Increasing max. vol. setting on a c530

There is a thread on here by hornby (something or another, can't remember his screen name) that explains how to do it.

But basically download a free hex editor and search for the volume. Then edit it to be whatever you want. I know that the standard voice was set at 85 I believe. The "Jill" voice that I use was set to 65 so I raised it to 90

I don't know about the C series. I did this on my Nuvi 360. I don't know if the voice files are different between the series.

For the Nuvi I did this (do at YOUR own risk):
1. You need a hex editor (free one called xvi32 for windows)
2. copy the voice file you are using to your computer.
3. MAKE A BACKUP COPY OF VOICE FILE
4. open voice file with hex editor
5. search for the string "volume"
6. When you find this tagged line the number is the volume level (mine was 45)
7. change the number to 99
8. save the file
9. copy voice file back to unit
10. try it out!

Again, do this at YOUR own risk.

Also, search on the site for low volume(s), you may find others with different explanations.

Good Luck!

On mine, 99 was too loud, it would distort the voice if I had it all the way up, so that is why I backed it down to 90. You will have to play with it and see what suits you best. I am sure that it is probably different on different GPSr, even on the same model.

I opened the American English.vpm file in my hex editor and I do not get sny letters, just a page full of numbers. I must be doing someting wrong. ...any ideas?

Most Hex editors I've used have the hex numbers displayed on the left with the text displayed on the right. If a hex editor doesn't have this feature, there should be an option to switch between the hex number page and the text page.

RT

ADDED:
chmaas.handshake.de has a free hex editor which displays both hex numbers and text. One huge advantage is there is no program to install; it runs off of an exe file. Vista isn't listed as an operating system it will run on. If anyone trys it on Vista, please post here. Thanks.

You know, I just tried it, and it worked. You can open the .vpm file with notepad (in Windows XP) and edit it there. You will want to do a find on...

90

That is where you change the 90 to whatever you want. However, when you do the find, it won't be 90 since that is what I changed it too. Therefore, you will probably just want to search for

I downloaded the Hex editor and now what? I need directions? Are there any at a glance or is this based on bits and pieces I find going through posts?

Did you try saving it and running it? I'm curious if Notepad saved it in text or hex !!!!

Yeah, don't do it, doesn't work, like you said, probably saved it as text and not hex.

If you're wanting 'hex editor' instructions, there is a 'help' file that comes with the exe file and there are some very limited instructions on its website under 'screen shots'.

If you're wanting instructions on modifying the GPS, there are several posts addressing the volume issue, some with instructions.

When I open the file in Notepad I just get page after page of code that I can't read.

Now I can't find the editor on my computer. Giving me more of a headache than anything. So like I said before..if it aint broke...don't fix it...cause frankly my patience runs short.

I thought you already had it extracted.
1. First, you need to extract it. With XP, right click on the zip file you downloaded (you need to know where you downloaded the file), then click on 'Extract All'.
2. Now you should have a folder with several files, one being the 'help' file and one being the 'exe' file. Just double-click on the 'exe' file and it should run. Don't have to install any program.

BUT:
If one doesn't know how to extract zip files, I'd have to recommend DON'T MESS WITH THE GPS FILES!!!

It always seems to open in hex no matter what I try using a couple of differnent hex editors.

Like I said, it doesn't work in Notepad. However, it does work with a Hex editor cause I successfully did it.

retiredtechnician has given some good advice. Another point is BACKUP the file before you do anything.

retiredtechnician has given me some very good advice. I tried it with the free hex editor he recommended, but when I open the file it has code listed in the text screen also. I think I will email the voice file to a computer tech buddy of mine. If he gets it open in text form, I will have him change the volume level to 90 and send the file back.

I have noticed on this site that most of you are wizards at computers and digging deep into them to make your GPS devices the best that they can be where other such as myself only know how to touch the surface but with directions provided become competent enough to learn with directive. With that said and this wil be the last question I ask on this topic..how do you copy your voice from the GPS unit to the Hex Editor. I have the Editor on my desktop and have no clue what to do with it from there. Raising the volume for the voice installed would be nice and the fact that most of you have TTS modification on devices that didn't have previously and elevated voice tones now lets me know there are many computer wizards out there just waiting to assist me...rriigghht?

