Voice banking

[LindaB]

Regarding voice banking as my voice is increasingly poor I need to get this organised. My question is through which support service; my Neuro rehab team (SALT) or another?

[Ellie]

Ask your SLT, the sooner the better. xx

[Lynne K]

I did voice banking with an American company. I have a foggy head so cannot remember their name but will come back when it pops in. There’s also a European company similarly that I cannot remember the name of but somebody else will probably comment before I come back. Good luck, Lynne x

[Ellie]

Oops LindaB just realised this is on the MND Connect sub-forum, sorry!

If you haven't read this, it's useful: https://www.mndassociation.org/app/u...-banking-2.pdf

xx

[SallyAnnB]

I was recommended to bank my voice when I had already been losing it for about a year, so it was already altered and weak when I was told about this service. My SLT recommended a company called Speak Unique but I haven’t been very happy with the finished product. Even with quite a lot of tweaking, the voice doesn’t sound very like my own and it makes me sound like a Geordie (I’m from the East Midlands). There are lots of words it has trouble with, such as cup, bought and four, and I had to buy a new phone as my old one didn’t support the app. I also use a free text to speech app which works much better.

[MNDConnect]

Dear Linda,


Thank you for your email.

It would usually be your speech and language therapist who would support you through the voice banking process.

However the neuro team may be able to help, or alternatively, you can carry out the process yourself with out the support of a health professional, as it is quite an easy process.

You would need a good quality headset microphone (not the most expensive) a laptop or PC (an ipad is not suitable) and a quiet environment to record.

If you visit the link below, this will take you to our website and instructions on how to bank your voice. There are choices of sites although many people are going with Acapela (My own voice) to record their voice.

https://www.mndassociation.org/suppo...-aids-service/


The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association cover the cost of the voice banking process but you will need to choose us as an organisation during the registration process.

If you have any difficulties you can call our helpline 0808 802 6262 and we can help to guide you. If you require to loan any of the equipment we will need a Health Professional to make the application.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With kind regards

Jacqui Anderson
Senior MND Connect Adviser

[Lynne K]

I wish that Acapela was available to me when I banked my voice but I hadn’t heard of it. Also, my speech and language therapist said that I had to use a specific other one as it’s the one that is compatible with their software for when I need something later. I’ve written before about my experience with voice banking so if anybody is curious then please search. I hope that the new site didn’t delete all of my posts about this. Lynne

[Nettie]

What happens when you can’t bank your voice 🤷♀️

[LindaB]

MNDConnect Ellie SallyAnnB Lynne K thanks all and a very quick response.

Lynne I'll search for your posts👍

Sally I get that point about accent I'm an adopted southerner but born and bred a northerner so saying bath...grass...ask....has to be right..never lost that😂😂....No way I'd say barth....😂😂

Cheers😎😘

[Ellie]

What happens when you can’t bank your voice 🤷♀️

Janette, voice banking wasn't an option when I lost my voice, so I get to pick a synthesised voice on my text-to-speech program. All communication software comes with male and female voices, often with a choice of accents, so you can have some fun!!

You can also buy voices if you don't like the ones provided, or a friend or relative can provide their voice, sometimes there is a fee for this. xx

[Nettie]

Oh right thanks Ellie 👍 xx

[matthew55]

I didn't know that about buying voices. Which app is that on? .😁😍😘🤗xx

[Ellie]

Cereproc, £26, Windows or Mac OSX compatible.

[denise]

hi lynda

i am also a northerner but lived too long in the south so i say grass and barth. my northern family members used to say they couldnt understand me. bit of a joke as i could hardly understand them!

[Barry52]

I can recommend the SpeakUnique app to use with your own voice or a choice of regional accents. Like Lynne I started with the Modeltalker system but find the Predictable app is not as user friendly.