Model Talker Voice-Banking Software

[Montana Carol]

Mike and Pappy, I downloaded the InvTool and Model Talker software, and am recording words and phrases (some of 'em are SO silly!:) like crazy! Thanks for making me aware of this resource! My Windows XP has shut down twice, though, with scary blue screens that made me think I'd lost everything in my computer. I updated the sound driver the first time, but it happened again, and I e-mailed the SRL guy (software source) for advice. Am waiting for an answer. Anybody have that experience?

I sure hope I can fix it -- this voice-banking seems like a godsend to me, since my speech has been my main symptom, along with swallowing, and only since about Jan. 07 have I had weakness in my right hand, and muscle cramps. I've had a tentative diagnosis of ALS, but I'm going to Seattle for another opinion. Maybe this will turn out to be PBP. In any event, I am thrilled to think I'll have my own voice recorded and ready to use, and I want this software to work on my computer.

[Montana Carol]

Here's the URL for the voice-banking software website:
<http://www.asel.udel.edu/speech/>

Maybe this is old news to most of you, but I hope it will be helpful to newbies like me who are worried about losing their speech. Carol

[Wes_E]

I read all the info on the link Capt Al sent me about that site. I'll download it today.
Did you download it onto a laptop or desk top? What is your operating system? I have windows vista.
Please let us know when you receive the answers from the tech support people.
Wes

[MtPockets]

I'm using windows xp on a desktop, but after recording all the phrases plan to transfer it to my laptop. Ther are some really weird phrases.

God Bless
Capt AL

[Montana Carol]

Wes, I'm using Windows XP. It came with a microphone, but it doesn't have a USB 2.0 connector. It plugs into the back of the computer with a plug like an audio/video cord uses. I've got all but 100 words and phrases recorded, in spite of the Windows shut-downs. The software people figured the soundcard driver update would solve the problem, but it didn't. I'm thinking the microphone is incompatible somehow; but I'm just plowing ahead, getting 100-150 phrases done and uploaded at a time. Each time it shuts down, I get a different message. You probably won't have any trouble at all. Nobody else has reported any problems. I'm so excited to get done recording and see what I'll be able to do with it.

Al, do you have to be able to type to use ModelTalker? What if the ol' hands give out?

Carol

[MtPockets]

Yes when the hands go that can be a problem. Probably the best person on the site to ask about that would be QuadBliss. Somehow he communicates using computer without his hands I believe.

God Bless
Capt AL

[ccox]

I guess I'm missing something. I opened the website and searched it, but couldn't find anything about banking your own voice. My mom's ability to speak is leaving quickly. She struggles to make what's in her head come out of her mouth. She sees an ALS specialist on Monday, whom I'm sure will hook her up with all the latest technology, but I'd like to have as many options for her as possible.

[MtPockets]

Go to this site http://www.asel.udel.edu/speech/

You will see a link on the right
Researcher Index:
Download ModelTalker (http://www.asel.udel.edu/speech/DownloadInstr.html)

Just click on "Download Model Talker", download this file and install it on your computer. This is the program that you store your own voice in. You do not Bank your voice online, but on your own computer.

You can also choose to use a synthetic voice if you cannot record your own voice and just type on the computer what you want to say and it comes back out the computer speakers.
I hope this helps.

God Bless
Capt AL

[Montana Carol]

I posted earlier about the problems I was having recording my speech with Model Talker and InvTool. Well, it seems there was a bug in the program, and after I downloaded the new version, InvTool 3.2.13.6 build 7/10/07, I was able to finish my recording, including over a hundred custom words/phrases of my own, without any further computer hangups. I'm all done now -- waiting for the folks to make me a program I can use when and if my voice goes away. They tell me it will work with any computer or voice synthesizer that supports Windows/SAPI 5.

CaptAl, you said you were doing this too, didn't you? How're you coming along? Good, I hope.

Carol

[MtPockets]

Funny how timing works sometimes. I was just copying my model talker program to my new computer when I went to their site and saw there was a new version, and download is now from different company. Then I get this note from you one minute later.

