[DECtalk] Any news?

Brandon Misch bmisch2002 at gmail.com
Wed May 4 19:13:22 EDT 2011


sounds like what 4.6.7 would sound like and i thought someone said this would sound like 4.6.7. either that or 4.6.4. Wonder if this is going to be released as is or what? 

On May 4, 2011, at 7:08 PM, Blake Roberts wrote:

> Brandon, I honestly don't know. I was told the SAPI and speak window are
> based on Dectalk 4.3. However, as list members have figured out, the demo
> sounds nothing like the Dectalk 4.3 loved by many on this list.
> Blake 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com
> [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Brandon Misch
> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 6:56 PM
> To: DECtalk Discussions
> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Any news?
> 
> wich version was the demo based off of? 
> 
> On May 4, 2011, at 6:48 PM, Blake Roberts wrote:
> 
>> Raymond,
>> All speak windows in existance include Dectalk voices. The only 
>> differences are in version and quality of the voices.
>> Blake
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com 
>> [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Raymond Grote
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 5:47 PM
>> To: DECtalk Discussions
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Any news?
>> 
>> Which Dectalk does the Speak window work with?
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Blake Roberts" <beroberts at hughes.net>
>> To: "'DECtalk Discussions'" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 4:52 PM
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Any news?
>> 
>> 
>>> Thanks everyone for the feedback thus far about the SAPI Dectalk 
>>> version referred to as 4.3. Keep it coming! You guys have come to 
>>> some of the conclusions that Snoopi and I have experienced as testers.
>>> 
>>> The current SAPI Dectalk definitely needs fixing. As a number of list 
>>> members have said, most of the voices sound awful.  I understand that 
>>> some list members find SAPI Dectalk to be somewhat acceptable, as 
>>> each individual has the right to his/her own oppinion. I think most 
>>> of us agree there is room for improvement prior to release and wide
> acceptance.
>>> 
>>> There's something else that I think all of you should be aware of. 
>>> Work has been done on a speak window of the SAPI Dectalk 4.3. Like 
>>> SAPI Dectalk, the speak window definitely needs improvement. There 
>>> are two reasons for this.
>>> First, there is no spken message when an error is encountered, such 
>>> as when Dectalk stops singing. For those of us who are blind, this 
>>> presents a serious problem because we don't know exactly what the 
>>> error is or where it is. The second Speak Window issue is that there 
>>> are no keyboard shortcuts yet for play, stop and pause. The addition 
>>> of keyboard shortcuts was previously pointed out to a programmer 
>>> involved. Snoopi and I were told the aforementioned keyboard 
>>> shortcuts are in the works.
>>> 
>>> As a long-time Dectalkist, I am uncertain if the SAPI Dectalk can be 
>>> made to sing on its own. It is possible that us blind people will 
>>> need to make Dectalk sing using the Speak Window, as has been the 
>>> case in years past.
>>> As
>>> I've said, both SAPI Dectalk and the speak window can benefit from 
>>> improvement.
>>> 
>>> If any list members would like to test out the speak window, write me 
>>> off list and I will send it as a zip file. For people on Gmail, I'll 
>>> come up with some other compression method, such as 7-zip. I am 
>>> making this offer to share the speak window because I think you all 
>>> need to know about both items that  need fixing.
>>> Blake
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com 
>>> [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Raymond Grote
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 4:17 PM
>>> To: DECtalk Discussions
>>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Any news?
>>> 
>>> Heck no. If they're going to release this, then I would feel the same
> way.
>>> But I had always thought this was a test and would sound 
>>> significantly different later?
>>> So were they really planning on releasing it like this?
>>> I really do hope not. As I said in previous posts, someone really 
>>> messsed it up, and we have to fix it somehow, otherwise only people 
>>> who are curious will ever use it.
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> 
>>> From: Dectalk at aol.com
>>> To: dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 1:24 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Any news?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The real question is, would people pay for a partially working SAPI?
>>> I personally wouldn't.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> SNOOPI BOTTEN
>>> 
>>> In a message dated 5/4/2011 1:16:54 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
>>> bmisch2002 at gmail.com writes:
>>> 
>>> you are hearing it wright. some of the voices are good like paul, 
>>> frank, harry, and probably one other voices. if people just want to 
>>> use paul for nvda and other things, it's ok for that but if people 
>>> want to make dectalk do certain things like sing, this isn't as good 
>>> but for people who just want to use it with a screen reader and 
>>> nothing more, it's ok for that.
>>> 
>>> On May 4, 2011, at 1:06 PM, Dectalk at aol.com wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I'm too mad to deal with it.  Blake and I got asked how to make 
>>> Dectalk sing, so we sent them a file.  We both got told that we don't 
>>> know what we're doing.  Then we're told that it will sing with no 
>>> problem,  Um, it won't.  I had Blake send "WE ARE THE WORLD" for the 
>>> simple fact that if they ever get that to sing clear through with no 
>>> feedback, we will have something to work with.
