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.
(I use MRA Next only on Android Auto. Every comment, suggestion, etc will be based on my usage with Android Auto)
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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.(I use MRA Next only on Android Auto. Every comment, suggestion, etc will be based on my usage with Android Auto)
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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.(I use MRA Next only on Android Auto. Every comment, suggestion, etc will be based on my usage with Android Auto)
