Garmin Languages / Voices

[fauzee]

Already tested all 4 Files in my nuvi..wondering why Stewie doesn't have any voices..like MUTE..anyways Sedara.vpm is the best among the best..Coming...coming..coming..at finish line..emmm..

[joedoss]

The only Voice Editor I found or know of is for TTS files. The other Ash10's Voice Utility only allows to extract and join sound files. Am I missing something?

An exact url to the Voice Editor that allow the change of internal filename would be very much appreciated.

I found it! It's the Voice Editor, not by Ash10 (you have to register and pay for it to fully work). Bro DvPro's version is the older v0.5 but it still works. This one is probably the latest so far - version 0.8.


Instructions:
1. Unpack voice_editor.exe to your computer. This is a stand-alone executable file and doesn't need installation. You can even place it on your desktop if you want to.

2. Click on Edit-->Change Language ID. A pop-up dialog will appear on your screen asking you to choose the voice file you want to hack. Select a voice. Before you proceed to #3, make a back-up copy of your voice file in case you mess it up. You can highlight the voice you want to change, right-click and select "Copy", followed by "Paste". A copy of that file will be made in the same folder as your voice file.

3. Next, an language ID window will appear. Choose an alternative voice. This is where the magic starts!

4. Exit the program to save your changes. The new language ID will not be written until you exit, so remember this.

5. Install your updated voice file into your Garmin unit and select the voice file based on the new language ID.

6. Perform a simulation route to a destination that takes you through a roundabout.

7. Monitor the simulation and note the voice prompts carefully. If it gives you the wrong prompts (especially roundabout exits), it means that the language ID is not suitable for that voice file. Change the language to something else until you get 100% or at least 95% correct results.


Happy experimenting!

Hi,
I tried following the instruction for changing the language id, but seem to generate a folder with "English_American_" voice samples & an "English_American_.vpm" file even if I choose some other language id. When I rename this vpm file and transfer it to my nuvi 250 it still id's the file as "English American". Also in the original voice folder of my garmin i see lots of .sum files with the same language id's, what do these files do? Do I need to place the .sum file for Japanese in the voice folder if I were to rename my voice id to Japanese?

What am I doing wrong?

[Sonic999]

Keep testing, this is trial and error. I don't have .sum files in my Mobile XT's "voice" folder. And all those .vpms worked ok without the .sum file in my Nuvi 205w when I removed the original English_American_.vpm and .sum (and saved them to a folder in my PC).

Maybe the errors you guys are experiencing have to do with the software version of your gps's. I think I saw that in my Nuvi's Tools-->Settings-->About, there was a reference to an audio version... something that's missing in my Mobile XT, cause it only says the software version 5.00.20wp (curious, I thought I had the latest... . I don't have my nuvi with me right now to look at that menu again.

[joedoss]

Keep testing, this is trial and error. I don't have .sum files in my Mobile XT's "voice" folder. And all those .vpms worked ok without the .sum file in my Nuvi 205w when I removed the original English_American_.vpm and .sum (and saved them to a folder in my PC).

Maybe the errors you guys are experiencing have to do with the software version of your gps's. I think I saw that in my Nuvi's Tools-->Settings-->About, there was a reference to an audio version... something that's missing in my Mobile XT, cause it only says the software version 5.00.20wp (curious, I thought I had the latest... . I don't have my nuvi with me right now to look at that menu again.

Hi Sonic999,
Thanks for the reply. A question for u, does the voice editor rename the file after conversion? eg. from "English American" to "Japanese" if you choose Japanese id? My file name remains "English American" even after conversion.

Hey, maybe some one could attach a converted .vpm for me to try?

[norwadi]

Hi Sonic999,
Thanks for the reply. A question for u, does the voice editor rename the file after conversion? eg. from "English American" to "Japanese" if you choose Japanese id? My file name remains "English American" even after conversion.

Hey, maybe some one could attach a converted .vpm for me to try?

Refer Bro Stratman explainations >> viewtopic.php?p=11419#p11419 and follow the discussions.

[joedoss]

Hi Sonic999,
Thanks for the reply. A question for u, does the voice editor rename the file after conversion? eg. from "English American" to "Japanese" if you choose Japanese id? My file name remains "English American" even after conversion.

Hey, maybe some one could attach a converted .vpm for me to try?

Refer Bro Stratman explainations >> viewtopic.php?p=11419#p11419 and follow the discussions.

Bro norwadi,
I did see that thread before , but wanted to confirm if the voice editor changes both the internal file id as well as the file name when it is used. The problem I face is that when I use the voice editor and change the internal id to Japanese for example, the file name remains the same eg. "American English" (not sure if this is normal) and when transferred to my Nuvi 250 it reads it as "American English", I will then have 2 "American English" on the list which does not work.

[joedoss]

Bro stratman2,
Need some clarification, you wrote:- "For the Garmin 2xx-series, Garmin somehow has devised a method to have the language name reflect the true language option.", does this mean that even if I used the voice editor to change the internal file name, a nuvi 250 will still read the file as "English American"?

[fauzee]

i was try all of custom voice..even each voices with different name..nuvi still read the file as "English American"..and even many "English American" in voice list..nuvi automatically choose only one files...better if all voices using base of "English American" u must try one by one..

[norwadi]

Bro norwadi,
I did see that thread before , but wanted to confirm if the voice editor changes both the internal file id as well as the file name when it is used. The problem I face is that when I use the voice editor and change the internal id to Japanese for example, the file name remains the same eg. "American English" (not sure if this is normal) and when transferred to my Nuvi 250 it reads it as "American English", I will then have 2 "American English" on the list which does not work.

You have to change the file name manually. Then select your prefered language in your nuvi after you transfer the VPM file.

[joedoss]

Yeah..... it looks like My Nuvi 250 will not be able to read the change of the internal id as it still reads it as English American. Tried changing the internal id to 10 different languages but is still read English American. I've stopped trying and will just have to accept it !!