Are computer generated voices acceptable?

[DavidHBolton]

Although my voice is ok, I've had the snuffles for far too long. I've starting creating my first course Learn C Games Programming and discovered that text-to-speech voices on Windows 10 are pretty good.  They sound natural with only the odd place where you might realise it's not a human.

I have done voice recording before (using Camtasia for screencasts)  and I feel that text-to-speech can increase the throughput. I'm happy to upload a sample of what I've done. 

So I just wanted to sound people out on this. 

[FrankKane · Accepted solution]

Text to speech software isn't allowed on Udemy. If students notice it's not a human, they can report you and your course can be taken down. https://support.udemy.com/hc/en-us/articles/229232367-Audio-Standards-and-Choosing-a-Microphone

[DavidHBolton]

Ah thank you. I had missed that. Just as well I asked!

[DeniseFletcher]

Hi @DavidHBolton I know these things have improved but they are still text-to-speak and generally people can tell and although you think it's ok most people dislike it. 

[CCECCentreo406]

Dear all, 

today's text-to-speech voices are very good. Our students have never complained about the text-to-speech voices. Even most of the voices on the internet are computer voices. Why doesn't Udemy synchronize with digitalization and accept computer voices?

[DATEC.Studio]

I disagree, just check Speechelo. I am sure even you cannot recognize it if you didn't know it is an AI voice!

[DATEC.Studio]

Hello,

I totally agree with @CCECCentreo406  did you heard of Speechelo?!

They are super realistic and nice, why didn't allow instead of some terrible accents and pronunciation using those great natural technologies?

Your rules are not logical when technology going further every day.

Just try Speechelo, you cannot even recognize it is not a human!

I am waiting for the Udemy team to resppond.

Thanks.

[DATEC.Studio]

Actually, I think I have a question//Solution.

Is that Udemy support multi-voice/language for tutorial videos?

If possible, we could put our original voice and multiple generated voice with different accents and languages. 

[Hristo_Iliev]

What if I own up to it and this is the easiest way for me to produce videos and in the first video I introduce the voice as my cute robotic co-presenter for the rest of the course?

Google Cloud TTS produces realistic voices as well as play.ht (play.ht seems to be the best among all of them)

[Bella]

Hi @Hristo_Iliev, that's a great question! Unfortunately, I'm afraid this wouldn't be possible as using any type of speech software to narrate your courses is not allowed.

Feel free to contact our Trust & Safety team at policy@udemy.com if you have any further questions - they will be happy to help. 

Bella Almeida

Udemy Community 

[AlexandreBo602]

Hello,

Is this still forbiden to use speech to text IA ? Voices from these IA (google, Amazon) are really nice and better than my own french accent ! 

You could authorize them but we could mark that voices are atrificial in the presentation for people to be warned about this no ??

[FrankKane]

According to https://support.udemy.com/hc/en-us/articles/229232367-Audio-Standards-and-Choosing-a-Microphone " it is still the case that "Text to speech software is not allowed; students want to hear directly from you as an instructor to build trust."

While I agree AI-generated voices are getting better, changing that policy would also make it too easy for bad actors to quickly generate courses based on stolen content and stuff. 

Most Americans think French accents are kind of cool 🙂 It could actually be to your advantage.