HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mlelstv@specklec.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de (Michael van Elst)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: Re: C= : Where's the Speech?
Date: 12 Dec 92 19:35:41 GMT
Organization: Max-Planck-Institut f"ur Radioastronomie

In <Bz09KH.HDp@news.iastate.edu> barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett) writes:
>   Why would a DSP be necessary for something as simple as speech synthesis?

It isn't necessary. But it requires real time processing and a lot of CPU
time which is _better_ handled by a DSP.

>You can get good speech synthesis on from a C-64, which uses a 1Mhz 8-bit 
>6502.  The Apple IIe also had speech capability in software from the same
>software package, although the quality wasn't quite as good.  A DSP would be
>necessary for good speech recognition, but any computer with a sound chip can
>do speech synthesis.

The C64 needed to turn off the display to get the speech output right.
The narrator.device eats 60% of the CPU time on an A500.

I don't think that this situation is optimal for multimedia applications.

And many people complained that even the Amiga speech capabilities were
not good enough. There is a nice software library for the AT&T chip that
includes better speech synthesis. I hope it will be available for the
C= DSP card as well.

Regards,
-- 
Michael van Elst
UUCP:     universe!local-cluster!milky-way!sol!earth!uunet!unido!mpirbn!p554mve
Internet: p554mve@mpirbn.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de
                                "A potential Snark may lurk in every tree."
From: mjw+@cs.cmu.edu (Michael Witbrock)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: C= : Where's the Speech?
Date: 12 Dec 92 12:57:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.If_atQu00hsB4p7WdZ
	<Bz48IL.2su@news.iastate.edu>
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Excerpts from netnews.comp.sys.amiga.multimedia: 11-Dec-92 Re: C= :
Where's the Speech? Dorc N. Barrenn@iastate. (4172) [or someone with a
name like that]

>    In other words, the speech is good enough already that I just don't see all
> that much room for improvement.  You can install an array of DSPs or even an
> array of Crays all dedicated to doing speech synthesis, and the speech would
> not be improved all that much.

The prosodic model sucks. Coarticulation isn't modelled well,  rate
dependent phone deletion doesn't happen properly. The synthesiser can't
speak any language but American English. The source model is probably
white noise instead of modelled glottal pulses. The text to speech
algorithm makes frequent errors.  I defy anyone to listen to the Amiga
read  their mail to them without needing to look at it as well.

The speech is far from perfect. There are better synthesisers out there,
and plenty of room for improvement.  Anyone who has heard a human being
speak should know that the speech can be improved a lot.

That not withstanding, amiga's speech synthesis is pretty good as
non-research systems go, and has such an important place in Amiga
software that it needs to be kept and improved. If a serious effort were
made to support multiple languages, amiga speech would be a uniquely
useful product.

I'm not sure that speeding up the model with a  DSP is the only way of
improving the speech, however,  - switching to something like
interpolated demisyllable synthesis instead of the current source/filter
articulatory  model might help more.
---
In any case, rest assured that Marc knows nothing about speech synth,
but that the Amiga needs it.
From: dobrien@sybase.com (Dave O'Brien)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: new features in CanDo 2.0
Date: 11 Dec 92 19:46:07 GMT
Organization: Sybase, Inc.
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1

I just got my CanDo 2.0 upgrade. For those considering upgrading or
purchasing CanDo 2.0, here's what's new:

Script bookmarking - get to a marked script with a keystroke

SuperDuper command - auto-create rows/columns of buttons, fields, or
sliders

Layer tool - change the layering of objects

Bug Basher tool - tests and verifies scripts

ConfigCando command - set preferences and tooltypes with a nice interface

DOS Notify object - monitor changes to selected files (WB2 only)

New manual - three-ring binder with tutorials and reference, index, 400+
pages

Also:
- user-definable grids for placing/aligning objects
- better on-line help
- support for images up to 1700x2200 (like 200 dpi faxes)
- better memory management
- support for international characters (Spanish, German, French, Italian)
- 68040 copyback support
- better control for brush anims and audio
- scripts can be >1000 lines long (limited by memory)

I'm still waiting for other, more important improvements, but until then
I'm having fun with the new features...
Xref: sparky comp.sys.amiga.multimedia:1586 comp.sys.amiga.misc:18419 comp.sys.amiga.emulations:5473
From: Steven_Hurdle@amusers.UUCP (Steven Hurdle)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: Re: CDTV software list
Distribution: world
Date: 11 Dec 92 23:31:53 PST
Organization: AmUsers - The Amiga Users Group of Victoria BC

In a message dated Fri 11 Dec 92  2:59, Csieh@boise (constance Sieh) wrote:

 CS> Recently my brother purchased a CDTV to use with his 2000.

