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1992-10-12
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VOICE: Voice driver for PC-VCO
-----------------------------------------
VOICE driver for PC-VCO
Phoneme-to-sound driver for the IBM PC
-----------------------------------------
COM-AND, and VOICE.EXE are copyright 1992 by CABER Software.
VOICE.EXE is distributed with the PC-VCO visual conferencing
accessory, and with COM-AND (with the TALKER script/overlay).
PC-VCO and COM-AND are "shareware". If you USE the program
after evaluating it, you MUST pay for it (see REGISTER.DOC).
The complete user license and registration information is to be
found in the file REGISTER.DOC. Limitations on redistribution
of COM-AND are set out in the file VENDOR.DOC. These two files
are included with the COM-AND program release.
The author will make arrangements with registrants for other
uses of VOICE. The author may be reached:
CABER Software
R. (Scott) McGinnis
P.O. Box 3607 Mdse Mart
Chicago, IL 60654-0607
GEnie, Delphi: TARTAN
CIS .......... 73147,2665
Internet ..... 73147.2665@compuserve.com
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: Voice driver for PC-VCO
VOICE version 1.1 is a part of the COM-AND communications package.
COM-AND is copyright 1992, by CABER Software. All rights are
reserved world wide, excepting redistribution under the shareware
concept. COM-AND is distributed freely and may be copied by anyone
for any number of machines, for purposes of evaluation.
Restrictions on redistribution are set out in the document file
VENDOR.DOC. You may NOT distribute COM-AND or its documentation in
connection with ANY commercial venture, product, publication or
service without written approval from CABER Software.
COM-AND is distributed as shareware. You may try COM-AND without
charge, to evaluate its usefulness to you. You may evaluate COM-AND
for a period of up to 30 days. If you continue to use COM-AND after
30 days, then you must pay for it. Please read REGISTER.DOC for the
terms and conditions of the User License.
The author supports COM-AND through electronic mail on the various
on-line services. Several BBSes focused on COM-AND exist at this
time. Voice support for COM-AND is also available from Support
EtCetera in Long Beach, CA. Please read REGISTER.DOC for details
on support, and COM-AND BBSes.
CABER Software is a member of the Association of Shareware Profes-
sionals (ASP). The ASP offers an ombudsman service to help you
resolve shareware related disputes with ASP members. Please read
the file REGISTER.DOC for information on how to contact the ASP
Ombudsman.
COM-AND is supplied "as-is" with no warranties expressed or implied.
Neither CABER software nor the author will be liable for any damages
or lost revenues incurred through the use of this program or any of
its accessories and utilities beyond the registration price paid.
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: Voice driver for PC-VCO
Table of Contents
-----------------
I. Introduction .............................................. page 1
A. What is COM-AND? What is PC-VCO? ........................ page 1
B. The SPEECH.COM Driver ................................... page 2
C. The VOICE.EXE Driver .................................... page 2
D. This document ........................................... page 2
II. Using VOICE.EXE ............................................ page 3
III. Program Requirements ....................................... page 4
IV. Program and Author Information ............................ page 5
Appendices
----------
A. VOICE.EXE arpabet .......................................... page 6
B. SPEECH.COM arpabet ......................................... page 7
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: VOICE driver for PC-VCO Page 1
I. Introduction
A. What is COM-AND? What is PC-VCO?
COM-AND for the IBM PC and compatibles is a communications
program for use by itself, or for use with several integrated
accessory programs (which themselves may be used independent of
COM-AND). COM-AND provides standard comm program functions: a
dialing directory, macros, disk logging, binary and ASCII file
transfers, scripted execution and so on.
PC-VCO for the IBM PC is an accessory program, intended for use
with a 'base' communications program. PC-VCO is integrated as an
accessory into the communications program 'COM-AND'. However,
PC-VCO may be used with any comm program that supports a 'DOS
gateway' which does not break an established comm link.
