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'''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 TTS ('''T'''ext-'''t'''o-'''S'''peech) 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 (American English)) 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 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.

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, or press F5 on their keyboard, 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". If you're blind/visually impaired and rely on a keyboard and screen reader, tabbing once from the notepad-style text field will take you to the drop-down menu. You can then use your up and down arrow keys to select a voice. Then, tab 4 times and press Space or Enter on the Apply button. You will hear your selected voice say "OK" to confirm that your selection was successful. The user can also change the speed and volume of the voice with the sliders below the drop-down menu, with the first slider being pitch, the second being speed and the third being volume. It can also be installed in several languages.

==='''Interface'''===

==='''Interface'''===

==Activation==

==Activation==

<s>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:

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

This may not always work, and if you can't activate Speakonia for whatever reason, it is recommended that you use the more up-to-date [[Balabolka]] or another text reader instead.

There have been reports that the Speakonia activation service itself has been discontinued, with those trying to access it getting <code>403 Forbidden</code> errors. If this is the case, people will need to use alternatives instead, like Balabolka.

==Trivia==

==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)", as opposed to showing their actual names (with Adult Male #1's official name being Peter)</nowiki>

*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)", as opposed to showing their actual names (with Adult Male #1's official name being Peter)</nowiki>

*There are no pitch, speed and volume indicators to display levels of pitch, speed and volume.

*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.

*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)

*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]].

**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.

*Speakonia will not work with Windows RT.

*The test phrase for every TTS voice used in Speakonia is: "This is a test for Speakonia."

*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)

*Speakonia was released in 2002 (at least according to the CNET download page)

==References==

==External Links==

  NOTE: The Mediafire links may not work. If it fails, use the Google Drive links.

  NOTE: The Mediafire links may not work. If it fails, use the Google Drive links.

**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 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

*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 the following: 

**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].

**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) [https://newmikeki.miraheze.org/wiki/Resource:TTS here].

 

[[Category:Speakonia]]

[[Category:Speakonia]]

[[Category:Programs]]

[[Category:Programs]]