Additional TTS Engines
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There were some negative comments in the past about the default TTS voice. I wrote some of them.
I did a search for alternative TTS engines. There aren't that many TTS engine which can be used in MRA Next. But i found one which i like.
It is Acapela TTS Engine for Android. The app self is free but you must pay for each voice separate. A few Euro's
Because i'm Dutch, i bought the voice "Daan". This is a good voice.This voice is a lot louder than the default TTS engine. The volume is more or less the same as Spotify. Besides this. The voice is also less mechanical/robotic.
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@M-Schrijver Not forgetting that iOS users have several different voice options already installed on their iPhones. I use the Serena voice which is one of the premium voices.
Always willing to help if I can.
Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT called Tina.
MRA Navigation and SilverFox bar buttons.
Quadlock wireless mount for IPhone 11.
Cardo Scala Packtalk Bold.
TomTom Rider 500. (In the cupboard now) -
@M-Schrijver, If those voices are louder, I definitely must check them, thanks!
@Nick-Carthew, I had a private discussion with @AlexvLeeuwen yesterday (because the topic was closed prematurely..) and understood that in IOS you can choose only 2 voices for Belgian Dutch. Can additional voices be installed in IOS?
I am not affiliated with MyRoute-App. The help I am offering is entirely voluntary.
I am just an enthusiastic user, and hope you will be one too!Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebar to the saddle.
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@Con-Hennekens I have no idea if additional voices can be installed on iOS, there are more than enough English voices so I haven’t looked to install anymore.
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@M-Schrijver said in Additional TTS Engines:
There were some negative comments in the past about the default TTS voice. I wrote some of them.
I did a search for alternative TTS engines. There aren't that many TTS engine which can be used in MRA Next. But i found one which i like.
It is Acapela TTS Engine for Android. The app self is free but you must pay for each voice separate. A few Euro's
Because i'm Dutch, i bought the voice "Daan". This is a good voice.This voice is a lot louder than the default TTS engine. The volume is more or less the same as Spotify. Besides this. The voice is also less mechanical/robotic.
Sounds good, I have an IOS phone and would be grateful to know how to add a new TTS voice of my choice to the MRA Next app for use in CarPlay? or is this only for use directly from the phone?
Thanks Tony -
@Skellum On your iPhone: Settings > Accessibility > Spoken content > Voices. MRA uses your phone voice so you should hear the same on CarPlay.
Always willing to help if I can.
Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT called Tina.
MRA Navigation and SilverFox bar buttons.
Quadlock wireless mount for IPhone 11.
Cardo Scala Packtalk Bold.
TomTom Rider 500. (In the cupboard now) -
@M-Schrijver said in Additional TTS Engines:
It is Acapela TTS Engine for Android. The app self is free but you must pay for each voice separate.
I installed Acapela, but the demo voices don't work.
I am not affiliated with MyRoute-App. The help I am offering is entirely voluntary.
I am just an enthusiastic user, and hope you will be one too!Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebar to the saddle.
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@Nick-Carthew Thank you for that Nick, I can see that I can change the voice my iPhone uses (Siri etc) but that doesn't seem to change the choice I have on the MRA Next app - there are choices within the app but they do not seem to relate to the iPhone voice I have chosen?
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@Skellum I chose Serena (premium) from my iPhone voices. Once you have chosen your voice, go to Navigation settings > Audio > Voice and then scroll down the list and select your chosen iPhone voice.
Always willing to help if I can.
Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT called Tina.
MRA Navigation and SilverFox bar buttons.
Quadlock wireless mount for IPhone 11.
Cardo Scala Packtalk Bold.
TomTom Rider 500. (In the cupboard now) -
@M-Schrijver Good call on this TTS engine. Downloaded the app and a couple of voices. So much better on my Google Pixel 6 Pro. Thank you for the suggestion.
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@Con-Hennekens
You can only use the demo voices in the Acapela app. So can listen and play a bit with some settings. If you buy a voice, you can use it in other app.
It is a bit of a gamble. -
Greatly appreciate you sharing this!
@M-Schrijver -
@M-Schrijver, The app shows me this:
I pressed the play button and it starts circling but not any of the voices are audible. On their website some voices are demoed:
https://www.acapela-group.com/demos/Also I see that most voices are € 4,99 except Thijs en Merel, they go for € 11,99 but both are not in the demo. I guess they are the sexy ones...
I am not affiliated with MyRoute-App. The help I am offering is entirely voluntary.
I am just an enthusiastic user, and hope you will be one too!Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebar to the saddle.
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@Con-Hennekens Like you, I pressed the button in the app (Google Pixel 6 Pro) and the voices played as demo as the circle turned with no problems. That was all languages and all samples.
Kind Regards. Help where I can.
Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally
iPhone 15 Pro
Google Pixel 6 Pro - mounted on SP Connect Plus
Chigee AIO-5 Play, Garmin XT2 and Ex TomTom Rider User -
@Dave-J-0, good to know. Strange though
(yes I have the volume up
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@Nick-Carthew Thank you Nick, all sorted now with Kate (enhanced) cheers Tony
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@Skellum Your welcome, happy to help.
Always willing to help if I can.
Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT called Tina.
MRA Navigation and SilverFox bar buttons.
Quadlock wireless mount for IPhone 11.
Cardo Scala Packtalk Bold.
TomTom Rider 500. (In the cupboard now) -
Hi, I bought Rachel (English voice) and took her out for a ride today. Loud and clear - a huge improvement!
The original MRA voice is too timid and not loud enough.
Thanks for the suggestion. -
On my other phone (the rugged one I actually use on the bike) I was able to play the demo voices indeed. They do seem to be a bit louder indeed, but the Dutch voices are really ugly (3 of them are childs voices). The default Google TTS is much clearer and smoother in my opinion. I never understood why some people call it "robotic". That's definitely not the case on any phone I used (quite a few).
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Did a nice ride last saturday.
Filtsmeister does use the default Android voice. Sometimes Flitsmeister did give some info (it runs in the background). It was a good comparisson with the Acapela voice "Daan" which is set in MRA.
What a difference in favour of "Daan" Louder and less robotic/metalicWhat is a robotic voice? This a typical example of a robotic voice (female):
https://youtu.be/yHdemBdvRIo?si=duWDWleqc7P8b-Qs&t=84
At least for me. The default google TTS voice sounds very similiar (to me)
The voice synthesizer of Stephen Hawkins is probably the best known "robotic" voice.
