[DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary use

mattias mjonsson1986 at gmail.com
Sun Aug 31 11:53:57 EDT 2014


i dont have the option
only sapi5
or will it work on win8
Blake Roberts via Dectalk skrev den 2014-08-31 17:43:
> Chatterbox should start talking after you install it and select SAPI version
> 4 in the NVDA synthesizer list.
> Blake
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dectalk [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of
> mattias via Dectalk
> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2014 11:01 AM
> To: DECtalk
> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary use
>
> how to actually get the tts working?
> win8
> Jim Hunt via Dectalk skrev den 2014-08-31 16:26:
>> Very well said Alex.  For those who quivel about the legalities of
>> abandonware ... who cares?  The point here is that SoftVoice is
> abandonware.
>> Abandonware is software that has been and is abandoned and no longer
>> supported.  Some of the companies who developed abandonware are no longer
>> even in existence anymore.  (As a side note, there is a BT Sync archive
>> dedicated to abandonware games.)  Folks, as long as there's an interest in
>> playing with these older synths, I say, friends, play away!
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Dectalk [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of Alex
>> H. via Dectalk
>> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2014 10:14 AM
>> To: DECtalk
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary use
>>
>> I'll say something and I hope you're reading carefully.
>>
>> Please stop asking if everything is legal. Most people will disregard your
>> message anyway, as legal/illegal software is a touchy topic for some
> people,
>> and honestly, it gets old that you ask after every message. Read licenses,
>> and either care to follow them, or don't.
>> That's entirely up to you.
>>
>> I believe the Softvoice corp is long dead, so for all purposes just keep
>> using it. It's antiquated and 16-bit stuff that works with SAPI4.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 8/30/14, brandon T via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I know that the Chatterbox voice has some things wrong, but it is
>>> working pretty well for me. I have the new driver.
>>>
>>> How can this be free and legal if it is based on a commercial product,
>>> Softvoice, that was not free?
>>>
>>> Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to any assistance
>>> you are willing to provide.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Brandon Tyson
>>>
>>> On 8/30/14, Alex H. via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com> wrote:
>>>> Chatterbox has issues and reads numbers as single digits, e.g., 301
>>>> as
>>>> 3 0 1.It also breaks when using the shift key to pause or start
>>>> typing. I modified the sapi4 NVDA driver about 2 years ago, but cant
>>>> find the file now.
>>>>
>>>> I use Vocalizer or Orpheus or espeak these days, with some Eloquence
>>>> in their too. My DEC USB is at home sadly, so I can't use it
>>>> currently. I avoid synths with issues, but they're fun to play with
>>>> for sure.
>>>>
>>>> On 8/30/14, brandon T via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> I agree with you on that it sounds like Softvoice. Do you think they
>>>>> would have intentionally modified the license file to make us think
>>>>> it was free?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to a response.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> BRANDON TYSON
>>>>>
>>>>> On 8/30/14, Jake Gross via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com> wrote:
>>>>>> This synth sounds like softvoice, an abandonware speech synthesizer
>>>>>> that wasn't free.
>>>>>> I assumed this was a sapi4 version.
>>>>>> Maybe chatterbox uses similar speech technology.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: brandon T via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>> To: DECtalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com Date sent: Sat, 30 Aug 2014
>>>>>> 18:49:35 -0400
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary use
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The license.txt file says that we are able to redistribute this
>>>>>> freely, and it also says that we got this for free. So, do you mind
>>>>>> if I please ask how this is abandonware please?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Brandon
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8/30/14, Jake Gross via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>    To me, Nv speech player sounds similar to Infovox 230 , and
>>>>>> Monologue sounds like Doubletalk.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>    From: brandon T via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>    To: DECtalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com  Date sent: Sat, 30 Aug
>>>>>> 2014 00:29:19 -0400
>>>>>>    Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary
>>>>>> use
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    So, if I read the license correctly, it said something about I
>>>>>> can  redistribute this software and that it's free, why does it say
>>>>>> that if  it's abandonware? It says that in the license.txt file.
>>>>>> How do  you  know that the modified sapi4.py file is legal?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    Brandon
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    On 8/30/14, Jake Gross via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>    wrote:
>>>>>>     It is abandonware.
>>>>>>     Speech rate is not supported.
