Category: Geeks r Us
Wow! This sounds like an absolutely incredible speech synthesizer! Check out the link at
http://cgi.ebay.com/GW-Micro-Speak-Out-external-speech-synthesizer-/370463233865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5641545749
It's disappearing in two days, but I've saved the information incase anyone wants me to post it. Here's a very brief summary.
Extremely responsive.
Has both serial and parallel ports, No EPROMS but seller has the ability to upgrade text to speech software or add additional feature by uploading through the serial port. (I have no clue what they mean.)
Has Rapid charge circuit, allowing unit to charge for 90 minutes but can also be run via 9 volt battery with adapter. Announces not charging, trickle charging or rapid charging.
carrying case includes a lower section for the AC adapter/charger, a disk pocket, a belt clip, a short carrying strap and a long carrying strap which can be slung over the shoulder or worn around the waist "fanny pack" style.
Hot keys from computer include date/time, voice on/off, speech rate up/down, volume up/down,
punctuation, hyperscan on/off, rewind, fastforward,
pause/continue and enable/disable hot keys.
Menus activated by keys on machine, including 26 alarms, which can be set for specific time/date and include personal messages for each, a short-term timer and exception dictionary.
The seller has five units all of which include synthesizer, cable, power supply and case. They also give a link to the manual. I'm hoping that, if I can't get this one, I might be able to get one of the other ones. I'd love to hear this thing before I buy it but the features make it sound totally worth it! Still, it is a bit expensive...
There are samples of this synth at www.dectalk.com. They start with so, for speakout. I think it sounds like an echo; robot, robomonotone voice.
*sigh* Unfortunately, I must agree. It reminds me of a Braille Lite 2000 or Braille Blazer and also sounds exactly like the sample of the Pocket Braille with a bit of the Echo thrown in. I'd say the Doubletalk, Litetalk and Dectalk are the best from the samples there. It's truly ashame, because this Speak Out is in excellent condition, comes with all accessories and has many features. I already have a Braille Blazer, so have a synth with a similar sounding voice, but it's not exactly portable. I also know that the Doubletalk is still being made, so now I truly need to consider my options. I wish someone would sell a KeyNote SA, PC or Companion.
the keynote companion was total brilliance in its' day. i saw one, and wanted one so badly in it's day.
I've wanted one for almost eight years! Even though it can't be loaded with modern versions of DOS, it's still great for note taking and can serve as a synthesizer too. I have a KeyNote Voicecard but it's very fragile and I'm afraid of having it transferred from one laptop to another. Even if that went well, I'd still need to have a synthesizer for my desktop, once it was made or bought. So the Companion or an SA would be marvelous.
I don't mind the accent's voice either, although it has a strange (sounds lame) accent. I wonder where it was made?