[DECtalk] how to do gender change in Dectalk?

ebruckert Bruckert edbruckert at gmail.com
Mon Jan 30 10:30:51 EST 2012


          additional information, I forgot to mention that sometime in the
late 80s when Dennis added a female data set to DECtalk the sex option
change from a scaling function to simply selecting a male or female
phonetic base, but in no way can I remember when that occurred.
        As a general comment I alone did the four point X versions of
DECtalk as Dennis was born at that point, so I know them intimately, but
even years ago people would prefer different versions and trying to make
one sound exactly like the other was exceedingly difficult and a lot of it
occurred because of changes in the overall coding that were done not
because we wanted to but because we had to meet evolving programming
standards to keep it running on various tools because if we didn't sell
DECtalk we simply went home and unfortunately economics force the focus
away from the screen reader environment.  I did not like this change but
DECtalk more than once was in survival mode, I am using the latest version
and to say it's on understandable is an exaggeration,
preferring a different version is very understandable. I have no problems
with people saying what I want but understand this is anything but easy
with limited funds, I donate my time but other people cannot and the fact
that I'm going blind and I am not a Windows or SAPI programmer there are
limits to what can be done. But I think junk is an unfair exaggeration.

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 9:14 PM, Jake McMahan <mcmahan.jake at gmail.com>wrote:

> **
>      I have to say, I love the sound of dectalk reader one.  I really want
> this version badly.  I don't care if it will sing, and I don't care about
> anything else.  I love it the way it is.  To me, it's not garbage, it's a
> version of dectalk that I personally like.  I want this version, again.
>
>  *From:* Dectalk at aol.com
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 29, 2012 9:09 PM
> *To:* dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
> *Subject:* Re: [DECtalk] how to do gender change in Dectalk?
>
> Um, Ed, excuse me but Blake and I both heard the latest MP3 samples of
> Dectalk Reader 1.  The speech is not understandable.
>
>
> SNOOPI BOTTEN
>
>  In a message dated 1/29/2012 8:59:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> musicalman1 at comcast.net writes:
>
> Well, I've stated this opinion time and time again, and every time I do,
> people seem to think I'm nuts or that I'm too conservative.
> First off, people are nnot stupid. If they call it Dectalk Reader, then
> who in their right mind will think snoopi's instructions on making it sing,
> will work with a reader of all things?
> And, the Dectalk that Enable has, isn't unusable. there are some on this
> list that like it for what it is. I myself do not, but that's my opinion.
> One man's garbage is another man's treasure...
> This isn't the first time someone released a Dectalk that wasn't a thing
> like what we all know. Force did it, Fonix did it. But everyone still
> stuckw ith Dectalk 4.3 and 4.4. So I don't see why Enable is going to just
> ruin everything. If people don't like it, they will simply not use it just
> like they did with everything else. I do not agree with Enable's motives,
> but I will never tell them their product is garbage. Let's say I tell
> someone on this list their production is garbage. they worked for hours on
> it. They will most likely be glad to have received the high complement?
> Even if it's the worst piece of garbage you ever heard. It's simply not
> anything close to constructive to say it that way. So now Enable just
> releases what they have because some people use it and they've fired those
> who told them off. It's sad but true. They have their faults, we have ours.
> If we don't like them, that's how it is. But I was seriously hoping the
> Enable business was over with. They'd either fix it or they wouldn't. *sigh*
> I continue to hope that Dennis will like what eventually becomes of
> Dectalk. Maybe enable will do something for the better, or someone else
> will. But we have no hopeful dectalk future, which is sad. I believe all of
> us, that being Enable and those of us who were very harsh on them, had a
> part in that. I am so fed up with this argument between us and Enable!
> Let's just not post anything else degrading about them. Please? we've done
> that enough!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> *From:* ebruckert Bruckert <edbruckert at gmail.com>
> *To:* DECtalk Discussions <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 29, 2012 9:30 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [DECtalk] how to do gender change in Dectalk?
>
>       I want to clarify some things and some things that make me quite
> upset. Making statements like Dennis would roll over in his grave when you
> never even knew Dennis I find disrespectful. Dennis was a person I always
> looked up to and tried to emulate in my life. And he would never denigrate
> people the way you seem inclined to do, especially when in plain English
> you don't know what the hell you're talking about!! the issue of singing in
> the SAPI version has nothing to do with DECtalk if you want to get mad at
> somebody get mad at Microsoft for creating a specification that doesn't
> allow for commands to be passed to a synthesizer. The DECtalk created could
> sing if you get get the damn commands to it.  In plain English I'm
> thoroughly disgusted with your rants.
>     The sex command was created for the original DECtalk because we only
> had one acoustic database so Dennis did the best he could trying to develop
> an algorithm to scale performance between a male and a female which works
> to some extent but can't be perfect due to the complexities involved in
> that it's not linear.
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 8:45 AM, <Dectalk at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> **
>> Thank you!  I knew it was possible but I never totally knew how.  I am
>> trying to jump start my business called "THE FLAME OF HOPE".  As most of
>> you know I have over 1200 songs, and right now I'm trying to put as many of
>> them as I can to music.  Some I flat out can't because when I first started
>> I made really bad errors such as not doing the entire song.  Part of it was
>> I started with easy sheet music which often only has one verse.  But I'm
>> doing new songs as well.
>>
>> The reason is, people now have avatars and easy to use animation
>> software.  So I'm marketing the free 4.40 Speak Window which is free for
>> the asking, then I'm selling my instructions on how to create voices and
>> make them sing.
>>
>> I bring this up because I have a question for all of you.  Enable Rehab
>> is getting ready to release "DECTALK READER 1", and there might be an
>> Earthquake on that day because Dennis Klatt might roll over in his grave.
>> This thing as far as I know won't sing.  The voices from the latest I have
>> heard are still bad quality because the voices pop in the MP3 recordings
>> that I have heart.  I don't think it will come with a dictionary so people
>> can edit how words are said.  And in my opinion, this thing is still
>> garbage!  I got fired for saying that but big deal, I'm only saying the
>> truth!
>>
>> Anyway, Enable Rehab won't take "Dectalk" out of the name because they
>> feel the name is a marketing tool.  I personally think it's fraud because
>> it will be so different from the Dectalk that we all know and love that it
>> really isn't Dectalk.  They're calling it "Reader 1" so people will know by
>> the title that it will only read.  (Sick)
>>
>> Anyway, I'm upset because thanks to both E voice and now the internet, I
>> think I'm as associated with Dectalk as much as Dennis Klatt.  This
>> upcoming release is making me sick because I'm afraid people might buy this
>> Dectalk SAPI garbage and think my instructions will work with it.  So I'm
>> very upset that they are calling it Dectalk anything.  They really need to
>> remove "Dectalk" from the title because I view it as a deception of the
>> worse kind!
>>
>> Here is my question.  I think a petition should be started because this
>> is just wrong!  BUT, I don't know if the petition should be to just drop
>> "Dectalk" from the name, OR, to just scrap this garbage.  And, I don't want
>> to be the one to start the petition because I don't know how.  But if a
>> petition does get started, it needs to go all over the internet and get
>> back to Enable Rehab.
>>
>> I just feel that by marking this garbage under "Dectalk", they are taking
>> advantage of both the blind and the disabled communities because they know
>> "Dectalk" will bring in sales just because of the name.  And because my
>> name is known with Dectalk, I feel this soon to be released garbage will
>> effect my image and my business.
>>
>>
>> SNOOPI BOTTEN
>>
>>  In a message dated 1/28/2012 9:49:19 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> beroberts at hughes.net writes:
>>
>> Thanks Alex. That syntax works in both DT 4.4 and 4.3. I did a quick test
>> with both versions.  Note to Snoopi: the female versions of Frank and
>> Dennis
>> sound odd. I think breathiness will need to be changed with the br command
>> for best results.
>> Blake
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com
>> [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Alex H.
>> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 9:06 PM
>> To: DECtalk Discussions
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] how to do gender change in Dectalk?
>>
>> sorry, [:nf][:dv sx 0] should do it.
>>
>> On 1/28/12, Alex H. <linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > [:sx 0]
>> >
>> > On 1/28/12, Blake Roberts <beroberts at hughes.net> wrote:
>> >> Hi all,
>> >> Snoopi asked me to pose a question to the listserv. He knows about
>> >> the gender change command, sx. Does it work in DT 4.4? If so, what is
>> >> the correct syntax?
>> >> Snoopi wants to program the song Emotion by The Bee Gees using a
>> >> breathy female Frank or Dennis. I know that may sound funny, but it
>> >> is a serious thing. If anyone knows how to change Frank or Dennis to
>> >> female, please share. I figure someone on here probably does.
>> >> Alternatively, if anyone else wants to program a female Frank or
>> >> Dennis version of the song, Snoopi is willing to do the mixing with
>> >> music after fixing any phoneems that may be incorrect. He is waiting
>> >> for his communication device to be repaired, so Snoopi will not be
>> >> able to program the song for about a month.
>> >> Blake
>> >> Blake
>> >>
>> >
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