Speech Settings

Question

I upgraded my system to Windows 10 and now in the Speech Settings control only female voice sounds are available. Is there a way to get male voice sounds or is this something Microsoft did? Tell me I'm not stuck with the Irritating British female voice.

Aerius · Answer

I had the same prob. so I went for Cepstral french male voice + special effect.

Redzone · Answer

@BHouston, I personally do not have windows 10 however I read somewhere that windows 10 will automatically be installed within seven days on home computers not sure if that's true or not anyway I have looked quickly on the Internet the only link that looks kind of promising is the one I'll paste below and let me know if it works thanks

Redzone · Answer

Sorry Bob I forgot to put the link https://www.trishtech.com/2015/09/choose-text-to-speech-voice-in-windows-10/

DJ Sures · Answer

uh oh! Windows 10 strikes again. I feel it's going to be pushed upon all of us quite soon - the dreaded "update today" message is increasing frequency

WBS00001 · Answer

I doubt we will be forced to go to Windows 10 any time soon. More likely they will try to sneak it in as just another update in their list of monthly updates. Most people never even look at the titles of the update packages and either have automatic update turned on or just say ok, do it all when they are notified of an update. I recall that they almost slipped the upgrade to Windows Internet Explorer by me at one update. It was pre-checked and ready to go. I unchecked it but it still kept coming at me every update until I learned how to hide specific update packages. So look carefully at every 'update' package. At least one may be an 'upgrade.'

cem · Answer

@BHouston So why is the 'British' female voice so iratating!

Aerius · Answer

Because my Inmoov have balls

CardboardHacker · Answer

(Sorry for the thread jacking) I would recommend everyone who doesn't want windows 10 turn off automatic updates by changing the option to "let me choose what to download and install".

bhouston · Answer

@merne Thanks for the link. I have tried to change things there but it won't let me change out of English (UK).  @cem, I just don't like to options given - nothing against the British!

Redzone · Answer

@Bhuston, Bob are you using Windows home version 10 or pro thanks

Redzone · Answer

Also Bob what version did you have before you upgraded to version 10 The reason I ask is because if you have home version they don't have a language pack but if you have the version pro version 10 Microsoft has a language pack only for version 10 pro at least what I've seen on the Internet I'm still investigating I may have to install version 10 which I really don't want to on one of my computers to test

bhouston · Answer

I have the home version and I had 8.1 before.

bhouston · Answer

OK, I got it back to Microsoft David. Some of the speech setting weren't installed with the upgrade. Thanks for everyones help.

Redzone · Answer

@bhouston, nice to hear that it's working again.

bhouston · Answer

I'm reviving this thread because I'm back to the same problem. My computer is set to Microsoft David and the computer speaks with that voice, however, I get a british female voice out of the EZB. I have tried deleting the Speech Settings control from my project and then setting it up again - no change. In fact the EZB speaks with the british female voice without this control added in my project. Anyone else come across this? Any suggestions on how to get a male voice thru the EZB?

DJ Sures · Answer

It's impossible for SayEZB() to have a different voice than Say() - at least from a code perspective. The two use the same OS function. Except one writes to the sound card and the other writes to a byte stream. To be clear - are you stating that SayEZB() and Say() are different voices? -or- Is the operating system using different voice than ARC?

bhouston · Answer

The operating system is a different voice then EZ - Builder.

bhouston · Answer

Also, making changes to the Voice, Gender or Age in the Speech Setting control make no difference to the tone. It stays as British female adult. The emphasis and rate do change though.

thetechguru · Answer

Bob, The beginning of this tutorial (which is really about getting 3rd party voices to work) does show how to banish the Hazel voice (at least until M$ pushes it out in another update). https://synthiam.com/Tutorials/UserTutorials/32/1 Microsoft really hosed up SAPI5 starting in Windows 7 so the controls for manipulating the voice in ARC, or really any application just don't work right anymore. Alan

DJ Sures · Answer

Argh, i can see how that would be frustrating. Let me see if there's anything i can do from my end

ptp · Answer

@Alan, I have windows 10, and two voices David, and Zira, and i can play both in EZB and in the desktop, using the ARC Speech Settings.