Hi All;

Sorry I have been away for a while. I noticed everyone seems to have some of the same problems...

RULE #1. DO NOT use Notepad, Word, WordPad... not hex editors. They will corrupt the file and render it unusable.

A hex editor MAY have the ability to display both text and hex characters. It yours does, you are lucky. xvi32 I suggested using allows both hex and text display.

If you use xvi32 and open the voice file, the right pane of the screen is hex code (not text). The beginning of the file is not readable (text). Just open the file, and then search for the string "volume". This will jump down a little over halfway in the file. The tags for the volume should be readable (plain text). The file is written with xml tags (which I cannot post here, because they will be read as true xml; I tried).

Once you found the volume tag, left click once in the right pane to select the box with the first digit of the volume. As I said my Nuvi was defaulted to 45. Make the adjustment to the first digit (over right with a new number, i.e. 9). Then select the second digit and adjust that number.

Once you are done, save the file (icon on tool bar). That is it, copy back to unit and test.

rhamona,

I hope I can help.

I assume you have windows...all you should have to do is copy the voice file to your desktop (which you have done). Next all you need to do is either:
1. Drag and drop the voice file on top of the hex editor icon. (This should open the hex editor and open the voice file)
2. Open the editor and use the menu to open the voice file. (Just as you would open a document in word. File -> Open. Navigate computer and locate file)
3. Some hex editors will create a shortcut menu. Right click the voice file (shortcut menu appears). Choose "Open With..." and select the hex editor.

I hope one of these 3 works... If not, let me know.

I've used many hex editors during my 35 years in the Electronic industry as a hands-on technician. I have yet to use a hex editor that doesn't display both hex and text, either with a left/right pane or individually (although I assume they do exist).

I'm using XVI32 v2.51 and the hex is displayed in the left pane and the text is displayed in the right pane!!!

AND I REPEAT, DON'T MESS WITH THE GPS FILES IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!!

Should you be messing with anything if you don't know what you are doing???? LOL.

I don't know what I am doing. So my GPS will stay standard.

I'm using XVI32 v2.51 and the hex is displayed in the left pane and the text is displayed in the right pane!!!

AND I REPEAT, DON'T MESS WITH THE GPS FILES IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!!

Get someone with a 550 to do it for ya and then send you the file. You can then cut the original one and save it somewhere and replace it with the altered one.

I do not know or understand how you all are copying any info from your GPS to your computer. Example: copying the voice file to the desktop so that it can be dragged and dropped into Editor. I am stuck even before I start step 1.

Again you all seem to be computer techies and know your stuff. Unfortunately, I don't.

If you are trying it on the 340, it isn't going to work from what I understand. However, the 550 should work. If you have it plugged into the computer via the USB cable, you can open windows explorer (right click on "My Computer" and click "Explore"). You will then see a drive called "Garmin". Double click on that and you will see a folder called "Voice", double click on that one. You will then see multiple voice files. You will need the one that you are using. For instance, I am using "Jill" so I would copy (not cut) over the "English_American_Jill.vpm" file to the computer (anywhere, but desktop might be the easiest for you). That is step one. Make sure that the original file is still there before you do anything else.

Thanks for putting it in layman's terms....

np

Will it work on a C340, anyone tried?

Read 3 posts up from yours for the answer to your question regarding the c340.

The reason that I said that it can't be done on the 340, is because I am under the impression that when you hook it up to the computer, the computer doesn't see it as a mass storage device and therefore you will not be able to move the file over. I may be wrong.

Does anyone know if the voice files are the same across platforms?

I could post my Nuvi 360 voice file that I altered on my ftp site. You can then download it and copy the file back the 550.

I am not in front of my unit, so I cannot tell you what the exact file name is. I do know that I use the Jill English voice file.

We could post the size of the file for our unit. If the byte size is exactly the same, pretty good chance the file is the same.

