These instructions refer to Windows XP.
Note that SpeakOn does not support Windows XP anymore but the author believes that SpeakOn still works with Windows XP.
The following describes the keystrokes to use to control audio and speech. Some keys on the standard keyboard have two alternatives; the second one may be preferred especially for notebooks as explained in the note at the foot of this page.
First, some terminology:
'Speech volume and rate' refers to the synthesized speech that SpeakOn generates to interact with you.
'Master audio volume and balance' refers to your computer master audio that combines all audio generated by your computer, SpeakOn included. This is the same audio that you can control by the volume and balance controls in Windows.
'Independent audio volume and speed' refers to the audio and speed volume of SpeakOn itself; it does not include speech.
When SpeakOn starts its speech volume and rate are at levels set in the 'Voice Settings task as explained in:
here
From any task in SpeakOn, you can adjust the speech volume and rate as follows:
Reduce the speech volume
'Speech Minus' [F5] or [Ctrl + Page down]
NumPad: (F: Speech > Down 2)
Increase the speech volume
'Speech Plus' [F6] or [Ctrl + Up arrow]
NumPad: (F: Speech > Up 8)
Reduce the speech rate
* 'Speech Minus' [Ctrl + F5] or [Ctrl + Shift + Page down]
NumPad: (F: Speech > Left 4)
Increase the speech rate
* 'Speech Plus' [Ctrl + F6] or [Ctrl + Shift + Page Up]
NumPad: (F: Speech > Right 6)
Toggle speech echo On or Off for the duration of the current session - this feature works only when the focus is on an Edit control
*# 'Speech Plus' [Ctrl + Shift + F6]
NumPad: Not available
Volume and speed increments per key stroke are 5%. Values announced indicate the position relative to the maximum and minimum values.
Speech settings are independent of any other program using speech such as a screen reader that you may be using.
Master audio balance - From any task in SpeakOn, you can adjust the audio master balance as follows:
Shift the audio balance to the left
# 'Audio Minus' [Shift + F7]
NumPad: Not available
Shift the audio balance to the right
# 'Audio Plus' [Shift + F8]
NumPad: Not available
Master audio volume - You can adjust the master volume only from the Manager task as follows:
Reduce the audio volume
'Audio Minus' [F7] or [Ctrl + Down arrow]
NumPad: (F: Audio > Down 2)
Increase the audio volume
'Audio Plus' [F8] or [Ctrl + Up arrow]
NumPad: (F: Audio > Up 8)
Independent audio volume - You can adjust the independent volume from any task excluding the Manager as follows:.
Reduce the audio volume
'Audio Minus' [F7] or [Ctrl + Down arrow]
NumPad: (F: Audio > Down 2)
Increase the audio volume
'Audio Plus' [F8] or [Ctrl + Up arrow]
NumPad: (F: Audio > Up 8)
Independent audio speed - You can adjust the independent speed from any task excluding the Manager as follows:.
Reduce the audio speed
* 'Audio Minus' [Ctrl + F7] or [Ctrl + Shift + Down arrow]
NumPad: (F: Audio > Left 4)
Increase the audio speed
* 'Audio Plus' [Ctrl + F8] or [Ctrl + Shift + Up arrow]
NumPad: (F: Audio > Right 6)
Bring audio speed back to normal
*# 'Audio Plus' [Ctrl + Shift + F8]
NumPad: Not available
Notice that both the master and independent audio volume are adjusted by the same keys. In the Manager task, these control the master audio volume and in any other task the same keys adjust the independent audio volume.
Master volume and balance increments per key stroke are 5%. Volume values are announced indicating the position relative to the maximum and minimum values. Balance of 50% means the volume is equal between speakers; 0% means full left, 100% means full right, exactly as in the volume control in Microsoft Windows. In fact, the master volume and balance audio settings affects Windows volume and balance settings directly and is maintained by Windows after system shutdown.
Independent audio speed adjustment is between half and twice the standard audio speed while maintaining pitch.
The standard keys to use as indicated above for audio and speech adjustments are F5 - F8 with the appropriate modifiers.
The alternative keys to use as indicated above for audio and speech adjustment are Down arrow, Up arrow, Page down, Page Up with appropriate modifiers.
Some users may find the alternative keys useful as while playing media there is no need to take the right hand from the keyboard while operating the Player. Notebooks do not have separate Page Up and Page Down keys and these keys are realized by holding down the Fn (function) key located usually near the left Ctrl key in combination with the Up arrow and Down arrow keys. If you look carefully at the alternative keys specified above, you will find that the speech control keys are exactly the same as the audio keys but with the function key pressed; easy to operate and remember.
Note that some screen readers use the alternative keys combination for their own purpose and consequently these will not work unless you switch your screen reader OFF; alternatively in this situation, use the standard keys.
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