I guess when they finish the Beta version they probably will sale it to people. I used mine the other day with the computer voice and it wasn't near as good as if it were my own voice.

I am about 50% through recording the phrases. Did they tell you to send it in and they would send you a program back? I thought we could just begin to use it when we finished recording.

Thanks for the info.

God Bless
Capt AL

[Montana Carol]

Hi, CaptAL: After you record your phrases, you click on Tools/Upload; put in your ID and password and wait for the "Connected" sentence to appear; and upload all that you've done. I uploaded mine after about every 100 items, because I was having that problem with the computer crashing. It was a good thing, too, because I actually lost my inventory file with about 80% of my recording done; and so they sent me back a copy of the file I had uploaded at that point, and I was able to continue recording. If you have the InvTutor, you can read that/print it out to get more info on uploading; but it's easy.
Good luck.:) Carol

[Montana Carol]

Capt AL, tell me what you got for a laptop. I'm thinking a laptop is what I want, too, rather than a dedicated voice machine like Dynavox. Beth (lunarruna) was saying that's what her husband uses, with the ERICA eye-gaze software now that his hands don't work, and he can operate the TV remotes and light switches with it too. I'm hoping that I can buy one of the less-expensive laptop models, maybe. Are you getting pretty close to needing speech augmentation, or just preparing ahead of time like me?

[joelc]

Carol,

Sorry for butting in here, but computers have been my life for many years and would like to make a recommendation. Hope you don't mind.

Get a laptop, they have really come down in price over the last year, you can get a really great one for between $800 to $1000. Get one with a dual core processor, with 1gig ram, 100gig hard drive (at least) and Vista Premium operating system. They all come with networking capabilities, lots of USB ports, DVD Burner, bluetooth, etc.
The operating system comes with excellent built-in software for people with disabilities. This includes speech recognition, and on-screen keyboard.

Hope this helps.

[Montana Carol]

Thanks, joelc. I appreciate your recommendation. I'll print out your post and keep it for when I start shopping. Do you recommend Dell, or ... ? Or maybe it's not appropriate to specify brands. I'm thinking I should get as lightweight a machine as possible, for greater portability and ease of use. Carol

[joelc]

Carol, rather than recommend a make, I would like to recommend purchasing one locally from a reputable dealer who offers a good warranty on their products. Talk to them about what happens if you have a hardware failure. Mail order companies usually make you send it to them and you could be without your computer for 6 weeks to 2 months.

If you want to email me with further questions please feel free to do this. I am here to help whenever I can.

[MtPockets]

Good point Joel.

It helps to have a local dealer that can fix any problems and return it to you asap. I bought a used Acer that I like because it is light weight. I was told it had a dual core processor when I bought it, only to discover that it did not have one. It still works well for me for what I need. I have a desktop computer that I use most of the time, but here lately I'm having trouble sitting upright for very long. I can use the laptop in my lounge chair laid back or my wheelchair in a reclining position.

I'm starting to have trouble swallowing more than before and there are days when my speech is weak, so I am trying to get ready ahead of time with the Model Talker program.

Thanks Carol for the update. I just switched computers for my desktop and almost lost all my recordings. I was finally able to get a copy off a cd I had backed up them onto. I will back it up to their site asap.

For anyone in the Gulfport Ms, area there is a MDA support group that also has ALS patients and their family members if they would like to attend, that meets every 2nd Thursday of the month at 5 pm at Gulfport Memorial Hospital in classroom # 5. I was just informed of this by email from another forum member this morning. Glad to see maybe we can have a local support group. If you need more details e-mail me or pm me.

God Bless
Capt AL

[Montana Carol]

Yes, that is a good idea, joelc. I used to have a local computer guru who ordered and installed two desktop computers for me. She gave me some support afterwards, for a fee, but she more often than not would tell me to contact tech support at Gateway or Dell (1st and 2nd computers), which wasn't very doable and which left me feeling abandoned. It would be better to have a local supplier who would be able to give me any service or support I might need -- especially if I lose my voice and can't communicate normally.

