eSpeak Problems

[StangPi]

Recently i discovered the espeak program. Working on integrating it into my program(s), and it has been giving me errors.
Errors:

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ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.front
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.rear
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.center_lfe
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.side
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.surround21
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.surround21
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.surround40
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.surround41
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.surround50
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.surround51
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.surround71
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.iec958
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.iec958
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.iec958
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.hdmi
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.hdmi
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.modem
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.modem
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.phoneline
ALSA lib pcm.c:2239:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.phoneline
Cannot connect to server socket err = No such file or directory
Cannot connect to server request channel
jack server is not running or cannot be started

Using a similar thread post: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/view ... p?p=913285, i was able to fix most of the errors by commenting them out. The JackD solution did nothing.

I still have a couple that I have yet to figure out:

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ALSA lib  pulse.c:243:(pulse_connect) PulseAudio: Unable to connect: Connection Refused

ALSA lib  pulse.c:243:(pulse_connect) PulseAudio: Unable to connect: Connection Refused

Cannot connect to socket server err = No such file or directory
Cannot connect to server request channel
jack server is not running or cannot be started

I can hear the voice speaking what i typed, but my program puts out visuals as well and i would rather not have to see the errors.

Still doing research, but any help would be appreciated.

[StangPi]

troubleshooting Update:

Did some more reading and attempted text-to-speech through the os import

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os.system('espeak -ven+f3 "{0}" >/dev/null'.format(something))

Still gives me the same errors as described in first posting.

[scruss]

What espeak packages have you installed? You can find out with:

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$ dpkg -l | grep espeak
ii  espeak                                1.48.04+dfsg-5                    armhf        Multi-lingual software speech synthesizer
ii  espeak-data:armhf                     1.48.04+dfsg-5                    armhf        Multi-lingual software speech synthesizer: speech data files
ii  espeak-ng-data:armhf                  1.49.0+dfsg-11                    armhf        Multi-lingual software speech synthesizer: speech data files
ii  libespeak-ng1:armhf                   1.49.0+dfsg-11                    armhf        Multi-lingual software speech synthesizer: shared library
ii  libespeak1:armhf                      1.48.04+dfsg-5                    armhf        Multi-lingual software speech synthesizer: shared library
ii  python3-espeak                        0.5-1+b2                          armhf        Python bindings for eSpeak
ii  speech-dispatcher-espeak              0.8.6-4+deb9u1                    armhf        Speech Dispatcher: Espeak output module
ii  speech-dispatcher-espeak-ng           0.8.6-4+deb9u1                    armhf        Speech Dispatcher: Espeak-ng output module

I may have installed these using sudo apt install espeak python3-espeak speech-dispatcher-espeak. I don't get the error messages you mention.

[StangPi]

I didnt know there were different packages.

I just installed it via:

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Sudo apt-get install espeak

Will attempt your input when I can, and let ya know.

[StangPi]

@scruss

I attempted your solution. I purged my original espeak install, and have tried many variations of your suggestion, but I do not think ive been entering them correctly:

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Sudo apt-get install espeak python3
Sudo apt-get install espeak speech
Sudo apt-get install espeak dispatcher

[ghans]

You are missing hyphens (-).

ghans

[scruss]

also ‘Sudo’ won't work: it's ‘sudo’. Case matters to Linux, unfortunately

[StangPi]

@scruss
That was reply using my phone, and it auto caps.

@ghans

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espeak-python3
espeak-speech
espeak-dispatcher

Like so?

[scruss]

copypasta exactly what I typed:

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sudo apt install espeak python3-espeak speech-dispatcher-espeak

[StangPi]

@scruss

tried entering, word for word, the command line. Did not work, even on a fresh install of raspbian.

Gives the error:

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E: Unable to locate package speech-dispatcher-espeak

[Joel_Mckay]

Try this first:
sudo apt-get update

Then:
sudo apt-get install flite-dev flite

I have linked flite's lib into programs before, and the voices can be adjusted as needed.
Flite is also written with small cpus in mind, the render delay is negligible, and there is a TTS TTY version around for blind users.

#play some TTS
flite -t "hello world"

#render a low cpu cost cached phrase (fast, but takes up more room)
flite -t "hello world" -o hello.wav
cvlc hello.wav

Cheers,
~J~

[scruss]

Code: Select all

E: Unable to locate package speech-dispatcher-espeak

You'll need to

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sudo apt update

to get your fresh install in line with the repositories. Then try the line I suggested before.

Do you have to use espeak? What the application? I'd normally recommend flite, just as Joel_Mckay did, but really only because I've used it for years, it tends to work (as there's not much to it to go wrong) and its default voice is Scottish, like mine.

[StangPi]

@scuss

same error as mentioned before.

If it helps, i am using Raspbian Jessie.

Will attempt flite now. Update post soon.

[StangPi]

@scruss

I am writing a movie inspired security program/device. The program has selections and I/Os that will have voiced reactions/responses for every choice and action initiated by the user(s).

@Joel_McKay

Thank you for the advice on using flite. It is working perfectly and is simple to code into my program.

Thank you both for your help, i will post updates about finished product.

[scruss]

If it helps, i am using Raspbian Jessie.

I can't help you if you choose an obsolete distro, sorry. This is why all my commands didn't work for you.

[StangPi]

What do you mean obsolete

[scruss]

obsolete as in superseded: it's not on the downloads page. While it might get some security updates until 2020, it doesn't get any firmware upgrades.

Since it costs nothing to upgrade (beyond your time) and you get new features and improved security, many people keep their Raspberry Pis upgraded to the latest release, Stretch. If someone asks for help here and doesn't specify that they're running Jessie, it's assumed that they're running Stretch. It would have been a good detail to put in your question. The packages I suggested are from Stretch. When you said you'd done a fresh install of Raspbian, that means Stretch.

I don't think Jessie has the packages I mentioned. Flite probably works, because it's been around for decades.

[StangPi]

I understood what obsolete meant.

I just didnt know that it wasn't receiving firmware updates anymore.

[ghans]

Firware in the context of the Raspberry Pi means start.elf/bootcode.bin, which are unrelated to the 30,000 or so packages in Raspbian. Incidentally, the firmware itself has been packaged and by staying on Jessie you will indeed not recieve firmware upgrades.

ghans

[StangPi]

So...is it a bad thing that i have not upgraded to stretch?

[scruss]

Yes. The packages I suggested don't exist on Jessie, so if you ask for help you might not be able to apply what other people suggest