 CS> He asked for CD's to use on the CDTV for Christmas.  He already
 CS> has the FISH DISK, Lemmings, Sherlock Holmes and a demo disk.

 CS> I would like some suggestions of good CD's for CDTV.  I looked at
 CS> the mags out there but still am not sure of what to get.

 CS> Thanks for your suggestions( in advance )

Sim City is a fantastic CD.  It's been completely recoded and looks a damn
sight nicer and has a few new twists.  It incorporates three of the popular
Sim City Graphics Sets cities in it.  The addition of music is wonderful. 
It plays music intermittently to relfect the "feel" of your cities
situation, for when your city reaches various thresholds like x-number
population, plays a neat crime song for when that gets out of hand, etc. 
Many other good CDs are waiting in the wings.  Psygnosis is working on a
few projects, and people in the know recommend each one.  Labyrinth is one
to get when it becomes available.  North Polar Expedition looks hot (it's a
simulation of a such a mission, with the players taking on different roles
in the expedition and making the necessary decisions).  Psycho Killer II
expands on the technique used in the original Psycho Killer and
(apparently) to better effect.  It's a schlocky interactive B-grade horror
film which uses live actors and something meant to approximate full screen
live video.  The frame rates a little slow, but that not only doesn't
detract as it seems to add to the bizzarre feel of the game.  You'll either
absolutely love it or hate it.  Those are the ones that pop to mind.

 CS> - Connie

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

Steven Hurdle <==> The Swindler                [public replies only please]

Writer of "Virtual Rumours", a rumour/news column in some club newsletters.

          Coming to you from Victoria B.C., the Bahamas of Canada
From: cyclone@netcom.com (Bill Sheppard)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: Re: Why I bought a CD-I yesterday and what Commodore needs to do about
Date: 20 Dec 92 22:12:28 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Steven_Hurdle@amusers.UUCP (Steven Hurdle) writes:

>   BTW, did you notice that Magnavox (the company who was to be the first
>distributor of a CD-I machine) has abandoned CD-I and is now involved with
>VIS (which forced Phillips to market the first machine themselves).

Sorry - this mis-information.  Magnavox is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Philips - CD-I was originally going to be marketed in the US under the
Magnavox label, but in the last few years Philips has been in the process of
broadening user recoginition of the Philips name (which had been previously
known mostly for mid-to-high-end stereo equipment), so they decided to market
the CD-I player as 'Philips' rather than 'Magnavox'.  I don't believe Magnavox
is involved with VIS at all - I suspect you are confusing it with 'Memorex',
the brand name Radio Shack is using for many consumer electronics products
(and a name under which Radio Shack did market a CD-I player, identical to the
Philips player, last year), including the VIS player.  My guess is Tandy saw
an opportunity to be a founding licensee and major manufacturer in the VIS
market, whereas they were only a sub-licensee in the CD-I market.  I don't
think the VIS has enough hardware in it to compete with CD-I and CDTV in
software quality, however, and that may make the difference in which (if any)
consumers buy.

>Also, now that CD-I is being marketed in some places as a game machine, and
>other places simply as a Photo-CD delivery device, don't you feel it's
>reasonable to think that the rate at which new "serious" titles, such as
>you listed as being your favourites, might be slow in coming from now on?

There are still dozens of titles in progress - I don't think the rate will
slow down for some time.  Future sales will dictate future development, there
are lots of companies watching the market very closely, ready to jump in when
they perceive the possibility of making a profit...

Bill
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: WANTED Laser Disk Driver
From: dave@ainfo.equinox.gen.nz (Dave Hassall)
Date: 16 Dec 92 22:23:54 +1200
Organization: AmigaINFO BBS,ChCh NZ
Keywords: Sony 3600 AmigaVision
Summary: Need Amigavision Driver for Sony 3600  
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]


I need to get hold of a driver for a Sony 3600 Laser Disk Player .... I believe
that there is a version available for use with Amigavision but unfortunately
the only drivers I have with Amigavision are for earlier models of the Sony..
I would appreciate either someone Emailing me the driver or alternatively 
posting it to the net. Probably to reduce band width it would be best to Email
me ....

