The company that Patrick refers to is Cereproc. They specialise in creating synthetic computer voices, and as far as I understand it this involves recording the voice actor for some number of hours. Then they can create a bespoke voice based on the recording. So I think they could create the voice bank and synthetic voice that you're after. They're a small company and very helpful, in our experience. As Patrick says, we have licenced their 'Heather' voice so that schools and pupils in Scotland can download it and install it free of charge on their computers - see http://www.theScottishVoice.org.uk . Cereproc are at: http://www.cereproc.com/contact.html Paul _______________________________________________ Paul D. Nisbet Senior Research Fellow Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning (CALL) Scotland Moray House School of Education University of Edinburgh Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road Edinburgh EH8 8AQ Tel. 0131 651 6236 Fax 0131 651 6234 email [log in to unmask] CALL Centre: http://callcentrescotland.org.uk SQA Digital Exam Papers: http://www.AdaptedDigitalExams.org.uk The Scottish Computer Voice: http://www.theScottishVoice.org.uk Books for All: http://www.booksforall.org.uk Books for All blog: http://pauln.edublogs.org/ WordTalk reader for Word: http://www.wordtalk.org.uk The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. _________________________________________________ _____ From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott-Tatum, Liz Sent: 08 July 2008 09:55 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Voice sampling enquiry Importance: High Thank you Patrick, we'll certainly be giving CALL Scotland a ring. Best wishes, Liz Liz Scott-Tatum [log in to unmask] Communicate Walkergate Park International Centre for NeuroRehabilitation and NeuroPsychiatry Benfield Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 4QD Tel: 0191 287 5240 Fax: 0191 287 5250 Featurenet telephone: 8745 65240 Featurenet fax: 8745 65250 Email for General Enquiries: <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask] This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. The views expressed by the sender may not be the views of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust. Please note that any correspondence naming patients of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust will be treated as primary record and a printed copy may be filed in the patient's health record. _____ From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Patrick Poon, Communication Matters Sent: 07 July 2008 16:19 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Voice sampling enquiry We have recently beed approached by a person with a degenerative condition who wants to do some voice banking, before their speech deteriorates further. We would really appreciate any advice the group can offer regarding how we could go about this, any specific software which can be used, what quality the sounds are, and how easy it is to use the samples on different voice output communcaition aids. Finally is it possible to take sufficient voice samples to create their own synthesised voice - if so what would be needed to achieve this? Your question re. creating a bespoke synthesised voice: you should contact CALL Scotland (Paul Nisbet or Sally Millar) as they have been working with the techie people at Edinburgh Uni who created the Scottish speech synthesiser using sampled speech. Communication Matters (ISAAC UK) c/o ACE Centre, 92 Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DR, UK General Enquiries: Tel & Fax 0845 456 8211 International: Tel & Fax +44 131 467 7487 Email: [log in to unmask] Come and browse our Web site! http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk <http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/> Registered Charity No. 327500 Registered Company in England & Wales No. 01965474 _____ The information contained in this e-mail may be subject to public disclosure under the NHS Code of Openness or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Unless the information is legally exempt, the confidentiality of this e-mail and your reply cannot be guaranteed. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the information contained in this e-mail is intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not copy, distribute, or take any action or reliance upon it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender. Any unauthorised disclosure of the information contained in this e-mail is strictly prohibited.