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Two characters speaking/singing in choir!!!
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The Guardian
Dec 12, 2000, 12:27:36 PM12/12/00
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Alright Costas!!! another myth down the
drain <G> The explanation is this, I think, youyr example text mentions it
is using the control in-process, maybe this the reason? This way a new instance
will probably know nothing about already existing instances?
If this is the case then syncing will be
next to impossible...
"Costas Andriotis" <kan...@outsource.gr> wrote in message
news:OlC2vfFZAHA.1744@tkmsftngp04...
I don't know how I managed this, but it happened, and it's exciting...
I updated the TTS Voice Enumerator to use MS Agent characters (attached). Here is how you can try the trick:
1. Open two windows of the enumerator.
2. Enter the names of two *different* characters in the character box e.g. "Genie" and "Merlin", then check "Use MS Agent" on both windows to show the two characters.
3. Click a voice button on the first window so that the first character starts speaking.
4. A few seconds later, while the first has still something to say, click a voice button on the second window.
The first sentence of the second character will be "muted", but from the next one, you will hear *both* characters speaking at the same time!!!
I guess that with proper synchronization we can now have choirs of caroler characters :-)
I'll leave this project to the daring...
Costas Andriotis
kan...@outsource.gr
PS1: You can open more than two windows. All "n" characters are heard at the same time.
PS2: It works even when characters speak with the same voice or in different languages.
PS3: The sound card driver might play a role but I doubt it.
Rob Lindman
Dec 12, 2000, 6:28:44 PM12/12/00
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While being cool enough to nearly give me a
seizure, this is problematic under Windows 2000 Server...
To get it to work (enumerate engines), I had to
rename the file to an HTA. At that point, it did function... In a browser and
with an HTM, it would not function and returned Object Does Not Support ...
under 'dss.AudioReset', 'dss.SuppressExceptions', and 'dss.LanguageID',
etc...
DSS doesn't work in a stationary script, either,
which is additionally unfortunate. Is it possible
there is a different CLSID for the DSS under Windows 2000 that is 'safe for
scripting'?
As you stated, the first attempt (click on Speak)
to get the second character to speak resulted in a word balloon only, the second
halted the muted speech and performed as you'd explained. However, after
both voices stopped, it was necessary to do the same, click, stop, click,
to get both working simultaneously.
It would certainly be worthwhile if this function
could operate within a 'normalized' circumstance.
Rob
Rob Lindman
Dec 12, 2000, 10:25:54 PM12/12/00
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I've now tested this script again on my
Windows 98 PC at home...
While the difficulty I had with the DSS object was
not present (the voices enumerated, no ActiveX warning, no unsupported
properties/methods), simultaneous voices were not possible (the expected
behavior). This was regardless of which buttons I pressed or the order in which
I did anything.
This leads me to believe that the behavior may only
be possible on some sound cards, or only under Windows 2000... Obviously this is
an unscientific conclusion as neither system is a 'controlled environment'.
I'd certainly be interested to know what
environment Costas' is running, if the Peedy/Al script worked for
simultaneous audio on other's computers, and the environment that it works
in.
Rob
"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:eKiJKNJZAHA.1984@tkmsftngp02...
Software Dungeon
Dec 13, 2000, 2:47:33 AM12/13/00
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well I get the same error under Win2K - and cannot
get this to work..
"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:eNImfSLZAHA.1768@tkmsftngp05...
The Guardian
Dec 13, 2000, 6:07:43 AM12/13/00
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Tried it under both 2K/ME without the DSS
and both played at the same time...and it is a PITA trying to get it synchronous
using requests, you'r right there. Bookmarks...may indeed prove
tighter...although I fear using a stopall in the handler will make it sound
chopped...? Probably better to make the textblocks as small as
possible...
T.G.
"Costas Andriotis" <kan...@outsource.gr> wrote in message news:u482CBOZAHA.1984@tkmsftngp02...I ran this under W2K Pro. My guess is that msagent.exe, being an out-of-process application, loads each the TTS engine of each control instance on different process space. Even though you can control all engines from a single code module through event handlers, the engines themselves know nothing on each other.I am on tight deadline now for a big project, so I don't have time to try various configurations, but I can make a few suggestions for you people to try:
- Ignore the DSS control, you shouldn't need it for MS Agent "choirs".
- Load a number of Agent controls on the *same* page, in order to have a single synchronizing script..
