Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:
> You will need:
>
> 1) Copy of Audacity or a similar audio recorder.

Absolutely no problem. I have Audacity on both Android & Windows.

> 2) Male to male audio cable. Connect Line Out to Line In.
> This step, is to avoid fighting with "What You Hear" setup,
> which could waste half the afternoon.

I can make one of those.

> 3) Run Firefox.

I can run that.

> 4) In Windows Mixer, set Windows Sounds (beeps and boops) to zero.
> This is to avoid the Windows Defender toast notification or a
> You Have Mail ding, from ruining your recording.

Windows Mixer? https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+windows+mixer

OK. It's explained here for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1044702/
>
> Now, use Firefox Reader View, open your text file.
>
> [Picture]
>
> https://i.postimg.cc/DzhXyywq/firefox-reader-view-TTS.gif

Firefox reader view?
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+firefox+reader+view

OK. It's explained here.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-reader-view-clutter-free-web-page
"Reader View is a Firefox feature that strips away clutter like buttons,
ads, background images, and videos while also letting you customize the
layout and theme to fit your reading preferences."
> After listening to a half dozen other TTS implementations
> that suck, that one is almost bearable.

Whatever Windows sound plays when I am in MerriamWebster seems fine to me.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otorhinolaryngologist

> With some programming, as Newyana2 describes, you can do better
> than that, but then it's a real long project. This method
> may not be efficient, but you also don't have to be a programmer.

I don't want to be a programmer since I can already convert most "things"
to text so that's why I wanted to turn text into something she can play.

> The Firefox page should auto-scroll, as it plays the text. I do not
> know how long a web page (or text file) can be, and whether your attempt to
> convert War & Peace to sound, is going to work.

Most things are about twenty pages as I've been converting them to text
already for her where she selects the text inside an email and plays it.

> I may have recorded for 16 hours before with Audacity, but that
> was on the other, smaller machine. Make sure all the steps of
> recording and saving are working on Audacity, before your run.
> You would not want to generate all those tiny sound files,
> and have it croak before saving.

I'm familiar with audacity. It can output MP3 which I assume is the
standard file format for all computers as it is for my phone & PC.
> I think Windows also has an "improved" sound recorder, which
> you might want to research. That's if you can't get Audacity
> to work (which... happens sometimes).

I can handle audacity. It's on both Android & Windows.
If it's on the iPad, maybe she can play the file in iOS Audacity?

When I looked up Audacity on the iPad I realized it's not on it.
But it's not on Android either.
https://www.audacityteam.org/download/

The app called Audacity on Android doesn't seem to be the "real" one.
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=audacity&c=apps

> The namespace for audio is a bitch.

Can you clarify what "namespace" means in this context?

> An "improved" sound recorder, is one for which
> you don't have to "define a fixed size audio file" before
> you begin recording.

Absolutely. I can't imagine defining the size ahead of time.
What program requires that? I've never run into it myself.

> Some of the Windows demo apps have
> been absurd that way. The damn thing should just record,
> and then you do the Save As, and done. Check that it works
> that way.

Yes. Agree. If it requires me to guess, I don't want to use it.
--
Removing Android & replacing with Firefox as Audacity isn't there.

