VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

CC Heim · Backstage Pass Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 401

Howdy folks!

I have a potential client that produces online learning modules. The company currently uses TTS, and he's wanting to use real person voices.

The dilemma is that his business partner is hesitant to spend money on real people, and thinks TTS is fine. They are doing lots of marketing, and not having the conversion rate they want. My contact thinks the conversion rate would be higher with me voicing his products.

Does anyone out there have any data/studies/documentation that demonstrates an audience preference from real narration over TTS? I've been asked by my contact to see what I can come up with, while he looks on his end.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Cheers!
CC2

todd ellis · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:56 am Post subject:

you could show them this actual voice to text message i got this week. it's pretty straight forward. i don't even have to black out or change the name of the company - you'll never figure it out anyway.

heyguido · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:57 am Post subject:

So, they're using TTS and marketing heavily.... but getting low conversion rates? Perhaps it's because their teaching method isn't working, rather than their marketing.

Read this research paper from IBM's TJ Watson Research Center and the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Center.....

http://csis.pace.edu/~ctappert/dps/pdf/lai/road.pdf

Basically, it says use of the human voice is far superior to TTS for comprehension and retention of critical information delivered to test subjects while driving. While the study was specifically targeted to drivers, the basic premise remains accurate.

The fact that the cheap partner doesn't get it does not speak well for the future of the company. Rolls Eyes

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Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

CC, I found this page with some info and thoughts about it. There are 'debate articles' a bit further down.

http://learningcircuits.blogspot.com/2010/09/voice-over-in-elearning.html

heyguido · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:00 pm Post subject:

There are lots of studies out there that support and encourage use of TTS in learning environments, particularly for assisting students with learning, or more specifically, READING disabilities. Studies show that TTS increases comprehension among students with reading problems.

HOWEVER, in each case, natural voice, with its included context, emotion, and inflection, outscores even the best TTS programs..... hands down.

The most quoted research on this subject comes from Dr. Clayton N Silver of the University of Nevada in the mid-90s, who compared comprehension of natural voice against the best TTS of the day.

Man 1, Hal 0.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

CC Heim · Backstage Pass Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 401

Thanks for the resources. I decided to go a step beyond the expected and downloaded a copy of one of their current TTS-narrated videos, and I the narration on the video and sent it off to my lead.

Guess what?

My lead is now my CLIENT. Smile

He was thrilled with my work, and immediately was able to identify how much better the real person narration is. This guy produces courses that are between 30 minutes and 5 hours, and he's paying me a very very decent rate.

This is long-term, volume work at fair prices. I'm absolutely stoked!

Smile

todd ellis · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:29 pm Post subject:

schweet!
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Kristin Lennox · Flight Attendant Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 858

WAY TO GO, CC!! Laugh

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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:18 pm Post subject:

w000000ty g00000dness, cc ! yeah!
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cyclometh · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:43 pm Post subject:

Congrats, CC! That's great stuff. Wink

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Matto · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:05 am Post subject:

You are an entrepreneurial inspiration! Grouse in the house!
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bobsouer · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:01 am Post subject:

CC,

Great work and way to think outside the box! Good for you.
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:54 am Post subject:

In Text:

The old A-B comparison test, and you didn't even have to diss your competition. You let them "speak" for themselves.

In Text-to-Speech

B
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heyguido · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:40 am Post subject:

Well done, CC....

Congrats!!!
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:37 am Post subject:

Congratulations, CC! That’s great news. What a win!

I’d posted a comment to the blog for which Yonie provided a link earlier in this thread, in which I suggested that TTS was not able to inflect properly; place emphasis on the right words/syllables. That cold, robotic sound does not instill the listener/learner with the confidence that the speaker knows what they’re talking about, thereby lessening interest which, in turn, pretty much dashes any hope of learner retention.

At some point later, this blog post discussed the manipulation of code to make TTS sound more human. Of course, I commented, pointing out that spending time futzing in this manner – which would have to be done with every sentence in every lesson – was like reinventing the wheel. So, what is the gain?

Rather than creating a Rube Goldberg minefield, if the ultimate goal is better learning, perhaps time would be best spent writing lessons so that they’re more interesting, and having them read/performed by a speaker skilled in engaging an audience.

The focus should be not on the ‘e,’ but on the ‘learning.’
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