- Try using bookmarks to synchronize the speech. You will probably need to add the bookmark event handler for all agent controls. Requests are too "coarse" to be useful for this kind of synching.
- Avoid the first muted sentence, by "speaking" a simple synch bookmark (no text at all) at the beginning.
- You can try two synchronization techniques:
- The first agent control that hits a synch bookmark, causes the others to skip the rest of the block (StopAll), and issues speak commands for the next text block to all characters.
- All agent controls wait after a synch bookmark, until the last control hits that bookmark. At this point you issue speak commands for the next text block to all characters.
The result depends of course on the speed of the script inside the bookmark handler, so keep it simple. On my 800MHz it seems that a choir, even a "ballet"!, *is* possible with careful synchronization. Obviously, if you are using different TTS Modes, set all speeds to the same value. Slight modifications of the speed might still be needed. Try modifying the voice pitch between characters, to add some "color". Try a simple song or canon, like "row-row-row your boat". Next thing to try: issue animation/move commands in the bookmark handlers, to add choreography... Costas AndriotisPS. DSS instantiation is allowed only under "safe" security settings. If you run it under "High" security, it won't start at all, giving the messages you got. Under "Medium" you get a prompt, and under "Low" it runs ok."Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:eNImfSLZAHA.1768@tkmsftngp05...
The Guardian
Dec 13, 2000, 6:01:37 AM12/13/00
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As you can see in my posting, the DSS
control was completely left out. And yes, I am running 2K, but it ain't
the reason for it working coz I just tried it out on WinME and although it
appeantly came with another TTS engine (it sounded horrible) they did sing both
at once....
I suspect that it depends on the speed of
the machine how 'synchronous' it sounds, but on my 400Mhz PII it almost is
completely synchronous....(sometimes even up to the point of 'phase-shift'
effects :)
T.G.
"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:eNImfSLZAHA.1768@tkmsftngp05...
T-man
Dec 13, 2000, 7:33:30 AM12/13/00
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howdy--
Yes. I have experienced this cancelling when they synch up
close, especially when using the identical pitch and TTSModeID
etc. Bookmarks almost work. I'll post a sample using
bookmarks. if someone could post row, row, row, I'd do
the round with bookmarks. I have everything but the
music.
T
"The Guardian" <thegu...@blackvault.com>
wrote in message news:Of1RRUPZAHA.1916@tkmsftngp05...
T-man
Dec 13, 2000, 8:52:33 AM12/13/00
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louis.ecky
Dec 13, 2000, 10:51:48 AM12/13/00
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Rob Lindman
Dec 13, 2000, 2:05:29 PM12/13/00
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After some toying, I'm now inclined to believe that the sound
card and not the OS is responsible for permitting the behavior...
Rob
Rob Lindman
Dec 13, 2000, 2:18:13 PM12/13/00
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The Guardian
Dec 13, 2000, 2:43:41 PM12/13/00
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Well, it has to be a full-duplex
card...
can you play any two soundfiles
simultaneously? if you get a device busy error from the second mediaplayer, then
you've probaly got a half-duplex card and it won't work with mutliple
agents too I guess.
T.G.
"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:OXWxweTZAHA.1932@tkmsftngp02...
Rob Lindman
Dec 13, 2000, 4:05:07 PM12/13/00
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It's been a long time since I've upgraded my system
at home, aside from adding more monitors... It's likely that my sound card IS
slightly outdated. However, I can play multiple audio sources simultaneously with media
player. As for full duplex, I do not believe I can record and playback
simultaneously. I believe it's a Creative
Labs AWE64 value. I'll check tonight.
I don't really care about getting a new sound card
right now. I'm saving up to buy a projection unit, so I can display Merlin at
two feet tall on my wall. Depending on the range of the projector, I might be
able to put him up on the Space Needle, and scare the masses of humanoids here
in Seattle.
I can see the headlines on our newspapers, 'EVIL
BUT FRIENDLY GIANT WIZARD DOMINATES SEATTLE SKIES'. Considering all of the
Seattle print media workers are on strike, the newspapers are free and
being written by management, it could happen!
Rob
Film at 11.
"The Guardian" <thegu...@blackvault.com> wrote in message news:epBaZ0TZAHA.404@tkmsftngp05...
