Let's Talk Support Page
The technical notes on this page help with both the Full version and Trial version.

Let's Talk uses a little known but powerful part of the Microsoft Windows operating system call "the Speech Application" (SAPI for short). It comes pre-installed in Windows, but some older computers may have uninstalled it at some point. We've included a copy of it on the Let's Talk CD. Microsoft put out two versions of it, and Let's Talk uses the more popular 'version 4' so read our tech notes below with that in mind.

Additional Notes:

How can I delete lessons?
Open the c:\programs\Lets-talk\Lessons folder on your computer and manually delete them.

Help! My computer no voices! ...or only has one two or three voices to choose from.

Download additional SAPI 4.0 text to speech "voices" from www.bytecool.com/voices.htm. Click the "free text to speech engines" "Mary, Mike, Sam and More" for Sapi4.0. The American English voices download for Sapi4 are also good to go. You can also do a websearch for msttsl.exe file. Msttsl stands for the Microsoft text to speech voices which are available to freely install on your computer. You could also reinstall them from your Windows disc.

View more lesson ideas for Let's Talk

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Windows 98/Me/XP/Vista/Windows7, Minimum: 500mhz, 96mb Ram, 8 mb videoram or higher. Old computers may need to install one of two files that comprise the Microsoft Speech application. See notes below.

Some of the "voice" & "speech application" issues seen with older computers seem to have disappeared in Vista and Windows 7. Apparently Microsoft has improved the speech application and made it quite robust.

Problem:  Playback of Lesson stops. Continue Button doesn't appear on first screen. Or... Some Content doesn't appear, or doesn't save.

Solutions:

Update: This seems to happen if you type in the 'intro' line field on the first screen, and then go back and edit that line.  Solution: Fully delete the text in the intro line field before editing in new text. Or, put text into that field and leave it alone!  (fix coming)

1)     Shorten the amount of text you have in the saved lesson. For some reason on some computers, too much text in any of the fields you fill in will cause the program not to work or cause the continue button NOT to appear.

Also... typing odd characters and including too many spaces into your lesson text can throw off how the program interprets your XML-stored lesson text. Texts to avoid:  quotes " --and > and < and <>  --as these are part of the XML code texts. **If you type a lesson that seems 'whacked' or won't run after you save it, but thought it was a work of genius and are upset because you think you've "lost" all the text....then do this: Use My Computer or Windows Explorer (same thing) to navigate to c:\programs\lets-talk and open the Lessons folder. There you'll see your lesson  "lessonname.xml" file. You can print it out to save your treatise, or RIGHT click it and select "open with notepad."  Then edit your text and save it back to that folder. Do not delete any of the XML tags bracketed by < and >.  You also want to avoid characters such as "?" in the title. Weird. IF you have a lesson that fails to save or open, go into the Lessons folder through Windows Explorer and correct the XML file. (You can have two identical computers, and one will get the error and one won't. Don't know why.)

2)  You may have created a lesson, then attempted to re-edit it without clicking the SAVE button. Always remember to click the SAVE button found on the fourth and final page of the Lesson Builder screen BEFORE attempting to replay a lesson.

3)    So far we've had two customers with DELL computers report that the "continue" button just won't appear after the Lesson Introduction they created.  Please email us if this problem applies to you and tell us what brand of computer you have and which operating system it is running.

4)  If all else fails, do this: Exit out of Let's Talk, and restart it. It only takes a moment, and has been known to get rid of problems.

If you still have problems with saving/continuing... You might also change the Let's Talk startup icon's compatibility properties to "run as a Windows 98" program. This causes XP to run the program in a "gentle" mode and can solve some problems.

5)   Make sure you're running Let's Talk under the Admin login with full rights, and NOT under a Limited User sub-account. Let's Talk needs to 'save' it's files to your harddrive and the Limited account won't let it do that.

 

Problem:  Can't SAVE a lesson file you've created.

Solution: In XP make sure you are logged in as a user with full admin privileges so the program can save your file to the harddrive. Also... make sure you haven't put any "characters" in the lesson title (such as "~" or "?"). The XML based editor may read it wrong.

 

Problem: One of the following error messages appears on your computer during installation or use of Let's Talk

  • Tv_enua.dll error    No voices installed

  • Sapi4 not installed   No Speech Engine Installed

  • "Macromedia Projector has encountered a problem and must close."

  • Or simply...the program starts up, gets past the opening screen and crashed or closes.

INFO & Solution:

You need to install the Microsoft Speech Application that runs the 'voices' in Let's Talk. Follow steps 1 and 2 below...

Let's Talk utilizes a specialized portion of the Windows known as the Microsoft Speech Application. It's called "Sapi" and "spchapi" for short.   

"Sapi" has two parts to install:

1) The first part, Sapi 4, is the Speech Engine itself that contains the voices. Install it from the CD.

If you have the Full Version of Let's Talk CD, we have put a copy of Sapi4.0 in a folder on the CD. Use Windows Explorer to locate it in the Sapi_installers folder on the CD. Double click Sapi4_install.exe to install it.