On 6/12/2023 11:25 PM, Peter wrote:
> Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:
>> You will need:
>>
>> 1) Copy of Audacity or a similar audio recorder.
>
> Absolutely no problem. I have Audacity on both Android & Windows.
>
>> 2) Male to male audio cable. Connect Line Out to Line In.
>> This step, is to avoid fighting with "What You Hear" setup,
>> which could waste half the afternoon.
>
> I can make one of those.
>
>> 3) Run Firefox.
>
> I can run that.
>
>> 4) In Windows Mixer, set Windows Sounds (beeps and boops) to zero.
>> This is to avoid the Windows Defender toast notification or a
>> You Have Mail ding, from ruining your recording.
>
> Windows Mixer? https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+windows+mixer
>
> OK. It's explained here for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
> https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1044702/
>>
>> Now, use Firefox Reader View, open your text file.
>>
>> [Picture]
>>
>> https://i.postimg.cc/DzhXyywq/firefox-reader-view-TTS.gif
>
> Firefox reader view?
> https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+firefox+reader+view
>
> OK. It's explained here.
> https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-reader-view-clutter-free-web-page
> "Reader View is a Firefox feature that strips away clutter like buttons,
> ads, background images, and videos while also letting you customize the
> layout and theme to fit your reading preferences."
>
>> After listening to a half dozen other TTS implementations
>> that suck, that one is almost bearable.
>
> Whatever Windows sound plays when I am in MerriamWebster seems fine to me.
> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otorhinolaryngologist
>
>> With some programming, as Newyana2 describes, you can do better
>> than that, but then it's a real long project. This method
>> may not be efficient, but you also don't have to be a programmer.
>
> I don't want to be a programmer since I can already convert most "things"
> to text so that's why I wanted to turn text into something she can play.
>
>> The Firefox page should auto-scroll, as it plays the text. I do not
>> know how long a web page (or text file) can be, and whether your attempt to
>> convert War & Peace to sound, is going to work.
>
> Most things are about twenty pages as I've been converting them to text
> already for her where she selects the text inside an email and plays it.
>
>> I may have recorded for 16 hours before with Audacity, but that
>> was on the other, smaller machine. Make sure all the steps of
>> recording and saving are working on Audacity, before your run.
>> You would not want to generate all those tiny sound files,
>> and have it croak before saving.
>
> I'm familiar with audacity. It can output MP3 which I assume is the
> standard file format for all computers as it is for my phone & PC.
>
>> I think Windows also has an "improved" sound recorder, which
>> you might want to research. That's if you can't get Audacity
>> to work (which... happens sometimes).
>
> I can handle audacity. It's on both Android & Windows.
> If it's on the iPad, maybe she can play the file in iOS Audacity?
>
> When I looked up Audacity on the iPad I realized it's not on it.
> But it's not on Android either.
> https://www.audacityteam.org/download/
>
> The app called Audacity on Android doesn't seem to be the "real" one.
> https://play.google.com/store/search?q=audacity&c=apps
>
>> The namespace for audio is a bitch.
>
> Can you clarify what "namespace" means in this context?
>
>> An "improved" sound recorder, is one for which
>> you don't have to "define a fixed size audio file" before
>> you begin recording.
>
> Absolutely. I can't imagine defining the size ahead of time.
> What program requires that? I've never run into it myself.
>
>> Some of the Windows demo apps have
>> been absurd that way. The damn thing should just record,
>> and then you do the Save As, and done. Check that it works
>> that way.
>

I haven't tried any of them, but I did a web search for "convert pdf to
mp3" and there are a whole bunch of free on line converters listed.
Have you explored that option?
> Yes. Agree. If it requires me to guess, I don't want to use it.

In article <news:u69qne$3jmg7$1@dont-email.me>, Retirednoguilt
<HapilyRetired@fakeaddress.com> says...

>>> You will need:
>>>
>>> 1) Copy of Audacity or a similar audio recorder.
>>
>> Absolutely no problem. I have Audacity on both Android & Windows.
>>
>>> 2) Male to male audio cable. Connect Line Out to Line In.
>>> This step, is to avoid fighting with "What You Hear" setup,
>>> which could waste half the afternoon.
>>
>> I can make one of those.
>>
>>> 3) Run Firefox.
>>
>> I can run that.
>>
>>> 4) In Windows Mixer, set Windows Sounds (beeps and boops) to zero.
>>> This is to avoid the Windows Defender toast notification or a
>>> You Have Mail ding, from ruining your recording.
>>
>> Windows Mixer? https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+windows+mixer
>>
>> OK. It's explained here for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
>> https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1044702/
>>>
>>> Now, use Firefox Reader View, open your text file.
>>>
>>> [Picture]
>>>
>>> https://i.postimg.cc/DzhXyywq/firefox-reader-view-TTS.gif
>>
>> Firefox reader view?
>> https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+firefox+reader+view
>>
>> OK. It's explained here.
>> https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-reader-view-clutter-free-web-page
>> "Reader View is a Firefox feature that strips away clutter like buttons,
>> ads, background images, and videos while also letting you customize the
>> layout and theme to fit your reading preferences."
>>
>>> After listening to a half dozen other TTS implementations
>>> that suck, that one is almost bearable.
>>
>> Whatever Windows sound plays when I am in MerriamWebster seems fine to me.
>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otorhinolaryngologist
>>
>>> With some programming, as Newyana2 describes, you can do better
>>> than that, but then it's a real long project. This method
>>> may not be efficient, but you also don't have to be a programmer.
>>
>> I don't want to be a programmer since I can already convert most "things"
>> to text so that's why I wanted to turn text into something she can play.
>>
>>> The Firefox page should auto-scroll, as it plays the text. I do not
>>> know how long a web page (or text file) can be, and whether your attempt to
>>> convert War & Peace to sound, is going to work.
>>
>> Most things are about twenty pages as I've been converting them to text
>> already for her where she selects the text inside an email and plays it.
>>
>>> I may have recorded for 16 hours before with Audacity, but that
>>> was on the other, smaller machine. Make sure all the steps of
>>> recording and saving are working on Audacity, before your run.
>>> You would not want to generate all those tiny sound files,
>>> and have it croak before saving.
>>
>> I'm familiar with audacity. It can output MP3 which I assume is the
>> standard file format for all computers as it is for my phone & PC.
>>
>>> I think Windows also has an "improved" sound recorder, which
>>> you might want to research. That's if you can't get Audacity
>>> to work (which... happens sometimes).
>>
>> I can handle audacity. It's on both Android & Windows.
>> If it's on the iPad, maybe she can play the file in iOS Audacity?
>>
>> When I looked up Audacity on the iPad I realized it's not on it.
>> But it's not on Android either.
>> https://www.audacityteam.org/download/
>>
>> The app called Audacity on Android doesn't seem to be the "real" one.
>> https://play.google.com/store/search?q=audacity&c=apps
>>
>>> The namespace for audio is a bitch.
>>
>> Can you clarify what "namespace" means in this context?
>>
>>> An "improved" sound recorder, is one for which
>>> you don't have to "define a fixed size audio file" before
>>> you begin recording.
>>
>> Absolutely. I can't imagine defining the size ahead of time.
>> What program requires that? I've never run into it myself.
>>
>>> Some of the Windows demo apps have
>>> been absurd that way. The damn thing should just record,
>>> and then you do the Save As, and done. Check that it works
>>> that way.
>>
>
> I haven't tried any of them, but I did a web search for "convert pdf to
> mp3" and there are a whole bunch of free on line converters listed.
> Have you explored that option?
>> Yes. Agree. If it requires me to guess, I don't want to use it.

