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WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

deepmind.com

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Re: WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

#61

Post by craigforster »

StavrosK wrote: post #57

I would love something like this for computer notifications, or any sort of automated system notification. For a concrete example, my RC controller has the ability to do voice prompts (e.g. "landing gear down"), and it would be great if I could get a high-quality voice to speak all this. Hell, I'd settle for an API where I could send text and get high-quality voice back. Maybe I can somehow hack the Google Assistant…

I think AWS Polly (https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/polly-text-to-speech-in-47-...) can do this. I'm not sure of the quality compared to Google's or Apple's TTS though.

Re: WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

#65

Post by SiVal »

tymekpavel wrote: post #27

I've always wondered why companies don't just take all the close-captioned TV streams and use that as training data for their voice models. Seems like it would create a much more natural sounding voice model (at least as far as humans are accustomed to).

I think a better data source would be professionally produced audiobooks. Better, clearer voices, nearly perfect "transcription", enormous supply already recorded on a wide range of topics potentially available from one or two sources, etc.

Re: WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

#66

Post by sangnoir »

degenerate wrote: post #36
exhilaration wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of my co-workers told me in 2012 that he was doing exactly this. He used an ebook reader to download free ebooks from Gutenberg and then the IVONA text to speech engine for Android to listen to them on his drives. He had already finished a few classics like Treasure Island this way. I'm sure things have improved significantly since 2012 so what you're looking for is probably easily done.

If your co-worker could share how he did this, it would be appreciated (specifically, what apps/code needs to be run).

I have been doing this on Android for a few years using Ivona, FBReader with the FBReader TTS+ Plugin. I got Ivona (beta) from the Play Store before they were bought by Amazon - it looks like Ivona voices have since been pulled and are no longer available.

Re: WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

#67

Post by 2600 »

komali2 wrote: post #62

I still don't understand the difference between Google Assistant and Google Now (or whatever), other than when I accidentally launch Assistant instead of Now, my commands are never understood.

I don't understand the difference either other than Assistant seems to be replacing Now. The issue, I'm finding, is that Google Assistant requires that you turn on the recording of usage data and history to your account, such as Web & App activity, Location History, Voice & Audio activity. All recorded and tied to your account. I don't believe this was the case with Google Now.

Google, to their credit, normally allows you to erase all this data and turn recording off, but with Google Assistant, they require it all to be on and recording. I avoid using it because of this restriction.

Re: WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

#68

Post by StavrosK »

craigforster wrote: post #61
StavrosK wrote: post #57

I would love something like this for computer notifications, or any sort of automated system notification. For a concrete example, my RC controller has the ability to do voice prompts (e.g. "landing gear down"), and it would be great if I could get a high-quality voice to speak all this. Hell, I'd settle for an API where I could send text and get high-quality voice back. Maybe I can somehow hack the Google Assistant…

I think AWS Polly ( https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/polly-text-to-speech-in-47-... ) can do this. I'm not sure of the quality compared to Google's or Apple's TTS though.

Apparently it's semi-decent, thank you!:

https://aws.amazon.com/polly/

Re: WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

#69

Post by obmelvin »

2600 wrote: post #67
komali2 wrote: post #62

I still don't understand the difference between Google Assistant and Google Now (or whatever), other than when I accidentally launch Assistant instead of Now, my commands are never understood.

I don't understand the difference either other than Assistant seems to be replacing Now. The issue, I'm finding, is that Google Assistant requires that you turn on the recording of usage data and history to your account, such as Web & App activity, Location History, Voice & Audio activity. All recorded and tied to your account. I don't believe this was the case with Google Now. Google, to their credit, normally allow…

Consider the information that Google Now was providing you before. It was almost certainly using this data.

Re: WaveNet launches in the Google Assistant

#70

Post by eginhard »

tymekpavel wrote: post #27

I've always wondered why companies don't just take all the close-captioned TV streams and use that as training data for their voice models. Seems like it would create a much more natural sounding voice model (at least as far as humans are accustomed to).

Even if there is no background noise present, the quality is nowhere near that of professional studio recordings and would be very noticeable in the output.

Also, for traditional systems you need a lot of data from one speaker only, they can't take advantage of other speakers' recordings (although WaveNet does that now).

And "TV natural" might not be the style of natural you want from a TTS system.

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