LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Software
User Name
Password
Linux - Software This forum is for Software issues.
Having a problem installing a new program? Want to know which application is best for the job? Post your question in this forum.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-12-2015, 03:52 PM   #1
julianvb
Member
 
Registered: Apr 2009
Posts: 390

Rep: Reputation: 3
Espeak, Flite and MaryTTS


2015-12-12

I wonder if anyone has done a comparison among eSpeak, Flite and MaryTTS in terms of their suitabilty to use in Linux scripts.

I consider Espeak and Flite extremely simple and easy to use in my show-and-tell bash scripts. Even though I've only a nodding acquaintance with MaryTTS, I find its extreme slowness alone
unacceptable even though I rate its sound quality above that of Flite and eSpeak.

As for pronunciation correctness, I find Flite superior to eSpeak, which mispronounces words like squirrel and fan. On the other hand, eSpeak always sounds very clear and sufficiently loud whereas Flite's voices all seem to sound muffled and sometimes quiver.

I feel that my best compromise would be to stay with Flite and hope that somehow I can render its sound clearer and louder.

I'll appreciate very much any help and advice. I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable sum for a commercial Linux TTS that is free from the above applications' basic drawbacks.

Julianvb

Last edited by julianvb; 12-16-2015 at 05:26 PM.
 
Old 12-13-2015, 12:57 PM   #2
ondoho
LQ Addict
 
Registered: Dec 2013
Posts: 19,872
Blog Entries: 12

Rep: Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053
what do you mean "suitabilty to use in Linux scripts"?
iirc, all of them are command line utilities, so why shouldn't it be possible to use them in scripts?
as i already pointed out, i find flite much better than espeak.
flite can read from a file or by directly inputting a string.

about volume:
i can't hear much difference in loudness.
are you sure you are using the voices?
 
Old 12-14-2015, 12:45 AM   #3
julianvb
Member
 
Registered: Apr 2009
Posts: 390

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 3
Hi, ondoho,

It's true that all TTS engines can be used with scripts. My question is how much work the user wants to put in to render one such as MaryTTS, workable. MaryTTS takes several seconds to react to a maryspeak command even on the command line. I do not wish to spend weeks making a script work. As far as implementation goes, I find eSpeak and Flite a cinch and a pleasure to use. It's true that both eSpeak and Flite can receive text inputs from a file, the command line, or within a script. I've been experimenting with TTS scripts for several years, mostly to entertain my soon-to-be-three grandchildren bilingually.

I have tried all the available Flite voices: awb, rms, slt, cbl, kal, awb16 and kal16 in scripts or on the command line. They all sound muffled, remote and weak. Spontantaneity in very essential to my scripts.

Perhaps this latter problem is hardware-related. My 2004 Compaq desktop uses a pair of Gateway speakers. Flite's voices don't change much when I try an external speaker with my 2013 Dell laptop. I've consulted Alan W. Black, author of Flite about my sound problem with Flite. He suggested that I might be able to improve the acoustic quality by using some old loudspeakers.

Can you tell me what computers you are using? Thanks very much for your response.

Julianvb

Last edited by julianvb; 12-16-2015 at 05:23 PM.
 
Old 12-14-2015, 04:05 PM   #4
ondoho
LQ Addict
 
Registered: Dec 2013
Posts: 19,872
Blog Entries: 12

Rep: Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053Reputation: 6053
just some external creative speakers with my desktop.

there's 16 .flitevox files for usa english. tried all of them?

i just tried to pipe flitevox' output to play (sox), but it doesn't seem to be possible.
you should ask the developer if it's possible to use standard output, so as to pipe the output to another utility.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[SOLVED] Installing MaryTTS and Its Command-Line Wrapper Maryspeak julianvb Linux - Software 5 12-10-2015 12:49 AM
[SOLVED] Piping espeak to sox? jmite Linux - Software 3 05-21-2013 10:30 AM
[SOLVED] using mbrola with espeak fakie_flip Linux - Software 2 04-21-2012 05:40 PM
Ubuntu, Help with espeak! steelheat Linux - Software 3 10-02-2011 01:30 PM
Binaires for Flite ivanatora Linux - Software 3 09-26-2003 07:36 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Software

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:51 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration