Cant get some/any voices to work.

Background

This answer covers the case where you can't hear speech from some/all voices on your system. A companion answer 'Troubleshooting speech problems' gives some suggestions where the speech is broken up, stutters or is distorted.

Initial checks

First confirm that you speakers are working. If you have a BackBox, try unplugging it and testing through the internal speakers or a headphone. Can you hear anything from your PCs speakers? You can either try playing some music, or use the following procedure to test the audio hardware:

• Control panel->Sounds; 
• Select the "Sound" tab 
• Under 'Program events' select (any) event
• In the Sounds drop down list select a sound and click the play button.

If you can't hear a sound you need to check your speakers are connected, the volume control is not set to zero or muted. If you still have the dialog open, look on the 'Volume' tab. There may also be some more settings if you click the 'Advanced' button.

Incorrect/Invalid output device

In the beginning, most domestic computers only had one sound output device and that is where the software sends the speech. Life now is more complex. You may attach USB or Bluetooth speakers, Skype or other headphones. Even some mobile phones can act as an audio output device. When you plug in a secondary output device, Windows will often route the audio to the new device. When it is removed, Windows removes the device but does not always reset the default device correctly. Windows maintains separate default output devices for audio and speech so you may lose some voices but still be able to hear music. The Acapela voices are sent to the default audio device which is configured on the 'Audio' tab. SAPI5 voices are managed through the 'Voice' tab.

To reset the default audio device (XP): 

• Control panel->Sounds; 
• Select the "Audio" tab; 
• In the upper 'Sound playback' frame, drop down the 'Default device' to make sure it gets properly selected;
• Repeat the previous step on the 'Voice' tab.

On Vista there are setting specific to SAPI5. These can specify the voice uses either either a specified device, or the default audio device. These settings are found from the 'Audio Output' and 'Advanced' buttons on the 'Text To Speech' dialog (Control Pannel->Text To Speech).

Software Problems

First, if you can get the machine on-line, run Sensory Update. Although this will not fix all problems with the Acapela voices, it will check the rest of your software. If you cant get the machine on-line, phone the office for a new set of CDs and try re-installing the software.

If you are having problems with some voices not working, it may be related to licensing issues. Run licence manager and see if the voices are correctly licensed. Some third-party voices may be locked to specific products so you may see some SAPI5 voices listed that don't work.

If the problem is with an Acapela voice, there are two diagnostic programs under:

C:\Program Files\Sensory Software\Common\Speech\Sensory Speech Test.exe

and

C:\Program Files\Sensory Software\Common\Speech\Acapela\academo.exe

You are welcome to experiment with these, but they are primarily intended for testing during a remote desktop session. Please phone support for advice. If possible have the machine on-line when you phone.