[DECtalk] DECTalk 5.0?

Alex H. linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com
Tue Aug 24 15:34:44 EDT 2010


I realize that people's opinions are different, I personally think
espeak beats a lot of synths, but especially open-source ones.
Eloquence is a decent synth, DECTalk is great, but espeak is an
open-source synth that, given time, will only improve. I remember when
espeak was first introduced using NVDA a few years back, and I didn't
like it. Now, it's improved insanely from that version. I don't really
like the Klatt voices for espeak, but there's some jembs usin gthe
english-us language.
Anyway, this about DECTalk , not espeak...Sorry!

I had this thought concerning DECTalk this morning, it would be really
cool to have Voiceover on the Mac and iPhoens use DECTalk speech as
well as Vocalizer. I don't mind Vocalizer but DECTalk would be sweeeet
on the iPhone!! Evern ooler, somebody making a iSing app, and being
able to play and export waves of DECTalk songs etc.

Alex

On 8/24/10, peter Mahach <pitermach at gmail.com> wrote:
>  make it  people disliking espeak.
> also the newer it goes the more scrooups it does. for instance, in polish,
> when you say the word clipboard, it has this h type sound, like at the
> beginning of the word hat, so instead of saying hlipboard, basically, it
> says shlipboard. and it's getting worse each version. not only in polish I
> hear.
> Also most of the voices, unlike in dectalk or eloquence, where, sure, it's 1
> synth, but most voices are very very distinct and unique. ine  espeak tehy
> really sound almost the same to me.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Blake Roberts" <beroberts at hughes.net>
> To: "'DECtalk Discussions'" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 8:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] DECTalk 5.0?
>
>
>> Jayson,
>> The Espeak synth has a British accent, not Australian. Although I don't
>> like
>> Espeak myself, I respect that Alex and some screen reader users like it.
>> To
>> borrow an old saying "To each his own synth). I think it is wonderful that
>> Espeak supports so many languages and voices can be altered to create new
>> ones. I don't know how to make Espeak voices. I am just fascinated by the
>> variety of Espeak voices created for NVDA. Sorry for going off-topic by
>> responding about Espeak.
>> Blake
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com
>> [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Jayson Smith
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 2:11 PM
>> To: DECtalk Discussions
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] DECTalk 5.0?
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I don't want to turn this into a speech synch flame war, especially since
>> I
>> own this list! But you like Espeak? I can't stand that thing! It has this
>> really weird almost British or Australian accent that's quite pronounced.
>> Jayson
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Alex H." <linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com>
>> To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 1:42 PM
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] DECTalk 5.0?
>>
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I use DECTalk Access32 at about 350 WPM and enjoy it' speech. I also
>>> use the older DECTalk demos at about 300 WPM. I'll say this: If NVDA
>>> had a supported DECTalk driver, I'd be using it more than espeak. And
>>> that's saying something, because espeak is another of my favorite
>>> synths to use. The thing that really makes dectalk great is I can
>>> listen to books for hours with it or work on my PC without getting
>>> tired of the speech. If I did get sikckof a particular voice, I'd just
>>> change it and keep going.
>>>
>>> Alex
>>>
>>> On 8/24/10, Raymond Grote <musicalman1 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I'm not sure if I can answer your question, but I personally don't like
>>>> Dectalk at high speeds. I use Eloquence most of the time, at speeds of
>>>> between 65 and 85 percent, 65 for reading text and 85 for just
>>>> navigating
>>>> around and listening to short things like short IM messages on skype.
>>>> As for how fast this is, I don't really know. But I do know that dectalk
>>>> just doesn't sound good at those speeds, it starts to sounds all garbled
>>>> and
>>>> all the words and syllables start to run together, making it difficult
>>>> for
>>>> me to understand. Eloquence doesn't have this problem.
>>>>
>>>>   ----- Original Message -----
>>>>   From: Corine Bickley
>>>>   To: DECtalk Discussions
>>>>   Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 7:18 AM
>>>>   Subject: Re: [DECtalk] DECTalk 5.0?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   Hi Alex,
>>>>   I am particularly interested in knowing who uses DECtalk for screen
>>>> readers because I'm part of an Acoustical Society's standards committee
>>>> on
>>>> intelligibility of text-to-speech systems. We have a particular interest
>>>> in
>>>> knowing what users of high-speed synthesized speech think, and can
