Voice Editor and TTS3 Voices

TTS3 is not compatible with the voice editor. However your 3597 can use TTS voices which are compatible. Use Web Updater to load the correct versions of the TTS voices as the driving software is dofferent between the various units.

Thanks, I will check it out.

Although the 3597 maybe able to use non TTS3 voices, be advised that the standard TTS voices you will find by using Webupdater do not support the "Garmin Real Directions™ with Garmin Real Voice™" feature on that model Nuvi.

Are there any plans to add TTS3 editing capabilities to the TTS Voice Editor? Or is it even possible?

It maybe possible but the creator of TTS Voice Editor, Turboccc, has been to busy with other endeavors to update this and his other software over the last few years.

Chances are it won't happen as the TTS3 voices are used in the "Real Directions" and the encoding used is also significantly different than the earlier TTS voices. I'm no expert on this nor even what you would classify as someone knowledgeable as to the internals but the TTS3 voice files are significantly larger than their TTS predecessors and may not rely on a set phrase list.

What is the difference between TTS3 and normal TTS voices?

The voice file size is much bigger. Other than that, I don't know about other internal file differences. But for the observable differences, here are some examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6RGl_-EyY8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBncwPcmSuo

In my medium-sized city, the extreme details like "turn before the McDonald's" are not present but instead offer things like "proceed to the end of the street, then turn left," "turn right at the traffic light," etc. Also, rather than hearing "turn left in point three miles," we now hear "turn left in one quarter miles."

Quality-wise, I don't hear a better, more human sound from TTS3. But then, the TTS voices were already quite real and human-sounding for the most part.

The TTS3 voices are used on Nuvi's like the 3597 that have the feature called "Garmin Real Directions™ with Garmin Real Voice™". This feature allows the Nuvi to speak directions like "turn right at clock tower" for an example.

The other difference is that the TTS3 files are at least twice the size of a TTS voice file.

Are the TTS3 voices preferred?
I could see where they could be better.
I find myself looking at the distance to the turn when other possibilities are present. TTS3 would definitely help that.

Yes they are preferred. I enjoy the "Real Directions" and "Real Voice" aspects of the 3597.

The "real directions" don't make a lot of sense. Last week in Las Vegas I was told to "turn left before the Carl's Jr." You couldn't see the Carl's junior until you were in the intersection because of the combination of street curve and it sitting back on it's lot.

At least it doesn't tell you to turn left where the old oak tree was struck by lightning and fell down!