Right-click on the file name, click on 'Properties' and post the file 'Size'. Don't use 'Size on Disk', that will vary depending on the computer's file system.

nuvi 350
English_American_Jack.vpm
(14,572,544 bytes)

I would assume so, but I do not want to be the one messing up anyone's GPSr...lol. That is why I said that she needed to find someone with a c550.

I would say yes, since the voice file that I am using was originally intended for the c340 series.

ASIANFIRE WROTE: I am under the impression that when you hook it up to the computer, the computer doesn't see it as a mass storage device and therefore you will not be able to move the file over. I may be wrong.

You are not wrong...

wow, I am not wrong, that's a first...lol

I am not sure if this is proper to even ask and I don't want to impose, but is it feasible for you to make a copy of the Jill voice file you set at a volume level of 90 and email it to me? If not, I understand.

Regads,

Jim

IT will not help you even if I did, unless you have already modified your c530 to do TTS.

The problem is the file size, 14.5 MB on the nuvi350. Even on DSL it's time-consuming.

I thought about offering to modify the file for someone who doesn't know how; but the email attachment-sending time may be too long. Also, some ISPs don't allow attachments that large.

I'm willing to give it a shot. If you want, send over a copy of your voice file, tell me how much you want the volume increased (or decreased), and I'll modify it and send it back.

Remember, it's your responsibility to BACK UP, BACKUP, BACKUP!

It may not pan out, but I'm willing to try. Send me an email and I'll tell where to send an attachment.

RT

Wow, thanks RT

The English_American.VPM file on my c530 is just over 1 MB (1,094 KB). Emailing should be a breeze. The voice files for all of the different languages are 1 MB of less. I am wondering why it is so much smaller than the Nuvi 350 voice file?

I wlll send you an email.

Thanks for your offer.

Jim

On the nuvi 350, file size:
The English_American_.vpm is 1,119,488 bytes.
The English_American_Jack.vpm is 14,572,544 bytes.
The English_American_Jill.vpm is 14,734,336 bytes.
The largest voice file is:
Francais_European_Virginie.vpm at 17,047,552 bytes.

Most users mention 'Jack' or 'Jill', that's why I originally posted the Jack's size (file size, that is!!).

RT

Just dld the latest vrsion of xvi32 and have the same problem with text. Don't have it! I get the split screens, but no text.

Only certian parts of the file are going to be "readable" text.

if you search for "volume" there are other strings near there that are readable.

Text is not necessarily alphabet characters. They can be graphic characters, like squares, etc...even no character. Scroll down and what you're looking for should appear.

I assume you did open the file, right???

RT

I'm assumming you're wanting to show this as the text to look for in the hex editor:

<voice_volume>65</voice_volume>

You can get that display by entering:

<voice_volume>65</voice_volume>

in a 'Filtered HTML with additional tags' window.

RT

In another bit of code near the volume, you can tweak the rate, and make the voice sound like the 'fast talker' in the TV commercials.

and the text to look for here is:

<voice_rate>45</voice_rate>

Keep in mind the numbers will vary depending on the GPS model, version, etc.

RT

The non-TTS voice files are made up of a collection of .WAV files. If you wanted to alter the volume of these, you would have to extract each file, put them through some kind of audio processing software (like Nero WaveEdit) and then re-constitute the original voice file.

Software to do the extracting / re-assembling of the Voice Files is discussed on this website

The TTS voice files are made up of a Speech Engine + audio data (of some kind) + metadata that describes some of its characteristics. It is this metadata (volume included) that can be edited in a 'Hex' editor. (Not that you need to change any Hex values, you actually just want an editor that doesn't reformat the file)

See also: THIS THREAD

PS.
In XVI32, there is an option (under Tools|Options|Appearance)...

"[ ] Text Grid on the left"

You can have the Hex on the left or the right - whichever you prefer :-)

Yes! Exactly. Thanks for the post RT!

Thanks for your information on the non TTS wav files. That for sure clears up the mystery as to why I could not increase my volune setting.

It does raise another question. The TTS Speech engine seems to be an entirely differet animal. They why does your simple TTS modification wotk on the c510 and c530?