[DECtalk] DECTalk At High Speaking Rates

[Brandon Tyson]

Hello,

I tried a DECTalk driver for NVDA years ago that used sonic and that didn't sound good either.

DECTalk isn't the only synthesizer that struggles with this but I kept the discussion to that since I've been looking at the recent work on it.

Thanks,

Brandon

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 28, 2022, at 9:05 AM, joshknnd1982 at gmail.com wrote:
> 
> Yes I use it sometimes with NVDA but I use it at around 350 or 300 because
> it mumbles and could do better at high speeds using the sonic library from
> NVDA to better achieve those high speeds.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dectalk <dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com> On Behalf Of Brandon Tyson
> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2022 4:20
> To: DECtalk <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
> Subject: [DECtalk] DECTalk At High Speaking Rates
> 
> Hello,
> 
> Recently with the work being done on DECTalk, and also just thinking about
> DECTalk in general, I've been thinking about its use with screen readers.
> 
> I'm curious how many users on this list use DECTalk at high speeds with a
> screen reader, say, above 460 words per minute. To me, by the point you get
> it to about 470-480 or so it sounds very much like it's mumbling and a
> friend and I described it as imitating how a person tries to speak fast
> (it's very difficult to understand them).
> 
> If I use Eloquence at a high speed it's much easier for me to follow that.
> I'm used to how both synthesizers sound and so I don't think it's due to not
> having used DECTalk enough.
> 
> For those who use DECTalk with a screen reader, do you use it fast, say,
> above 470-480, or do you use it slower?
> 
> And generally speaking, for those who use DECTalk in general, such as with
> the Speak windows, is fast speech simply not a concern?
> 
> I feel that if DECTalk were to be used widely in the AT space that it could
> really do a better job at high speeds.
> 
> And I'm not saying Eloquence is perfect either--it definitely isn't, but
> it's far more intelligible for me at high speeds than DECTalk.
> 
> I was hoping that this message could perhaps start some conversation around
> this aspect of the synthesizer as I've not seen this be discussed much, just
> generally the speak windows and using DECTalk for other uses. Which don't
> get me wrong I really think it's great that it can provide singing and other
> such functions for those who need that. But it's just always seemed like it
> doesn't perform well at extreme speaking rates.
> 
> Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to any input you may
> have.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Brandon Tyson
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