Al, if I understand corrrectly, the purpose of uploading your recordings, besides having a backup, is so that they can take all those "nonsense" phrases in addition to the real words and phrases, and turn them into a finished program that will speak anything you type -- not only the exact things you recorded, but just about any combination of syllables. They recommend that you record your name, too, and other custom names/words/phrases which might have unique pronunciations, after you've finished uploading the 1649 prompts that come with the software. I think I read (on their website?) that your personalized synthetic voice sounds better after they finish processing it, too.

Cheers -- Carol

I'm anxious to get mine back from them and see how it works.

[patricia1]

I was wondering I have slurred speech,but I have old tapes of me talking Is there anyway I can use does tapes to record word I said .Does it have the capability to take a voice off a tape recordor >Just a thought Pat

[MtPockets]

Good idea Carol. I had not thought about names of friends, family members etc. Plus some words you might want to quote from the bible, like King James English don't translate to normal English.:-D

And you can always add your favorite slang words like nicknames, awe shucks, horse feathers, getrdone, etc.:-D

Have a great weekend.

God Bless
Capt AL

[hboyajian]

I know that this might sound goofy, but another thing you might consider recording is a few of your favorite songs or hymns so that your family can sing along with you. I really miss that with my dad. No great voice needed or even to carry a tune, its the spirit that counts.

[Montana Carol]

Pat, my speech is not normal, either; but I figure it's better than it will be, and it's what people are used to now. I don't think there's any way to use your taped voice to do the Market Talker recordings, but at least you've got 'em.
Holly, it's too late for me to sing on tape -- my singing voice is so scratchy and weak it'd make my friends and loved ones cry. But actually, I have a couple tapes I made singing, and some playing the piano, before I ever knew I might need 'em for this. purpose. I don't think they can be used with Market Talker, either; do you know? But I'm glad we have them -- as you say, it's the spirit that counts.
Al, I did record a lot of things kinda like the slang words you mentioned. Endearments, "God bless you," "Love you so much!" and the like. I might do some more like the ones you said -- funny little personal sayings that wouldn't be pronounced accurately by synthetic speech.
Thanks for all the good ideas, folks. You're all great!

[John1]

I think I read (on their website?) that your personalized synthetic voice sounds better after they finish processing it, too.

Cheers -- Carol

I'm anxious to get mine back from them and see how it works.Carol, I'd like to hear what you think of it too. Over the weekend I listened to some of the synthetic voices and "real" voices of some people who had done the Model Talker thing and was a bit disappointed with the robotic quality of it. As well, all of these people could speak more clearly than I can now.

[Montana Carol]

Yeah, those synthetic voices at the Market Talker website sound sorta like somebody on a cell phone that's cutting in and out, don't they? But it'll be better than nothing, if it becomes my only alternative. I'll let you know what I think of it when I get it. Carol

[Montana Carol]

I finally got my synthetic voice file for use with Model Talker. It's not perfect, since my voice wasn't perfect when I did my recordings; but it's sure wonderful to have it; and I wouldn't trade it for the sample voices at the Model Talker website. Some things sound really like my own speaking voice. I'm very grateful to have it, for when I can't talk at all. Carol

[westjlittle]

I would like to concur with Montana Carol. I completed my voice last spring. It's not perfect but is better than the builtin Windows voices. It's an important thing for people early in the disease to record the voice.

I can still talk now but have slurred speach. There is no way I could record the phrases clearly now. Not to mention the fatigue of the recording. It took me about a month of an hour a day to record the 1700 phrases.

The Invtool uses the speech decoding software in windows to determine whether you have spoken the sentence. I'm guessing now but they must do they same thing to map your voice onto the unique sound combinations.

I'm just waiting until I need it now.

Jim

[Saubier]

MC,

See my posts on the other ModelTalker threads. But I want to add that EZ-Keys is expensive, but it has a pro-voice on it, and it has word prediction and you can use it even if you can only move one finger or toe, or even your eyes. MySkeletonKeys also has word prediction, and it's much cheaper, but it requires a keyboard. I was going to use my son's voice if my own was too far gone to suffice, but it wasn't.

Pappy.