Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Voice synthesisers (self.Blind)
submitted by Xomrade
Which voice synthesiser do you guys prefer for reading books on pc?
-shacklebolt- 2 points 5y ago
95% of my book reading is on my iphone using the Voice Dream Reader app. I use Acapela Peter (which unfortunately caps out at just 530wpm) or Alex, and have been experimenting with Gordon.
I use espeak-ng max primarily on NVDA now. I don't love it, but it's free and works. I don't find it quite as intelligible at super fast speeds as some others do. I also like eloquence, probably because that's what I primarily listened to for many years.
I tried the demo of acapela Peter on NVDA. It caused the app to crash a lot so I had to uninstall it.
I use espeak-ng max primarily on NVDA now. I don't love it, but it's free and works. I don't find it quite as intelligible at super fast speeds as some others do. I also like eloquence, probably because that's what I primarily listened to for many years.
I tried the demo of acapela Peter on NVDA. It caused the app to crash a lot so I had to uninstall it.
Xomrade [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Do you also feel that espeak and eloquence give a much short pause after punchuations, compared to other readers ?
Primarily because of this I find them useful for navigating around. It's much faster this way. For reading I switch to David SAPI 5 these days.
Primarily because of this I find them useful for navigating around. It's much faster this way. For reading I switch to David SAPI 5 these days.
-shacklebolt- 1 points 5y ago
I'm not sure I've noticed a difference.
Potentially of interest to you is that Voice Dream has an option that allows you to increase the pause between sentences regardless of the engine you use in the (iOS) app. I personally would prefer if it was shorter!
I'd think someone could do something similar for NVDA as well.
Potentially of interest to you is that Voice Dream has an option that allows you to increase the pause between sentences regardless of the engine you use in the (iOS) app. I personally would prefer if it was shorter!
I'd think someone could do something similar for NVDA as well.
Xomrade [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Yeah, a feature with control over the pauses would be great.
Amonwilde 2 points 5y ago
I still favor espeak. It's abrasive-sounding but very clear.
Xomrade [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Plus, I feel it is relatively faster while nevigating. Like the pause after command keys announcement is relatively short. But, sometimes I wonder that if it is my bias and using more natural sounding voices would be better
Laughingthunder26 1 points 5y ago
In NVDA on my PC...
Synthesizer: Nuance Vocalizer expressive 1.1.1
Voice: Samantha - English (United States)
Variant: Premium High
Rate: 74
Volume: 80
On my iPhone...
Voice: Alex
Rate: 65
Volume: 100
I've used the above combinations of settings for several years now, and I can't stand much else. Just goes to show that synthesizer choice differs widely and is very much a personal matter.
Synthesizer: Nuance Vocalizer expressive 1.1.1
Voice: Samantha - English (United States)
Variant: Premium High
Rate: 74
Volume: 80
On my iPhone...
Voice: Alex
Rate: 65
Volume: 100
I've used the above combinations of settings for several years now, and I can't stand much else. Just goes to show that synthesizer choice differs widely and is very much a personal matter.
Xomrade [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Very true
Xomrade [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Also, have you guys noticed - espeak and eloquence give a very short pause after full stop and coma, when compared to other vocalizers.?
I switch to SAPI 5 while reading books. I find the pauses necessary.
I switch to SAPI 5 while reading books. I find the pauses necessary.
bradley22 1 points 5y ago
I prefer eloquence. I will probably always choose it over the more human sounding voices.
Xomrade [OP] 1 points 5y ago
I tried switching to eloquence. But, after using espeak for 4 years, I find eloquence voice hard to follow
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