Hi Debby! I did pretty much the same thing. There is a combo box that allows you to choose the voice you want to listen to. Below that is a (play) button. I also just opened the file and didn't save it. After I listened to one voice, I closed the link to (media player) and went back into the combo box and chose another voice. There a quite a few good ones on the site. HTH Blessings. Lynnsky -----Original Message----- From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Melissa Smith Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 6:02 PM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Accessibility Debby, I also use Window-Eyes. Here is what I did. I changed the voice, which automatically changed the text in the box. The page would refresh after I switched voices. After the page had refreshed, I pressed play. A dialog popped up, asking if I wanted to open or save the file. I chose to open it. It took a little while to download, as the files were about 1 MB. Once it ad downloaded, Windows Media Player automatically opened and played the sample text in the voice I selected. Melissa Debby Franson wrote: > Hi Chela! > > I followed your link, which brought me to a list of all of the voices > and text of what they said, but, although I followed the instructions > to click on the version to hear the voice both with the enter key and > routing the Window-Eyes mouse and clicking with the left mouse button > hot key, nothing happened on any of the voices. I was on a different > page when I heard Simon. That time, there was a link to the sample, > unlike what I found on this page. > > Debby > > At 02:25 PM 12/15/2009, Chela Robles wrote >> Hello everyone, here is a demo page of Lequendo voices they sound >> quite natural don't you think? >> Enjoy and let me know what you all think, >> http://www.loquendo.com/en/demos/demo_tts.htm >> >> ---------------- >> "If you go without playing the trumpet for one day, no one knows, two >> days, only you know, and more than three days without practicing, >> girl you better look out, because everyone will know!" >> Today, I find myself constantly saying those words, just to get >> myself going, to not give up, and it works. Since I learned to play >> the trumpet at the tender age of 10, I have spent so much passion and >> much diligence with that instrument that I will not give up on it. >> Sometimes my instrument puts me into awkward situations where I feel >> like they won't ever end, but the trumpet gives me a lot of hope with >> the majestic, crystal-clear sound it brings to my ears. >> ---------------- >> Chela Robles >> E-Mail: cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxx >> MSNWindowsLive Messenger: cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxxxx >> Skype: jazzytrumpet >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Valerie Maples" >> <vlmaples@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 11:42 AM >> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Auditory Processing Disorder and >> Reading Accessibility >> >> >>> It certainly might be indicative of a Central Auditory Processing >>> disorder, only testing can tell for sure. >>> >>> Valerie >>> >>> >>> On Dec 15, 2009, at 1:02 PM, Roger Loran Bailey wrote: >>> >>>> For those of you who know something about audio processing >>>> disorders I wonder if you can make a guess as to whether I have >>>> one. I do not have a problem understanding synthetic voices or any >>>> of the talking book narrators, but I seem to have a problem >>>> understanding a person talking when there is back ground noise. I >>>> do not necessarily mean loudness, but that is a definite problem. I >>>> mean even soft sounds like elevator music in the background. I have >>>> a very difficult time having a conversation with someone on a city >>>> sidewalk. I have to keep asking for the speaker to repeat her or >>>> himself and I have noticed that some people become annoyed with me. >>>> This is a problem I have always had and for the most part I have >>>> not thought about it being abnormal, but when no one else seems to >>>> have a problem understanding someone in the exact same environment >>>> I have sometimes wondered. The best way I can describe it is to say >>>> that it seems to me that the background noise is as important as >>>> what >>> I am trying to listen to and it is a conscious effort on my part to >>> ignore it. >>>> "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do >>>> because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - >>>> Susan B. Anthony >>>> >>>> The Militant: >>>> http://www.themilitant.com >>>> Pathfinder Press: >>>> http://www.pathfinderpress.com >>>> Granma International: >>>> http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Valerie Maples" >>>> <vlmaples@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 1:44 PM >>>> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Auditory Processing Disorder and >>>> Reading Accessibility >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear Monica; >>>> >>>> Just like so many areas in health care, there are a wide range of >>>> variance in people who have auditory processing disorders. I >>>> certainly don't know what is considered typical, I just know about >>>> the spectrum they can cover. The new Acapello voices are far >>>> superior for most people. I think you will be pleased with the >>>> investment. >>>> >>>> Unfortunately I am in no position to site I have read things as my >>>> computers are in total upheaval. I can only speak to my 2 children >>>> who were identified as having auditory processing disorders and the >>>> fact that they could not follow commands by earlier speech devices >>>> using DECtalk and I was told that that was common. I know that many >>>> individuals with auditory processing disorders could not retain >>>> information presented in SAPI 4 voices and then he still can only >>>> use some of the SAPI 5 voices. Sorry I cannot be of more help. I >>>> know more about solutions then the research behind them. Smiles. >>>> >>>> Valerie >>>> >>>> >>>> On Dec 14, 2009, at 3:34 PM, Monica Willyard wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi Valerie. I'm probably an odd exception to the auditory >>>>> processing disorder group. I don't know what is typical, and I'm >>>>> learning more about it as I go. I was only correctly diagnosed >>>>> this year, as an adult. >>>>> Like Nicole, >>>>> I like the new Acapella voice Bookshare gives us and would love to >>>>> have all of my devices and programs use that voice, especially >>>>> JAWS. I'm going to buy it for my computer as soon as I