Step 1: read this

Studios

You will be allocated to one of the two available studios and should use the same studio to make all your recordings. The microphone and other equipment may differ between them, which will make the recordings sound different. You do not want to build a unit selection voice from data with varying recording conditions.

Training is provided for groups of up to 3 students

You need to attend a training session with the studio technician or a tutor, for the studio you have been allocated to. You must complete this training before making your recordings.

Form a group of 3 students who will attend one training session together. Appoint one student to be the leader. The leader should check the availability of everyone in the group, then check the available training sessions for the appropriate studio, then book a training session.

Recording is done by pairs of students

For recording, you just need to form pairs. One of you will be the Voice Talent, and the other will be the Engineer. Then you’ll swap places. If you really want to stay in your group of 3 from training, you can do that, but it’s more efficient for form pairs.

Do you have a DICE account?

To view the booking system for the Informatics Forum studio, you (or your recording partner) needs a DICE (Informatics computing system) account. If neither of you has one, please switch over to the Appleton Tower studio.

Step 2: book a training session

Appleton Tower

1. Check the available training sessions here (make sure to look at the “Appleton Tower” tab of this workbook)
2. Send an email to the PPLS Studio Technician ppls.studio@ed.ac.uk with subject “Speech Synthesis training session booking request (Appleton Tower)”. List all the sessions that your group is available for. The Studio Technician will enter your group into the sheet above, and confirm by email.
3. Your studio is located in the basement of Appleton Tower.

Informatics Forum

1. Check the available training sessions here (make sure to look at the “Informatics Forum” tab of this workbook)
2. Send an email to the Tutor Atli Sigurgeirsson <A.T.Sigurgeirsson@sms.ed.ac.uk> with subject “Speech Synthesis training session booking request (Informatics Forum)”. Specify all the sessions that your group is available for. The Tutor will enter your group into the sheet above, and confirm by email.
3. Your studio is located in the basement of the Informatics Forum. You will need to sign in at reception in order to enter this building. Then proceed down the stairs which are in the middle of the atrium.

Step 3: book recording sessions

Do not book any recording sessions until you have completed the training session!

Once you are trained, you may book a recording session in your studio. In order to maximise availability of the studios for everyone, each booked session should be a maximum of 2 hours in duration. Quickly cancel any booking that you no longer require.

Appleton Tower

1. Check availability and make a booking yourself on the PPLS Appleton Tower booking system – this requires EASE authentication
   • For Project title, write “Speech Synthesis recording”
   • For Full description, list the people who will take part in the session
   • Type: internal
   • For Email Address, write the email address of the person making the booking, in s1234567@ed.ac.uk format
   • Consent has been obtained: tick
   • For Full Name, write the name of the person making the booking
   • Booking is for Internal PPLS use of the studio: tick
2. Each recording pair may hold a maximum of two hours (i.e., 1 x 2-hour, or 2 x 1-hour) of future bookings at any time.

Informatics Forum

1. Check availability on the Informatics Studio booking system (Areas > Sound Studios > Hemi-Anechoic Chamber) – this is only accessible from within the University network (including via the VPN) and requires a DICE account. Available slots are marked with “Available to book for Speech Synthesis” or are empty. You may only use this studio between 09:00 and 17:00 on weekdays.
2. Email a booking request from your University email account to Simon.King@ed.ac.uk with subject “Speech Synthesis recording session booking request (Informatics Forum)” in which you
   • list all the people who will take part in the session (student number + full name)
   • list possible dates/times/durations of the slot(s) you want, in order of preference
3. Simon will book the first available slot(s) from your list, and confirm by email
4. Each recording pair may hold a maximum of two hours (i.e., 1 x 2-hour, or 2 x 1-hour) of future bookings at any time.