Text to Speech

I first went to the program that we have been recommending in the
A Glossary of Terms and Links which would take you to
http://www2.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php
but that link is broken

It has been a while since I used this myself so I did not know this was no longer available.

The site you are using looks like a site trying to get you to purchase the program that generated the audio. I do not think there is a way to download what it "demos" for you.

So, unless someone else can come up with an idea, we seem to be looking for an alternative - especially one that will allow a .wav file to be downloaded.

The URL http://www.fromtexttospeech.com/ has the kind of voice choices that we would want but only creates a .mp3 file (and this would be easy to convert to .wav but it does require extra steps)

The URL http://text2speech.us/ will download a .wav file but it has only one voice.

Anyone got other options?

Looks like it is a paid site. I think they are changing to a pay to use.

I just sent an email to Charlesd45 advising him that the link in his FAQ isn't working any longer and hoping he can help Gregory with some other alternative.

Good.

And I will need to update A Glossary of Terms and Links if it is truly broken.

Have been following the thread and aware of the link not working. This same thing happen in the past but was reinstated. Was going to give it a few days. Have researched the Web and other programs are available for download or on line that you can use for now. If ATT doesn't come back will pick one and make a change to my FAQ.

Be aware many wav files are available for download. Not sure if all of them have been loaded to the site yet. Have suggested in the past that a option allowing the wav.mp3 and bmp file to be loaded along with the poi file all in one shot. Fill in the blank option. Many more wav files could be made available and less trouble for the poster.

Charles45, I want to thank you. I couldn't figure out why in my 855 (MP3) I was getting audible POI's but not in my 2797 (WAV).
Then I came across your post:
Alerts Garmin | How do I get voice alerts using wav files for units without mp3 capability?

Which reminded me to install the SOX.EXE file.

You are welcome. Glad you are all set with the voice files now.That bong alert just does not do it.

ATT is still not back on line.Found and tested this one for Arbys and it worked. Limit to one male voice but simple to use and will save as mp3 or wav. http://text2speech.us/ .Still holding out ATT will come back.

I agree with Charlie that this is the only good alternative I have found so far for downloading a .wav file, even though it only has one voice (male).

There are several that will produce a .mp3 file and also have male/female voice alternatives - like http://www.text2speech.org/

I will continue to look for alternatives.

I changed the FAQ http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25730 to reflect adding http://text2speech.us/ for making the WAV files. ATT has been removed and may not return. Have looked at other alternatives but for various reasons text2speech keeps coming up as the best selection. If ATT returns or if I run across a better prospect I will make the necessary change. Note. Have found other programs to convert text to wav but you have to load the text to it. Using something like notepad or other similar editors. I saved a couple for myself to try out but these just add another step to the process.

A Glossary of Terms and Links
has been updated also

Thanks, charlesd45. http://text2speech.us/ has more language options, which helps me trying to get my ears used to foreign languages.

I have been looking for desktop solutions and forgot that I already had one.

Balabolka is a "portable" "freeware" solution - meaning that it does not "install" itself and has no impact on your registry. It can be downloaded from
http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?q=balabolka&m=

Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch balabolka.exe.

Type some text into the document area.
Press F5 to hear the text spoken
Press CTRL-W to save the audio using several formats - where .wav is the default.

Balabolka uses the default Microsoft Anna that comes on the computer, but if you "install" other voices, it will pick up that fact and offer to use them

It actually has two English voices .Microsoft Zira and David Desktop. Plus lots of languages to select from.

Charlie, I am using Win 7 Home Premium, so it may be that the voices available are a function of that.

Were Zira and David the voices that appear for you in the box with the drop down arrow at the top of the page ?

Yes the drop down arrow.The About and Defualt tab right next to it. Must be that this works only in Windows 10 unless you manually add them. That option is there to do that.Have looked at other voices but theses two will be more then enough.