|
Post by vic09 on Apr 14, 2012 20:42:48 GMT
Hi Why does KXSP have such an annoying announcement system built into the station . It really gets on my nerves as it never stops, and the voiceover cannot pronounce some words right. It sounds ridiculous and I much prefer the older announcements. At KXSP the announcements go, "BEEP, (Delay) Ladies and Gentlemen, because of planned engineering work, there is no service between kenning ton and Camden town station, via bank on the Northern line, (Delay) please check alternative routes or check station posters". All the other, normal announcements just, go, "Ladies and gentlemen because of necessary engineering work, there is no service on the Bank branch of the Northern Line, Rail replacement bus services are in operation" . The voice on the older announcements sound very professional and just much better. The Only way I can describe the announcements at KXSP are that they are using a Text to speech software. Why are these installed here and why??
|
|
|
Post by londonstuff on Apr 14, 2012 22:02:24 GMT
At KXSP the announcements go, "BEEP, (Delay) Ladies and Gentlemen, because of planned engineering work, there is no service between kenning ton and Camden town station, via bank on the Northern line, (Delay) please check alternative routes or check station posters Are the delays called full stops? Certainly when I'm listening to a foreign language with which I'm familiar but not entirely fluent regular spacing helps enormously; it changes the meaning from "whwhwhwhwhwhwhwhwhaaaaaaaaa" to something vaguely understandable.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2012 22:04:13 GMT
They use an online text to speech pile of rubbish, thats why the words are all wrong!
|
|
rincew1nd
Administrator
Junior Under-wizzard of quiz
Posts: 10,246
|
Post by rincew1nd on Apr 14, 2012 23:14:18 GMT
Text to Speech is only as good as what you type. Careful use of commas and semicolons can produce good results; ask my friend Rod Trotter.
|
|
|
Post by uzairjubilee on Apr 15, 2012 10:42:53 GMT
Get some Phil Sayer in there! The text to speech ones are rubbish.
|
|
|
Post by Tubeboy on Apr 15, 2012 11:14:25 GMT
I have always thought why even busy station control rooms cannot manually record their own PAs. The system allows it. It doesn't sound as long winded and artificial either. Mind you I do cringe when listening to some PAs. But that's another thread.
|
|
|
Post by jardine01 on Apr 15, 2012 12:11:53 GMT
who is the announcer which says " Jubilee line the train now approaching is to Stanmore ; please stand back from the platform edge" This announcement sounds much better!
|
|
|
Post by Tubeboy on Apr 15, 2012 15:30:24 GMT
That's a digital voice Jardine.
|
|
|
Post by mcmaddog on Apr 15, 2012 16:59:35 GMT
My favourite is the guy at Bank. Really clear and authoritative whilst courteous.
|
|
|
Post by carltona on Apr 15, 2012 18:56:04 GMT
Baker Street have got an announcer who soulds a bit like Victor Meldrew.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2012 19:35:38 GMT
Quite an interesting document regarding the KX upgrade work: files.the-group.net/library/balfourbeatty/files/pdf_8.pdfWhile not directly related to the "annoying announcements" it is because this was not a PPP funded project that KX have this unique - well on LU anyway - system. And probably because it cost so much that it is used in preference to using staff recorded announcements as elsewhere on the network.
|
|
|
Post by Alight on Apr 15, 2012 19:36:34 GMT
vic09, as others have already pointed out, it is a TTS system. You can play around with this system here. (select 'Serena' as the voice and compare with the old King's Cross announcer ' Daniel' who happens to also be the voice-over for The Weakest Link) who is the announcer which says " Jubilee line the train now approaching is to Stanmore ; please stand back from the platform edge" This announcement sounds much better! Elinor Hamilton. All other names of voice-overs can be found in the following thread: districtdave.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Trains&action=display&thread=13188&page=1
|
|