Humanoid Voice Simulation is a part of the SMAF/MA feature set, and implemented on the MA-5 with a Japanese/Asian set of phonetic sounds. However, this tutorial together with a set of example files, describes how the system can be used to create spoken English phrases with the help of the "Word Assistant" software. (Refer to the user manual for full HV operation details).

In order to facilitate the creation of English words and Phrases, Yamaha have developed an "Assistant" which helps to generate the HV-Script. Open the main HVTOOL and click on the Word Assist button and the assistant will open in a new window.

The assistant allows you to experiment, create and test three-syllable words or phrases. When the word or phrase sounds near enough, it can be added to the regular HV-Script window for editing and fine-tuning. Note that words/phrases are not stored or imported into the assistant - it is only used in conjunction with the main HVTOOL as an aid to creating HV-Scripts. Here is how it works:

By adjusting the sliders and hitting the "play" transport button, you can test/hear the script, and make modifications. When you are satisfied with the basic sound of your word/phrase, the Add button will insert the script into the main HVTOOL window as an HV-Script, showing all the HV symbols that have been generated. From here, you can continue to edit and modify the script symbols directly, or add additional words from the assistant.

Try the example "Good Morning". Use the assistant to generate the approximate sound and intonation of the phrase, and then tweak it in the main editor. This is a typical way in which the assistant can be used very effectively not only to speed up script generation but also to experiment with realistic intonation.

Copy the values shown above to get good intonation for the "good-mooor-nin" phrase. Note that the ending consonants of each syllable are missing – but these can be entered using the main script editor. When you are satisfied with the general sound and intonation, hit the "Add" button to insert the script into the main HVTOOL script window. The script should look something like this...

The HV-Scripts will inevitably look a little confusing at first, so a hint about Japanese phonetics may help, because it is very different from English. A list of Japanese phonetic syllables together with the english-sounding counterparts (given as word-part examples) can be found in the users manual. Generally speaking, Japanese consonants must be followed by vowels, whereas English speakers tend to "swallow" consonants and cut them short. In an HV-Script, if a consonant is not followed by a vowel it may not sound. Experiment with different vowels after a consonant to see which produces the best effect. By running the script faster (using an S speed of around 53~56, rather than the normal 50), these ending vowels can be cut short, resulting in a more English style of pronunciation. Increasing the overall speed will shorten vowels also, but these can be re-lengthened by using the " - " symbol. Keep adding hyphens until the vowel is long enough for you.

Apart from the vowels and consonants, there are a number of symbols that control the intonation of HV phrases. This is how the "Good Morning" phrase is analyzed:

Refer to the users guide for a full list of HV-Script commands. The users guide will also show that from the HVTOOL, scripts are saved as .hvs files, which can then be imported into SMAF files.

In addition to the Word Assistant, the HVTOOL also features a word/phrase library, where scripts can be stored along with comments or real world meanings. The library is opened by clicking on the Word Library button.

Library scripts and comments are saved as text files.

Load the file "Tutorial-3.txt" by clicking on the open file button and selecting "Tutorial".

This library is a collection of 64 example words and phrases. Phrases can be played by selecting them, then clicking on the "play" button at the top of the library window. Any item can be transferred and pasted into the main HVTOOL script window, by simply double-clicking on it. These examples will help you to get a feel for creating English phrases.

Note: If the library script does not include the HV#G header (indicating that the global editor is being used and is necessary for using English text), then put a return after HV#G in the HV-Script window so that when a script is transferred from the library, by double-clicking on it, it does not paste over the header. Without the header, the script will not play.