bhouston · Answer

Thanks DJ. @ptp, That's interesting that yours works OK. Are you running the latest version of ARC?

ptp · Answer

when i replied i was not, but now i am, and still works. male (David) ezb and desktop female (Zira) ezb and desktop

ptp · Answer

@BHouston, Must be something on your configuration ? Can you run Regedit and go to: computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Speech\Voices press right button, Export select Save as Type: Win9x/NT4 Filename: voices on desktop Once you have the file, rename to .txt and email to me (email is in the profile)

bhouston · Answer

@ptp, sent

bhouston · Answer

I followed the tutorial as suggested and that fixed things up. The control is working properly now. Thanks for every ones help.

bhouston · Answer

I fired up InMoov tonight for the first time in months and I'm back to the same problem again - It's speaking with a female British voice again. Reviewed the tutorial - all good there. Tried a different version of ARC - no difference. My computer is set to a male voice. I see that only female voices are available in the Speech Settings Control - is that new?  Anyway, frustrated again. Anyone got any advice on this?

bhouston · Answer

I think it might have something to do with the Speech Settings Control. I can't adjust the Voice, Gender, Age, Emphasis or Rate and I only have 2 voice options - Zira and Hazel. I have tried deleting this control and then reinstalling it - no change. Can someone please let me know if this control is working for them or not. Thanks

fxrtst · Answer

Another reason i wont be upgrading to Win 10. Voices for my ALAN projects are so important. I had so much trouble getting to get Avona voices to work on Win 7. So much so I had to abandon and go with Cereproc which worked fine. Good luck, I will continue to watch this thread, before I install Winblows 10.

bhouston · Answer

@fxtst, Ya, I'm getting to that point as well but I still want to confirm that the Control is working properly. I should be able to make adjustments within the Control but I can't. I'm sure that male voices use to be offered there as well.

Steve S · Answer

Bob, I had Windows 8.1 upgraded to 10 and Zira and David voices are available on my Speech Settings. When I use SR, I change voice to male when the computer is talking, using ControlCommand("SpeechSettings",SetVoiceGender,"Male") I later ControlCommand changing it back to female for "Lal". I can also manually change it to female or male. Steve S.

Dunning-Kruger · Answer

Under Windows 10... I use a third party voice (Cereproc William) and it seems to work ok, however I have the opposite problem as Bob... Zira the female voice doesn't work, but David does... Edit Strangely though if I select a female voice for David or any other voice, I hear Zira instead (that's goes for any other voice. Select female and Zira speaks)... The only settings that seems to change anything are the Rate and Gender settings. Age and Emphasis appear to do nothing... I also am wondering if there is something wrong with the control settings itself?

bhouston · Answer

@ Steve S, I tried that Control Command - still has a female voice. Are you using SayEZB or Say ? @ Richard R, Thanks so it's not just my control - good to know. Hopefully DJ will see this thread and look into this control and see if it is something he can fix.

Steve S · Answer

Bob, I was using "Say" on my application, but I created a test script using "SayEZB" and it worked playing male and female voices changing it through CommandControl. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I am running an older version of EZB dated 2016.05.30, and I have never had any third party voices on my PC? Steve S.

bhouston · Answer

OK thanks Steve. I did try another version of ARC but I'll try the version you are using.

bhouston · Answer

No luck with a different version. I noticed in my list of Control Commands that I only have the 2 female voices.  Steve and Richard what do have showing there?

Dunning-Kruger · Answer

I only have David and Zira as the only built in Window's voices.... I do not have Hazel on either my laptop or my main PC.... Both updated from Windows 8.1 a while back...

Steve S · Answer

I have David and Zira

bhouston · Answer

Thanks, that's strange. I wonder why mine doesn't show the same thing. Hello, DJ are you a round?

CochranRobotics · Answer

The speech voices are based on what version of windows (language) that was installed. The English US version will have different voices available than the English GB version.

bhouston · Answer

Hi Dave, my computer is set to English (Canada) and speaks it. Anything thru the EZB though speaks the British female voice.

CochranRobotics · Answer

yep, DJ would have to take a look into it I think.

