# synth Request for Friends

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 23-Mar-2010 19:27:26

Several people on Klango are looking for the full version of the Keynote Gold Multimedia synthesizer to use in virtual machines with Windows 95/98 and also to possibly clone for use with ESpeak and XP or to make a driver for it so that it can be used on it's own with NVDA. They've contacted Humanware but were told that they no longer have the means to supply licenses for this software and don't have any more full ones available. These same people are also seeking the full version of KeySoft for windows 95/98. I myself am looking for the DOS version of KeySoft. If you think you could help, there's a link on the Klango forum about it or you can simply post here and I'll pass the information onto them. Thanks.

## Post 2 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 0:27:41

Well, the discussion on the KeyNote Multimedia synthesizer is still going on at Klango. Apparently, I'm not the only one who adores it. We've figured out that it's not possible to duplicate the voice using ESpeak. But here's another question. Is it possible either to use another engine or to create our own synth from scratch using voice samples? I have a KeyNote Gold Voice Card, a Language Master, a BrailleNote and two Vert synthesizers. All use the same voice. The problem is that we can't figure out what chip they're using. Of course, I'd never sacrifice the first three, especially the first two, but I'm willing to have one of my Vert synths taken apart if it'll help. I don't use that screenreader in any case. But could the new one be created from recordings? How would this be accomplished and about how much would it cost, assuming we could find a programmer willing to do it? What about for me, since I'm seeking a hardware synt with the same voice as well as one that will work with Windows XP? We really need some programmer's advice here, since the topic is getting a bit out of control. Thanks.

## Post 3 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 0:41:10

Better to study ESpeak and adjust the variants with it. You're not going to get far using wavetable sampling which is what you want, it's been done but generally very expensive as a proposition.

## Post 4 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 1:05:08

Maybe, but ESpeak, though it has some pretty cool voices, doesn't have the right inflection etc. to do KeyNote. that's what was originally proposed by one of the people wanting it and others said it couldn't be done, since you could only change the size of the head, the pitch etc. Since wave files aren't a good idea, then would it be possible to use another purely synthetic engine or something? I just can't see why Humanware is holding on this and hasn't made it freeware and/or open source. They say it's old and outdated and yet they won't give it to us! Maybe, I'll try the company who makes Language Master or Telesensory, if there's anyone there who remembers Vert. This is crazy! In any case, thanks for your imput. At least I know it's actually possible to do. But, barring money, how realistic would it be? I mean, would it sound the same or have it's own special quirks like the human-sounding voices?

## Post 5 by rat (star trek rules!) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 8:37:05

this synth really is too old now, i tried running a demo version of it i had once on xp, it just couldn't handle the computer at all, and that one wasn't a crackjack one. I do agree that it's a good synth, still use it on my bn from time to time, but i think your chances of getting it now or porting it are pretty slim. Plus, it's not HW that even made that, the company that did is long gone now.

## Post 6 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 9:57:29

Wow! I didn't know that. this could explain why Humanware doesn't have it anymore. However, I'm sure they still have the chips somewhere because the BrailleNote uses the same speech, or at least, the older ones did. when did they change the voice on that? I don't see why drivers can't be made to work with Windows, if it's not possible to make a new synth. Is it that it would run really slowly like an Echo? lol i tried that on xP, just for a laugh, and while it worked, the results were hilarious.

## Post 7 by rat (star trek rules!) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 10:01:10

having chips and actual software are completely different things, plus i'm not exactly sure if it's run of the mill keynote that the bn uses or not, it didn't sound quite the same when i tried it off a windows computer. It tended to crash, very badly when i tried it on xp so

## Post 8 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 10:02:44

Can I have someone remove my Voice Card from my KeyNote Gold laptop without it being damaged? Whenever I think of it I get sick because I'm afraid that it'll break or something. But I'll need it when I get my new DOS laptop. I had another but it actually broke before we took it out. Still, I'm scared that doing so with this one might ruin it in some way. I hate feeling like this but if I lose this one, I really won't have any way to get another and I don't have another portable synth aside from my echo.

## Post 9 by rat (star trek rules!) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 11:02:40

I'm not too sure on that, not sure on the connectors and the like as i've never really worked with hardware synths much as i've never had one

## Post 10 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 11:05:49

It's supposed to be a standard pcmcia card type synth. It probably can be done it just worries the hell out of me. lol

## Post 11 by rat (star trek rules!) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 14:10:38

hmmm, not sure of many computers now that use that standard, yours that you just got does i think if i remember right.

## Post 12 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 13-Apr-2010 14:36:41

I'd never get a laptop that doesn't have a pcmcia slot. That's one of my requirements when buying one. The only exception was the Macbook. The IBM thinkpad X32 actually is wonderful in that it has both a pcmcia slot and one dedicated to compact flash cards, which is why I want the slot in a windows machine in the first place. In any case, my DOS laptop most likely won't be above a P2, since I'm looking for one with 64mb of ram and no bigger than a 7gb hard drive. I'm really hoping for two slots, since I need one for the cf card and the other for the synth. Speaking of which, could MBROLA be used to make the software version of the KeyNote synth? They say it's a front-end to a synth. I'm not sure what that means. If it's just the engine and requires a voice, then we can proceed. If it's a voice that requires an engine, then we'd need to look at other options. What about SAPI in general? Is there a free engine that can work with it that would be suitable for this purpose? If Humanware doesn't own the rights to that voice than who does? It would be far easier if I had the name of the chips or could find out from whom they were bought. Maybe, the company that made them is going under another name as with Arkanstone or perhaps, the main people who invented it can be found via Linked In or something. In any case, something's gotta work. I don't see why this can't be done with a bit of effort. I'm also considering the Model Talker but am not sure how it runs. I know for actual human voices it doesn't sound the best. But since this is purely synthetic, it may do the trick.

## Post 13 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 26-Aug-2010 20:08:19

Fortunately for you who like this synthesizer, I downloaded the multimedia from their website before they removed it. I don't have a website that I could put a download link on, but I will send it to you if you can give me a way to.

## Post 14 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 26-Aug-2010 20:12:39

Sorry about the post broken in half, but the MBROLA provides voices, and they need an engine. Model talker might work--I've been experimenting it, but judging by the quality I've heard, it wouldn't be great. Personally, I think that keynote gold sounds like a robot, but I still downloaded the multimedia and the ssil driver necesary for it to work.

## Post 15 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 26-Aug-2010 20:21:34

Totally awesome! I'll send you my e-mail address. *smile* Now if only I could find the SA...