((Note: If you have the Trial Version of Let's Talk CD, download Sapi 4.0 from here and unzip it to your Desktop, then install it.  5mb download))

2) The second part of the Speech Engine is called spchapi.exe  ("api" meaning "application"). It tells the speech engine how to run with certain applications such as Let's Talk. Install it from the folder on the CD.

If you have the Full Version of Let's Talk CD, we have put a copy of spchapi.exe in the Sapi_installers folder on the CD. It is labeled "sapi5_install." (Mea culpa note: We misnamed it on the CD!  It should have been labelled "spchapi.exe", but we instead labelled it sapi5_install). Use Windows Explorer to locate it on your Let's Talk CD. Double-click Sapi5_install.exe to install it on your computer.

((Note: If you have the Trial Version of Let's Talk CD, download spchapi.zip here as a zip file. Double click it to unzip it to your Desktop, then double click spchapi.exe to install it. 800kb download - small))

Ok....what if you're still getting the error messages, now what?

SECOND POSSIBLE SOLUTION --IF solution #1 doesn't work and you have XP:
If installing the two files above in solution #1 does not correct the problem follow these instructions:

Problem: A couple of Let's Talk customers with Windows XP, report that installing the two mentioned parts of the Microsoft Speech engine still didn't solve their problem. After some investigation, we have discovered that another program already installed on their computer had mis-registered part of the speech application in the Windows registry. (Can happen if you install an odd internet plug-in, or piece of kids software).

Solution: We have been able to recreate the problem and solve it using the following registry edit. It is possible that this problem could affect Windows Me or W98, but we have not had this particular problem reported on those older operating systems. The good news is that this registry edit has solved the problem on each XP computer which couldn't run Let's Talk. The following should only be done by someone with good eyesight and a steady hand, who can read and follow instructions well and work carefully! 

Symptoms: When you open Let's Talk you get an error message something like "Macromedia Projector has caused an error and must shut down." or "This program has performed and illegal operation and will be shut down" and when you click on the Details button on the error message, you get this further information: "Let's Talk has caused an Invalid Page Fault in TV_ENUA.dll" You may also get the message: Unable to find Speech

Cause:  There is a version conflict between the tv_enua.dll file used by Sapi 4 and another speech engine installed on the PC.  

Resolution**

  1. Open the Windows Start menu and select Run.
  2. Type regedit into the box and click OK.
  3. Click on the + next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to expand the list.
  4. Click on the + next to Software to expand it.
  5. Click on the + next to Voice to expand it.
  6. Click on the + next to Text to Speech, where there is a folder called Engine.
  7. Single left click on the Engine folder to highlight it and view all of the installed speech engines on the right of the window.
  8. Single right click on MSTTSSyn* file found on the right-hand side of the window.
    (    *if you don't see this msttssyn file, then right click the other files you may see listed in this Engine folder and select 'delete' to unregister them as well. If deleting the registry note for msttssyn doesn't solve your problem, delete the other files listed in the Engine folder. You won't be able to delete the "Default" entry -which is ok.)
  9. Select Delete from the pop-up menu and confirm that you want to delete it when prompted.
  10. If there are other speech engines listed, go ahead and follow the same delete procedure for them. (you won't be able to delete the default entry, that's ok)
  11. Reboot your computer now and install sapi4 and sapi5 again from the CD.

Print these instructions

** Note: If you logged in to Windows XP your user account must have full admin privileges to perform these actions.

If you have sensitive security software watching registry edits, you may need to temporarily disable them to perform this function. This registry edit will not make any adjustment to any other part of your system. It's safe to perform.

Another possible solution...
A customer has reported that changing the "Compatibility Setting" for the Let's Talk startup icon on their Desktop to make XP run Let's Talk program "as a Windows 98 program" -got rid of a startup error they were experiencing even after installing Sapi 4 and spchapi (SAPI 5).  We think this is related to the particular VERSION of XP they had. Microsoft continues to release updates and "fixes" to XP. So if all else fails, perform this simple switch:   RIGHT click Let's Talk icon on your Desktop (looks like a red megaphone) and select PROPERTIES. Then select COMPATIBILITY from the properties menu and check "Run as Windows 98."  Apparently this fools something in some version of XP.

Questions? Email neil@sundaysoftware.com


 

Learn about Let's Talk...


 Teachers and Students Create
Talking Lessons
Talking Verses
Talking Quizzes
Talking Reflections
Talking Responses to your questions,
and "Instant Message" each other (at the computer)
about your lesson content
 using your computer's ability to speak aloud !
 

Welcome to Let's Talk -a brand new type of software for Sunday School, fellowship groups, Bible study and Confirmation ...from your friends here at Sunday Software.

WHAT is Let's Talk ?
Let's Talk uses your computer's ability to speak aloud whatever you or your students type. Let's Talk lets teachers easily construct talking lessons that provide Introductory comments, talking scripture, and talking quizzes. After creating them, you can then save them for later or immediate use.

Onscreen your kids will get a fun interface of your content, and animated characters which speak your words. Then your students will create responses to your questions/discussion using their own onscreen characters.

