mathematical formula finds perfect human voice

John Bigl · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 905

the end has begun ?
including computer simulated 'perfect' male & female voices..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7426923.stm

please, nobody tell Dr. Forbin and his Smartcast Colossus... umm, ya gotta see the movie.. or wait for the upcoming remake Wink

Steve Royal · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 167

I think those 'perfect' voice samples are quite bland and dull.
They're very 'easy on the ear' - sort of in the same way as beige is easy on the eye.
I think our jobs are pretty safe for the moment!
Smile

It would be interesting to see what other countries regard as being the perfect voice.
I wonder if it would be any different?

Jenna Sharpe · **Voice Talent** Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 46

"the best female voice to be a mixture of Mariella Frostrup, Dame Judi Dench and Honor Blackman. Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons did best for the men. "

Funny seeing as the voice samples they give sound nothing like any of those people!

Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons do have great voices but they always play villains so wouldn't their voices be a little scary rather than easy on the ears? Also the male voice sample sounds rather camp to me and the accent changes from northern to slightly Scotish!

I think the article may be true when it says that there is a formula for the speed and pauses of speech but when it comes to accents there is no way anyone can claim to have found the perfect one. That is like me saying I have found the perfect man, there is no such thing! Razz

Deby Cedars · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1482

I listened to their perfect voice......it sounded a lot like my own...It said it was easy on the ear.....my questions is perfect for what?????

That voice certainly would not get any hard sell work..... Rolling Eyes

Allen Brown · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008, 13:01 (GMT) Post subject:

I'm afraid this article might be misinterpreted and lead some to believe that speech synthesis has made a giant leap. It hasn't. Those are human voices.

Good point about hardsell, Deby. Take it to another level and ask the computer for the perfect "crying" formula, or regret, fear, joy, suspicion . . . anything in an actors bag o' tricks.

But, perhaps we can learn something from the formula as far as pacing, intelligibility, etc. - especially for telephony work, since this seems to be why the study was made.

Thanks for posting it, John. Cool

JC Haze · **Voice Talent** Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 86

I think the MALE voice sounds a bit like AUSTIN POWERS in his mellower moments.

YEAH BABY, YEAH!