Category: Geeks r Us
Please, no insults here. If you don't want to answer this, just move on.
The Echo, Dectalk Express, and Doubletalk LT all come with serial connections. But when installing both VocalEyes and ASAP, there were options to connect a synthesizer to the parallel port. Can I buy a serial to parallel adapter and use that to connect one of these synthesizers? If not, then what about a pcmcia to serial? This will help me determine whether I can use DOS on one of my machines that will have Linux installed on it. If so, then I'll probably dual boot. If not, then I'll just stick with a dedicated machine that has a native serial port, unless there's a way to do this with a virtual machine. To my knowledge, while usb works in DOS, it's only for storage. So I cannot use a usb to serial adapter. Thanks.
OK, I won't insult you. You cuntbag.
Just to clarify my earlier post. I meant that I would stick to using DOS on a laptop with a native serial port, not that I would be necessarily using Linux on one of those, though I will, in the case of my desktop.
Serial is not parallel. If you want a converter, you will have to check the manual for the hardware in question and find out. But why not find a forum not so heavily populated with people born after most of these came out? You go round and round and round on here with the same topic done up in different words on different board topics, in which most of the posts are yours. If you want help, seek out a hobbyist forum that actually specializes in this very specialized outdated technology, much of which was going obsolete by the time my daughter was born.
If you want to hear yourself talk, fine, I guess: just don't pose it as a question. But if you want to get actual help you'll need to go somewhere where people actually still use this or have manuals or even care about any of it anymore.
I'm inclined to agree with Cody RE: your situation, the more I think about it.
I didn't think this was that difficult of a question. I know that there are various converters for connectors, and I wasn't sure if they made serial to parallel. I could have sworn that I saw one, but it could have just been 25 pin to 9 pin. Regardless, I am not sure if it, or a serial adapter via pcmcia (which I am almost positive exists) would work with a synthesizer, and it's very likely that asking on a mainstream site wouldn't help. But I'll try at the Blind Computer Users and Blind-L lists, as both of those have DOS users. I just remembered them. *smile*
Serial to parallel does exist. Will it work with the device in question? That depends on the device in question.
Won't work on a modem, for instance.
I actually found the user's manual for DoubleTalk, first in pdf, and then in regular text.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/Groups/xavier/doc/speech_manual.txt
It doesnt say anything about conerts, but I did find this.
"DoubleTalk LT was originally designed for another computer family
(specifically, the Macintosh LC), you will need a small adapter cable
to convert the 8-pin circular plug on DoubleTalk to the standard 9-pin
serial plug found on most PCs. If this cable is not available from
your dealer, you can obtain one from RC Systems."
The company still exists and still sells DoubleTalk, in all configurations, even for Apple II computers!
http://www.rcsys.com/
But I'm 99.9 positive that the cable on my LT is standard serial. I would have noticed immediately if it was different, as I have an Echo with the one they discussed. This one looks like my other Echo, which I have connected and used, without any modification, on an rs-232 port. So they must have changed it since this manual was written.
Still, I may ask them for the utilities disk, which I don't have. I don't need it, but some of the programs are interesting, particularly the DTPRN.
" DTPRN is a small resident (TSR) program which enables your programs to
access DoubleTalk's text-to-speech synthesizer as a printer (LPT1 -
LPT3) or communications port (COM1 - COM4). This enables most programs
(such as word processors) and programming languages to communicate
with DoubleTalk by simply "printing" the text to be spoken to the
port. DTPRN requires only 1K of memory, and can be loaded into upper
memory on machines supporting this feature using the DOS LOADHIGH
command."
The closest I've ever heard to something like this is the Speaqualizer, which is a card that can actually read the bios, before any screen reader starts! Now thatis something I really wish they would have updated, including the interface, as it could be useful for all sorts of things!
Then, there's this. I don't understand it eithe, but it sounds similar to the first and is related to it.
"SPEECH.PRD
This is a printer definition file for turning DoubleTalk into a
versatile "talking printer" with Microsoft Word 5.0. Simply copy the
SPEECH.PRD file to your Word disk or directory, and a new printer
named "SPEECH" will appear in your Print Options printer list.
NOTE The printer driver DTPRN (described in an earlier
section) must be installed in order for Word (or
any other word processor, for that matter) to read
its files through DoubleTalk. We recommend that
you install DTPRN as port LPT3, so as not to
interfere with your "real" printer."
Maybe, it's something like a screen reader, but only for those programs. If so, then I can just use a regular reader. But it's nice to see that there are such programs available for experimentation.
Hmmmm. It can also work with foreign languages! My guess is that these are only Latin Based. They mentioned Spanish, for example. But I wonder if there is a way to program it to read Greek? If so, then this would be useful for all of my operating systems, as I could make it recognise polytonic (the three accent system, as opposed to monotonic/one accent), which only one synthesizer in the world can do! It's modern, software-based, and costs over $200, if I remember correctly. It's called Innoeticks, and it still can't read each letter properly when it's written in polytonic.
http://www.innoetics.com/
Anyway, I have a lot to look forward to and to do. But right now, I've got to drink some coffee, and write to RC Systems and ask about the adapters. I should also write to the makers of ESpeak and/or NVDA and ask about polytonic support. Thanks for the advice on the modem. *smile*
Here is the answer. If you purchase one of these synthesizers , you'll want the correct type. A Mac or PC version. These will have the cable already attached, and the female side will be compatible with your system.
If that company is still available you'll want to contact them, because if you purchase one that doesn't have the cable attached, maybe they will be able to send it to you.
A used computer store can provide as well. Check your local listings for these and call them.
Last, you'll need the correct drivers for your synthesizers. Compatible with the operating system you decide on.
Again, you'll need to contact that company for this.
Good luck.
Thanks! *smile* I already found a DoubleTalk on Ebay, for far cheaper than the price of a new one, though if I really like it, I may just buy a new one to be safe. I'm pretty sure that it has the normal cable (I sent it to Lee, so can't check), but I'm very glad that the adapter isn't proprietary. As for the drivers, I'm almost positive that VocalEyes and ASAP both come with preinstalled DoubleTalk drivers, as they do for Echo. I've used the latter with both screen readers and never once had to install anything extra. Apparently, there are also DoubleTalk drivers for NVDA, but I probably won't be using it on Windows or Linux (I'm not sure if the latter can be done), except as an experiment, since those systems support full Greek synthesis. DOS does too, but I would need an Appollo II. Now if only I could use my KeyNote VoiceCard that easily!
Tiff why do you not just sell your mac, some of your other computers and then get a high in computer. you would save yourself insult here and those who attempt to give you advice you seem to find ways to argue yourself out of and then crap on us when someone insults you. So here is some sound advice, sell those computers of yours and buy a computer that will last and is new. Note: new is the keyword or something like an open box mac midd 2012 which is fine.
What does a new computer have to do with my synthesizer connection? Yes, I could have one custom-made with the right ports, but right now, I just wanted to know if a converter could be used. In any case, I've already solved the computer issue. I'm going with Knoppix, which can run on almost system, and for now, I'm putting it on that Elitebook, which works perfectly and is less than four-years-old.
Double talk works on Windows.
However, you must have separate drivers.
Windows Eyes, NVDA, and Jaws have changed, so if you are using an updated version of any of these screen readers, ythey will not install drivers for an external device. These drivers much come with the unit.
Must like installing a wireless keyboard, or printer on XP.
The reason I used XP as my example, is due to Windows 7 finding drivers for devices it can support.