Speech synthesizer

We need

• Raspberry Pi with ArchLinux
• Sound output devices connected to mini-jack. I use amplituner with spekares. For tests we can use computer speakers or headphone.

 

Base sound software

Install:

# pacman -Sy alsa-utils alsa-plugins

call sound test:

# speaker-test -c 2

We should hear the test sound.

Festival synthesizer

Install Festival synthesizer:

# pacman -Sy festival festival-english

call Festival test from command line:

# echo "Hello Dave" | festival --tts

We should hear sound "Hello Dave".

Next step, we call Festival from Python code (is useful in the future). If it does not exist, create a directory

# mkdir robot   

create Python enviroment:

# cd robot/
# virtualenv2 --no-site-packages python_festival_test
# cd python_festival_test/
# source bin/activate

create file festivalTest.py:

import subprocess
text = '"Hello Dave"'
subprocess.call('echo '+text+'|festival --tts', shell=True)

call script:

# python2.7 festivalTest.py

We should hear sound "Hello Dave".

Additional

Install command line mp3 player:

# pacman -Sy mpg123

and play mp3 file:

# mpg123 example_file.mp3

Sound volume, check status:

# amixer

example response:

Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback -10239 - 400
  Mono: Playback 40 [97%] [0.40dB] [on]

change volume:

# amixer cset numid=1 -- $sound_volume

where:
$sound_volume - is number beetwen -10239 and 400
numid - output: 0=auto, 1=analog, 2=hdmi




links:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Advanced_Linux_Sound_Architecture
http://www.correderajorge.es/can-your-raspberry-pi-talk-2/
http://machakux.appspot.com/blog/44003/making_speech_with_python
http://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2013/06/raspberry-pi-command-line-audio/
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0002900/quotes