. The standard deviation of the simulated annealing adjustment method was always the lowest among all voice parts and time windows. The average frequency standard deviation of the four voice parts decreased by 51.21% and 31.70% in indoor environments, 52.10% and 30.96% in semi-open environments, and 49.25% and 29.49% in outdoor environments, respectively. The subjective evaluation results of users further verified the effectiveness of the model, and various listeners gave high ratings to the adjusted volume balance and overall sound quality. This indicates that the method has broad application potential and can cope with diverse practical performance environments. The research results of this article provide a scientific sound balance optimization tool for choir groups, which can help choir conductors and sound engineers achieve higher levels of sound balance and harmony in actual performances.