>>>>>>     Did you copy the sapi4.py file to your nvda user configuration
>>>>>>     directory?
>>>>>>     This driver prevents the synth from crashing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>     From: brandon T viaDectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>     To: DECtalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>     Date sent: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 23:42:52 -0400
>>>>>>     Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary
>>>>>>     use
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     Hello,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     Is this synthesizer illegal?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     Also, it isn't speaking as I change the speed of the voice.
>>>>>>    Also,
>>>>>>     it
>>>>>>     is crashing sometimes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to a
>>>>>>     response.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     Sincerely,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     Brandon Tyson
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     On 8/29/14, Jake Gross via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>     wrote:
>>>>>>      What part of the installer can't you read.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>      From: brandon T via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>      To: DECtalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>      Date sent: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 23:06:51 -0400
>>>>>>      Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary
>>>>>>      use
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Unfortunately I can't read the installer. I am not sure if it
>>>>>> is
>>>>>>      in English.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Thanks for telling me about this, I really appreciate it!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Brandon
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      On 8/29/14, Jake Gross via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>      wrote:
>>>>>>       Have you ever tried chatterbox?
>>>>>>       It is a sapi4 english/rushen speech synthesizer.
>>>>>>       You can find it at
>>>>>>       http://grossgang.com/tts/sapi_voices/chatterbox.zip
>>>>>>       Jake
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>       From: brandon T via Dectalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>       To: DECtalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>       Date sent: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 21:12:00 -0400
>>>>>>       Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary
>>>>>>       use
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       Thank you for this information. I thought that maybe another
>>>>>>       thing
>>>>>>       was, with the Microsoft voices, I should try them at a faster
>>>>>>       speed.
>>>>>>       For now, they are ok.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       Thank you very much for your time, I really appreciate it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       I hope that you are having an awesome day!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       Brandon
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       On 8/29/14, Blake Roberts via Dectalk
>>>>>>     <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>>>>       wrote:
>>>>>>        I know that the AT&T Natural voices were recorded at 16k
>>>>>>      instead
>>>>>>       of the
>>>>>>        typical 22k for recorded speech samples. However, they might
>>>>>>      not
>>>>>>       work as
>>>>>>        your primary synth due to large size of each voice. I
>>>>>>     purchased
>>>>>>       some AT&T
>>>>>>        voices which I use as primary voices within OpenBook, but
>>>>>> they
>>>>>>       are used for
>>>>>>        short periods. AT&T voices might work as your primary synth
>>>>>> if
>>>>>>       you have a
>>>>>>        lot of Ram memory in your computer, i.e. more than a gig or
>>>>>>      two.
>>>>>>        Blake
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>        From: Dectalk [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On
>>>>>>       Behalf Of
>>>>>>        brandon T via Dectalk
>>>>>>        Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 8:40 PM
>>>>>>        To: DECtalk
>>>>>>        Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for
>>>>>> primary
>>>>>>       use
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        I am wondering if maybe the voices are just sounding too real
>>>>>>      to
>>>>>>       me.
>>>>>>        Are there any that are recorded at a lower audio quality
>>>>>>      please?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to any
>>>>>>       assistance
>>>>>>        you are willing to provide.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Sincerely,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Brandon Tyson
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        On 8/29/14, Blake Roberts via Dectalk
>>>>>>       <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com> wrote:
>>>>>>        Daniel,
>>>>>>        Ivona voices are SAPI5. To use them in NVDA I simply changed
>>>>>>       from ESpeak
>>>>>>        to
>>>>>>        SAPI version 5 in the synthesizers list.
>>>>>>        Blake
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>        From: Dectalk [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On
>>>>>>       Behalf Of
>>>>>>        Daniel
>>>>>>        Wolak via Dectalk
>>>>>>        Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 8:07 PM
>>>>>>        To: DECtalk
>>>>>>        Subject: Re: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for
>>>>>> primary
>>>>>>       use
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Hi,
>>>>>>        I mostly use eloquence with nvda... A question for you
>>>>>> blake:
>>>>>>       what do
>>>>>>        you use to interface the ivona voices with nvda as I've been
>>>>>>       thinking of
>>>>>>        trying them?
