NEC offers Rozen Maiden speech synthesis engine to all
Posted Dec 17, 02:44 PM by AstCd2 to Anime (アニメ)
What better way to test your speech synthesis technology than to offer dirty-minded otaku everywhere the chance to make Shinku say whatever you tell her to?
For a test period of 2-3 months running from 17 December (ie. today), registered users of Alice Project will be able to type in a script of up to 100 characters for Shinku to read, with the aid of a database compiled from Sawashiro Miyuki’s very own voice, in the form of a little animated movie (complete with lip-syncing).
Early users report good results, with a reasonably natural feel to the tone and pronunciation. The page even offers an editing page that lets users tweak speed and emphasis so as to smooth out the rough patches.
But the best part? While users will initially only be able to access her ‘tsun’ tone, it’s possible to share completed movies and have them rated by others, with the makers of highly-rated movies increasing in rank and being able to unlock the much-coveted ‘dere’ mode, along with other pictures and tones.
Once perfected, NEC speculates that such technology could be used to provide various voice-made-to-order services based on a wide variety of characters.
I’m not a Rozen Maiden fan by any stretch of the imagination, but even I can appreciate just how much love and effort went into this project (even the little instructions are in-character!) and the exciting possibilities this could lead to. With technologies like this and Yamaha’s Hatsune Miku getting better by the day, it may not be long before we’re living in a brave new world where every man is an idolmaster.
Source: itmedia.co.jp
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