LedBlinky - Changing the voice

[studmuff]

I have LEDBlinky and it only has the "Anna" voice.  How can I change the voice to the Microsoft Sam voice?  I have windows Vista on my cab.
Tom.

[arzoo]

Vista does not come with Sam (only Anna). I believe you can download Sam (and other voices) from here.

[studmuff]

Vista does not come with Sam (only Anna). I believe you can download Sam (and other voices) from here.

Yep thanks Arzoo,  I downloaded it but when I go into LED Blinky it just lists Anna and no one else.  I'm not sure how to find the voices and let LEDBlinky use it (if that makes sense).

[arzoo]

If the voices are installed correctly, they should show up in the blinky list. Bring up the Vista "Speech Recognition Options" (from the Control Panel), then click "Text To Speech" on the left. That should open the Speech Properties. Do you see all the voices under the Voice Selection list?

[studmuff]

If the voices are installed correctly, they should show up in the blinky list. Bring up the Vista "Speech Recognition Options" (from the Control Panel), then click "Text To Speech" on the left. That should open the Speech Properties. Do you see all the voices under the Voice Selection list?

Hi Arzoo.  Thanks again for the quick reply.
I will check it tonight when I get home from work and see if the voices are there.  Thanks.
Tom.

[studmuff]

If the voices are installed correctly, they should show up in the blinky list. Bring up the Vista "Speech Recognition Options" (from the Control Panel), then click "Text To Speech" on the left. That should open the Speech Properties. Do you see all the voices under the Voice Selection list?

Unfortonately, I downloaded it and they are not showing up.  Windows tells me the exe did not download correctly.  I tried running it as administrator and under winxp xompatability and still get nothing.  The exe will bring up a box showing it is downloading files but the runs really fast and just ends.  Not sure if there is any other way.  Has anyone else had this problem with Vista.  I also tried on my laptop that runs vista and same exact thing happens.  I tried some youtube tutorials and they talk about downloading "speakonia".

I then saw this trying to look for an answer:
"You can't use Microsoft Sam with Windows Vista due to security holes
 in the Microsoft Sam TTS engine."
 

[lastrega]

Yeah I named my cab, Mari because of Anna's sweet voice:) But seriously, vista and seven have way better speech engines, and sadly old school sam and mary are not able to run on Vista, or 7 (at least with out alot of work and may still be buggy).... And I have the speakonia software as well , there are alot of great voices for it.... however I could not get blinky to see any of them .... Ya see speakonia is it's own engine, seperate from windows.  Therefore I am not sure if blinky can use them.... Tis a shame too, Speakonia has this awesome english voice that would be awesome in a cab..... And does accents and slag pretty well too...

If you figure out how to use speakonia in blinky , please share the info, because I love led blinky, and would love a scottish or Brittish speaking cab.

 

[arzoo]

Have you tried installing the Mike and Mary voices from the LEDBlinky Download page?

[studmuff]

Have you tried installing the Mike and Mary voices from the LEDBlinky Download page?

Yep, Same problem.  Can't download that either.

[arzoo]

I just installed Mike and Mary on a Vista box and although it did install and the voices show up in the list, they will not play. I'll have to update my site and mention that they are only good for XP.

So it seems the only way to get extra voices on Vista or 7 would be to purchase those that are designed for the OS - nothing free on the web that I can find.