>>>>>>        Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Daniel
>>>>>>        On 29/08/2014 8:00 PM, Blake Roberts via Dectalk wrote:
>>>>>>        Brandon,
>>>>>>        Although I use Eloquence as my primary synth in Jaws, Ivona
>>>>>>       voices are a
>>>>>>        close second. They are my primary voices within NVDA. Voices
>>>>>>       from Ivona
>>>>>>        are
>>>>>>        not free but you can trial each voice for 30 days before
>>>>>>       purchase is
>>>>>>        required. I prefer slow speeds so I'm not sure how Ivona
>>>>>>     sounds
>>>>>>       at fast
>>>>>>        rates. I use Ivona voices because all of the voices sound
>>>>>> very
>>>>>>       natural.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Have you tried the Orpheus synth? I purchased Orpheus but
>>>>>>     don't
>>>>>>       use it
>>>>>>        anymore because those voices are too fast for my liking.
>>>>>> Like
>>>>>>       Ivona, you
>>>>>>        can
>>>>>>        trial Orpheus for 30 days before purchase is required. The
>>>>>>       difference is
>>>>>>        with Orpheus you receive all voices, whereas Ivona voices are
>>>>>>       downloaded
>>>>>>        one
>>>>>>        voice at a time.
>>>>>>        Blake
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>        From: Dectalk [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On
>>>>>>       Behalf Of
>>>>>>        brandon T via Dectalk
>>>>>>        Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 7:48 PM
>>>>>>        To: DECtalk Discussions
>>>>>>        Subject: [DECtalk] a decent speech synthesizer for primary
>>>>>> use
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Hello,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        I have been looking at Sapi 4 and Sapi 5 voices today. Also,
>>>>>> I
>>>>>>       have
>>>>>>        been looking at Speech Player. I am familiar with a lot of
>>>>>>       voices,
>>>>>>        including Acapela, Eloquence, DecTalk, Microsoft voices like
>>>>>>       Sam, the
>>>>>>        LH synthesizer, the Digalo voices, Infovox 230 and 330,
>>>>>>     eSpeak,
>>>>>>        Neospeech and others. Here is my problem. I have been majorly
>>>>>>        investigating voices for years. I guess the main problem is
>>>>>>      that
>>>>>>       all
>>>>>>        of the voices do something that I don't like. Eloquence makes
>>>>>>     a
>>>>>>        clicking sound when it goes really fast. I have trouble
>>>>>>       understanding
>>>>>>        DecTalk when it goes really fast. The Acapela voices are, in
>>>>>>     my
>>>>>>        opinion, too hard to use as a primary voice. I have thought
>>>>>>       about
>>>>>>        Infovox 230 and 330, but I cant do anything legally except
>>>>>> use
>>>>>>       the
>>>>>>        trial. Also, I can't use Eloquence legally with NVDA. The
>>>>>>      Digalo
>>>>>>        voices are hard to understand when speaking long amounts of
>>>>>>      text
>>>>>>        because they stop reading for a few seconds in the middle of
>>>>>> a
>>>>>>        sentence. The Microsoft voices are ok, but again, the way
>>>>>> that
>>>>>>       they
>>>>>>        read is hard for me to get used to. ESpeak sometimes is hard
>>>>>>      for
>>>>>>       me
>>>>>>        because when it goes fast, I hear this sort of interesting
>>>>>>      sound
>>>>>>       in
>>>>>>        the middle of the speech. The LH voices are hard because,
>>>>>>     well,
>>>>>>       I
>>>>>>        unfortunately can't explain it. Do you mind if I please ask,
>>>>>>       what
>>>>>>        synthesizer do you use primarily, the reasons you use it,
>>>>>> what
>>>>>>       is good
>>>>>>        about it, and what is not as good please? I am hoping that,
>>>>>>      with
>>>>>>       input
>>>>>>        and suggestions, I can hopefully find something that I will
>>>>>> be
>>>>>>       able to
>>>>>>        use primarily.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to any
>>>>>>       assistance
>>>>>>        you are willing to provide
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        .Sincerely,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>        Brandon Tyson
>>>>>>        _______________________________________________
>>>>>>        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
>>>>>>        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
>>>>>>      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
>>>>>>    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
>>>>> 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
>>
>>
>> ---
>> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
> protection is active.
>> http://www.avast.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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



More information about the Dectalk mailing list