An introduction to Voice Perfect

and the Perfect Voice

About Us Established in 1990 Manufacture, install and maintain Voice Systems including: Voice Transfer Units (VTUs), Audio Frequency Induction Loops (AFILs) Digital Voice Announcers (DVAs)

Integrated Solutions (CCTV, Help Points, PIDS, FIDS, CIS) Equipment Installed in: Over 700 London Underground stations The UK’s East Midlands Airport (EMA) Lleida Airport in Spain (New) The UK’s O2 Arena The UK’s Kings Cross International Station The UK’s Westminster Cathedral

Current System Repertoires

We are often asked why Real Voice

and not Text To Speech? Here are some examples of

the reasons why…..Voice Perfect - Destinations

Text to Speech - Destinations

What makes Voice Perfect different to other systems?We think just listening will answer that Question…….

Sample Announcement (Hybrid) Voice Perfect (Real Voice)

What Makes a ‘Good Announcement’

Example 1

Example 2

• Competence of Speaker• Acoustics• Competence of Listener

Did you understand the message? Was it intelligible?

Reno Airport, male member of ground staff (Live)

East Midlands Airport, female voice artist (SCAS)

1. The use of a female voice

2. The use of a trained (competent) speaker, our Real Voice

Institute of AcousticsMeasuring Intelligibility of SpeechThe Modified Rhyme Test, tests for both initial and final consonant apprehension (Logan et al. 1989, Goldstein 1995). The test consists of 50 sets of 6 one-syllable words which makes a total set of 300 words. The set of 6 words is played one at the time and the listener marks which word he thinks he hears on a multiple choice answer sheet. The first half of the words are used for the evaluation of the initial consonants and the second one for the final ones. The Table opposite summarises the test format (Shiga et al. 1994).

A B C D E F

1 bad back ban bass bat bath

2 beam bead beach beat beak bean

3 bus but bug buff bun buck

...

26 led shed red bed fed wed

27 sold told hold fold gold cold

28 dig wig big rig pig fig

...

Error RatesLogan et al. (1989) have presented this test for nine synthesizers and natural speech. They also performed an open response version of the test and found out that the intelligibility decreased significantly when the multiple choice answer sheet is excluded. The results are summarized in Figure opposite where the three error rates for each synthesizer are shown for the initial consonants, the final consonants, and the average of these respectively. The test and the results are also summarized in Santen et al. (1997).

Male vs. Female? The Basic requirement of voice messages is clarity and

comprehensibility of the messages. It is generally true that a female voice is more likely to be heard,

because of its pitch in relation to the background noise in the environment (Airport or Noisy Station)

The female voice is more pleasing – therefore used for information The male voice is more authoritative – therefore used for emergency

Female

(Henrietta Bess, Professional Voice Artist)

Male

(Nick Hallett,Professional Voice Consultant)

SCAS® – Scheduled Customer Announcement System

With SCAS® you can:

Generate announcements automatically from data feeds such as timetable information or visual displays

Schedule regular announcements along with one-off announcements Specify which zones hear the announcements Rapidly assemble and schedule tailored messages Make Live Announcements via PA Record and store ad hoc announcements for unforeseen situations Broadcast promotional information or background music Ability to use any voice, regional accent or language

SCAS can make announcements automatically triggered by changes

displayed on flight information displays, or from airport

databases.….

Passengers are reminded that Smoking is NOT permitted anywhere inside the Airport Terminal

CX3542 HONG KONG 05:00 FINAL CALL GATE 1

LA801 SYDNEY 05:50 BOARDING AT GATE 4

This Is a final call for all remaining passengers for Cathay Pacific Flight CX3542 to Hong Kong. Please proceed Immediately to gate 1

QF322 SYDNEY 05:25 BOARDING AT GATE 12

MU8902 SYDNEY 05:55 WAIT IN LOUNGE

DJ91 APIA 06:00 WAIT IN LOUNGE

BA7334 DUBAI 06:15 BOARDING AT GATE 14

CA5107 MELBOURNE 06:20 BOARDING AT GATE 23

NZ101 GOLD COAST 06:40 BOARDING AT GATE 2

AC9521 CAIRNS 06:50 BOARDING AT GATE 2

OZ6551 SYDNEY 07:00 WAIT IN LOUNGE

JL5199 BANGKOK 07:10 WAIT IN LOUNGE

TG4834 TOKYO 07:15 WAIT IN LOUNGE

LH 4834 LOS ANGELES 07:25 CANCELLED

EK4834 DUBAI 07:30 WAIT IN LOUNGE

UA4834 NEW YORK 07:20 WAIT IN LOUNGE

Ladies and Gentlemen. Due to Technical difficulties, Lufthansa Flight LH4834 to Los Angeles has been Cancelled. Please check flight information displays for further information.

DELAYED

BOARDING AT GATE 5

Passengers for British Airways Flight BA7334 to Dubai – Your Boarding Gate has Changed to Gate 5

For adhoc or scheduled messages, SCAS operates with highly advanced touch screen technology that enables operators to easily

use the software within hours of installation….

…….The Voice Perfect announcement system allows you to pre-record messages you may want

to repeat regularly, to save continuous live announcements by

airport staff…

‘Hot Keys’ Play a message immediately so that regularly used messages can be played with

One Touch!

‘Any Language or Voice is available…..

Background Music can be scheduled for specific areas, such as lounges or

retail outlets

Summary of Voice Technologies