Thanks
Dave

--
##############################################################################
--- >>> Send any Structured Graphics suitable for Desktop Publishing <<< ---
        I AM AN AMIGA GRAPHICS JUNKIE     Encapsulated PostScript also accepted 
Dave Hassall     dave@ainfo.equinox.gen.nz      AmigaINFO BBS CHCH NZ
Xref: sparky comp.sys.amiga.multimedia:1604 comp.sys.amiga.misc:18706 comp.sys.amiga.emulations:5544
From: matt-dah@dsv.su.se (Mattias Dahlberg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia,comp.sys.amiga.misc,comp.sys.amiga.emulations
Subject: Re: Reasons for a portable Amiga (Re: Reasons for a notebook amiga)
Date: 17 Dec 92 11:44:47 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Peter da Silva (peter@NeoSoft.com) wrote:

: An all-in-one Amiga 500 class unit would do it.

In other words an A600HD is perfect.

--
=========================================================
=  Regards  =  email:              =  1280x512x262000+  = 
=  Mattias  =  matt-dah@dsv.su.se  =  I love it.        =
=========================================================
=  If we don't *buy* our programs, there soon won't be  =
=  any new software for the Amiga. Obvious, is it not?  =
=========================================================
Xref: sparky comp.sys.amiga.multimedia:1603 comp.sys.amiga.advocacy:31515
From: martin@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU (Psigon Matrix....do you DOUBT us??)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: Re: Reasons for a portable Amiga (Re: Reasons for a notebook amiga)
Date: 21 Dec 92 04:22:11 GMT
Reply-To: martin@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU
Organization: St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

In article <2102@vall.dsv.su.se>, matt-dah@dsv.su.se (Mattias Dahlberg) writes:
>Peter da Silva (peter@NeoSoft.com) wrote:
>
>: An all-in-one Amiga 500 class unit would do it.
>
>In other words an A600HD is perfect.

heh....almost..'cept for that 30lbs monitor.. :)




>=  Mattias  =  matt-dah@dsv.su.se  =  I love it.        =

Jim
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screeeemmmmmin fast 4000/040..YEEEEEEHA!!          X-ASOCC (CBM Blew that one)
          Jim Martin   MATRIX -- If it's made, we sell it. Almost.
  -----(612) 656-9693--                         MARTIN@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU
      We're almost done with the Cray module for the EmPlanT.  :) heh
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: kevint@sad.hp.com (Kevin Taddeucci)
Subject: Re: C= : Where's the Speech?
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 18:33:54 GMT
Organization: HP Sonoma County (SRSD/MWTD/MID)
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Sigh!  I really had not intended to start a flame war over DSP vs. non-DSP 
speach and was really hoping to get useful information from C= so I could 
plan my strategy for developing AV Flows. I guess it was to much to ask 
for, C= rarely give out such info.

       ----------------------------- ------------------------------------
      | Kevin J. Taddeucci          | e-mail: kevint@hpsad.sad.hp.com    |
      | Hewlett Packard Firmware QA | HPDesk: Kevin TADDEUCCI /HP5300/A0 |
      | Telnet: 794-4192            | HP Mailstop: 2LR-N                 | 
       ----------------------------- ------------------------------------
From: Paula_Lieberman@amicol.UUCP (Paula Lieberman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: Re: C= : Where's the Speech?
Distribution: world
Date: 19 Dec 92 20:18:13 EDT
Organization: Amiga Colony BBS

Note that Speak 'N Spell and those such things tend to use diebonded TI
speech chips, that cost at MOST $2 - $3 !!!!


-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Xref: sparky comp.sys.amiga.multimedia:1585 comp.sys.amiga.misc:18409
From: jamiller@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia,comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Re: Looking for CDTV owner in Kansas City area? Still looking...
Date: 11 Dec 92 22:50:12 CST
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <1992Dec4.123712.45384@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>, jamiller@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
> The Lawrence (Kansas) Amiga User's Group will have a demo of the Xetec
> CD-Rom at their December meeting (Sunday 3:30 to 5:30 at the Lawrence
> Public Library's Auditorium--December 13) and to test the CDTV
> compatability I wondered if there were anyone in the Kansas City metro
> area with some CDTV software they might want to loan us or attend the
> meeting with.  We have one piece of software Xetec included "Classic
> Boardgames" or something, but would like at least a couple of others.
> 
> If you live in the Kansas City metro area (preferably Lawrence but
> then I'd know you already probably if that were the case:) and have
> some software you would like to shaparon or loan us please contact me
> at (913) 841-6330 or at this internet address.
> 
> BTW, if you are a User Group officer contact Xetec's User Group
> Support Agent: Janet at 1(800)445-0611 about their User Group support
> programs.  We heartily support the efforts of Xetec and others who are
> actively supporting Amiga User Groups.

