User talk:Dave w74

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[edit] Microsoft Sam and Microsoft Anna

I don't think individual voices of a speech synthesizer are notable even if they gain their own following, because you can't write more about them than you can about the speech synthesizer itself. In the case of Sam, its only claim to notability is being such a pathetic and useless voice that it's been parodied on the internet. Sure it was the only one that came with windows xp, but it's easy to find and download other voices and I haven't seen a single serious or notable use of it yet. Microsoft designed other voices like Mike and Mary which came with all versions of SAPI 4 and can be downloaded with SAPI 5, and I don't understand why they should have articles. I think the SAPI article should just contain technical info - maybe there could be sub-articles like SAPI 5 or something. I like the way the DECtalk article covers its subject, even though it's admittedly quite short. Graham87 09:19, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

I'd support your second option. It makes sense to have sub-articles on the text-to-speech engine and the speech recognition engine, perhaps comparing different versions of the engine. Maybe there can be subheadings for characteristics of voices. I'd accept a few mentions of Microsoft Sam's notoriety because it's the only voice that comes with Windows XP, and maybe an external link to a fansite which gives more details about the tricks of Microsoft Sam. I just don't think the easter eggs in a synthesizer are worth having in an article as every synthesizer I've used has some easter eggs; maybe it's just my POV of having used speech synthesis exclusively for several years and using reliable synthesizers for serious work all the time.

I haven't seen Microsoft Sam used for serious work, but I've been looking more at programs in the blindness community than anything. All programs for the blind that I know of which use SAPI 5 offer (and strongly recommend) a download of the other two voices, Mike and Mary. Microsoft Sam seems to be the only voice available with Microsoft Narrator even when other SAPI voices are downloaded, so from my POV, that's the only serious (outside of gaming) use of it. I could be wrong though. Graham87 00:18, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Speech synthesis up for FAR

Hi there,

You're listed in the edit history of this article. I wonder whether you're able to help bring it up to FA standard again? Please see WP:FAR#Speech_synthesis.

Tony 06:54, 18 October 2006 (UTC)