[RandomTiger]

http://mysite.freeserve.com/thomasw.../fs2_open_r.rar

To use this you must run my latest launcher (http://mysite.freeserve.com/thomaswhittaker/c_code/freespace/Launcher.rar) and check if SAPI works with your system. If it does then you can press the play button to hear it. There are better voices around (like in the SAPI SDK) but I've not found a general release pack with them in yet. To use speech ingame make sure all the sound boxes are checked. Speech will work (depending on the options you choose) in the techroom and in any MOD's that have printed dialog with no voice acting.

Dev stuff:

As I have checked it in the speech stuff should not compile meaning everyone can carry on without having to install SAPI SDK.
However whoever does the offical builds should take care to ensure FS2_SPEECH compile flag is set in the main and code project settings. I have put a #pragma message to remind you. If anyone gets any speech related compile problems then e-mail me and I'll sort it out as quick as I can.

Please report any bugs to bugzilla and me.

[Inquisitor]

note, this is not in 3.5.5, but his build should have everything 3.5.5 does.

[RandomTiger]

Sorry, didnt know you were about to make a version, otherwise I would have made an effort to get it in sooner. People can still mess about with the exe Im just about to finish uploading:

http://mysite.freeserve.com/thomaswhittaker/c_code/freespace/fs2_open_r.rar

[Inquisitor]

If everyone yells, we'll just make that 3.5.6

[Rictor]

And for us non-programmer types, where exactly can the Speech API be download from? Perhaps it would be better to include it with the Launcher or with the next version of fs_open since I doubt many people have it already..

[RandomTiger]

Basically if you have XP and your soundcard supports SAPI (check speech tab in launcher) then it will just work.

You non-programmer types shouldnt be downloading the SAPI SDK unless you are particullary keen to try out other voices. If you are then a quick search in google or on microsofts website will do the trick.

XP seems to offer one voice 'Microsoft Sam', the worst of the lot, by default. I'm not sure about other OS's. I will try to find some more voices out there, today I found some but I think they were for SAPI 4 and dont seem to register as voices in any way I can find.

[Rictor]

I'm on Win98 and all I'm ineterested in doing is hearing some kind of voice. I know that there are other options avalable, but what would be the easiest way for me to get text-to-voice working on my system, without the intention of doing any programming or such?

[RandomTiger]

Originally posted by Rictor
I'm on Win98 and all I'm ineterested in doing is hearing some kind of voice. I know that there are other options avalable, but what would be the easiest way for me to get text-to-voice working on my system, without the intention of doing any programming or such?

Download my launcher and check the speech tab. If the voice will play, it works.

Is your question about freespace or just text to speech in general?

[Flipside]

Got a slight problem here, I get speech ok in the launcher (Have the SDK), but nothing in game whatsoever (by way of simulated speech), is there something obvious I am missing, like I have to press a button to hear it or something?

Flipside

Athlon 1700+
Win XP
768Mb
GI Force 4 MX 440
Audigy Platinum Soundcard (EAX  Set - Do I need Direct3D sound?)

[Rictor]

I did download the Launcher. Thats why I asked. Under the speech tab, it says "Speech API not installed", and I am unable to click on the Test button or any other button within the tab (I can click Cancel, OK and all the "system" buttons). The thing is, the buttons aren't greyed out or anythiing, its just that clicking them produces no effect, and they don't have the "clicked" look when clicked.

[RandomTiger]

Rictor: That either means os sound card or OS (98?) doesnt support it.
You may well have to install something but I dont know what that is yet.
You could wait for me to figure it out or go look for yourself.
I know thats not very helpful, sorry

Flipside: Make sure you have all the boxes ticked, the techroom should work at the very least. Remember that the speech is only used when there arent any voice wav's.

Its also possible I've made a mistake, I had to put it in quite quick because I dont have much free time.

As I said, the techroom should work OK.
Will look into this tonight, let me know how you get on.

[Fry_Day]

There is a redistributable voice-pack. It weighs (as far as I remember) around 50MB or so, though.

*point* -> http://www.microsoft.com/speech/download/sdk51/

Win95 isn't supported, and 128MB RAM is listed as recommended.

[RandomTiger]

Thanks, but I still hope to find a lightweight solution to this.
Seems a bit mad to have normal users installing a whole SDK.
However, for now it might be a good solution.

Rictor, if you install it could you give us some feedback and tell us if it works.

[Flipside]

Ok, I've made sure all the checkboxes were ticked, but I'm still not getting any speech. I'll try a little more later on tonight and make sure I'm not doing anything silly, and let you know what happens

Flipside

[J.F.K.]

Holy ****, it works! This is awesome! Wait a minute, I don't have one installed right now... does this work on in-mission text? That'd be soooooo kick-ass...

[Taristin]

I was using it... She's a bit drab, and has trouble saying reticle, and weapon, but she says Vasudan good enough...

I'll have to turn her speed up a bit though, 'cuz she wasn't talking fast enough to for the message speed...

[RandomTiger]

Not perfect no, good for free.
There are things we can do to make it sound better.
Perhaps we could get hold of better voices, some are really good.

[ChronoReverse]

Quite cool

Too bad the glowmaps and the new eye-candy (which I love) runs really slowly on my box.  I tried out Derelict with the sim-sound and it's so much nicer when you can hear the voice instead having to press F4 every so often.

[Rictor]

I have yet to try it out, sorry. I'll try it tommorow.

[Flipside]

Hmmmmmm... I might have to Email you about this RT, I'm am getting 'Mike' (the voice I am using) fine in the Launcher, but not at all in game. My first question to make sure I'm not doing something obviously wrong is, though I am using the latest version of the launcher, is there a specific version of the EXE I need to be using, I'm using Bobb's latest build with the thruster particles in.

Flipside