Garmin Voice options

If you'd like to custom your Garmin voice you can download Garmin Voice Studio
at http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/ontheroad/voicestudio

With Garmin Voice Studio, anyone can customize their Nuvi with voice directions from family and friends.

To get started, download the free Garmin Voice Studio program and install it on your somputer. You will be led through a series of phrases that can be edited and reviewed directly within the application. To achieve the best quality recordings, an external microphone is recommended. Once finished, you’ll be ready to go with custom voices on your compatible device! It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s a great way to add a bit of personality to your device! I did it on mine and it works great!

Here is the post started on the Garmin Voice Studio that you may want to look at. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/26838

I boosted the volume by editing the voice file. However, that works only if it's hooked up to the car charger. If using the internal battery, the volume is not boosted. Does anyone know what file to edit in order to boost the volume while in internal battery?
Thanks,
c-plus

I believe when you're on battery, all the settings have to be changed manually to what you want. When on battery, the units screen dims to a preset value, and I think the volume does as well to save battery power.

Try it and see to make sure.

If anyone really wants to put new voices on their Garmin, then please click the link below. You can download an app from Garmin that allows you to make your own custom voices for your device. You can use your voice, your sister's, mother's, or anyone you can get to record their voice. The app is free and once you have made all the voices you want, it has an uploader to add them to your device for you. Check it out.

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/ontheroad/voicestudio

But it seems that 100% of car-powered volume is fewer decibels than 100% of battery-powered volume.

Actually, thats not true. You can create custom alert voice prompts with any nuvi. I have a 255, you can you use a wave file converted from an mp3 file to create custom alerts prompts that work very well.

Actually, thats not true. You can create custom alert voice prompts with any nuvi. I have a 255, you can you use a wave file converted from an mp3 file to create custom alerts prompts that work very well.

Is there a macintosh solution for creating new voices?

Dan

There is no Mac voice creation software yet. The best option at this point is to use a Windows emulator like Parallels or Fusion. You can run the Garmin software while staying in the Mac environment. This solution also requires you install Windows on a partition of your hard drive.

BTW: POI Factory has a Mac forum that has many experienced Mac users at hand to answer any of your Mac + GPS questions.

I have a Nuvi 1450 with no mp3 so to create Aleart Voices I use the following:
http://www2.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

Select the voice you want and type what you want it to say. It works great!

Plus it is fun to make it say things of "questionable" taste!

All I could find, were two additional voices - a robot, and a Belgian grandfather. But no humor or anything, I'm so jealous !

is there any way to make voices on a mac?

Neat!

Larry

You can also check out this link:
http://www.pigtones.com/new/

Unfortunately all of the celebrity voices I have seen including the MIO special edition (which was $270 when release) don't do text to speech, which I find very helpful when driving. Much more informative to hear "take a right at Wilson Ave" instead of "Michael, take the next right"

I might change the voice for daily driving when I already know where I am going or if I am driving with some friends and know where I'm going, but when I really am lost, the novelty would probably wear off pretty quick.

The Pigtones folks seem very nice and answer their customer service requests very promptly, but no TTV.

From Pigtones FAQ:

Do your voices support TTV?

No. At this time any modified voices do not support TTV. We may in the future, or even some model may allow for a computer voice to simulate the TTV, depending on your model.

you can add you own with garmin voice studio (free)

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/ontheroad/voicestudio

Can make a directory Mp3-1, Mp3-2, etc. do not make a folder with something different such as: music etc. the garmin is not programmed to respond to such directories. Plus you can delete the directory, add or subtract Mp3 as needed. You can also put music on SD card if so equipped on your unit. Once again, creat an Mp3 directory on your card.

PigTones and NavTones are both good. I've been using "Bevis and Buthead" From PT and KITT from NT and have been happy with them.

thanks

Can I change the phrase with a new phrase as in the TTS Editor? Such as Recalculate to Lets rethink this.

Voice Studio allows you to record phrases, but you end up with a non-TTS voice. No more street names. It is also very *very* difficult to make a good voice by recording audio samples. Lots of work to make all phrases with the same tone, speed, pitch, ...

Too bad there is no way to have some software to create TTS voices by extracting the allophones from a recording. I remember your explanation the last time and I'm surprised no one has taken on that challenge (not talking about the forum, but the whole world)
I wouldn't mind if they are not all the same volume. It would be up to the user to tweak the quality

Turboccc pointed out some disadvantages that far outweigh the benefits of creating a new voice. I don't feel so bad my nuvi 350 can't do it now.

Has anyone tried the Yoda or Darth Vader Garmin voices? $13 seems excessive. I think they'd sell many more and bring in more $$ if the price was reasonable (<$5).

The voice actor for KITT is William Daniels and as of 2/2014 he is quite alive.

Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World.

Very much alive!

I want to know when Garmin will start using PROPER English. One does not "Turn ON [street]" You "Turn ONTO [street]" Turn ON a street would be a U-Turn.

Heck, as long as I know what it's talking about I'm happy. I'm not that particular.