Ash10's Voice Utility Software

[Ash10]

I've been busy writing some more new software - it's rather unimaginatively called Voice Utility, and here it is

http://tinyurl.com/238t6o



Voice Utility will take any Garmin VPM file (not just British_English ) and split it into its component audio samples. Once you have changed the samples as you see fit, Voice Utility will then join them back up into a new VPM file for you.

The free version of Voice Utility allows you to change as many (or as few) of the samples as you wish - however, after you have changed fifty samples, the quality of subsequently changed samples will be reduced slightly (although this will not stop your voice file from working).

You can remove this limitation by making a small Paypal donation - there is no minimum amount as such, but as a rule of thumb I like to have enough left after Paypal's cut for a beer or two...

There's no need to have the samples in any particular format - Voice Utility will convert 16-bit (linear PCM) or 8-bit (u-law or a-law) samples, mono or stereo, of any sample rate, into the correct format automatically.

This free version is for personal use only - commercial use prohibited without permission

How to get at your VPM files:

On an i3, the VPM files can be found on the memory card - in the /Garmin/Voice/ directory. You'll need a suitable card reader to be able to get at them - if your i3 doesn't have a memory card, then I'm afraid that it can't be done.

On a Nuvi, connect the unit to your computer and you should find the VPM files in the /Garmin/Voice/ directory.

Take a backup of your VPM file before doing anything else!

To split a VPM file into its component samples, run Voice Utility and point it to the file that you want to split. Choose a name for the extracted samples in the space below, then click on the Split button - the numbered samples will be extracted and saved to the specified directory.

To join component samples into a VPM file, point Voice Utility to the first sample (only the first sample in each series is displayed in the file dialog). Choose a name for the new VPM file in the space above, then click on the Join button - it's that simple.

Once you've modified a VPM file, you'll need to set your unit to a different language and then back again to force it to update itself.

Note that the first sample (numbered as _000) is special and should not be altered!

Enjoy!

[Beerbellybill999]

Thanks Ash, What would we do without you!

How do you find the time?

I will test it tonight
_________________
i3 2.70(went to 2.82,3.0,3.1 but downgraded) with V8 map on microSD card
Metroguide Europe V7 & V8 (routable and indexed)
Metroguide N America V6 (routable and indexed)

[Ash10]

[missing_user]

Hi Beerbellybill999!
Have not seen you posting for a while!
Happy new Year.

[hodgy]

Cheers Ash10!

Works perfectly for me [Garmin C510]

Just need to create that blank wav then away you go, thanks!

Matt

[MaFt]

so then, are people gonna start posting vpm files any time soon then? i can't be bothered doing my own ;)

Ash10 - you're a star! you'll get some work soon (he says hopefully)

MaFt

[Brian]

Tried it on English_American_.vpm and English_British_.vpm .. works great, tried it on English_British_Emily.vpm but did not work. Am I right in thinking it is not compatable with the TTS files?
_________________
Aprilia Tuono, Zumo 550
Ipaq 2210/Fortuna/TomTom Nav6
& Road Angel 7000 + Memory Map

[Abakus]

[Mate]

Ash10, great work man !!
Just one question. wil this create a new voice name in the menu or does it overwrite the original voice file.

I understand the naming of the voice file is embeded in the file. Would it be possible to alter this name so you can select it on the device?

[locksmith]

Being a thickie, what on earth is this ?

[Ash10]

[currymonster]

If anyone simply wants to silence the annoying 'recalculating' then the doctored British voice file can be downloaded from here:- http://tinyurl.com/2z4fgh
Be sure to back up your old voice file first. I make no guarantees, but it does work for me on a Streetpilot i3.

[Jamas]

[snowboardcriminal]

Hi all and thanks for the great work Ash.

Simple question, can you just not rename the vpm file so that you get another choice? so you have the orignal English version then have the option of using a doctored version called somthing else, rather than "over writing an existing set of files?

I am probably missing somthing really simple, but i am just a simple folk!
_________________
Don't eat yellow snow
i3, on the middle of the dash, works just fine!

There are things that I know and you don't know, there are things that you know that i don't know, but always remember there is much that we both don't know.

[MaFt]

Ash, a quick question to clear something up before people start sharing files:

will a vpm file from, say, an i3, work on a nuvi or a c320 etc?

I can just imagine people editing their i3 files and uploading them for all to use and end up killing a different unit...

or do you want me to try it out between my i3 and nuvi?!

MaFt

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!