[DECtalk] TEST

Blake Roberts beroberts at hughes.net
Mon Jun 27 20:57:28 EDT 2011


I agree 100% with both Alex's and Snoopi's comments. Dectalk SAPI needs to
both sing and screen-read for some very important reasons.
 
First, when a new version of Windows comes out, it is possible the Speak
windows will no longer work. If/when that happens, everyone who makes
Dectalk sing wil experience a tragedy. Second, all Dectalk users with any
disability will have equal access to the synth functionality for years to
come. Finally, limiting functionality in Dectalk SAPI by disabling access to
some parameters will mean Dectalk can no longer act. I made a multi-voice
skit years ago in which parameters in the speak window were modified to make
new voices. In one segment, I had Betty tell a story. I changed her head
size and changed her voice to sound like the characters, both a little girl
and her mother. In other words, I turned one voice into three.
 
In conclusion, the Dectalk SAPI needs to have all the functionality
available within the Speak windows so that everyone can sing, act and do
whatever they wish both now and for decades to come.
Blake
 
 


  _____  

From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com
[mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Alex H.
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 7:51 PM
To: dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] TEST


OK, here's my thoughts on what's going on here:

I love the fact that we're able to make DECTalk sing, some people like it
just as a screen reader voice, or in the case of NWAA they use DT for
weather broadcasts. In short, dT is used for singing and non-singing acts
alike. It's important though to keep in mind that disabled people who may
not be able to sing need this to express their arts in music, write songs
and perform, etc. Removing it on the basis of saying 'it's for screen
readers' is inaccurate and, in my opinion, not necessary. As you may or may
not be aware, there's a non-classic version of SAPI DT flying around in the
Interwebs, and it's possible to use it with a screen reader, and make it
sing. So that argument is tosh, quite frankly.

I do think singing being enabled is important and don't really understand
why it's going to be disabled.

Also, let me clear something up, yet again (already stated above for any
doubts to be banished that this is possible), before it gets all tangled and
messy as is often the case with this sort of thing. It is possible to get a
DECTalk SAPI working with screen readers - most screen readers support SAPI5
as an option so this isn't an issue. It is also possible to have the same
synth sing, or operate with other software not that of the screen reader.
For instance, Microsoft annah works with JAWS, NVDA, and Window-Eyes, three
screen readers. It also worsk with TTSApp.exe, an external utility that
sends text strings to SAPI5 voices using a simple GUI interface. It's
possible and has been happening for the invention of SAIP4/SAPI5. So there.
 I think somewhere down the line a developer/somebody or other is thinking
that it's one or the other - it sings or it gets used with screen readers.
It is possible to do both. That is, one could hypothetically install the DT
SAPI, use it with their favorite screen reader, then turn around and pipe
text directly into it using a utility like TTSApp.exe. You usually wouldn't
get a version of DECTalk to sing using a screen reader, since these programs
use an array of punctuation filters and it's mostly a failed experiment.
E.g., try putting phonemic text into an email and read it with MobileSpeak
on your smartphone. It won't work, and will just spit back the text with all
the brackets and <> stuff spoken and phonemes will not be read properly.

In conclusion, it is possible to market a SAPI dectalk that sings and
satisfies the needs of screen reader users at the same time. There's no
special rocket science wankery which needs to be done or anything, if it
works with singing and can also speak text, and it's compliant with SAPI
standards, what exactly is the problem? I don't really know where the
confusion of having DECTalk sing and being operable with screen readers came
up. Do people seriously think that a version of DT that is being used with
screen readers means it can't sing? Such foolish thinking. They're not even
connected. Of course you should be able to pipe text into a DT synth and
have it come back singing as long as the punctuation doesn't get all screwed
up - see my comments above. Now, here's the clincher. If somebody goes in
and purposefully messes with the DT engine and makes it so it cannot sing,
regardless of parameters and input methods, then of course it's not going to
sing, and it's not true DECTalk. If the damn synth supports it, make it
happen. I'm tired of this "features being disabled" crap. Just give me my
synth for a decent [low] price, let me do as I will with it, but for pete's
sake don't disable functions because of misfed information or assumptions
without checking on this list! After all, this is probably where a good
chunk of customers for this synth will hear about its status - through this
list and its members, and the word will spread, etc. If we get jerked around
and hear stuff is going to be intentionally disabled/be one voice/any other
trickery, it's not worth a CENT to me. Honestly, why, would, you, do, more,
work, for, yourself, when you don't need to! If the voices work, if it's
classic sounding, just sell it! Don't fiddle with it and disable features
for the heck of it.

Hopefully, I've repeated myself enough and walked circles around this issue
and clarified for the people in charge of this stuff that, once again, you
can sing and screenread with the same voice. Maybe not at the same time, but
it's posslbe quite easily.

Respectfully (but a little tired),
Faithful DECTalk User

On 6/27/2011 6:54 PM, Blake Roberts wrote: 

The majority of Dectalk users use Dectalk for singing, 90-95 percent.
Singing is the primary reason most people use Dectalk these days. I know
people on the Internet who love hearing Dectalk because of its singing
ability, even though they have no desire to get a Dectalk product. Dectalk
singing has been enjoyed by many people for years and still is. Making
Dectalk sing was very important to Dennis Klat. 
Blake 

From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com
[mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of FRIDO ORDEMANN
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 6:34 PM
To: DECtalk Discussions
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] TEST


There are other users of DECtalk than those who use it for singing.

From: "Dectalk at aol.com" <mailto:Dectalk at aol.com>   <mailto:Dectalk at aol.com>
<Dectalk at aol.com>
To: dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
Sent: Mon, June 27, 2011 2:10:43 PM
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] TEST


Actually I was scared I was removed for exploding on the list last night.  I
also find it odd that Corine never apologized for her misleading post.  I'm
still in total shock at how her post was worded.  And to post that on the
list when we all have a speak window or other form of Dectalk.  Heck, if I
did have a singing SAPI, why would anyone buy her non-singing version? 
 
That post just totally made no sense to me.  I still feel bad about my
response, but I was and still am angry. 
 
 
SNOOPI BOTTEN 
 
In a message dated 6/27/2011 1:22:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com writes:

Your message came through. It's all good.

Alex

On 6/27/2011 12:58 PM, Dectalk at aol.com wrote: 

My mail got too full, so I'm just making sure everything is ok.
 
 
SNOOPI BOTTEN 
  

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