can afford >>>>> it. >>>>> >>>>> You mentioned that people with auditory processing disorder don't >>>>> recognize TTS speech as sound. That confuses me a little. Do you >>>>> have any books or web sites you could recommend about this? If >>>>> there is no information on Bookshare, I will look for a couple of >>>>> books to scan about it. I seem to be backward if this is normal. >>>>> Then again, I'm blind too, so maybe normal isn't really >>>>> applicable. >>>>> >>>>> I do well using specific types of speech, and there are some human >>>>> readers I can barely comprehend. My inability to understand >>>>> certain readers makes those books inaccessible for me unless I >>>>> scan them for myself. That's something champions of audiobooks >>>>> probably don't really understand. I look at the name of the >>>>> narrator of a book or listen to a sample of the speech before even >>>>> considering buying it from Audible. >>>>> >>>>> I like books that are in a text format so I can use a voice that I >>>>> understand clearly. I prefer Braille if I can get it. If not, I >>>>> need a fairly constant, very clear, and unaccented voice to cope >>>>> with reading. When I have to use a device with a confusing voice, >>>>> I use my computer to record books into mp3 files using a voice >>>>> that I do understand well. Then I put my good files on the bad >>>>> device and can function well. >>>>> >>>>> Knowing what I'm dealing with, and that it will benefit our >>>>> deaf/blind members as well, I usually end up scanning books I want >>>>> to read from NLS unless they have the book in WebBraille. I often >>>>> end up scanning my Audible books too, especially ones that I want >>>>> to learn from or read in depth. >>>>> >>>>> Monica Willyard >>>>> "The best way to predict the future is to create it." -- Peter >>>>> Drucker >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Valerie >>>>> Maples >>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 8:18 PM >>>>> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Publishers and Bookshare As a >>>>> Library >>>>> >>>>> I have to agree with Judy. As a matter of fact, Nichole would >>>>> never listen to a synthetic voice until the acapella voices that >>>>> are now available on her device. I don't know anyone who prefers >>>>> TTS over audio books and most are more than willing to pay for the >>>>> alternative. The only people who learn to accept TTS are those who >>>>> need a wider range of books or budget constraints make the other >>>>> alternative unaffordable. Then there are people with auditory >>>>> processing disorders who do not even acknowledge TTS as speech as >>>>> it is processed slightly differently in the brain. >>>>> >>>>> In my opinion we need to constantly be exploring and expanding all >>>>> mediums all of text accessibility and in a cooperative effort like >>>>> Bookshare, I think that everyone comes out winners. I know that >>>>> even though I have a membership now I will probably almost >>>>> exclusively be a volunteer due to time constraints, but being a >>>>> member will allow me to check how certain things are handled in >>>>> the final process or view how proofreaders have handled my scans. >>>>> >>>>> Interesting dialogue everyone... >>>>> Valerie >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On >>>>>> Behalf Of Judy s. >>>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 2:39 PM >>>>>> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>>> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Publishers and Bookshare As a >>>>>> Library >>>>>> >>>>>> I view the disabling of TTS as about as silly as the digital >>>>>> rights management. >>>>> <snip> >>>>>> I don't know a single sighted person, other than myself, who will >>>>>> willingly listen to listen to a book that they can read by >>>>>> listening to it in a synthetic voice. Me? I can't afford >>>>>> expensive audible downloads, and the NLS's offerings are very >>>>>> limited in my tastes, so listening to books via bookshare >>>>>> downloads using either DAISY or Text Aloud has become an acquired >>>>>> taste, one I've become used to and actually very much enjoy. >>>>>> >>>>>> If sighted readers were the least bit interested in hearing books >>>>>> read with a synthetic voice, I suspect the market would be >>>>>> flooded with that sort of book. Why? It is much cheaper for a >>>>>> book publisher to produce that en masse than it is to hire a >>>>>> professional reader and studio to produce the master for each and >>>>>> every book that becomes an audible book. >>>>>> >>>>>> I really doubt that sales of human-read audible books would waver >>>>>> one whit if ebooks had TTS enabled. It would expand the market of >>>>>> ebooks available to the sighted/disabled reader, but that's about >>>>>> it. >>>>>> >>>>>> Just my opinion. Grin. >>>>>> >>>>>> Judy s. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >>>>> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a >>>>> list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the >>>>> subject line. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >>>>> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a >>>>> list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the >>>>> subject line. >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >>>> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a >>>> list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the >>>> subject line. >>>> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >>>> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a >>>> list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the >>>> subject line. >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >>> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a >>> list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the >>> subject line. >> >> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a >> list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the >> subject line. >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 9.0.716 / Virus Database: 270.14.111/2569 - Release Date: >> 12/16/09 13:52:00 > > > -- > Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just > dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the > wind.--Ecclesiastes 6:9 NLT > > To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to > bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a > list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the > subject line. > > To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. No virus found in this incoming message. 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