PC-VCO, used with network conferencing services such as People-
Link's PARTY, CompuServe's CB and GEnie's RTC conferencing,
provides a way to 'see' and 'hear' people talking. PC-VCO is a
graphics communications program (the 'see'ing...) interfacing to a
speech driver (the 'hear'ing...).
The speech function of PC-VCO is supplied by a resident speech
driver. Currently, PC-VCO interfaces two speech drivers: VOICE
(created for PC-VCO) and SPEECH.COM (the original driver, public
domain). PC-VCO only implements an interface to the driver.
Text-to-phoneme conversion is performed in PC-VCO.
Version 2.6 of COM-AND makes the voice driver available to scripts
directly through the TALKER.OVL overlay. TALKER.OVL only inter-
faces VOICE.EXE... TALKER does not use SPEECH.COM.
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: VOICE driver for PC-VCO Page 2
I. Introduction (continued)
B. The SPEECH.COM driver
The resident speech driver SPEECH.COM and associated programs (SAY
and READ) were originally found on a public domain Bulletin Board
in Chicago. The author's name is not contained in the document,
and no statement is made as to its ownership or copyright.
The author IS identified within the executable object files (as
Andy McGuire... I incorrectly referred to Douglas Sisco in
earlier documents). I have attempted to find anyone who knows of
Andy McGuire, with no success to date. SPEECH.COM is not
included in this release (nor has it has been in any - it's not
mine to give). It is available on most services as SPEECH.ARC.
The current speech driver (by Andy McGuire) does not function
with DOS 3.xx (so its document states), without patching.
The driver is limited to a 4.77 Mhz clock as well. I published
a patch for SPEECH.COM... but the patch is mostly ineffective
above 8Mhz.
C. The VOICE.EXE driver
Beginning with version 2.2 of PC-VCO, PC-VCO includes its own
speech driver (VOICE.EXE). VOICE.EXE was created to support
PC-VCO, and provides the following advantages over SPEECH.COM:
o VOICE.EXE is not CPU speed dependant
o VOICE.EXE does run with any version of MS-DOS after 2.0
o VOICE.EXE implements a broader 'arpabet' (the phoneme set)
compatible with the MacIntosh/Amiga arpabet
o VOICE.EXE permits a limited variance of speech pitch and
speaking rate
o VOICE.EXE may be loaded 'on top' of PC-VCO and deleted after
use (and it may be used TSR as well!)
D. This document
This document describes the use and function of VOICE.EXE. At
this time, programming specifics are not included - VOICE.EXE is
offered ONLY for use with PC-VCO. Registrants of PC-VCO may make
private arrangements with this author for other uses.
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: VOICE driver for PC-VCO Page 3
II. Using VOICE.EXE
VOICE.EXE is a voice driver for standalone use, or use through
PC-VCO or COM-AND. When used standalone, load VOICE.EXE (run it)
BEFORE loading COM-AND or PC-VCO. Used this way, VOICE.EXE becomes a
terminate and stay resident utility.
If NO TSRs have been loaded AFTER VOICE.EXE, the VEND.COM utility may
be used to remove a TSR VOICE driver. This is true even if COM-AND
or PC-VCO have loaded VOICE and then terminated without terminating
VOICE. WARNING: If you load VOICE, then load another TSR, DO NOT
remove VOICE with VEND. You would leave a 'hole' in DOS's memory
map... and DOS gets cranky...
Both PC-VCO and the TALKER.OVL overlay are capable of loading VOICE
on demand, and terminating when complete. This is the best usage,
as memory isn't tied up by VOICE except when it is used.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
That's all there is to it. PC-VCO and TALKER both perform text-to-
phoneme conversion and pass the phonemes to VOICE.EXE for sounding.
The quality is about what you'd expect without digital-to-analogue
conversion... but its a start.
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: VOICE driver for PC-VCO Page 4
III. Program requirements
This program can only function on an IBM PC or DOS compatible
machine.
