Graphical Configurator for Speech Dispatcher

nevermxre21 commented

2025-07-21 11:57:05 +03:00

Speech Dispatcher is a cross‑platform server framework for speech synthesis used in many operating systems. It provides a unified interface for applications that require voice output and is primarily used to implement accessibility features, especially for users with low vision or blindness. However, there is currently no graphical interface for managing Speech Dispatcher’s own settings.

Among the supported synthesis engines are:

eSpeak
Festival
RHVoice
Integration with external TTS services via modules is also possible.

Key configuration parameters that today can only be changed manually (in configuration files) include:

Selecting the TTS engine
Voice language
Speech rate
Pitch
Volume
Message priority
Queue behavior when multiple requests arrive

Having a graphical configurator would simplify the tuning of speech synthesis parameters for users who rely on accessibility features, especially those with visual impairments.

Why a graphical interface is needed:
In its current form, configuring Speech Dispatcher requires editing configuration files (typically ~/.config/speech-dispatcher or /etc/speech-dispatcher), which is challenging for end users—particularly those with visual impairments or limited system administration experience.

Proposed solution:
Consider developing a standalone GUI tool—ideally as a plugin for the “Tuner” application—since it is designed for the GNOME environment and already uses the Libadwaita framework.

Speech Dispatcher is a cross‑platform server framework for speech synthesis used in many operating systems. It provides a unified interface for applications that require voice output and is primarily used to implement accessibility features, especially for users with low vision or blindness. However, there is currently no graphical interface for managing Speech Dispatcher’s own settings. Among the supported synthesis engines are: - eSpeak - Festival - RHVoice - Integration with external TTS services via modules is also possible. Key configuration parameters that today can only be changed manually (in configuration files) include: - Selecting the TTS engine - Voice language - Speech rate - Pitch - Volume - Message priority - Queue behavior when multiple requests arrive Having a graphical configurator would simplify the tuning of speech synthesis parameters for users who rely on accessibility features, especially those with visual impairments. Why a graphical interface is needed: In its current form, configuring Speech Dispatcher requires editing configuration files (typically ~/.config/speech-dispatcher or /etc/speech-dispatcher), which is challenging for end users—particularly those with visual impairments or limited system administration experience. Proposed solution: Consider developing a standalone GUI tool—ideally as a plugin for the “Tuner” application—since it is designed for the GNOME environment and already uses the Libadwaita framework.

paladindev was assigned by armatik

2025-07-21 12:07:27 +03:00

nevermxre21 changed title from ~~Графический конфигуратор для Speech Dispatcher~~ to Graphical Configurator for Speech Dispatcher

2025-08-11 11:05:51 +03:00

nevermxre21 commented

2025-08-20 10:00:27 +03:00

Author

There is a closely related need to provide preconfigured settings for the speech-dispatcher + RHVoice + Orca stack, allowing users to easily apply and switch between working configurations.

The goal is to simplify initial setup and offer out-of-the-box speech synthesis functionality, especially useful for users relying on accessibility tools.

Assumptions:

It is assumed that the following are installed:

apt-get install speech-dispatcher
apt-get install python3-module-pyxdg speech-dispatcher-utils
apt-get install orca
apt-get install RHVoice-Russian* RHVoice-English* RHVoice-bin

The following files are attached:

speechduser.conf(odt): user-level configuration to be placed in ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf (already preconfigured)
speechd-system.conf(odt): default system-wide configuration (/etc/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf)
Speech-dipatcher-ru-rhvoice.patch: patch file showing what changes were made for clarity

Since RHVoice supports both Russian and English languages, the line:

DefaultLanguage ru

can be changed to:

DefaultLanguage en

to enable English speech output.

Implementation options:

Provide these configurations as installable packages that place the file into ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf (user config takes precedence over system config).
Preferably, extend the proposed GUI tool (e.g., as a plugin for Tuner or a module for Alterator) to:
- offer preconfigured setups (e.g. "RHVoice Russian", "RHVoice English")
- allow users to tweak basic parameters (language, rate, pitch, volume)
- avoid manual configuration with tools like spd-conf

This approach would allow the GUI to cover both current goals:

A graphical frontend for speech-dispatcher settings
A simple method for users to apply preconfigured voice setups

There is a closely related need to provide preconfigured settings for the speech-dispatcher + RHVoice + Orca stack, allowing users to easily apply and switch between working configurations. The goal is to simplify initial setup and offer out-of-the-box speech synthesis functionality, especially useful for users relying on accessibility tools. **Assumptions:** It is assumed that the following are installed: ``` apt-get install speech-dispatcher apt-get install python3-module-pyxdg speech-dispatcher-utils apt-get install orca apt-get install RHVoice-Russian* RHVoice-English* RHVoice-bin ``` The following files are attached: - speechduser.conf(odt): user-level configuration to be placed in ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf (already preconfigured) - speechd-system.conf(odt): default system-wide configuration (/etc/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf) - Speech-dipatcher-ru-rhvoice.patch: patch file showing what changes were made for clarity Since RHVoice supports both Russian and English languages, the line: `DefaultLanguage ru ` can be changed to: `DefaultLanguage en` to enable English speech output. **Implementation options:** - Provide these configurations as installable packages that place the file into ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf (user config takes precedence over system config). - Preferably, extend the proposed GUI tool (e.g., as a plugin for Tuner or a module for Alterator) to: - offer preconfigured setups (e.g. "RHVoice Russian", "RHVoice English") - allow users to tweak basic parameters (language, rate, pitch, volume) - avoid manual configuration with tools like spd-conf This approach would allow the GUI to cover both current goals: 1. A graphical frontend for speech-dispatcher settings 1. A simple method for users to apply preconfigured voice setups

speechd - system.odt

14 KiB

Speech-dipatcher-ru-rhvoice.patch

1.5 KiB

speechduser.odt

14 KiB

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Graphical Configurator for Speech Dispatcher #26