[DECtalk] how to do gender change in Dectalk?

Mon Jan 30 13:52:54 EST 2012

I agree that the product is releaseable and a dictionary should be included.
The samples definitely sound better now. I can understand 85-90 percent of
the words.
Blake

  _____  

From: dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com
[mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Dectalk at aol.com
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 1:39 PM
To: dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] how to do gender change in Dectalk?

Still, there should be a dictionary included to change how words are
pronounced.

SNOOPI BOTTEN 

In a message dated 1/30/2012 1:31:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
bmisch2002 at gmail.com writes:

i heard these samples on klango a month ago and they sounded better than
that DECtalk sample that was out early last year.  

On Jan 30, 2012, at 12:28 PM, Dectalk at aol.com wrote:

After posting the link I tried it myself.  I think these files were updated
because I'm now understanding them at 100 percent.  However, "New" still
sounds like "Moo", but this is releasable.  I actually like it now.  Wow!  I
never thought you guys would pull it off!  I hope you fix "New", and the "H"
in "Hurricane" is too long, but this is damn good now.

SNOOPI BOTTEN 

In a message dated 1/30/2012 12:15:09 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
Dectalk at aol.com writes:

Let me share the link to the unreleased demos that I'm talking about.  And
actually the word "New" sounds like "Moo".

To hear samples of all the voices, just change the name at the end of the
link.
http://davesvideoservicesco.startlogic.com/dennis/

SNOOPI BOTTEN 

In a message dated 1/30/2012 11:49:56 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
bmisch2002 at gmail.com writes:

that ductal demo sounds like 4.61 or something close to it.  

On Jan 30, 2012, at 11:08 AM, Dectalk at aol.com wrote:

Fine, release it, whatever.  The latest MP3 recordings of Dectalk Reader 1
have pops in most of the voices, and the weather report in the demo is only
like 80 percent understandable.   So fine, I'll say it's the best thing I
ever heard in my life if that's what you want.  It's a lie, but gm starting
to feel like the truth doesn't exist any more.

"Four score and 7 years ago our Father's brought forth a new nation", or
whatever that line is.  The word "New" is annoyingly pronounced.  I have no
clue what is wrong with it, it sounds like [nuwuwuw], rather than [nuw].
I'm not sure, it's just annoying.  My point is, if you are not offering an
online demo, or anything that people can't try, and if those two demos are
the only thing that people hear, and if it won't even have a dictionary that
people can edit how it says words, then, then, then.   Oh good grief. 

SNOOPI BOTTEN 

In a message dated 1/30/2012 10:31:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
edbruckert at gmail.com writes:

          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  <mailto:edbruckert at gmail.com> Bruckert 
To: DECtalk  <mailto:dectalk at bluegrasspals.com> Discussions 
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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