Well...
-- 
jamiller@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
James Miller

_chicchai .sig no ho ga ichiban iin janai ka..._
             Enlightenment Happens?
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia,comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: kevint@sad.hp.com (Kevin Taddeucci)
Subject: Advocating Amiga for Multimedia
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 19:18:30 GMT
Organization: HP Santa Rosa Site (SRSD - MWTD) - Santa Rosa, Ca.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

I was browsing through available notes groups this morning when I ran 
across one called "comp.multimedia". I thought this might be a place to 
find more information on the Amiga so I took a look. To my surprise, out of 
the over 70 posts, only one even mentioned the Amiga, and that was in 
response about .MOD files.

Now it seems to me that this would be a great group to advocate the Amiga 
in. I am not talking about our typical advocacy (my computer is better 
than your computer) crap but simply answering peoples general questions, 
by informing them of multimedia solutions provided by the Amiga. This 
seems like a great way of giving the several MAC and MS-DOS users I saw 
there some insight to the Amiga. 

So, I urge all you multimedia types to check out this notes group and 
provide helpful (please don't start flame wars) information where you can.
I would do it but I am not much of an expert in this area.

For my part, I am including an article (I hope it's ok to do this) I found
there which is a call for papers for a conference to include multimedia
topics. I urge anyone who has expertise in this field to develop a paper 
which is Amiga related and submit it.

       ----------------------------- ------------------------------------
      | Kevin J. Taddeucci          | e-mail: kevint@hpsad.sad.hp.com    |
      | Hewlett Packard Firmware QA | HPDesk: Kevin TADDEUCCI /HP5300/A0 |
      | Telnet: 794-4192            | HP Mailstop: 2LR-N                 | 
       ----------------------------- ------------------------------------

========================================================================= 
From srgenprp!news.dtc.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!qwerty-gw.fsl.noaa.gov!yoda.fsl.noaa.gov!kerpedji Fri Dec 11 10:38:27 1992
Newsgroups: comp.multimedia,comp.graphics.visualization
From: lionel@cs.city.ac.uk (Lionel Tun)
Subject: Re: C= : Where's the Speech?
Organization: City University, London
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 18:11:54 GMT

barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett) writes:
>Run the standard 2.0 'say' program sometime
>(you may have to reinstall the 2.0.4 speech libraries to do it), and listen to
>how good the speech is.  Sure, it is fairly obviously a computer, but it is
>also quite good and VERY understandable.  With some tweeks (using
>SpeechToy 2.0), the speech can be made even better.  

Wow! I found this rather hard to believe. I thought you always
denigraded the Amiga, yet you are praising the speech and even
using the word `good'. There is hope for you after all!

If you truly repent you will be forgiven my son! One day you
also may become an Amiga advocate!

--
  ________  Lionel Tun, lionel@cs.city.ac.uk  ________
 / /_  __/\       Computer Vision Group      /\ \__  _\
/___/_/_/\/ City University, London EC1V 0HB \ \___\_\_\
\___\_\_\/        071-477 8000 ext 3889       \/___/_/_/
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia,comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: D.J.Butcher@newcastle.ac.uk (Dave Butcher)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia,comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: Why I bought a CD-I yesterday and what Commodore needs to do about it.
Date: 15 Dec 92 19:27:05 GMT
Distribution: world, public
Organization: Computing Laboratory, U of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK NE1 7RU.


Well, In the latest Computer Shopper, (I think its the UK's biggest computer mag)
Gave the CD-I the Hardware Turkey of the Year award.

Dave.
Nb.- Witty Quote goes here.

