[DECtalk] DECtalk Version Territory

[Jayson Smith]

Hello,
Several years ago we purchased Dectalk Access 32.  I don't know what version
of Dectalk it used, but I believe it came on three disks, and I know it used
Everlock copy protection, if that helps.  With that and all later versions
of Dectalk, I think it's fine but the B sound is a bit weird.  It almost
sounds like it has a bit of an R sound added to it or something.  Like in
the word Bin, Be, Bit, Bell, etc.
Jayson.

----- Original Message -----
From: "nick G" <Nick6489 at andrelouis.com>
To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at jaybird.no-ip.info>
Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 4:15 PM
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] DECtalk Version Territory


> Good for you.  You now understand.  Dectalk 4.60 did sound like that in
all
> of it's incarnations, including that which ships with Window Eyes.
Dectalk
> 4.6 was built by Smart Moduler technologies, the company who took dectalk
> over after digital sold to compaq.  Then, Force came along, and destroyed
> everything in version 4.61.  According to GW, the version in Window Eyes
is
> actually 4.62, esencially all of the "improvements" in 4.61, but with the
> 4.60 voice.  Followin' me?
> Thanks,
> Nick
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "GUI Access" <guiaccess at covad.net>
> To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at jaybird.no-ip.info>
> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 3:09 PM
> Subject: [DECtalk] DECtalk Version Territory
>
>
> Anyone know what version of DECtalk comes with Window-Eyes v4.5?  If
> you dig through the access32.dll file that ships with Window-Eyes,
> you find the following [very interesting] text:
>
> SOFTWARE\GW Micro, Inc.\DECtalk-OEM\4.60\US
> Inc.\DECtalk\4.60\US
>
> Is this really v4.60 of DECtalk?  If so then I'd like to ask the
> following question in hopes that someone on the list will either (1)
> know the answer or (2) know someone who might know the answer.
>
> We all know [or we all should know] that DECtalk v4.61 was crap.
> Anyone who has ever heard this incarnation of DECtalk knows how
> ForceComputers butchered our beloved DECtalk beyond recognition.
> I've always believed that v4.6 of DECtalk is where ForceComputers
> took over and ruined the thing.  I have some version of a v4.6
> updater that puts this horrible DECtalk software on my DECtalk
> Express.  Bottom line is I have always believed all versions of v4.6
> to suck, due to ForceComputers' "improvements."
>
> I also believed that v5.0 of DECtalk is where Fonix took over and
> attempted to make DECtalk sound more like the D.E.C. versions we all
> know and love.  Take the DECtalk USB for example--its running some
> version of v5.0 of the software.  While it doesn't sound 100% like
> the D.E.C. DECtalk, it sure sounds a lot more like it than anything
> ForceComputers ever put out.
>
> For those following along, hang in there 'cause we're about at the
> cusp of this message where I get to my question.
>
> Anyone who has used Window-Eyes v4.5 with the included DECtalk Access
> 32 knows that this version of DECtalk sounds remarkably like the
> D.E.C. DECtalk.  Its not 100% the same--its rather like 98% the same.
> Its closer than the DECtalk USB for example.
>
> OK, so why does Window-Eyes' v4.5 of DECtalk contain version strings
> to the effect of it being v4.60?  Is it possible that there is same
> way in the v4.6 [or v5.0] versions of DECtalk to "turn off" the
> improvements and revert the voice back to the original?
>
> DECtalk v5.0 contains something called hlsyn which stands for
> high-level synthesizer.  The hlsyn component translate 13 or so
> high-level speech parameters into the 48 or so Klatt parameters
> (klsyn) which is what was used in DECtalks prior to v5.0.
>
> I suspect that there might be a way of disabling hlsyn in the newest
> DECtalks to make them only use klsyn, and sound like the old D.E.C.
> DECtalks.  Does anyone know how to do this?  I have not figured it
> out yet.
>
> So, the reason for this babbling is because I suspect that this is
> exactly what Window-Eyes v4.5 is doing with its DECtalk Access 32.
> All the pieces fit together, except for the missing piece which tells
> you how to do it.  Can anyone fill in the missing piece?
>
> Thanks,
>
> GUI Access
>
> _______________________________________________
> DECtalk mailing list
> DECtalk at jaybird.no-ip.info
> http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>
> _______________________________________________
> DECtalk mailing list
> DECtalk at jaybird.no-ip.info
> http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk



-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.5.0 - Release Date: 2/25/05