The extensive research of Johan Sundberg into the vocal production of opera singers led him to the concept of the "singing format", an additional vocal resonance associated with singing which is different from the spoken sound. This singing formant also aids the opera singer by standing out above the typical orchestral accompaniment.

Sundberg associates the singing formant with lowering the larynx while singing.

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Sundberg's measurments showed that the time averaged energy distribution with frequency was very similar for speech and orchestral music, but that the singing voice exhibited a peak in the range 2000-3000 Hz. This helps the opera singer to be heard above the orchestral ammompaniment. Sundberg called this peak a singing formant.

Distinguishing sounds by formant frequencies