The cover for my audiobook has just been recorded and released using Apple Voice technology. The voice is a perfect-sounding woman's voice for the character of Flicka in my book. But, honestly, not as good as a real actress doing the audiobook under the direction of an actual voice-over director. Maybe someday I'll spring for that huge expense, but in the meantime, I like it!.
A curious thing about the #tenor#voice and pitch which is difficult to explain to a non-singing instrumentalist. A note in tenor voice sounds and feels an octave above what it really is; an accompanist who plays their starting note (or the tenor line intro for another part) at real pitch gets confused looks. Had this twice last week, with a theorbist and with a pianist. Each time, the directors (both were singer as well as pianist) ended up saying "Never mind why, please play it an octave up".
PSA for any trans+ person looking to start, or currently doing, any kind of voice training
Seattle Voice Lab has broken their silence over a former employee of theirs (Jimmy Chen), who set up his own voice coaching service called Trans Voice Lab.
We highly recommend watching / listening to the whole video, but here are some key points within their video:
Jimmy's employment was terminated for "manipulative teaching practices and dishonesty towards" their students.
He downloaded their bespoke training materials (SVL's intellectual property) and client lists (!!!), then used these to set up his own voice coaching service and write a book.
SVL didn't want to have to make the video, but has felt obliged to do so.
SVL is pursuing "legal counsel" over Jimmy's actions.
tl;dr
Avoid any videos or guides from Jimmy Chen.
Avoid using Trans Voice Lab at all costs.
Boosts and crossposts very welcome, as we need to make more folks aware of this :BoostsOKPrideSymbol:
#YESquotes: Women Who Run w/ the Wolves/Clarissa Pinkola Estes - "When #women don't speak, when not enuf ppl speak, the WildWoman's [#voice] becomes silent, &...the world becomes silent of the natural & wild too..singings & dancings & creations...loving, repairing, & holding." #Create bit.ly/3Ts8tgM
LIVEdammit is a mental health support site with stories, tools, free e-course, bookstore & inspiring wearables — for stubborn souls doing the work to stay here, stay human, & stay strong.
Update on my journey with the new
@homeassistant voice hardware:
Onboarding was a bit clunky, but that might have been my fault (I ran into some config options that weren't covered in the docs and wrongly assumed the values it was looking for).
Aside from that, I've found the microphone picks up audio very well - almost too well, as it often picks up background noise from across the house.
Merry early #Christmas to me... Ordered the new
@homeassistant#voice hardware the day it was announced and it arrived this morning after originally having been scheduled for delivery on the 28th.
I've never been much of a #hardware reviewer, but I'll report back here with my findings!
A photo of Home Assistan'ts new voice hardware, which is a white square with a circle in the middle. Also pictured is the minimal box it came in and a robot sticker indicating the voice command to operate the hardware (Okay Nabu).
ALT
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