Speech is stuck in stadium mode

[parice123]

I just installed Hal in a new AMD3200 WinXP computer. The speech is stuck in stadium mode and no matter which (MS) voice I use, it always defaults to stadium mode. Any ideas?

[Dr.Benway]

Parice123, did you know that you can set the default voice in XP by going to your Windows XP configuration panel and activating "speech properties", and then by going to the second panel titled "text to speech"?

[tcoday]

I have kind of the same problem.  In the speech properties, I have only 3 choices, Microsoft Mary, Microsoft Mike, and Microsoft Sam.  I perfer to use the Voice Mary as the default but it's not in the list.
In Hal5.0, in the general options/speech, I choose Mary.  The Mary voice works fine, the only problem is when I open the general options application again, it defaults to Microsoft Mary, meaning that I have to reselect the Mary voice every time I use General options.
Does anyone have any ideas how I can make Mary my default voice instead of Microsoft Mary?

The reason I like pick Mary over Microsoft Mary is because I can change the pronouncation with Mary voice and not with Microsoft Mary.

Thanks for any input anyone could offer.

[parice123]

quote:Originally posted by Dr.Benway

Parice123, did you know that you can set the default voice in XP by going to your Windows XP configuration panel and activating "speech properties", and then by going to the second panel titled "text to speech"?

Raymond, My speech panel doesn't give any options to change voice properties. It only has one. At least, I can't find them. Hal gives options to change voices, but they all default to 'stadium' mode with an annoying echo. When I try to set it to normal, it won't accept the changes. It will change voice, but always reverts to 'stadium' mode for each voice.

Allen

[Art]

This problem has happened before. Try the following thread:

http://www.zabaware.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2412&SearchTerms=speech

[parice123]

quote:Originally posted by Art

This problem has happened before. Try the following thread:

http://www.zabaware.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2412&SearchTerms=speech

Thanks, Art. Except the SAPI button has disappeared from Hal. I can't find it anywhere.

Allen

[Dr.Benway]

This function can't be found inside Ultra Hal but is part of the Haptek player-software. You will probably find it in your Windows menu under "Haptek".

Alternatively launch:

C:\Program files\Haptek\Data\HapTTS\HapSAPISetup.exe

[parice123]

quote:Originally posted by Dr.Benway

This function can't be found inside Ultra Hal but is part of the Haptek player-software. You will probably find it in your Windows menu under "Haptek".

Alternatively launch:

C:Program filesHaptekDataHapTTSHapSAPISetup.exe

Found it, did it. Rebooted comp. Hal is still stuck in stadium mode. It lets me change voices, but always reverts to 'stadium' mode with each voice. That echo is very annoying.
Allen

[Dr.Benway]

Parice123, this link will bring you to a page on the Microsoft website where you can download the speech configuration panel and SAPI 4.0a. Perhaps that will help.

http://www.microsoft.com/MSAGENT/downloads/user.asp#tts

[parice123]

quote:Originally posted by Dr.Benway

Parice123, this link will bring you to a page on the Microsoft website where you can download the speech configuration panel and SAPI 4.0a. Perhaps that will help.

http://www.microsoft.com/MSAGENT/downloads/user.asp#tts

Went there, but it does not instal in Win XP. I downloaded some of the other stuff, but it didn't help. Are you thinking this is a Windows problem?

Allen

[Art]

parice123,

OK...lastly try this...

Open Windows Explorer and go to:
C:\Program Files\Zabaware\Ultra Hal Assistant 6

In that directory you should find a file called:
HalAsst.ini

You can double click to open it. It should open with notepad
or any other text editor.

Near the bottom of the text file you should see a line that
reads:
VoiceName=<character's name>

Try typing in Mary after the = sign.
Save the file
Reload Hal and see if the speech has changed.

If you still have problems let us know.

[parice123]

quote:Originally posted by Art

parice123,

OK...lastly try this...

Open Windows Explorer and go to:
C:Program FilesabawareUltra Hal Assistant 6

In that directory you should find a file called:
HalAsst.ini

You can double click to open it. It should open with notepad
or any other text editor.

Near the bottom of the text file you should see a line that
reads:
VoiceName=<character's name>

Try typing in Mary after the = sign.
Save the file
Reload Hal and see if the speech has changed.

If you still have problems let us know.

There is no Hal asst 6 there. Is this a typo? And, there is no ini file in Hal 5.

Allen

[Dr.Benway]

Parice123, there should be such an ini-file in the main folder of your Ultra Hal. A copy of such a file normally resides in your "c:Windows" or "c:WinXP"-folder.

Alternatively, have you already tried to launch the "Windows Update"-function that can be found inside the Windows Start menu? That will take you to the Microsoft website where your computer will automatically look for the newest updates.

Keep us informed.[]

[parice123]

quote:Originally posted by Dr.Benway

Parice123, there should be such an ini-file in the main folder of your Ultra Hal. A copy of such a file normally resides in your "c:Windows" or "c:WinXP"-folder.

Alternatively, have you already tried to launch the "Windows Update"-function that can be found inside the Windows Start menu? That will take you to the Microsoft website where your computer will automatically look for the newest updates.

Keep us informed.[]

I am not a programer, but I recognize ini files and the need for them. Since there is no ini in Hal assist 5, doI need to reinstall it?
My WinXP update is set automatic, but I went there anyway and all it had was an update for the media player which I did.

Allen

[Art]

parice123,

My mistake in assuming you were using the latest Hal 6 Alpha release.

In case you are using the older version 5, go to:
C:\Program Files\Zabaware\Ultra Hal Assistant 5

Look for a file with YOURNAME.hla.
Mine, for example is art.hla and it should be a 1k file in length.

Open this file (double click) and somewhere near the bottom, perhaps eight line up from bottom you should see the:
VoiceName=<character's name>

Change the character name to Mary or whatever other TTS name(s) you may have in your system.

Save file, restart Hal and again, let us know.

BTW, it wasn't a typo, there is a HalAsst.ini in version 6 Alpha.
Just to keep the record straight![8D]