	D.Butcher@ncl.ac.uk
From: Scotty@freemf.UUCP (Scotty)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: Amiga spotted in the Media...
Distribution: world
Date: 9 Dec 92 22:02:39 PST
Organization: Not an Organization

  I saw an Amiga in the MCI 'personal 800' ad on Nickelodeon - it was a
1084 monitor the 'Flight Simulator' was running on(a Christmas present from
a dad to his son).  Could only see the lower right of the monitor and the
Amiga logo was offscreen, but it was easy to tell it was a C= product.  I
know it's no big deal, but I kind of get a charge seeing Amigas in
unexpected places...  *(Scotty)*

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

John (Scotty) Freeland  ---  scotty@freemf.eskimo.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia,comp.sys.amiga.misc,comp.sys.amiga.emulations
From: peter@NeoSoft.com (Peter da Silva)
Subject: Reasons for a portable Amiga (Re: Reasons for a notebook amiga)
Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- (713) 684-5900
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 04:36:06 GMT

I have two Amigas, but I could never use either of them as a "portable". I
can use my old Mac-128 that way, and I take it with me when I go on trips.
It fits in a reasonably convenient bag, and I can set it up in about 30
seconds when I need a smart terminal. I wish I could do that with an Amiga.

This doesn't mean I want a notebook, or a laptop, or a palmtop. I just want
something I can reasonably easily carry as hand luggage. An all-in-one
Amiga 500 class unit would do it.
-- 
Peter da Silva.  <peter@sugar.neosoft.com>.
 `-_-'   Oletko halannut suttasi tnn?
  'U`    
Tarjoilija, tm ateria el viel.
From: barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett)
Subject: Re: C= : Where's the Speech?
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 19:59:06 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.181154.16988@city.cs> lionel@cs.city.ac.uk (Lionel Tun) writes:
>barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett) writes:
>>Run the standard 2.0 'say' program sometime
>>(you may have to reinstall the 2.0.4 speech libraries to do it), and listen to
>>how good the speech is.  Sure, it is fairly obviously a computer, but it is
>>also quite good and VERY understandable.  With some tweeks (using
>>SpeechToy 2.0), the speech can be made even better.  
>
>Wow! I found this rather hard to believe. I thought you always
>denigraded the Amiga, yet you are praising the speech and even
>using the word `good'. There is hope for you after all!
>
>If you truly repent you will be forgiven my son! One day you
>also may become an Amiga advocate!

   I was wondering when someone would catch on to that.  I started
complimenting something about the Amiga, and everybody else started denigrating
it!!  It reminds me of the old joke (I saw it recently on "Who Framed Roger
Rabbit") where two cartoon characters are arguing, and then one of them 
changes the arguement around.  Like:

Person 1: Amiga's are junk.
Person 2: Amiga's are great!

Person 1: Amiga's are junk.
Person 2: Amiga's are great!

Person 1: Amiga's are junk.
Person 2: Amiga's are great!

Person 1: Amiga's are great!
Person 2: Amiga's are junk.

:-) :-) :-)

---
| Marc Barrett -MB-  |  email: barrett@iastate.edu
--------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia,comp.sys.amiga.misc,comp.sys.amiga.emulations
From: rsc@hao.ucar.edu (Bob Campbell)
Subject: Re: Reasons for a notebook amiga
Reply-To: rsc@hao.ucar.edu (Bob Campbell)
Organization: High Altitude Observatory/NCAR, Boulder CO
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 08:11:32 GMT

>13) About a billion more reasons if a grey scale notebook amiga led
>eventually to a colour one.

At the Pasedena show, the Pres. of C= US said that the reason C= hasn't made a
color notebook is that they will not under any circumstances release a greyscale
amiga.  They're waiting for color screens for laptops to come down in price.
Fine, I say, but I don't think they should _develop_ one now and release it.  
After all, most PC laptops are in the $2000 range (greyscale).   Why not have 
it now?  Anyone who needs one NOW can buy it, the prices would eventually fall,
but most importantly, it would show a marked dedication by C=, and add
*significatly* to the Amiga line.


>Michael
>-----------
>I guess this is a sig:  please don't buy anything that comes from
>Colorado USA until proposition II (rendering civil rights protection for
>gay, lesbian and bisexual people unconstitutional) is repealed.

Just so you know, its Amendment 1, and I couldn't agree with you more.
Resident of the People's Republic of Coloradoe. ;)

-- 
#######################################################################
# Bob Campbell                 #  "Crayons can take you where no      #
# rcampbell@cudnvr.denver.     #   Starship can go."                  #
#           colorado.edu       #                    -Guinan           #
# rsc@hao.ucar.edu             #                     STTNG            # 
#######################################################################
DISCLAIMER: "My views are not necessarily those of my employer."