[DECtalk] speech synths again (was: DECTalk 5.0?)
Alex H.
linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com
Wed Aug 25 15:13:44 EDT 2010
I think the DECTalk USB should cost less, and Eloquence shoulud be
made into a hardware synth, and there were SAPI5 versions of DECTalk
as well as an Mac port.
Alex
On 8/25/10, Alex Hall <mehgcap at gwi.net> wrote:
> Personally, I would love to see both Eloquence and DT as sapi voices.
> It is a true shame that these are not available anywhere as they would
> let users of any screen reader or self-voicing app use their favorite
> voice.
>
> On 8/25/10, Raymond Grote <musicalman1 at comcast.net> wrote:
>> Sure, use it as you wish. As I say though, what i say isn't facts, it's
>> mostly my opinion, although I try to be accurate.
>> Microsoft also can speed up pretty well but the quality of the voices just
>> annoys me to the point of staying away from them. Eloquence is what I used
>> back when I was in kindergarten just learning how to use a computer. Back
>> then I didn't care how it sounded, I could understand it. I got used to
>> it.
>> I just liked it because it sped up very nicely, had pretty good
>> pronunciation, and was nice an clear at least to my ears. The intonation
>> doesn't bother me now, but I know it bothers many people.
>> As for Dectalk, I just can't get used to that synth. For some reason, I
>> just
>> never really liked it, but many people do. I guess I'm just an opposite
>> type
>> of guy...
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Corine Bickley
>> To: DECtalk Discussions
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 7:28 AM
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] DECTalk 5.0?
>>
>>
>> Thank you, Raymond - very useful feedback! I'm a member of an Acoustical
>> Society standards committee on intelligibility of text-to-speech systems,
>> and we are particularly interested in the opinions of users at high
>> speeds.
>> Is it ok if I pass along your comments to other members of the committee?
>> They are all experts in TTS with many years experience (including Sue
>> Hertz
>> who developed Eloquence :) - she'd love to read you supportive comments
>> about her system).
>> corine
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 12:43 PM, 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
>> >> 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
>> http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>
>
>
> --
> Have a great day,
> Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
> mehgcap at gmail.com; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
> _______________________________________________
> DECtalk mailing list
> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
> http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>
More information about the Dectalk
mailing list