Josh Kennedy
@rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @Tamasg @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 the only thing I think preventing the sapi4 infovox230 from running on modern windows is its 16-bit license scheme? would it be possible for someone here to crack the needed dll files to bypass the license so it will run on modern windows under sapi4? same for infovox 330?
Mar 10 at 2:24pmWeb
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 11
@rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @Tamasg @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 Hi there,
That is correct. This product has been discontinued.
Best Regards.
Nicolas Mazars
Head of Inclusive Market
Acapela Group
Show threadAnthony C. BartmanMar 11
@joshknnd1982 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @Tamasg @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 glad you able to confirm that. I've been wanting to crack infovox for a very long time.
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 11
@rommix0 oh my that would be excellent! it works as sapi4. only thing keeping it from running is the license check. the license manager is 16-bit, the synth itself from what I understand is 32-bit. so it'll work on modern windows. and even though bestSpeech was or is 32-bit, Beqa somehow made a 64-bit dll bridge so it works with windows11 narrator plus 32-bit sapi as well.
Show threadAnthony C. BartmanMar 11
@joshknnd1982 that's nice. I'm currently working on decompiling BeSTSpeech with some success on top of making my own tts synth. Maybe if it's doable, I'll put the infovox on the list of next things to do.
Show threadAnthony C. BartmanMar 10
@joshknnd1982 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @Tamasg @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 it'd take a lot of work. I was able to get a hold of the PowerPC demo version that ran on classic Mac. However, it would be a huge undertaking either way.
Show threadTamas GMar 10
@rommix0 @joshknnd1982 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 also if it's truly 16-bit only you would need an ntvdmx64 shim. I've tried these, but they are very flakey with sound output, not the same as the old NTVDM was in Windows 7 days. Huge project indeed.
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 10
@Tamasg @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 I think only the license manager is 16-bit, not the synth itself. I was hoping that you "change a hex value" make a new dll, replace, and it works.
Show threadDennis longMar 10
@joshknnd1982 @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @Tamasg @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 this should not be done. Licenses are in place for a reason.
Show threadTamas GMar 10
@Dennislong82 @joshknnd1982 @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 it depends on a bit whether it can be considered abandonware and vintage. Some things like the Keynote Demo got cracked to remove the time limit, because nobody is ever going to hunt down the makers (BestSpeech folks) to get a licensed one, since it's not a company that's around and although the tech was passed down to Lernout and Hauspi, then I think to Scansoft and Nuance, those companies don't support, sell, or resell it. So then it's in the abandonware category. I have no idea where Infovox stands. If it got passed down and the engine, even parts of it, are re-used in a newer product, then most certainly doing this type of cracking is highly unethical. It's why I'm not touching SoftVoice, again. Joseph Cats is around and the company is not deceased. So I can't condone cracking it until that full lineage is traced in an honest way, personally.
Show threadAlex KrierMar 10
@Tamasg @Dennislong82 @joshknnd1982 @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @datajake1999 It seems a little bit unfair that we do have the full version of Infovox 230, but not 330, considering that I like diphone based voices the best. The reason why we are trying to get both of them working is because they are TTS engines that are long abandoned (from around 1999-2002), and you can't purchase licenses for them anymore.
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 10
@AlexSpectrum93 @Tamasg @Dennislong82 @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @datajake1999 yes I agree with Alex. I know infovox230 and 330 will never be sapi5; but if their license schemes could be bypassed, they would at least run, I think, in modern windows as sapi4 engines.
Show threadCleversonMar 10
@AlexSpectrum93 @Tamasg @Dennislong82 @joshknnd1982 @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @datajake1999 I would love an improved RHVoice where you had an inflection parameter along with some equalization adjustment. The problem is that, as far as I perceive it, your ideal synth is the one who works best at fast speeds, hence you prefer to improve formant-based ones. I prefer a medium to slow speed, say a value of 50 at most, so I play well with both formant or diphone based synts.
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 10
@Tamasg @Dennislong82 @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 last time I asked acapela group about infovox230, they ignored my email. so maybe it is abandoned? I really don't know though.
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 10
@Tamasg @Dennislong82 @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 infovox230 was originally made by Telia Promotor. a quick google Gemini result says old telia promotor 1995 software is technically abandoned.
Show threadDennis longMar 10
@joshknnd1982 @Tamasg @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 without proof it is abandoned you are on a slippery slope.
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 11
@Dennislong82 @Tamasg @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 Hi there,
That is correct. This product has been discontinued.
Best Regards.
Nicolas Mazars
Head of Inclusive Market
Acapela Group
Show threadJosh KennedyMar 11
@Dennislong82 @Tamasg @rommix0 @MutedTrampet @TheQuinbox @BTyson @samtupy @AlexSpectrum93 @datajake1999 that was in response to me asking "is it abandonware?" so it looks like we can crack infovox230-330! yay!