>>> 
>>> As of now, we are working with garbage!  That's why I'm against 
>>> posting samples because this stuff is mostly crap.  They call it 4.3, 
>>> I don't!  This is as far from 4.anything as you can get!
>>> 
>>> Some of these people are on this list.  Maybe they will finally get 
>>> that the gn command on some voices is set too high, the consonant 
>>> sounds are not clearly heard, and ugh I could go on and on.
>>> 
>>> I might not get another SAPI after posting the demo.
>>> I don't care.  This is trash, and I'm tired of being told I'm not 
>>> hearing it right.  I'm glad I'm not alone in my opinion.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> SNOOPI BOTTEN
>>> 
>>> In a message dated 5/4/2011 12:41:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
>>> bmisch2002 at gmail.com writes:
>>> 
>>> i hope you show this sample to those who are telling you that there 
>>> is no problem.
>>> 
>>> On May 4, 2011, at 12:17 PM, Dectalk at aol.com
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> http://pastorsnoopi.twigs76.com/music/SAPI%20DEMO.mp3
>>> 
>>> The above link is the sample that
>>> people wanted.  Blake and I are both told that there is no problem.  
>>> Tell that to our ears.  (YUCK)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> SNOOPI BOTTEN
>>> 
>>> In a message dated 5/4/2011 11:16:00
>>> A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, edbruckert at gmail.com writes:
>>> 
>>> All that means is what you
>>> are sent is not acceptable don't worry it'll be solved I promise at 
>>> this point in my life I need it as much as anybody else
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 10:48
>>> AM, <Dectalk at aol.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Brace yourselves
>>> because I don't think you guys will like it.  The very worst voice is
> Kit.
>>> I'd do the recording for you guys but I really don't want to be 
>>> linked with this pour Dectalk quality.  Have fun guys.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> SNOOPI BOTTEN
>>> 
>>> In a message dated
>>> 5/4/2011 9:10:14 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ratguy at insightbb.com writes:
>>> 
>>> Hi,
>>> 
>>> Here's a
>>> sample text. I assume you can use DECtalk commands in the text? An
>>> MP3 of the
>>> 4.3 speak application performing this exact text can be found at
>>> 
>>> http://www.bluegrasspals.com/dt43sample.mp3
>>> Now here's
>>> the text.
>>> 
>>> [:phoneme
>>> on]
>>> [:np] [:ra
>>> 250]
>>> Hello. This
>>> is the factory default Paul voice.
>>> I'm talking
>>> now with this voice since this is what most people are probably going 
>>> to be using. Let's speed it up a bit.
>>> [:ra 300]
>>> This is
>>> probably how Jayson's JFW would talk normally. Now let's put some 
>>> intonation in there.
>>> [:dv pr 250]
>>> [:dv sr 50]
>>> Okay, this
>>> is how Jayson used to listen to DECtalk back in the good old DOS 
>>> days. With
>>> 4.3 and earlier, if you could get used to this which you would over 
>>> time, this sounds pretty good! It'd take some getting used to again, 
>>> not having had it for so long.
>>> [:np] [:ra
>>> 250]
>>> The rest of
>>> this demo was created a few months ago to compair and test the 
>>> various other factory voices and several custom voices in different 
>>> DECtalk versions.
>>> I will now
>>> test the other voices.
>>> [:nb] I'm
>>> Beautiful Betty, the default female voice.
>>> [:nh] I'm
>>> Huge Harry.
>>> [:nd] I'm
>>> Doctor Dennis.
>>> [:nf] I'm
>>> Frail Frank.
>>> [:nu] I'm
>>> Uppity Ursula.
>>> [:nr] I'm
>>> Rough Rita.
>>> [:nw] I'm
>>> Whispering Wendy.
>>> [:nk] and
>>> I'm Kit the Kid.
>>> [:np]
>>> Now I'll let
>>> the DECtalk manual describe us.
>>> [:np]
>>> Perfect Paul           Standard male voice.
>>> [:nb]
>>> Beautiful Betty Standard female voice.
>>> [:nh]
>>> Huge Harry      Deep male voice.
>>> [:nf]
>>> Frail Frank            Older male voice.
>>> [:nk]
>>> Kit the Kid             Child's voice (about 10 years
>>> old).
>>> [:nr]
>>> Rough Rita      Deep female voice.
>>> [:nu]
>>> Uppity Ursula   Light female voice.
>>> [:nd]
>>> Doctor Dennis   Breathy male voice.
>>> [:nw]
>>> Whispering Wendy Whispery female voice.
>>> 
>>> [:np]
>>> Okay, let's
>>> test a few custom voices.
>>> [:nf] [:dv
>>> br 0 la 0 sr 100 hr 100 ap 150 pr 95] [:ra 220] This is the voice of 
>>> Rimmer from Red Dwarf.
>>> Lister, we
>>> are being tested! I don't know what to do!
>>> [:nf] [:ra
>>> 240] [:dv br 0 hs 95 ap 100 as 100 pr 220 hr 30 sr 30] This is 
>>> Lister.