>>>> understand, as most of us on the committee only have experience
>>>> listening
>>
>>>> to
>>>> synthesized speech at conversational speeds. What's your preferred
>>>> speed?
>>>> Might you be willing to advise our committee?
>>>>   thanks for considering - corine
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 7:21 PM, Alex H. <linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>     Hi Corine,
>>>>
>>>>     I use DECTalk mostly on the Windows platform, and when I convert to
>>>>     Linux I'll probably use it as well. I'm a screen reader user, and
>>>> use
>>>>     DECTalk Access32 with JAWS and Window-Eyes. For NVDA (my primary
>>>>     screenreader), there's no supported DECTalk, which is why a SAPI
>>>>     version would be really great.
>>>>
>>>>     My cell phone is a Windows Mobile phone, and I currently use Mobile
>>>>     Speak for Windows Mobile and Fonix Dectalk 4.6.3 that's bundled with
>>>>     Mobile Speak. So in short, I use DECTalk quite a bit.
>>>>
>>>>     I also use DECTalk demos to write songs and gingles, plays, etc.
>>>> It's
>>>>     really quite amusing having a synthesizer that can do so much.
>>>>
>>>>     When I can swing it, I'll look into buying a DECTalk USb and then
>>>> I'll
>>>>     have my favorite speech in a hardware synthesizer. I know, I'm a bit
>>>>     crazy about DECTalk! :)
>>>>
>>>>     Alex
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     On 8/23/10, Corine Bickley <corine.bickley at gallaudet.edu> wrote:
>>>>     > Hi Alex -
>>>>     > I worked with Snoopi at Fonix (and before that at Force), and I'm
>>>> interested
>>>>     > to know how you use DECtalk - for what purposes and on what
>>>> platforms?
>>>>     > corine bickley
>>>>     >
>>>>     >
>>>>     >
>>>>     > On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 1:49 PM, Alex H.
>>>> <linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>     >
>>>>     >> Hi,
>>>>     >>
>>>>     >> Best of luck to you with the CD's and DECTalk. I hope DECTalk
>>>> doesn't
>>>>     >> go by the wayside, it's a great synth and I use it almost
>>>> everyday,
>>>> on
>>>>     >> my phone and my laptops. I'm planning on getting the DECTalk USB
>>>> but
>>>>     >> have yet to find a used one.
>>>>     >>
>>>>     >> Alex
>>>>     >>
>>>>     >> On 8/23/10, Dectalk at aol.com <Dectalk at aol.com> wrote:
>>>>     >> > I don't work with Fonix any more so I can't really  say.  My
>>>> personal
>>>>     >> > opinion is just ask.  I know a sapi5 is possible, I  just don't
>>>> know if
>>>>     >> they
>>>>     >> > ever
>>>>     >> > did one.
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > BUT, let me tell you what my plans are.  I'm  finally on
>>>> facebook
>>>> where
>>>>     >> > more people are getting to know me and my music.   At the end
>>>> of
>>>>     >> September
>>>>     >> > I'm
>>>>     >> > releasing my very first holiday CD.  I'm hoping  it does well.
>>>> I
>>>> have 2
>>>>     >> > Churches that are letting me sell it, a CEO might  buy some for
>>>> his
>>>>     >> company,
>>>>     >> > and I'm hoping for a big sale.  You can't count  on anything,
>>>> but
>>>> I'm
>>>>     >> > hoping.
>>>>     >> > Blake Roberts and I are giving this our best  shot.
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > One of the things I want to get is the Dectalk Kit,  and I
>>>> believe
>>>> it
>>>>     >> sells
>>>>     >> > for $1000.00.  That kit will let me create a Dectalk  sapi 5
>>>> version.  I
>>>>     >> > think I can get the 4.0 kit version but I'm not  sure.  I want
>>>> the
>>>>     >> > oldest
>>>>     >> > version I can get because the new versions  suck!
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > Dectalk is going away because of lake of  interest.  But
>>>> because
>>
>>>> of
>>>> my
>>>>     >> > music, there will always be disabled people  who want to get
>>>> into
>>>>     >> singing.
>>>>     >> > Plus
>>>>     >> > if device companies ever want  Dectalk,  I'll be able to pay
>>>> the
>>>>     >> royalties
>>>>     >> > through this Dectalk kit and  sell the sapi 5 that I create
>>>> with
>>>> the
>>>>     >> > kit.
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > If my September release doesn't generate enough  orders, I'm
>>>> hoping
>>>> it
>>>>     >> will
>>>>     >> > generate a new generation of interest because I'm  planning on
>>>> another
>>>>     >> > CD
>>>>     >> > release next March.
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > My dilemma is, I need a new van because my van is on  it's last
>>>> legs.
>>>>     >> > So
>>>>     >> > sadly the van needs to have priority.  But I'm  hoping to book
>>>> a
>>>>     >> > concert,
>>>>     >> > and
>>>>     >> > if I can do that, I should be fine.  I have  750 friends on
>>>> facebook and
>>>>     >> > growing, so I'm hoping for some  interest.
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > So Dectalk is not gone yet.
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > SNOOPI BOTTEN
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > In a message dated 8/23/2010 1:27:10 A.M. Eastern Daylight
>>>> Time,
>>>>     >> > linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com writes:
