Voice & Message Banking

The following are sites that provide info about Voice Banking and Message Banking.

Voice Banking

• Team Gleason can help with both voice banking and message banking: https://teamgleason.org/pals-resource/voice-message-banking/
• Comparison of options: http://www.alsa.org/assets/pdfs/FINAL-ALS-VoiceBankingGuide.pdf
• ModelTalker - https://www.modeltalker.org/ - By far the least expensive option.
  • Their FAQ page has lots of good info, including recommendations for headset to use.
  • For citizens of the US with ALS (aka, MND), Team Gleason will pay the fee for downloading your voice.
  • For citizens of the UK with MND (aka, ALS), the MND Association will pay the fee for downloading your voice.
  • I recorded my 1600 sentences, and have downloaded my voice. Team Gleason paid for mine.
• Project Re-Voice: https://www.projectrevoice.org/ - New project, supported by the ALS Association that expects to make voice banking easier.
  • Aug. 2018 Update (this info NOT on the project web site as of 8/23/18): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F-WmNzdYexT2ArHgNvAu3kwlUh0pPteJ/view?usp=sharing
  • Partner site where you can create your digital voice: https://lyrebird.ai/vocal-avatar (Note that as of 8/23/18, you canNOT yet use this voice with SGD/AAC)
• More info at the UK MND Assoc. site: https://www.mndassociation.org/forprofessionals/aac-for-mnd/voice-banking/
  • For other options, besides ModelTalker, see the sub-section entitled Voice banking equipment and services

Message Banking

Several options are available:

• Team Gleason can help with both voice banking and message banking: https://teamgleason.org/pals-resource/voice-message-banking/
• Boston Children's/Tobii Dynavox
  • You record .wav files yourself; then upload to their site; they transcribe, store, and help you organize them. Then, you download messages to load into speech-generating device/app (including Tobii Dynavox products). NOTE: I recorded some messages, and uploaded them, and they were transcribed correctly - nice!
  • Free message banking site: https://mymessagebanking.com
    • Webinars about the site: https://www.tobiidynavox.com/en-US/support-training/webinars/?MessageBanking=on&webinars=recorded
  • Info: http://www.childrenshospital.org/centers-and-services/als-augmentative-communication-program/protocol-of-assessment-considerations/message-banking
  • Recording option 1: Audacity - free software: http://www.audacityteam.org/
    • How to use Audacity for message banking (document calls it "Voice Banking", but it's really "Message Banking"): https://www.alsa-ec-at.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Voice-Banking-with-Audacity-2nd-Edition.pdf
  • Recording option 2: Zoom H1 recorder: https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-ZH1-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B003QKBVYK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517372073&sr=8-3
  • List of messages you might bank: https://www.childrenshospital.org/~/media/centers-and-services/programs/a_e/augmentative-communication-program/message-bank-definitions--vocab-nov.ashx?la=en
• For Grid3
  • Use Grid3 app to record, manage, store, use messages. App costs (60-day free trial). Runs on Windows 7, 8, 10 only - including PCs and their device.
  • Grid3 software: https://thinksmartbox.com/product/grid-3/
  • Message banking and Grid3: https://thinksmartbox.com/news/message-banking/
  • Message banking in Grid3: https://thinksmartbox.com/answer/message-banking-grid-3/
• MS Windows Message Banking app:
  • Use Message Banking app to record, manage, store messages on your PC. Then upload/download message files to speech-generating device. App is free. Runs on Windows 10 only. NOTE: I installed this app on my Surface Book 2 running Windows 10 Pro; when I launched it, the splash screen came up, but then the app died. I see in reviews on the MS App Store page for the app that some others had the same problem.
  • Info: http://alsworldwide.org/care-and-support/article/messagebanking.com-preserve-your-voice
  • Download the app: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/message-banking/9nblggh4nj2z

Typing vs. Handwriting vs. Other

• Using hand-writing input with Windows 10: https://www.howtogeek.com/297443/how-to-use-handwriting-input-on-windows-10/
• Stylus for touch-screens, tablets, phones: https://www.amazon.com/MEKO-Universal-Precision-Capacitive-Replacement/dp/B01E0LHE26/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1523914920&sr=8-7&keywords=mobile+phone+stylus