I have tried them in the past but most PDFs don't contain any text.
The text looks like text but try selecting it and you can't.

Is there an electronic OCR for PDFs that can reveal the true text?

On 6/15/2023 10:57 AM, Peter wrote:
> In article <news:u69qne$3jmg7$1@dont-email.me>, Retirednoguilt
> <HapilyRetired@fakeaddress.com> says...
>
>> I haven't tried any of them, but I did a web search for "convert pdf to
>> mp3" and there are a whole bunch of free on line converters listed.
>> Have you explored that option?
>>> Yes. Agree. If it requires me to guess, I don't want to use it.
>
> I have tried them in the past but most PDFs don't contain any text.
> The text looks like text but try selecting it and you can't.
>
> Is there an electronic OCR for PDFs that can reveal the true text?
>

In Win10, you can run Bash shell and use "ocrmypdf", a Ubuntu package.

It uses Tesseract. Tesseract is a free OCR, quite old now. The
latest innovation, is it has a new module trained on a neural net
or the like, which offers a second conversion process, and potentially
improves the quality.

In the past, 0 and O were easily confused, and that's one
of the simpler tests of whether an OCR is any good or not.

One Windows OCR, used three converters, and used majority voter
logic and grammar checks, in an attempt to get closer to 99%
accuracy. Such accuracy still isn't really good enough. You would
not predict Tesseract would be at that level.

OCRs work best, if "font training" was applied, you get lucky,
and the document font is one that it was trained on.

OCR is generally an annoying topic. Don't drink too much coffee
and then OCR, or you could punch the LCD monitor on the computer :-)
I gave up long ago, on my Windows OCR options (I have two $99 packages
and the Adobe one, as representations of my frustration). The OCR that
comes with some scanner-to-PDF products now, is probably better
than anything I have in the room here.

OCR really excels on closed glyphs. If you had a film negative with
characters drawn on it, and the thing had "never seen a printing press",
the accuracy would be 100% (the grain size on film is tiny compared
to printing presses and paper). But real samples, and real letters, are
pock-marked along the edges of the characters, and this is what
drives the OCR nuts. It's getting 99% accuracy on "noisy" samples.

Newspaper text is done with little dots of ink. The edges of letters are
porous and not particularly suited to OCR. Again, you would not
expect even the highest resolution photo of newsprint, to yield
good text extraction.

For a person needing vision assistance, this is their world,
a world filled with noise that sighted people don't have to
deal with. Your diet is filled with 0's and O's, spoken
by robots.

And this is what inspires some people to write software. To fix that.

Paul