[jaws-uk] SEPARATING JAWS SPEECH FROM SOUND CARD
- From: "Wendy Sharpe" <w.sharpe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Jaws" <jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:51:44 -0000
I originally asked the BCAB list whether it is possible to separate JAWS
speech from the sound card so that I could listen to radio broadcasts, etc,
without JAWS coming through the same sound source. This is because the
volume varies a lot, depending on what you are trying to hear, and if you
need to turn the volume up and then want to issue a command to JAWS, JAWS
speech is far too loud.
Two suggestions were made. The first was to get an external sound card with
another set of speakers and have JAWS on the main sound card and other
things directed to the external card. The second suggestion was to attach a
Dec-Talk Express synthesiser and install it using the JAWS maintenance tool
to add the Dec-Talk as a second synthesiser. A member kindly sent me his
Dec-Talk, which he no longer uses.
If I go into the whole story of what happened next you will be here all
night, but it did appear that I had a serial port next to the parallel port
on my PC, and although it was a female port and the plug on the Dec-Talk was
also female, I bought the relevant gender bender and fitted the Dec-Talk to
my PC. Having modified JAWS to add the Dec-Talk, I tried changing
synthesisers, but got no speech. I had first made the mistake of installing
Dec-Talk as the default synthesiser instead of Eloquence, and then had to
ask for my sighted neighbour's assistance to get speech back. As he knows
nothing at all about computers, and doesn't want to, this proved a little
difficult, but we managed, and I re-modified JAWS to make Eloquence the
default again.
I then had a lengthy discussion on the BCAB list about what this female
serial port might be. Went into Device Manager and found it to be a
secondary display adaptor, although Compaq had told one member who was
trying to help me that it was a serial port. After much arguing to and fro,
I decided to buy a USB serial adaptor which I received today. The Dec-Talk
fitted perfectly, but before fixing it up I installed the serial adaptor
using the driver CD provided. Installation was straightforward, and then I
went to Device Manager to verify the port. This is what it said:
Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM4)
Even if the port beside my parallel port is a serial port, I only have one,
so why has this adaptor been installed as COM4? I know that Dec-Talk likes
COM1, and when I fitted the unit to the serial adaptor and tried to change
synthesiser, I was not surprised to get no speech and have to re-start the
computer. I know the Dec-Talk is ok, as it tells me it is running when I
turn it on.
Am I on a hiding to nothing here? Is it possible to do either of the
following?
Change the serial adaptor from COM4 to COM1
Change Dec-Talk from COM1 to COM4
Are there any other ways to separate JAWS speech as I have outlined above?
Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Wendy
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