Certain I/O is done through the 'Handle' oriented I/O routines
added to DOS 2.0. Therefore DOS 2.0 is a minimum requirement.
VOICE (Version 1.1) requires 21K for itself. You need 117K
(minimally) for PC-VCO, and considerably more it you load PC-VCO
through a DOS gateway, or COM-AND's accessory menu. 384K is
recommended, as a minimum.
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: VOICE driver for PC-VCO Page 5
IV. Author information
VOICE was written using Microsoft Macro-Assembler. The author likes
assembler. Assembly language is an entirely appropriate vehicle for
some of the program, and a not-inappropriate vehicle for the rest.
The author of this program is R. Scott McGinnis of Chicago,
Illinois. GEnie and Delphi ID: TARTAN. Comment and suggestions
(and criticism in moderation) are welcomed:
CABER Software
R. (Scott) McGinnis
P.O. Box 3607 Mdse Mart
Chicago, IL 60654-0607
I wish to thank my wife, Elizabeth, for offering her voice for
digitization. Her voice provides a reasonable mid-range value. My
own voice is rather low. Speaking pitch is varied by control of the
output sample frequency (varying the speed of output if you wish),
and her voice is nicely centered in the desirable range. My voice
turns 'Donald Duck' quickly.
This TSR utility may not be distributed without PC-VCO or COM-AND.
It is offered ONLY for use with PC-VCO and COM-AND. COM-AND/PC-VCO
are 'shareware". If you USE COM-AND/PC-VCO/VOICE after evaluating
it, you MUST pay for it (see the file REGISTER.DOC).
Registrants of PC-VCO are invited to contact the author if they wish
to use VOICE.EXE in other applications.
Version 1.1: 921012
VOICE: VOICE driver for PC-VCO Page 6
A. VOICE.EXE arpabet
Phonemes are represented to VOICE.EXE textually.
Vowels Consonants
------------------------- -----------------------
IY beet IH bit R red L yellow
EH bet AE bat W away Y yellow
AA hot AH under M men N men
AO talk UH look NX sing
ER bird OH border S sail SH rush
AX about IX solid F fed TH thin
Z has ZH pleasure
Dipthongs V very DH then
------------------------- CH check J judge
EY made AY hide /H hole /C loch
OY boil AW power B but P put
OW low UW crew D dog T toy
G guest K camp
Special symbols
-------------------------
DX pity (tongue flap)
Q kitt_en (glottal stop)
RX car LX call
(postvocalic R and L)
QX (silent vowel)
Contractions
-------------------------
UL = AXL IL = IXL
UM = AXM IM = IXM
UN = AXN IN = IXN
Punctuation
-------------------------
Digits 1-9 stress marks (unimplemented in version 1.1)
. sentence terminator
? sentence terminator
- phrase delimiter
, clause delimiter
( ) noun phrase delimiters (unimplemented in version 1.1)
For example:
"I can talk" would be written "ay kaen tawk "
Version 1.1: 921012 Appendices
VOICE: VOICE driver for PC-VCO Page 7
B. SPEECH.COM arpabet
Phonemes are represented to SPEECH.COM textually. Individual
phonemes are separated by "-" to make them sound smoothly.
Phonemes are:
a - tApe ae - hAt ah - fAther
aw - AWful b - Book ch - CHurch
d - Dog ee - fEEt eh - sEt
f - Find g - Get i - I
ih - sIt j - Just k - King
l - Look m - Make n - New
oh - hOE oo - bOOt p - Peek
r - Ring s - See sh - SHeep
t - Tool th - tooTH tz - THe
u - lOOk uh - Up v - View
w - Window wh - Where y - You
z - Zoo zh - whatever.
" " - pause between words
"-" - connect two or more phonemes
For example:
"I can talk" would be written "i k-ae-n t-aw-k "
Version 1.1: 921012 Appendices