How to create a custom voice for use with System.Speech.dll?

Question

How can I create a custom voice that I can then use with the Speech Synthesizer that comes with System.Speech.dll? Please provide me with step by step instructions.

Answer 1

Hi @siddharth jain , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A,

The class scope SpeechSynthesizer object enables the application to have the ability to read aloud. The SpeechRecognitionEngine object enables the application to listen and recognize spoken words or phrases.

Microsoft has a corresponding tutorial for the System.Speech.dll: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/msdn-magazine/2014/december/voice-recognition-speech-recognition-with-net-desktop-applications

using System;
using Microsoft.Speech.Recognition;
using Microsoft.Speech.Synthesis;
using System.Globalization;
namespace ConsoleSpeech
{
  class ConsoleSpeechProgram
  {
    static SpeechSynthesizer ss = new SpeechSynthesizer();
    static SpeechRecognitionEngine sre;
    static bool done = false;
    static bool speechOn = true;
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
      try
      {
        ss.SetOutputToDefaultAudioDevice();
        Console.WriteLine("\n(Speaking: I am awake)");
        ss.Speak("I am awake");
        CultureInfo ci = new CultureInfo("en-us");
        sre = new SpeechRecognitionEngine(ci);
        sre.SetInputToDefaultAudioDevice();
        sre.SpeechRecognized += sre_SpeechRecognized;
        Choices ch_StartStopCommands = new Choices();
        ch_StartStopCommands.Add("speech on");
        ch_StartStopCommands.Add("speech off");
        ch_StartStopCommands.Add("klatu barada nikto");
        GrammarBuilder gb_StartStop = new GrammarBuilder();
        gb_StartStop.Append(ch_StartStopCommands);
        Grammar g_StartStop = new Grammar(gb_StartStop);
        Choices ch_Numbers = new Choices();
        ch_Numbers.Add("1");
        ch_Numbers.Add("2");
        ch_Numbers.Add("3");
        ch_Numbers.Add("4");
        GrammarBuilder gb_WhatIsXplusY = new GrammarBuilder();
        gb_WhatIsXplusY.Append("What is");
        gb_WhatIsXplusY.Append(ch_Numbers);
        gb_WhatIsXplusY.Append("plus");
        gb_WhatIsXplusY.Append(ch_Numbers);
        Grammar g_WhatIsXplusY = new Grammar(gb_WhatIsXplusY);
        sre.LoadGrammarAsync(g_StartStop);
        sre.LoadGrammarAsync(g_WhatIsXplusY);
        sre.RecognizeAsync(RecognizeMode.Multiple);
        while (done == false) { ; }
        Console.WriteLine("\nHit <enter> to close shell\n");
        Console.ReadLine();
      }
      catch (Exception ex)
      {
        Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
        Console.ReadLine();
      }
    } // Main
    static void sre_SpeechRecognized(object sender,
      SpeechRecognizedEventArgs e)
    {
      string txt = e.Result.Text;
      float confidence = e.Result.Confidence;
      Console.WriteLine("\nRecognized: " + txt);
      if (confidence < 0.60) return;
      if (txt.IndexOf("speech on") >= 0)
      {
        Console.WriteLine("Speech is now ON");
        speechOn = true;
      }
      if (txt.IndexOf("speech off") >= 0)
      {
        Console.WriteLine("Speech is now OFF");
        speechOn = false;
      }
      if (speechOn == false) return;
      if (txt.IndexOf("klatu") >= 0 && txt.IndexOf("barada") >= 0)
      {
        ((SpeechRecognitionEngine)sender).RecognizeAsyncCancel();
        done = true;
        Console.WriteLine("(Speaking: Farewell)");
        ss.Speak("Farewell");
      }
      if (txt.IndexOf("What") >= 0 && txt.IndexOf("plus") >= 0)
      {
        string[] words = txt.Split(' ');
        int num1 = int.Parse(words[2]);
        int num2 = int.Parse(words[4]);
        int sum = num1 + num2;
        Console.WriteLine("(Speaking: " + words[2] + " plus " +
          words[4] + " equals " + sum + ")");
        ss.SpeakAsync(words[2] + " plus " + words[4] +
          " equals " + sum);
      }
    } // sre_SpeechRecognized
  } // Program
} // ns

Best Regards,

Jiale

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