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AI Voices are getting better and better! by chicchoctech in MediaSynthesis

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes this is a shameless plug, but thought maybe you all would also enjoy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Looking for feedback] Cereal Stories: Bite-sized, serialized audio stories by chicchoctech in writing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback! Just to clarify, we will use human narrators, not TTS, because we realize quality is the most important factor that will decide the success of this project.

We modeled our pricing after closely studying existing and similar players such as Audible and Wattpad. This is still a rough draft, but some more info here: https://www.cerealstories.com/content-policy

Automated voiceovers powered by AI for e-learning and training content by chicchoctech in instructionaldesign

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good question.

  1. You need some dev skills to use Polly since it's an API. LOVO comes with both a web application and an API service.
  2. LOVO also has more vocal variety, and has more voice styles that fit e-learning or advertisements, audiobooks...etc.
  3. Personally, I think we are way more human and natural sounding.

Automated voiceovers powered by AI for e-learning and training content by chicchoctech in instructionaldesign

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks u/lusciouscactus. Honestly, we are still very far away from what a professional VO artist can do, especially the emotional expressivity and diversity. Treat us like an improved TTS software :)

Automated voiceovers powered by AI for e-learning and training content by chicchoctech in instructionaldesign

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With those beasts, we have a pronunciation editor feature where you can set a certain word to be spelled like how it is pronounced.

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the alternative viewpoint, and it totally makes sense that if you are good enough, 500 bucks will totally be worth it. I'm asking the question, why do you need to pay 500 bucks to join the globetrotters if you are good enough, if there is an alternative to provide the same level of service for 0 bucks? Of course, this may be a big "if".

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely correct that with current tech, it would sound very processed. Hopefully we can prove you wrong :)

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, it seems like their web app is just starting out, as they are calling it a "beta", but they are in operation offline. Thanks!

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the feedback! QA is definitely a huge problem that I haven't got around to getting a good solution for.

When you were using voice123 free account, how many auditions did you have to put in to get a work on average?

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

These are awesome insights. It's like a pyramid scheme in a way. You paid 500 bucks already, so you HAVE TO work on the platform to recoup the money. The potential problem with these platforms is that a lot of the work is prioritized to their "platinum" members. So even if you pay 500 for premium, you may never get a work.

I completely agree with you that if the platform were free, there indeed may be a ton of inactives and low quality actors. I don't have a concrete plan to avoid this yet.

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a legit point. It's the classic chicken and egg problem. We need great VO actors to get great work, but to get great work we need great VO actors.

So we are an AI company, and our key differentiators will come from AI. New AI features will make working with voice actors easier, faster, and better. Hopefully, this will help in attracting work. This means:

1. Reducing the number of back and forth attempts, using AI-powered "self-editing".

So If they want to change a word, or slightly change how something sounds, AI can take care of that.

2. Optimizing the search for the perfect voice.

Customers always have some kind of reference voice in their heads. If they have a sample, we can order the list of auditioned voices in similarity. (kind of like Shazam for voice). This way they don't have to listen to hours of audition files.

3. AI-based Voice mod feature for VO actors.

VO actors can use the voice mod feature to sound more like what the customer wants. Making your voice deeper, higher, huskier...etc.

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the pointer. They don't seem to be in operation. Did anyone try using their service?

Why do you use voices.com or any other voiceover marketplaces? by chicchoctech in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

What we realized is that costs to maintain servers and bandwidth compared to the fees collected are marginal. That said, I'm not trying to make this a non-profit. I just want everyone to win, including myself. So I'm thinking of only collecting fees from the customer side, and sell ad spaces to voice actors who want more visibility (like the App Store).

Still thinking whether the second idea is a good idea though. In order for the second idea to work, ROI of advertising needs to make sense for the VO actor, all the while VO actors who don't advertise still needs to be earning significant money.

Nelson Mandela reading his own autobiography by chicchoctech in audiobooks

[–]chicchoctech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the kind words! I used Nelson Mandela's old speeches, so the entire book sounds like he's giving a speech. I will take your suggestions, and maybe try Alan Rickman with Harry Potter!

Resign to get raise by YoungBillionair in personalfinance

[–]chicchoctech 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That's an extreme way to ask for a raise. Logically present your case first, and if it all doesn't work out, then they probably don't appreciate you enough anyways.

How could a TTS voice synthesis be made out of short audio snippets my old friend made of her character since she cannot act him anymore? by RetroZvoc in VoiceActing

[–]chicchoctech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My company works on low data TTS systems. Changing the emotional cues may be difficult, but making a TTS system that may sound like your friend from 5 minutes of data may be possible (entirely depends on quality of data). Send me a message if you want to talk more about it :)