Ventrilo - Speech Setup
These options allow you to configure the Text-To-Speech (also known as TTS) processing features of the program. However, in order for these features to work you must have the Microsoft Text-To-Speech SDK (Software Developers Kit) installed. (Note: Windows XP comes with this by default). You can get the SDK from this page. If you do install the SDK do not install it into the Ventrilo directory. Select the default install location and Ventrilo will detect it automatically. If Ventrilo was running when you installed the SDK then you will need to restart the program for the TTS features to be enabled.
Play Text-to-speech messages sent by other users
This option enables or disables playing Text-To-Speech binds generated by other users connected to the same server as you are. TTS messages can be useful and fun but sometimes they can be over used and some people might not like them at all. Turning this option off will prevent the TTS messages from being played but it will not prevent you from generating TTS messages of your own.
Voice
This option will let you chose the voice to be used when TTS messages are generated by you or other users. This voice is also used by the special events listed on the "Events Setup" page. By default Windows XP comes with the TTS library and a single voice installed. However, if you installed the entire Text-To-Speech SDK then you should have several other voices to chose from. The "Default" option means that what ever voice you have selected in the "Speech" option under your systems "Control Panel" is the voice that will be used. If you only have a single voice installed then the voice name listed and "Default" will be the exact same thing.
Text filter
This option will attempt to filter TTS events and messages to prevent people from exploiting normal characteristics about the Text-To-Speech engine. The higher the level the more that gets filtered out.
If other users are creating problems then it is best to lodge a complaint against them using the "User -> Lodge complaint about" popup menu option. The appropriate Server or Account Admin can then limit the annoying users rights such as the ability to send TTS messages or to generate sound events.
Phonetic
This option will control whether or not the program will use the phonetic value of another clients connect or to use their login name when ever generating events such as Join / Leave channel or Connect / Disconnect from server. The Server and Account Admin's can also control this for individual accounts in case someone is using inappropriate Phonetic spellings. You can always lodge a complaint against the annoying user as well.
Use DirectSound
This option tells the program to use the DirectSound API when playing Text-To-Speech messages or TTS binds. When the option is not checked the program will use the old style Wave API's. This option must be enabled in order to use Special Effects.
SFX
This button will open the Special Effects setup window where you can define special effects that should be applied to all Text-To-Speech sounds.
Output device
This option is used for routing TTS generated sounds to a specific sound card if more then one is installed in your system.
Rate Value
This option controls how fast the artificial voice will speak. A value of 0 is the default setting.
Volume Value
This slider controls the volume of the artificially generated voice. A value of 100 is the default and max setting.