Developing a new generation of
text-to-speech technology with
unprecedented flexibility
Expressive Speech with Synfony
Synfonica LLC is currently enhancing its text-to-speech system, Synfony, with powerful expressive capabilities. As part of this project, we are capturing how emotions are encoded and perceived in speech. Our initial focus is on English, but our system has language-universal components that will facilititate rapid development for other languages. (This work is funded in part by Small Business Innovation Research grant #R44DC014173 from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health.)
Ultimately, we aim to offer flexible speech output unlike anything currently available, which will be of particular benefit for users of augmentative and alternative communication technologies.
Synfony Text-to-Speech
Synfony is a knowledge-based text-to-speech system that uses formant synthesis for its speech output. Formant synthesis offers a degree of control over the speech output not afforded by any other type of synthesis technology. Synfony capitalizes on this flexibility while at the same time offering substantially improved naturalness over existing formant synthesis systems.
Synfony's flexibility and naturalness make it well-suited to virtually any application requiring unlimited vocabulary speech output, including embedded applications. Our initial focus is on specialized applictions for assistive technology. At the same time, we are developing a software development kit (SDK) for more general speech synthesis applications. You can read more about our approach and its evolution on our Technology page.
Our synthesis models are grounded in the extensive linguistic knowledge we have amassed in over forty years of work in rule-based text-to-speech synthesis. You can read more about our company and team on our About Us page.
Opportunity for Speech-Language Pathologists
We are seeking SLPs interested in trialing a new version EnunciAid, our proprietary speech therapy tablet app.
Our application has unique capabilities that may be of substantial benefit in helping your clients improve their speech. Working with us would give you the opportunity to help shape the product.
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.