Second Life Forums Archive - VOICE savior? Anybody tried SL SPEECH TOOLS 1.2?

Fur Yifu

Registered User

Join date: 21 Feb 2007

Posts: 31

05-25-2007 03:31

With all the debate going on regarding VOICE in SL, I was wondering if anybody had used SECOND LIFE SPEECH TOOLS 1.2. Its a program which converts chat into spoken words, so that what you type is converted in a computer simulated voice in SL

I understand it uses (piggy-backs) the TEXT TO SPEECH features built into newer versions WINDOWS etc, which are similar to the same features available for years on the MAC.

Currently it only available for PC users. The guys making it can be found at:

http://www.secondlife.sk

It's available as a download for PC only. Dropped them a line and they said they looking to port in over to MAC and LINUX when possible.

It could solve the VOICE problem in SL re fantasy role-play, disabled access etc. If any Lindens are reading this, you guys should check it out. Since VOICE is so controversial, you could recommend it to disgruntled SL users as an alternative to headsets etc. It would certainly take the heat out the debate. If users can take part in VOICE chat, while still using their keyboards and keeping their anonymity, its a WIN WIN for all concerned.

Anyone tried it? It would be real nice if a LINDEN would make a comment this post...

SuezanneC Baskerville

Forums Rock!

Join date: 22 Dec 2003

Posts: 14,229

05-25-2007 04:59

If it's using the free Microsoft voices that MS Agents use, it sounds real bad.

It'd be great if SL had text to speech with the quality of Neospeech Kate and Paul.

I wonder if anyone at LL has contacted the makers of high quality voices and tts systems to say "Hey, how bout adding TTS to SL? Here's the source code for the viewer. Kthxbye. "

_____________________

-

So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them.

I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to

http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne

-

http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03.

Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard,
Robin, and Ryan

-

Kevin Susenko

Voice Mentor

Join date: 11 Jul 2006

Posts: 198

05-25-2007 05:10

Microsoft's new TTS voice in Vista is actually pretty decent. I couldn't get the program running though. I don't know if it's because it's not compatable with Vista, or if it's because I couldn't figure out what it meant by serial number.

Here's what MS Anna sounds like in Vista if you're interested: http://www.lastedit.com/vistatts.mp3

_____________________

Ceera Murakami

Texture Artist / Builder

Join date: 9 Sep 2005

Posts: 7,750

05-25-2007 08:39

I'm Mac-only, so it won't work at all for me.

However, I have used all sorts of other text-to-speech apps, in Mac and on Windows, and they all suck, for anything more than rough comprehension. I can't even get them to pronounce "Ceera Murakami" correctly, no matter HOW I phonetically misspell my name. (It usually comes out something like "SEA-ruh MOOR-a-cam-ee". It should be "SEAR-aah Moor-a-KAH-mi" - accent on first sylable in the first word, third sylable stressed in the second word, and very different pronunciation. There is no "cam" or "come" or "came" sound in my name.)

In most cases, you can roughly make out the words, but the accents and pronunciation are WAY off. Many words get so badly mis-pronounced that they are impossible to understand.

_____________________

Sorry, LL won't let me tell you where I sell my textures and where I offer my services as a sim builder. Ask me in-world.

Fur Yifu

Registered User

Join date: 21 Feb 2007

Posts: 31

Check out the demo

05-27-2007 00:38

The guy who makes the program shows a demo on his website. It looked pretty good to me. While it sounded slightly lame, chat is lame be definition.

Draco18s Majestic

Registered User

Join date: 19 Sep 2005

Posts: 2,744

05-27-2007 08:53

The voice is lame because it's the Microsoft-included-with-your-OS-el-cheapo talker. There are better ones out there available for $$$ but they still all sound like crap.

VOICE savior? Anybody tried SL SPEECH TOOLS 1.2?
Fur Yifu Registered User Join date: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 31	05-25-2007 03:31 With all the debate going on regarding VOICE in SL, I was wondering if anybody had used SECOND LIFE SPEECH TOOLS 1.2. Its a program which converts chat into spoken words, so that what you type is converted in a computer simulated voice in SL I understand it uses (piggy-backs) the TEXT TO SPEECH features built into newer versions WINDOWS etc, which are similar to the same features available for years on the MAC. Currently it only available for PC users. The guys making it can be found at: http://www.secondlife.sk It's available as a download for PC only. Dropped them a line and they said they looking to port in over to MAC and LINUX when possible. It could solve the VOICE problem in SL re fantasy role-play, disabled access etc. If any Lindens are reading this, you guys should check it out. Since VOICE is so controversial, you could recommend it to disgruntled SL users as an alternative to headsets etc. It would certainly take the heat out the debate. If users can take part in VOICE chat, while still using their keyboards and keeping their anonymity, its a WIN WIN for all concerned. Anyone tried it? It would be real nice if a LINDEN would make a comment this post...
SuezanneC Baskerville Forums Rock! Join date: 22 Dec 2003 Posts: 14,229	05-25-2007 04:59 If it's using the free Microsoft voices that MS Agents use, it sounds real bad. It'd be great if SL had text to speech with the quality of Neospeech Kate and Paul. I wonder if anyone at LL has contacted the makers of high quality voices and tts systems to say "Hey, how bout adding TTS to SL? Here's the source code for the viewer. Kthxbye. " _____________________ - So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them. I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne - http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03. Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard, Robin, and Ryan -
Kevin Susenko Voice Mentor Join date: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 198	05-25-2007 05:10 Microsoft's new TTS voice in Vista is actually pretty decent. I couldn't get the program running though. I don't know if it's because it's not compatable with Vista, or if it's because I couldn't figure out what it meant by serial number. Here's what MS Anna sounds like in Vista if you're interested: http://www.lastedit.com/vistatts.mp3 _____________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 (Overclocked - 2.8GHz) \| Mobo: EVGA nForce 680i SLI \| GPU: XFX nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX 768mb GDDR3 \| Memory: 4gb DDR2 PC5300 667MHz Dual Channel \| PSU: Antec Neo HE 550w \| Sound: SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtrememusic \| HDD: 950gb total SATA3 \| OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
Ceera Murakami Texture Artist / Builder Join date: 9 Sep 2005 Posts: 7,750	05-25-2007 08:39 I'm Mac-only, so it won't work at all for me. However, I have used all sorts of other text-to-speech apps, in Mac and on Windows, and they all suck, for anything more than rough comprehension. I can't even get them to pronounce "Ceera Murakami" correctly, no matter HOW I phonetically misspell my name. (It usually comes out something like "SEA-ruh MOOR-a-cam-ee". It should be "SEAR-aah Moor-a-KAH-mi" - accent on first sylable in the first word, third sylable stressed in the second word, and very different pronunciation. There is no "cam" or "come" or "came" sound in my name.) In most cases, you can roughly make out the words, but the accents and pronunciation are WAY off. Many words get so badly mis-pronounced that they are impossible to understand. _____________________ Sorry, LL won't let me tell you where I sell my textures and where I offer my services as a sim builder. Ask me in-world.
Fur Yifu Registered User Join date: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 31	Check out the demo 05-27-2007 00:38 The guy who makes the program shows a demo on his website. It looked pretty good to me. While it sounded slightly lame, chat is lame be definition.
Draco18s Majestic Registered User Join date: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 2,744	05-27-2007 08:53 The voice is lame because it's the Microsoft-included-with-your-OS-el-cheapo talker. There are better ones out there available for $$$ but they still all sound like crap.

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VOICE savior? Anybody tried SL SPEECH TOOLS 1.2?