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > Hi  Snoopi,
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > Thanks for the info on Dectalk 5.0. I guess I really don't need
>>>> it, I
>>>>     >> > got four other demos plus FonixTalk. Do you think I'd have any
>>>> luck
>>>>     >> > contacting Fonix and requesting the demos?
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > @johnnybrl, I  believe that FonixTalk works with the SAPI5
>>>> engine
>>>> but
>>>>     >> > it needs to be  purchased. It is mentioned in the SDK and
>>>> FonixTalk
>>>>     >> > pages on their site  though. I wish DecTalk had a SAPI version,
>>>> and
>>>>     >> > direct access to the speech  parameters.
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > Alex
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> > On 8/20/10, Ryan Chou  <rc4896153 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>     >> >> wait what is phonix talk and could  someone please send me a
>>>> demo?
>>>>     >> >>
>>>>     >> >> On 8/20/10, Dectalk at aol.com  <Dectalk at aol.com> wrote:
>>>>     >> >>> As far as I know, Dectalk 5.0 was  only a beta  version.  I
>>>> have
>>>> it
>>>>     >> > because
>>>>     >> >>> I worked for  Fonix, but I can't give it  out.  My version
>>>> SUCKS!
>>>>     >> It's
>>>>     >> >>> just
>>>>     >> >>> slightly hard to understand.   If  they fixed it, it needed
>>>> it!
>>>> But I
>>>>     >> >>> would
>>>>     >> >>> never  ever buy it or use it  because they changed a phonetic
>>>> code and
>>>>     >> > did
>>>>     >> >>> a
>>>>     >> >>> few other  changes.
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>> SNOOPI  BOTTEN
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>> In a message dated 8/20/2010  4:07:50 A.M. Eastern Daylight
>>>> Time,
>>>>     >> >>> johnnybrl at gmail.com  writes:
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>> Hi Alex,  Yes I think I've seen that  fonix has made a
>>>> Dectalk
>>>> 5.0 a
>>>>     >> few
>>>>     >> >>> years
>>>>     >> >>> ago,  if  my memory is correct. However, I couldn't find
>>>> where
>>>> you can
>>>>     >> >>>  download a  demo version of it anywhere.
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>> But Yeah  hopefully somebody managed to get  a demo copy
>>>> somewhere.
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>> BTW, I sort of like the fonix talk6  voices,  almost like the
>>>> fonix
>>>>     >> > dectalk
>>>>     >> >>> 4.6.4. And you can  also create wave files in  the program
>>>> too.
>>>>     >> >>> And I was also  wondering, is there a version of fonix talk
>>>> that
>>>> you
>>>>     >> > could
>>>>     >> >>>  use in windows like a Sapi5 engine? Was maybe thinking
>>>> about
>>>> getting
>>>>     >> > it
>>>>     >> >>> to
>>>>     >> >>> use it with NVDA or Jaws.
>>>>     >> >>> -----  Original Message  -----
>>>>     >> >>> From: "Alex H."  <linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com>
>>>>     >> >>> To:   <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>>>>     >> >>> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010  9:29  PM
>>>>     >> >>> Subject: [DECtalk] DECTalk  5.0?
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>>> Hey  all,
>>>>     >> >>>>
>>>>     >> >>>>  Been doing some research, aparently  Fonix made a Dectalk
>>>> 5.0
>>>> before
>>>>     >> >>>>  they started their  FonixTalk synthesizer.
>>>>     >> >>>> Just wondering if anybody's  got  the demo of DECTalk 5.0?
>>>> Can't
>>>> find
>>>>     >> it
>>>>     >> >>>> anywhere  :(
>>>>     >> >>>>
>>>>     >> >>>>  Thx.
>>>>     >> >>>>  Alex
>>>>     >> >>>>   _______________________________________________
>>>>     >> >>>> DECtalk  mailing  list
>>>>     >> >>>>  DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>     >> >>>>   http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>>  _______________________________________________
>>>>     >> >>> DECtalk  mailing  list
>>>>     >> >>> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>     >> >>>  http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>>
>>>>     >> >>  _______________________________________________
>>>>     >> >> DECtalk mailing  list
>>>>     >> >> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>     >> >>  http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>     >> >>
>>>>     >> > _______________________________________________
>>>>     >> > DECtalk  mailing  list
>>>>     >> > DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>     >> > http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> >
>>>>     >> _______________________________________________
>>>>     >> DECtalk mailing list
>>>>     >> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
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>>>>     >>
>>>>     >
>>>>     _______________________________________________
>>>>     DECtalk mailing list
>>>>     DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>     http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> --
>>>>
>>>>
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