DJ Sures · Answer

Please use this thread and do not create duplicate threads. This is it a bug - as it's behavior of Microsoft's speech synthesis engine. Terms of use for installing third party voices are not covered by Microsoft. I would recommend contacting the manufacturer of the third party voices and revisiting the installation procedure. This may not be the preferred answer - however, there is nothing that can be done from ezrobot to change the Microsoft Windows operating system.

bhouston · Answer

Thanks DJ, I'm trying to understand why my program has changed and why others get male and female voice options with this control and I don't. I have not changed anything on my computer. The only thing I did was not use the program for my robot for a couple of months. Also, if I buy a male voice will it come thru the V4 as a male voice?

thetechguru · Answer

Bob, I suspect that your Windows system probably got the Windows 10 anniversary update and it more than likely messed up any changes you did that got the voices working properly. Microsoft has seriously messed up SAPI5 (the speech API) over the past few releases, and different editions (home/pro/Enterprise) and different countries of sale each have their own set of issues. I am on my phone so searching is tricky, but I think Steve G did a good tutorial on getting Cepestral voices working, and despite needing to pay for them, I think that is the best option. The issue with the various settings in the speech object not working is due to the fact that not every voice effect or feature is available on every voice. Alan

bhouston · Answer

Thanks Alan, so if I buy a male voice it will come thru the v4 as a male voice?

thetechguru · Answer

Yes, a male voice will come out as male. You may need to delete the default voices to get Windows to use it (which is wjat was covered in Steve's tutorial). Alan

bhouston · Answer

I'll look at the tutorial. I have the default male voice in operation on my computer now so I'm still confused as to why it won't come thru the v4.

MadRocker · Answer

Hello.. Noob here to the community. You can try clicking start, scroll down to Windows System, click control panel, then speech recognition. You will see text to speech in lower left. Maybe you will be able to change it through there. I hope this helps Ed

bhouston · Answer

Thanks Madrocker, the only option there is Microsoft Hazel Desktop-English Great Britain. Is there a way to add voices there from the computer?

MadRocker · Answer

From what I've read you have to Click Time & Language > Region & Language. Under Languages, click + Add a language. Select the language you want to use from the list, and then choose which region's version you want to use. Your download will begin immediately. I haven't tried this since my EZb software is on a 7 machine running Crystal voice engine.. hope this helps Ed

bhouston · Answer

I set the computer so it thinks it's in the States and I was able to get Zira English US set as the default voice and I deleted English (UK) from the computer, however, when I run Zira on the Speech Settings control it still has a British accent. Madrocker what site are you getting voices from?

MadRocker · Answer

I had purchased AT&T natural voices Crystal16 a while back along with text aloud in the XP days. I backed up the voice engine on an offline drive. Sorry to hear the U.K accent is still there. I looked at the add language section and it just says English. Odd that its only U.K on your system.

bhouston · Answer

Now I have the following voices in the Speech Settings control; Microsoft Hazel Desktop Microsoft Zira Desktop Microsoft David Desktop Cepstral David and as I was worried about - they all sound like Hazel English accent!

MadRocker · Answer

Here is a site that may help you with the accent issue https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/change-cortanas-voice-windows-10 Mine 10 machine looks like this

thetechguru · Answer

Bob, This tutorial will kill Hazel and let the Cepestral voice work. https://synthiam.com/Tutorials/UserTutorials/32/1 Note that step 5 has the US/CN directory. Steve is in the UK so his system os slightly different. Alan

bhouston · Answer

I went thru that sites tutorial, Madrocker, and I now have my computer and EZB speaking with Microsoft David - yah! Alan, I had been thru that tutorial a while ago - that fixed me up last time. Thanks for your help everyone.

thetechguru · Answer

Excellent that it worked. Always better working within the system settings if they work. I am sure the reason the problem came back is that a windows update replaced the deleted files. Given some of the new Cortana features in the anniversary update, the directory path may have changed too. I'll do some research on my Win 10 machines and see if that is the case. Alan

MadRocker · Answer

That's great and I'm glad I could help some. I myself still have a lot to Learn about EZB and enjoy reading about everyone's projects/advice. Only 8,000 or so more posts to read so back to the grind and looking forward to future posts. Ed

bhouston

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