1,706
edits
Changes
Oops I revised the article quite a bit
'''Speakonia''' is a text-to-speech program created by the company CFS-Technologies (founded by Chris Schuster) used mainly in the creation of YouTube videos; in particular, "Microsoft Sam reads...", for example. Arguably the most famous voices are [[Microsoft Sam]], [[Microsoft Mike]], [[Microsoft Mary]], and Peter (Adult Male #1) as [[Radar Overseer Scotty]].
'''Speakonia''' is a text-to-speech program created by the company CFS-Technologies (founded by Chris Schuster) used mainly in the creation of YouTube videos; in particular, "Microsoft Sam reads...", for example. Arguably the most famous voices are [[Microsoft Sam]], [[Microsoft Mike]], [[Microsoft Mary]], and Peter (Adult Male #1) as [[Radar Overseer Scotty]].
== Overview ==
== Overview ==
[[File:Speakonia2.gif|thumb|A screenshot of Speakonia]]
[[File:Speakonia2.gif|thumb|A screenshot of Speakonia]]
Speakonia itself is fairly simple to use for the average user, regardless of its skill level. The graphical user interface is similar to Notepad, in a technical way. A user simply has to type what they want the voice to say, and when they click the button that looks like a play button, the selected text-to-speech voice will read it. The user can change the voice at any time by going to the drop-down menu labeled Voice under the Speech Properties, and selecting another voice. The user can also change the speed and volume of the voice with the sliders below the drop-down menu. It can also be installed in several languages.
Speakonia itself is fairly simple to use for the average user, regardless of their skill level. The graphical user interface is similar to Notepad, in a technical way. A user simply has to type what they want the voice to say, and when they click the button that looks like a play button, the selected text-to-speech voice will read it. The user can change the voice at any time by going to the drop-down menu labeled Voice under the Speech Properties, and selecting another voice, then clicking "Apply". The user can also change the speed and volume of the voice with the sliders below the drop-down menu. It can also be installed in several languages.
==='''Interface'''===
==='''Interface'''===
The Text Box is where you will spend most of your time in the program. You simply type what you want the voice to say into the text box.
The Text Box is where you will spend most of your time in the program. You simply type what you want the voice to say into the text box.
Lastly, the Speech Properties window is the handiest tool in Speakonia. It allows you to switch between voices quickly, change the speed at which the voice speaks, change it's pitch and volume. This window also has the handy-dandy "Lexicon" feature, which allows you to change the pronounciation of a word if the voice does not say it correctly.
Lastly, the Speech Properties window is the handiest tool in Speakonia. It allows you to switch between voices quickly, change the speed at which the voice speaks, change it's pitch and volume. This window also has the handy-dandy "Lexicon" feature, which allows you to change the pronunciation of a word if the voice does not say it correctly.
[[File:Speakonia_speechproperties.jpg|thumb|122px|The Speech Properties window in Speakonia.]]
[[File:Speakonia_speechproperties.jpg|thumb|122px|The Speech Properties window in Speakonia.]]
== Exporting as .WAV ==
== Exporting as .WAV ==
Speakonia has an option to export the spoken text as .WAV audio files.
Speakonia has an option to export the spoken text as .WAV audio files.
In order to export a file as a .WAV audio file, you must register Speakonia. To register, one must simply give their name and E-mail address. From there, you will receive a code by e-mail and once registered, you will unlock all features of Speakonia. Registration is essential for anyone who wishes to use the voices in their YouTube videos.
In order to export a file as a .WAV audio file, you must register Speakonia. <s>To register, one must simply give their name and E-mail address. From there, you will receive a code by e-mail and once registered, you will unlock all features of Speakonia.</s> ''E-mail registration of Speakonia is no longer possible as of 2012. To activate Speakonia, you must use the information provided in the Activation section of this article.'' Registration is essential for anyone who wishes to use the voices in their YouTube videos.
==Activation==
Speakonia hasn't been supported by CFS-Technologies since 2012. If you want to unlock all features of Speakonia, you will need to activate it with the following info:
**Name: Unlimited License
**Name: Unlimited License
**Email: none@needed.com
**Email: none@needed.com
**Reg. Code: SPK-174101-172083
**Reg. Code: SPK-174101-172083
==Trivia==
*The Default Adult Voices of Speakonia are actually adapted from the '''Lernout & Hauspie TruVoice''' voices. The voices are named in Speakonia similar to the following: <nowiki>"Adult Male #6, American English (TruVoice)"</nowiki> and <nowiki>"Adult Female #2, American English (TruVoice)"</nowiki>
*There are no pitch, speed and volume indicators to display levels of pitch, speed and volume.
*The Microsoft Voices included in Windows XP differ from the ones in Speakonia, with differing speech patterns. Instead it matches Windows 2000 Microsoft Sam.
*CFS-Technologies no longer supports Speakonia, but still has the program available for download on its site. (also available on the CNET download site)
**As such, most of the TTS Community has moved on to other text readers, with the most popular one currently being [[Balabolka]].
*Speakonia will not work with Windows RT.
*The test phrase for every TTS voice used in Speakonia is: "This is a test for Speakonia."
*Speakonia was released in 2002 (at least according to the CNET download page)
==References==
==References==
**Speakonia: http://www.mediafire.com/?21142f5uq5u4ket
**Speakonia: http://www.mediafire.com/?21142f5uq5u4ket
**Microsoft voices (Sam, Mike, Mary and RoboSoft voices): [http://www.mediafire.com/?e4hkxgt5jbsxu72 http://www.mediafire.com/?e4hkxgt5jbsxu7]
**Microsoft voices (Sam, Mike, Mary and RoboSoft voices): [http://www.mediafire.com/?e4hkxgt5jbsxu72 http://www.mediafire.com/?e4hkxgt5jbsxu7]
*The other voices (such as british voices) can no longer be downloaded from the Speakonia website. They can however, be downloaded from here: http://www.v3mail.com/download/ttsengines.htm
*The other voices (such as the British voices) can no longer be downloaded from the Speakonia website due to the Microsoft links for them going dead. They can however, be downloaded from here: http://www.v3mail.com/download/ttsengines.htm
**Alternatively, if the v3mail link doesn't work for certain voices, a Google Drive download for the common voices is always available [https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1pyWzHEkSqBfk1xZGtBWXpaS3BMamdVdVpVMkg1OU1mVXcwMy1HTXE5LTQydEpPT1pkQmc here], provided by Ducky. More links are available for the voices (which include more voices than previously available) either [http://www.bytecool.com/voices.htm here], or [http://mikesttsblog.altervista.org/tts-voices/ here].
**Alternatively, if the v3mail link doesn't work for certain voices, a Google Drive download for the common voices is always available [https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1pyWzHEkSqBfk1xZGtBWXpaS3BMamdVdVpVMkg1OU1mVXcwMy1HTXE5LTQydEpPT1pkQmc here], provided by [[User:MartinSeptim|Nick Wright]]. More links are available for the voices (which include more voices than previously available) either [http://www.bytecool.com/voices.htm here], or [http://mikesttsblog.altervista.org/tts-voices/ here].
[[Category:Speakonia]]
[[Category:Speakonia]]
[[Category:Programs]]
[[Category:Programs]]