Suggestions for speech synth SW?

[Jaddy]

Hi all,

I've played around with some speech synthesis software but was not very happy with the results, neither in English nor in my mother tongue (German).

The output always sounds too artificial, it's difficult to fine-tune speech melody, pauses between words and sentences, and some words sound like being mangled through a pasta machine.

Can anyone recommend a software with some advanced features? Is SSML any good and which software interprets it best?

Kai

[Kalisti]

I use Text Aloud as the text to voice software but with AT&T voices which I find the most natural sounding.

I then use Sony vegas to put various files together and use a 'softener' on the voice track. The voice effect i find acceptable, however the biggest difference i noticed was using a trance early on with suggestions that the voice was natural and acceptable.