>>> Rimmer! Come
>>> over here and help me with this new speech synthesizer!
>>> [:np] [:dv
>>> as 0 bf 0 la 20 nf 00 ri 100 sm 0 hr 0 sr 0] [:ra 220] This is Holly.
>>> This is an
>>> important announcement. All persons aboard this ship are to report to 
>>> the voice calibration office at once. That is all.
>>> [:np] [:dv
>>> br 100 lx 100 bf 100 hr 100 sr 100 as 100 qu 100 ap 110 pr 150 sx
>>> 1 la 0]
>>> [:ra 210] This is the voice of the toaster.
>>> I don't know
>>> where this voice calibration office is. Does anyone want some toast?
>>> [:np] [:dv
>>> sm 1 hs 90  br 0 ri 0 la 0] [:ra 250] I'm the cat.
>>> Who says my
>>> voice needs to be calibrated? I want fishies!
>>> [:nd] [:dv
>>> as 0 bf 0 la 20 nf 00 ri 100 hr 0 sr 0] [:ra 220] I'm Queeg 500.
>>> None of you
>>> have any credit, so you may not use the voice calibrator.
>>> [:nu] [:dv
>>> as 1 bf 10 la 30 nf 10 ri 100 sm 50 hr 100 sr 20 ap 130] [:ra 240] 
>>> I'm the newer voice of Holly.
>>> I'm picking
>>> something up. It's another ship. Its name is Deck Talk or something 
>>> very close. They have been conducting an experiment on us all this 
>>> time. That would explain why we've been saying all these silly 
>>> things. I knew I was having trouble finding a record of any voice 
>>> calibration office on Red Dwarf.
>>> 
>>> -----
>>> Original Message -----
>>> From:
>>> "Corine Bickley" <corine.bickley at gallaudet.edu>
>>> To: "DECtalk
>>> Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>>> Sent:
>>> Wednesday, May 04, 2011 7:02 AM
>>> Subject: Re:
>>> [DECtalk] Any news?
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> HI Jayson,
>>>> I will do
>>> that. Could you suggest some sample sentences to synthesize?
>>>> We're
>>> trying to find a way to put a "demo play" button on the Enable
>>>> website so
>>> people can type in any text they'd like to hear, but our
>>>> programmer
>>> hasn't been able to spend time on that project right now.
>>>> corine
>>>> 
>>>> On Tue,
>>> May 3, 2011 at 8:12 PM, Jayson Smith <ratguy at insightbb.com> wrote:
>>>>> Do you
>>> have any audio samples you could share? Maybe I could elaborate on
>>>>> what
>>> people don't like. I pretty much know what DT 4.3 sounds like.
>>>>> Jayson
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----
>>> Original Message -----
>>>>> From:
>>> "Corine Bickley" <corine.bickley at gallaudet.edu>
>>>>> To:
>>> "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>>>>> Sent:
>>> Tuesday, May 03, 2011 7:53 PM
>>>>> Subject:
>>> Re: [DECtalk] Any news?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> i meant -
>>> i can't hear the differences, not being so attuned to the
>>>>>> various
>>> DT versions. i can hear ok, but i'm not clear on the
>>>>>> 
>>> differences in quality.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Tue,
>>> May 3, 2011 at 7:24 PM, Jayson Smith <ratguy at insightbb.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Wo, you
>>> actually got 4.3 working with SAPI? What kind of quality
>>>>>>> 
>>> problems
>>>>>>> are
>>> there?
>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> -----
>>> Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From:
>>> "Corine Bickley" <corine.bickley at gallaudet.edu>
>>>>>>> To:
>>> "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>>>>>>> Sent:
>>> Tuesday, May 03, 2011 6:14 PM
>>>>>>> 
>>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Any news?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Still
>>> waiting for one of the "old" (not chronologically, just in terms
>>>>>>>> of
>>> contact with DT) to send some more versions for testing.
>>>>>>>> 4.3
>>> and 4.67 work in SAPI fine but preliminary listening results
>>>>>>>> 
>>> indicate dissatisfaction.
>>>>>>>> corine
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On
>>> Tue, May 3, 2011 at 2:29 PM, Jayson Smith <ratguy at insightbb.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Okay,
>>> it's broken record time. Anything new going on with the SAPI
>>>>>>>>> 
>>> DECtalk?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>> Haven't heard anything in a while.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>> Jayson
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> 
>>> DECtalk mailing list
>>>>>>>>> 
>>> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>>>> 
>>> http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> 
>>> DECtalk mailing list
>>>>>>>> 
>>> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>>> 
>>> http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> DECtalk
>>> mailing list
>>>>>>> 
>>> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>> 
>>> http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> DECtalk
>>> mailing list
>>>>>> 
>>> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>> 
>>> http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> DECtalk
>>> mailing list
>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
>>> http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
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>>> 
>>> http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
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>>> 
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>>> 
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>>> 
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>>> 
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>> 
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