Setting up a Voice in Speech Menu
Speech Menu Options
The SPEECH MENU is available for synthesized (computer) speech. From it you can choose the voice that you want your device to use for speaking messages. You can choose a different voice for auditory prompts. Other options allow you to refine the voice.
Test SpeechAny time you select an option from this menu you can select Test Speech to hear the changes you have made.
SynthesizerYour device has five voice synthesizers you can choose from:
Acapela, RealSpeak, Microsoft, DECTalk, AT&T Labs
Select the up and down arrow keys until the synthesizer you want to use is in the yellow box.
Each synthesizer has its own voices. Choose a voice in the Voice option after you have selected a synthesizer.
Voice
Depending on the Synthesizer you selected, you may not see all of the Voice options listed below.
This is the voice your device will use to speak everything except Auditory Prompts. Remember that this will be your voice. When people hear this voice, even if they can't see you, they will know it's you.
Use the Up and Down arrows until you see the voice you want to use.
Helpful Hint: You can listen to a voice by selecting the voice you want to hear and then pressing the Test Speech option.
Speech RateHow fast or slowly words are spoken. When the rate is too fast, words cannot be easily understood; when it is too slow, listeners get restless and bored.
VolumeThis changes the volume of the voice. 1 is the softest; 10 is the loudest.
Average Pitch
How high or low a voice sounds.
Pitch Range
Pitch Range is the amount of variation (or inflection) there is in the voice's pitch during speech. A pitch range of 0 produces a boring monotone; a pitch of 9 produces wildly inflected speech as if you were very afraid or very excited. A good pitch range is one where words can be easily understood but are also interesting to listen to.
Helpful Hint: You can listen to a voice by selecting the voice you want to hear and then pressing the Test Speech option.
BassThis option refers to the sound quality of the voice you select. Bass allows you to tweak the lower register. The default is 6, or mid-range bass.
TrebleThis option refers to the sound quality of the voice you select. Treble allows you to tweak the upper register. The default is 3, or lower-range treble.
Auditory Prompt VoiceIf you use Auditory Prompts, select a voice from this menu that is different from your Main voice to speak the prompts. If you are using an Acapela, AT&T or RealSpeak main voice, you must select a DECtalk speech voice for auditory prompts.
Helpful Hint: You can listen to a voice by selecting the voice you want to hear and then pressing the Test Speech option.
Recommendation: We recommend that you try the options listed below with their default settings first. Write the default settings down before you make any changes. This way you can always return to the original voice.