How to have more voices available when using Windows.Media.SpeechSynthesis with Windows 8.1?

Question

Hi,

I am working on 8.1 Windows store app and I am using  Windows.Media.SpeechSynthesis . Nice ample can be found here: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/Speech-synthesis-sample-6e07b218 .

When running this sample I can see only 3 voices. So, my questions are:

1) Can I have access to more then 3 Microsoft-signed voices and if yes, how do I install them on my machine? I currently have English ones (Zira, David, Hazel), but I would like to have all others (from this list http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/windows/apps/windows.media.speechsynthesis.voiceinformation.language )

2) In regards to my customers. I would like that once they install my app that they have access to all voices. Is that possible?

Thanks,

PV66

Answer 1

The app will have access to all voices installed on the system. The app cannot install or modify these voices.

I believe which voices are installed will depend on the languages installed on the system. For example, if the user installs Spanish language resources then Helena will be available.

--Rob

Answer 2

Thanks Rob for answering #2 (I assumed so as well). Any idea about #1? How do I go about installing other Microsoft-signed voices on my Windows 8.1?

Thanks,

PV66

Answer 3

Which voices are installed will depend on the languages installed on the system. For example, if the user installs Spanish language resources then Helena will be available.

I just confirmed this: I added French as a display language in the Region and Language Settings control panel and now have the voice Hortense available.

--Rob