Who makes Excellent Text to Speech?

Hello. I am looking for a Text to Speech engine, to read a book, for a
commercial application. I tested the AT&T product, but I was not very
impressed. I have NeoSpeech, I think it is good, but I am hoping to find
something better. I searched the web, but it is maze. If you know, if you
can give me some guidelines, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

Talal Itani wrote:
> Hello. I am looking for a Text to Speech engine, to read a book, for a
> commercial application. I tested the AT&T product, but I was not very
> impressed. I have NeoSpeech, I think it is good, but I am hoping to find
> something better. I searched the web, but it is maze. If you know, if you
> can give me some guidelines, I would greatly appreciate it.
>
> Thanks.
>

If you are running Vista, have you tried the Windows Narrator?

--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

"Only religious fanatics and totalitarian states equate morality with
legality."
- Linus Torvalds

Oddcast - Home (Text to Speech Recognition)
http://www.oddcast.com/home/?affId=4...omotionId=5730

--
XP - WNP
Today is the first day of the
rest of your life.



"Talal Itani" wrote:

>
> Hello. I am looking for a Text to Speech engine, to read a book, for a
> commercial application. I tested the AT&T product, but I was not very
> impressed. I have NeoSpeech, I think it is good, but I am hoping to find
> something better. I searched the web, but it is maze. If you know, if you
> can give me some guidelines, I would greatly appreciate it.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>

"Talal Itani" <> wrote in message
news:9A1ui.9821$J13.522@trnddc02...
>
> Hello. I am looking for a Text to Speech engine, to read a book, for a
> commercial application. I tested the AT&T product, but I was not very
> impressed. I have NeoSpeech, I think it is good, but I am hoping to find
> something better. I searched the web, but it is maze. If you know, if
> you can give me some guidelines, I would greatly appreciate it.


From an earlier converstaion in the Vista group, these were mentioned:

http://www.oddcast.com/home/?affId=4...omotionId=5730
http://www.loquendo.com/en/demos/demo_tts.htm
http://www.nuance.com/realspeak/
http://www.neospeech.com/


I still personally like the voice of AT&T Audrey (UK), even though it is a
bit older than those here. The Loquendo voice for Kate UK is excellent.

ss.

On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:01:57 GMT, "Talal Itani" <>
wrote:

>
> Hello. I am looking for a Text to Speech engine, to read a book, for a
> commercial application. I tested the AT&T product, but I was not very
> impressed. I have NeoSpeech, I think it is good, but I am hoping to find
> something better. I searched the web, but it is maze. If you know, if you
> can give me some guidelines, I would greatly appreciate it.



Microsoft reader requires its own format files to read, but if that's
not an obstacle, you might look into it.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Byte" <> wrote in message
newsB87C238-8C89-45A2-AE74-...
> Oddcast - Home (Text to Speech Recognition)
> http://www.oddcast.com/home/?affId=4...omotionId=5730
>


I just realised that they are actually the same old AT&T voices.

ss.

"Talal Itani" <> wrote in message
news:9A1ui.9821$J13.522@trnddc02...
>
> Hello. I am looking for a Text to Speech engine, to read a book, for a
> commercial application. I tested the AT&T product, but I was not very
> impressed. I have NeoSpeech, I think it is good, but I am hoping to find
> something better. I searched the web, but it is maze. If you know, if
> you can give me some guidelines, I would greatly appreciate it.
>
> Thanks.
>

I also use NeoSpeech Kate and Paul 16bit. They were the best I could find 4
or so months back when I was looking. I think they're quite good and put
Microsoft Mike / Mary to shame. I've always wondered why Stephen Hawkings
doesn't use one of the better sounding text to voice apps.

"DanR" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I've always wondered why Stephen Hawkings doesn't use one of the better
> sounding text to voice apps.
>

I don't think I have seen any public talking from him for a long time, so
maybe he has updated his voice. His well known voice was from around 15
years ago at least and must have been one of the earliest synthesised
voices. I suppose the possible reason for him not changing the voice was
that it became /his/.

ss.

"Synapse Syndrome" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>
> "DanR" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>
>> I've always wondered why Stephen Hawkings doesn't use one of the better
>> sounding text to voice apps.
>>
>
> I don't think I have seen any public talking from him for a long time, so
> maybe he has updated his voice. His well known voice was from around 15
> years ago at least and must have been one of the earliest synthesised
> voices. I suppose the possible reason for him not changing the voice was
> that it became /his/.
>
> ss.
>

I agree...and he still types on a Radio Shack 25 year-old device...one of
the first laptop computers. The voice sound is from Radio Shack also.

>
> http://www.oddcast.com/home/?affId=4...omotionId=5730
> http://www.loquendo.com/en/demos/demo_tts.htm
> http://www.nuance.com/realspeak/
> http://www.neospeech.com/
>
>

Thank you. Loquendo sounds good. Do you know if it can be purchased for
the PC?