Authors: michael conrad

Cherokee TTS Update #2 (IMS-Toucan)

2022-04-18 Michael Conrad  3 minute read

I've been working with using the IMS-Toucan to create a TTS for Cherokee. My previous attempts with the Tacotron model kept resulting in problematic models that had a tendency to "ramble" on with "mumblings" in a not entirely predictable fashion. I maintain a fork of the repo at Cherokee Language IMS-Toucan.

The results I've obtained from the IMS-Toucan FastSpeech2 model are much more reliable.

I've attached a copy of three different TTS voices reading the Two Hunters story from the C.E.D., pp354-355. Cherokee Dictionary

Cherokee Animal Names (TTS 1)

2021-05-29 Michael Conrad  2 minute read

Enough progress has been made on the Cherokee TTS project to provide a full set of audio only exercises.

This audio is 100% computer generated audio. No humans were used in the making of these audio files.

Demo Video

FREE!

The app is currently available for Android TV for free in the Google App Store.

About

This is a simple platformer game to assist with learning the Cherokee numbers.

You wander around in a maze and collect dice together that match the challenge given, then explode them.

After you have completed all the challenges for a level you move on to the next larger level with more numbers to learn.

Play Online

Cherokee TTS Volunteer Help Needed

2020-11-16 Michael Conrad  2 minute read

Your help reviewing Cherokee language audio is greatly needed.

As mentioned in a previous post [here], I've been working on getting a Cherokee TTS system operational. I now have initial output ready for a quality check review.

If you have at least some ear for the sounds of Cherokee either as a second language learner or you are a first language speaker your help would most definitely be appreciated.

Simply visit [Audio Quality Vote], login, review audio, and vote. That's it! Simple and easy! Nothing to download or install, it all happens in the browser.

Privacy Policy - Apps

2020-11-08 Michael Conrad  4 minute read

(Updated: 2020-11-08)

Privacy Policy

These apps and web services (products) are provided by Michael Conrad and are intended for use as is without guarentee of merchantibliy or fitness.

This page is used to inform visitors regarding my policies with the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information if anyone decides to use my products.

If you choose to use my apps or webservices, then you agree to the collection and use of information in relation to this policy. The Personal Information that I collect is used to either improve the products or provide personalized behavior. I will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.

Tacotron2 and Cherokee TTS

2020-11-05 Michael Conrad  3 minute read

I've abandoned trying to use the espeak-ng speech synthesizer. After spending many weeks working it, it still will not correctly apply stress rules (adding stress to unstressed words) and has other issues I've run into that are very problematic, such as where "d", "g", "n" sound so similar that it is easy to mishear these consonants.

Instead I've switched to using a Tacotron 2 TTS system published by Tomáš Nekvinda for speaking Cherokee. While more work definitely needs done, I think this is a good start, and generally sounds much better than espeak-ng. Samples follow.