Let's Talk  has four modules:   
         1. Talk Now   -for quick responses to teacher's questions
         2. Conversation Now    -for quick student conversations
         3. Select a Lesson   -to access previously built lessons
         4. Create a Lesson   -to create talking lessons

1. Talk Now...
Create an onscreen character and type text for him or her (or it) to say aloud. Lesson Use: The teacher can pose a question to the class and have each student create a spoken response for the whole class to hear (and discuss further).

2. Conversation Now...
Two characters appear on screen which two or more students type "instant messages" for to carry on a conversation. USE: The teacher might ask two students at the computer to share their favorite part of the story, or ask each other about how they might have acted in the Bible story. "What would you have done," etc.

3. Select a Lesson... 
Student select lesson presentation which either the teacher or another student has created. See "Create a Lesson" below for more details.

4. Create a New Lesson...
 Let's Talk features an extremely easy to use lesson editor to create basic talking presentations for either immediate or later use.
 

Here's how easy it is to create a talking lesson in Let's Talk:

1. Pick a teacher character, voice style and background picture for your lesson.

2. Create a title that gets spoken aloud.

3. Create Introductory remarks.

4. Type Bible verses or story content that talks aloud when played.

5. Add a 3 question quiz that talks aloud.

6. Add 3 questions which your students create spoken responses to using an animated character.

  Teachers can easily copy lessons to other computers using a diskette (where Let's Talk is installed).

  Students can make talking lessons for each other.

 
Ways to use Let'sTalk...

Let's Talk can be used all by itself as your lesson software. It's about whatever you make it. It does come with two sample lessons: Mary & Martha, and Psalm 8.

You could create a Let's Talk presentation on part of a Bible story, then have your students create their own presentations in the Lesson Builder. Or you could use Let's Talk to follow up your Bible study with a round of questions which they answer at the computer using the Talk Now module.

Or you could study a story, then use Conversation Now to have students 'instant message' through Conversation Now to role play various points of view or characters in the story.

Conversation Now is also a good way to get students practicing discussing the life application of the lesson. After students "Select a Lesson" and hear your content, they can hold a mock-conversation with someone who's never heard the story.  Let's Talk gets them practicing sharing their faith and knowledge in a format that's interesting to them --instant messaging (and it doesn't require an internet or network hookup, it happens all on the one screen). 

But... I originally came up with the idea as a way to FOLLOW UP the use of other good software which was short on multimedia content to interact with. Thus, Let's Talk extends your students' time spent at the computer.

Take Life of Christ CD for example. If you're like most of us, you cherry-pick maybe 10 minutes worth of content out of this excellent CD. But then what?  Let's Talk to the rescue!  Follow up a Life of Christ CD presentation with Talk Now module. Pose a series of life application questions about the lesson and have each of your computers speak back your student's answers.

Other programs I would use Let's Talk with would include Sandals Bible Atlas, Ilumina Bible, Bibleland.com, and as a precursor to quiz programs like Fall of Jericho.

For learning to become TRANSFORMATIONAL, discussion and reflection needs to occur. But DISCUSSION is often the hardest thing for volunteer teachers to get going. 

Let's Talk is a discussion, response, and reflection tool.

It encourages students to express themselves aloud through the computer who otherwise might be quiet.

It makes sharing fun.

Let's Talk  is a CARROT on a STICK.

 

(The screenshot right/above is from the Lesson Builder template you fill out.)

View more SCREENSHOTS from Let's Talk

Order Let's Talk Now Online
 

You'll notice we've really kept the price down on this program. The site license cost is our lowest ever. I'm excited by this new type of program and know it will be very useful to you.

Owners of version 1.0 who complete the feedback form sent with the CD will receive a FREE Upgrade of the program when we update Let's Talk . Notice I said "when".  We always improve our first editions, but with Let's Talk  we will be aggressively soliciting customer feedback to improve the program with your ideas. It's a new kind of program -and we want you to be comfortable signing on with us. Look for our feedback form shipping with the program.

Age Range is 5 to 80.
Non-readers can use this program because it can speak to them, and you can help them type their responses.


Students design their own onscreen character who does the talking.
Teachers and students select from a range of onscreen teachers and voices to speak their lessons.

See more SCREENSHOTS of Let's Talk

BACKGROUND:
The first time as a teacher that I heard a computer talk, I knew we had a tiger by the tail. The kids loved it. Since the early 90's I have been bringing programs into my computer lab which could TALK BACK to the kids. This is possible because of a built-in feature of both Windows and Mac PCs called "text to speech synthesis."  Whatever you type, the computer can say aloud.

Sometimes I wrote the scripts and let the computer tell the kids something I wanted to share with them. Way back in the early Soundblaster soundcard days there was a Talking Parrot I used quite effectively. Then creative writing programs such as Kidworks, Writing Blaster and now Kid Pix began incorporating "text to speech" capabilities in their drawing tools. The "Talking Bible Story Book" was born.

We've incorporated text-to-speech activities in Fluffy & God's Amazing Christmas Adventure CD, and experimented with "reflection construction" that speaks aloud in Awesome Bible Stories. Let's Talk is an evolutionary next step.

Questions?  Email me.  <>< Neil MacQueen, Sunday Software

Order Let's Talk Now Online