Note: all scripts should start with "HV#G". This is inserted automatically when the editor is first opened.
K2S55C'7gu---du>4/'4nn>2a->i--tyu*2? <> Goodnight
K3S55C'3gu---di/'4>2na->i--tyu*2? <> Goodnight-2
K2S55Cgu---du>'7mo--/'4ni-nngu-* <> Goodmorning
K4S55F1'7gu--de>/'4mo----/ni-nngu* <> Goodmorning-2
K2S57Dha-$-$-$-$-ro-^-^-^-^>6-u---<4-. <> Hallo
K1S56C'2<4a>5-/ro-o-^-^-^-^--, <> Hallo-2
K2S55C'5to-$-,tyuu->5'mi^-^->3^-, <> Talk To Me
K4S55C1'8to-^---ru/'4tuu-mi--->3'i-*5 <> Talk To Me-2
K2S55Cu->4-e-e---'12>4ra--------hu/'9 <3yuu------? <> Where are you
K3S55C'6oo^---u>4-be-e-,'4ri->5ya>5--. <> Over Here
K2S55C'3>3me^-/sii-zye*fou>4yo-u----, <> Message for you
K3S55C'6>3me^-/sii--zye*2fo->5yu-----. <> Message For You-2
K2S56Cu<^odi->5tyu>3->sa-^-^-^-<2i---?2 <> What did you say
K4S55G1'4na^-,'2-i-nnke*5 <> Nothing
K2S55C'7ri-se/-nn*2>4tu--mi-->4i--*2 <> Listen to me
K3S55C'2ui-se/-nn>4tyu-'4mi-~->4i--*2 <> Listen To Me-2
K0S55C'4u-^-u/su>6se^-^-$-$>2--* <> Who's There
K8S55Cnn^o^o-u/>3bo-<3dii----^-$--* <> Nobody
K2S55C2'7ka-/minn'3>ssa-^ai--du*10 <> Come Inside!
K3S55C'2ka^a^-me,a-utu,sa$-$ai-$-$-du*10 <> Come Outside!
K0S53Cte-'7i-/'4fo-unn*5 <> Telephone
K9S53C^e^-'5i-/'4fo-unn*5 <> Telephone-2
K2S54Gpu^i>->i>-$>-$<4isu-*5 <> Please
K1S54C'4sa~nn,>2kyu---u-* <> Thankyou
K3S55G1a--i-->3u-^-^a^-^--hu,yu--^-^uu--. <> I Love You
K2S55G1'2a--i--/>3u-^-^a--/hu,yu------^-. <> I Love You-2
K2S53C'6ka^-/moonnu*5 <> Come On
K2S56C'2o-^2----u>/ra--e,tyu*5 <> All Right
K2S53C'3ti,>4tyatu*10 <> Chit Chat
K9S55C<2-ya->3ke-ti---<3-ya>5--ku-*10 <> Yakkity Yak
K2S55G1a^--i/uu$--bi--,-baa$--ku--*5 <> I'll Be Back
K0S55A1a-^-suta-^-,ra$-,bii-^-su/ta--*8,ba-i--bii^--*8 <> asta la vista baby
K2S55G1a---i-mu-'9uko---ru/'5i-nn--yu-----*2 <> I'm Calling You
K1S55C^2a---/nngsa--$-/mii---*5 <> Answer me
K2S53Cwa-nnu*5 <> One
K9S54C2^wa-u$-nnu*8 <> One-2
K2S55Ctyu-u-*2 <> Two
K1S55C^4tyu---*2 <> Two-2
K2S56Churii------>2----e*2 <> Three
K1S55C2u-ri^^-------*? <> Three-2
K2S56Cfo-->12a--. <> Four
K1S56C2 ^fo$-->10a--*8 <> Four-2
K2S55Cgu^-^-^-^4-du/'4>4ba-->3ii---. <> Goodbye!
K1S55Cso^4---/ro-^-nngu*8 <> So Long!
K2S55C^2tyu--/ma-->4syu-*8 <> Too Much
K2S56C'4nno--/dii->5nn-'2a---->4hu-*5 <> Not Enough
K2S53Cha-,pii'2be-ru,ee--,'5tu---/'4yu----. <> Happy Birthday to you
K1S53Cha-,pii'2be-ru,e-i-,'7tu---/'5yu----. <> Happy Birthday to you-2
K2S55Cwo,du^2->4ya-'2>8mi-$-$i-nnu*5 <> What D'Ya Mean
K1S56Gwa-^2--,du-->4ya-->2mi-^2-ii-nn>2u--*5 <> What D'Ya Mean-2
K2S54Cyu-ora^2->2i-tyu*8 <> You're Right
K0S54Ca^2i-mu-*5u-ro--nngu*5 <> I'm Wrong
K2S56Dsyu-o-$-$-$->6---*8 <> Sure!
K2S56C'yu-^^--,be$-tu-*8 <> You Bet!
K2S54C'3wai- Wake Up!
K9S56Cfo-ou--nn,ii-----su-,u--ri-^-^-i/ni----nn. <> Phone Is Ringing!
K2S53Ce-se>3o^-^-/>4ba-----*2 <> It's Over
K1S54Cfo-,e^-^-/>2ba>4--$-. <> For Ever!
K2S55C'3tye-ru>5mi-,mo-^>-^>-^>3owa*5 <> Tell Me More!
K3S55G1'5tye-/ri>5'5mi-,'7mo->->->->3owa*5 <> Tell Me More!-2
K6S54G1waa?'2sa-?,-dao-?ku*10 <> Wot's Up Doc?
K6S55Cnna^2a,tii-nn--*5 <> Nothin'!
K2S56C'3me-^-$ii---,ki-ri-$2--su,tu>5ma--^-^su-*10 <> Merry Christmas
K2S55Cha-^2pii,'2nnuu--^-we,--i-$-$-->7ya--*5 <> Happy New Year

	HV simulation samples.zip

HV Tool is bundled with ATS-MA5-SMAF.