Category: book Nook
Hi! I was thinking of joining bookshare.org and using my NLS digital player to read the books, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a headsup as to what the quality of the synthesized speech would be like. Is it similar, for example, to the eloquence voice that a lot of us have become used to with JAWS or is it something totally different? Thanks for any help you can offer.
I did not know you can use your digital player for all books. can you inform me on how to do it?
Hi, jldiaz421. To be honest, I don't know because I'm still wondering if I should join or not, but when I E-mailed to ask them about using NLS digital players they said that I could listen to books that way. I suppose I could have just asked them about the quality of the synthesized speech, but I'd think they'd have a vested interested me joining and would just say it was great.
I'm a bookshare member and I think it's definitely worth it. You have unlimited access to all types of books, magazines and newspapers. And, if you're a student its free to join. If you are not a student I think the fee is only $50 a year but I'm not completely sure.
As for the synthesized speech, I'm not sure how the NLS players sound in comparison to the victor reader stream, which is what I use. I actually think the victor stream sounds pretty good, but I've been listening to it for a while so I'm probably used to it.
Hope this helps
Based on my Knowledge:
Most of the files are for Victor and Text Only. I have not witnessed NLS Book Players recognizing the files as anything other than “Text Only Book”. Bookshare is a good program, however, and if you don’t mind reading it in text or Victor/Daisy format it has an endless supply of books/magazines/newspapers, and you are capable of requesting materials.
Yes, the fee to join bookshare for individuals who are not students is $50 a year. I think there is a limit to how many you can download a onth, but honestly, I'm not sure. I was not aware the NLS digital book player could be used to play DAISY books until now. If my victor Reader stream bites the dust, I have a backup. Thanks for the info.
If you wanted to play a bookshare book on an NLS player you would have to convert it into an MP3 because the players do not have a TTS installed. Bookshare offers this as a download option now but I don't know how good the voice that they use is. There are programs where you can convert text into MP3s and you can choose what synth is used though I cannot think of any off of the top of my head. DSpeech? I think was one that I used a while ago.
i'm also a book share member. and i think it is wonderful. i read braille forment. and also use dasy. too. some times. i switch. formats. so i love it.
The fee is $75 the first year and then $50 there after. Previous to the audio option being available where the book is read with a speech synthisizer, you couldn't read Bookshare books on your NLS DTB player. However, it's important to note 2 things here. 1. All NLS content is Daisy. and 2. there are different flavors of daisy: audio only, text only, text syncronized with audio, and various types of mark ups. So while the DTB player will recognize audio files, it will not read text only books.
75 dollars first year. 50 every other. this is going on my 6th year.
and the limit of books you can download in a month, 100. so that's 1200 books a year!
also if you're an iphone ipod ipad user. Read to go is the bookshare ap. download read and manage your bookshelf from your iphone. yai. best thing since sliced bread
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I love read 2 go. It's the only thing I use for books now!
For anyone using read2Go, is there a way to move books from the bookshelf to one's computer via iTunes? I don't want to run out of space on the shelf, and I have a little over 300 books so far.
I have a bookshare account but I haven't renewed it in seveal years since I joined Audible. That and I haven't been able to spare the fifty bucks.I'm also not a big fan of reading books with syntetic speech.