Avoiding Common Errors

When using DECtalk Software, try to avoid making these common errors by doing the following:

When you make voice-selection changes, always return to the default voice you have chosen. If you forget to return DECtalk Software to the default voice after using one of the other voices, all future text uses the currently selected voice.

The default setting for the Error command is to have the speak option turned on. This means DECtalk Software reports any command errors that it can detect. You should always set the [:error ignore] command to avoid this action.

Enter a right bracket ( ] ) at the beginning of your text if you use the Phoneme Interpretation command.

If the [:phoneme arpabet speak on] command is entered to allow phonemic input, it is possible for DECtalk Software to enter phonemic mode unintentionally.

If the text being spoken contains an unexpected left bracket ( [ ), then all text after the left bracket ( [ ) is interpreted as phoneme text. In the following example, ‘apple, banana, strawberry’ is interpreted as phoneme text.

[:phoneme arpabet speak on] Here is the list [apple, banana, strawberry].

If you forget to enter a right ( ] ) bracket after a phonemic entry, then all text after the missing right bracket ( ] ) is interpreted as phoneme text. In the following example, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ is interpreted as phoneme text.

[:phoneme arpabet speak on] [:rate 220 Ladies and Gentlemen