Spaceman
Dec 13, 2000, 4:19:41 PM12/13/00
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ROFLOL
--
Spaceman
"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:uccGnhUZAHA.1292@tkmsftngp05...
louis.ecky
Dec 13, 2000, 4:35:27 PM12/13/00
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May be that is the reason for it then I only have A Sound Blaster Pro in
this machine......
louis.ecky
"The Guardian" <thegu...@blackvault.com> wrote in message news:epBaZ0TZAHA.404@tkmsftngp05...
Rob Lindman
Dec 13, 2000, 4:40:25 PM12/13/00
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Grandpa Jim
Dec 13, 2000, 5:28:15 PM12/13/00
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louis.ecky
Dec 13, 2000, 6:14:01 PM12/13/00
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Costas Andriotis
Dec 14, 2000, 12:47:01 PM12/14/00
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... and it works on my system with a single agent control too.
Sure looks like an unexpected bug...
Costas
Message has been deleted
Rob Lindman
Dec 14, 2000, 3:40:09 PM12/14/00
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After the T-Man post, I'm convinced that more than
one Agent speaking at a time is horrible.
The topmost window of the characters and their word
balloon basically renders the entire screen unusable when you hit 3 characters
in different locations onscreen.
I'd recommend hiding the wordballoon if you are
going to attempt this usage... At least it preserves some screen space for
programs...
Rob
"Costas Andriotis" <kan...@outsource.gr> wrote in message news:uYec3OfZAHA.1700@tkmsftngp03...Could also be that some sound drivers won't allow mixing sounds from two different sources... Try the attached choir.htm. I get a non-constant behavior/sequence every time I restart. It could just be a "bug" after all, which appeared after recent OS updates...MA has said that this feature was left out in order not to confuse the user. On the other hand, it seems to open interesting possibilities. So why not include it in a future version?What bothers me is the first muted sentence. I haven't found a way around it. Hiding the balloon, just hides the problem.Costas Andriotis"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:OXWxweTZAHA.1932@tkmsftngp02...
Buddy Morel
Dec 14, 2000, 5:54:16 PM12/14/00
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Costas:
Something strange about this CHOIR.HTML. When
I just run it or RESTART it, Peedy does not say, "Alright, Merlin, let's do it,"
or whatever he says, but if I first drag them out of position, they will return
to the upper left corner and Peedy does say his part.
Strange????
--
Life is a bowl of Gumbo
Laissez les bon temps rouler!!!
Buddy Morel
"Costas Andriotis" <kan...@outsource.gr> wrote in message news:uYec3OfZAHA.1700@tkmsftngp03...Could also be that some sound drivers won't allow mixing sounds from two different sources... Try the attached choir.htm. I get a non-constant behavior/sequence every time I restart. It could just be a "bug" after all, which appeared after recent OS updates...MA has said that this feature was left out in order not to confuse the user. On the other hand, it seems to open interesting possibilities. So why not include it in a future version?What bothers me is the first muted sentence. I haven't found a way around it. Hiding the balloon, just hides the problem.Costas Andriotis
"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:OXWxweTZAHA.1932@tkmsftngp02...
The Guardian
Dec 14, 2000, 7:47:58 PM12/14/00
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Costas,
At first Peedy only sang the first line then
stopped...when I gleened the code I ask myself,
whut's the \mrk=1\ doing in the bookmark
handler after peedy saying 'Let's do it Merlin'?
When I removed it, Peedy finishes the song
instead of stopping...
could this account for the inconstant behaviour?
T.G.
"Costas Andriotis" <kan...@outsource.gr> wrote in message
news:uYec3OfZAHA.1700@tkmsftngp03...
Could also be that some sound drivers won't allow mixing sounds from two different sources... Try the attached choir.htm. I get a non-constant behavior/sequence every time I restart. It could just be a "bug" after all, which appeared after recent OS updates...MA has said that this feature was left out in order not to confuse the user. On the other hand, it seems to open interesting possibilities. So why not include it in a future version?What bothers me is the first muted sentence. I haven't found a way around it. Hiding the balloon, just hides the problem.Costas Andriotis
"Rob Lindman" <thegre...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:OXWxweTZAHA.1932@tkmsftngp02...
Cynthia Becker
Dec 17, 2000, 1:01:47 AM12/17/00
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man, that was kewl! I did hear 3 agents singing the song! Will wonders never
cease?
Cynthia
cease?
Cynthia
?
Apr 19, 2014, 1:35:57 PM4/19/14
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