The Aurora Voice Options dialog box allows you to choose which speech synthesizer you want to use and if you want to use Aurora's pronunciation exception system to correct the synthesizer's pronunciation. It also allows you to configure the selected speech synthesizer.
Select a Voice Driver from the list below.
Choose the speech synthesizer you want to use. If you do not have a hardware speech synthesizer but have a sound card, choose "Aurora Realvoice." In Windows 95 and above, if you are running the 32-bit voice server (as indicated by the title of the Aurora Voice Options dialog) you will have the option of choosing any Microsoft Speech API (SAPI) speech synthesizer that you have installed on your computer.
If your speech synthesizer is not listed, is not supported by an SSIL driver, and connects to a COM port, choose "Generic Serial." You may need to consult your speech synthesizer documentation to get the correct Initialization, Prefix and Suffix strings to make it work. Generally, all that is required is a Suffix string of $0D (dollar-zero-dee). Once you have selected a speech synthesizer, you will likely need to configure it. To get help configuring your speech synthesizer, push the "Voice Setup" button and press F1 for more help.
Autodetect
If you press this button, Aurora will search for all installed speech synthesizer drivers on the computer. Some of our synthesizer drivers do not support automatic detection, so if you have one of these synthesizers, you will not be able to use Autodetect to choose it. After autodetection is complete, you will be given the option to choose from the list of synthesizers it was able to locate.
Speech Synthesizers Currently Supported by Aurora Voice Drivers
Aurora Realvoice (16&32 bit)
Microsoft Speech API (32 bit)
Dec Access-32
Monologue for Windows 95
Microsoft Speech Synthesizer
DecTalk Express (16&32 bit)
Generic Serial (most synthesizers that connect via COM port) (16&32 bit)
Monolog for Windows (SoundBlaster) (16 bit)
MultiVoice DecTalk (16&32 bit)
SSIL 1.91 Standard (16 bit)
TextAssist DecTalk (SoundBlaster) (16 bit)
Speech Synthesizers Currently Supported by Aurora's SSIL Driver (16 bit)
Apollo2, U.S. English ROM1, Spanish ROM2, English primary Language, set to COM1
Apollo2, U.S. English ROM1, Spanish ROM2, Spanish primary Language, set to COM1
ACCENT Accent PC Internal (Improved version - see note)
ACTSAC17 Accent SA or Artic Transport External with driver set to COM1:9600,n,7,1
Accent SA or Artic Transport External with driver set to COM1:9600,n,8,1
Accent SA or Artic Transport External with driver set to COM2:9600,n,7,1
Accent SA or Artic Transport External with driver set to COM2:9600,n,8,1
Apollo2, U.S. English ROM1, set to COM1
Audapter External with driver set to COM1
Audapter External with driver set to COM2
Braille 'n Speak and Type 'n Speak, set to COM1
Braille 'n Speak and Type 'n Speak, set to COM2
DECtalk PC Internal
Doubletalk PC Internal
Echo PC External with driver set to COM1
Echo PC External with driver set to COM2
Europa2 Internal, U.S. English ROM1
Juno Enternal, U.S. English ROM1. Software compatible with the Apollo2
Doubletalk LT or LightTalk with driver set to COM1
Doubletalk LT or LightTalk with driver set to COM2
Generic "no speech" synthesizer driver
Sounding Board Internal from G.W. Micro
Note: If no selections are listed in this drop box, make sure that the [Aurora] Directory=C:\AWIN3 setting is correct in the AURORA.INI file and that the [Aurora] INIFileV3=C:\AWIN\AURORA.INI setting is correct in WIN.INI. The Aurora voice driver files (*.AV1 - 16-bit or *.AV3 - 32-bit) must be in the directory specified in the [Aurora] Directory= setting.
Voice Setup
Press this button to set up the options for the selected speech synthesizer. For detailed help setting up the selected speech synthesizer, press F1 or click on the Help button when in the Voice Setup dialog for the synthesizer. Below is the setup dialog for the Aurora Realvoice.
Try it!
Press this button to test your synthesizer to make sure it is working. If it is working correctly, you should hear it speak "This is a test." If nothing happens and the buttons on the Aurora Voice Options dialog remain grayed, wait up to a minute, the voice driver should time out and return control or an error message. You can then adjust the voice settings or choose another synthesizer.
Note: If you are using a Microsoft Speech API (SAPI) synthesizer, you may experience static or halting speech. If this occurs, go into Voice Setup and adjust the Speed setting downwards. This symptom occurs when the speech synthesizer requires more computer horsepower than you have.
If you receive this error message click here.
Use an Exception file to do Pronunciation Correction
If this checkbox is checked, Aurora will attempt to use the currently selected exception file to correct the pronunication of words. If the Edit Exception file button is grayed, no exception file is currently selected and pronunciation correction is disabled.
Select Exception File
Aurora's voice drivers support generic pronunciation exception handling to correct the pronunciation of words mispronounced by the speech synthesizer. Use this option to select the exception file to use with your speech synthesizer. Exception file names have the extension .X. An exception file is provided for the Aurora Realvoice (REALVOIC.X). For this option to have any effect, you must also check the Use an Exception file to do Pronunciation Correction checkbox.
Edit Exception File
Press this button to start the Aurora Exception Editor to edit the exception file you have selected in Select Exception File above. If this button is grayed, you have not selected an exception file in Select Exception file above.
Show Voice Server Window
If this checkbox is checked, the voice server main window will be visible. This is useful if you want to be able to close the Voice Server for any reason. To hide the window for normal use, uncheck this checkbox.
Press Ok to save changes, or Cancel to not save changes.