VAC Irratic

[bigmoe]

I have version 1.8.5 installed and have made several profiles before. I'm not using a PTT or PTA button. I'm trying to make a profile for Silent Hunter 4. I've just got done training with 3 different training sessions. I've calibrated the mic a couple times and when I first start testing in the VAC Builder it seems to work on every command. As I keep testing I start getting failure on the commands. I've adjusted the pronunciation sensitivity and accuracy regonition setting up and down the scale. I keep getting the same results. When I go into the game I either get the correct response sometimes, no response at all, or a complete different command. I don't know what to try next. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Moe

[Shift_E]

Hi Bigmoe,

Does VAC become erratic in are other applications and games or do you only see this condition in Silent Hunter IV?

Could you run Task Manager and note the memory usage while running VAC, but before running Silent Hunter, then when VAC becomes erratic note the memory usage again?

[bigmoe]

I have not tried any other games lately, but it starts acting irratic without any games running. I'll check the task manager for memory usage, but I just installed another 1gig of ram thinking that would help. When I'm testing in the VAC builder it sometimes gets the commands correct and then gets the same command wrong when testing again. It seems like when it gets a command wrong it always defalts to the same command. I even tried taking the wrong command out of VAC to see what happens and it just picks another one to default to. An example is the command bridge and it thinks I'm saying weapons. Then when I say scope it thinks I'm saying weapons. I remove the command weapons and try again and it thinks I'm saying crew. These words are not even close to each other in sound. I thought when I had the sliders all the way to the left that I had it fixed, but still get the same problems.

[Shift_E]

Hi Bigmoe,

Sorry for asking all the questions, but it really does help to isolate what the problem could be.

Reading your most recent post one thing really stands out for me.

I thought when I had the sliders all the way to the left that I had it fixed, but still get the same problems.

What sliders are you talking about having all the way to the left?

[bigmoe]

pronunciation sensitivity and accuracy regonition

[Shift_E]

pronunciation sensitivity and accuracy regonition

Hi Bigmoe,

That's the problem, with both sliders set to the left you should get very little recognition accuracy. I'd suggest you set 'Pronunciation Sensitivity' to about 75% (one hash to the right of middle) and leave 'Accuracy vs. Recognition Response Time' at 50% (in the middle). Look here to see these settings.

Let me know how that works for you.

[bigmoe]

Tried that and the default values. No luck. When testing within the vac builder the cpu usage jumps to about 16% when I first say the command. On the second attempt it only jumps to about 2%. The PF usage in around 386MD - 402MB. Went through the mic wizard again and it seems that it always starts on full volume. I tried a new profile with only one command and it won't recognize it either. Could I be missing something from an install? I had a power source go out a couple months ago could that have anything to do with it? I also tested on other profiles that I know worked and I get no response. When I do the mic wizard every calibrates fine. I thought about doing a re-install again to see if it would work. Still open for suggestions.

[Shift_E]

Hi Bigmoe,

At first it sounded like Silent Hunter was using all the system memory, that's what I wanted you to check out with Task Manager. I don't believe that's the problem now. I also don't think a re-install is the answer, but it wouldn't hurt anything to try it.

There are two things that it could be now, first is your microphone.

Went through the mic wizard again and it seems that it always starts on full volume.

If the volume is to high your voice will distort to the point the recognition engine wouldn't be able to recognize your voice. Use Windows sound recorder to test your microphone, record your speech and play it back. It should be clear and not distorted.

The second is it may be possible your user profile is corrupt. I'm checking on how to reset the profile.

[bigmoe]

I thought it might be the mic, but when I run the wizard everything seems ok. It does play back to me and sounds fine. I did notice when doing the training that I had to repeat the phrases several times to get it to recognize the words. When I first downloaded the program some time ago the recognization was almost immediate. I did check to make sure I have the 5.1 version of the Microsoft Voice Recognization installed. I have another mic that I can plug in and try......I'll let you know how that works out.

[bigmoe]

I tried a brand new mic and the commands were being recognized right off the bat. Boy I thought we had it. I kept checking and re-checking the commands over and over in the VAC builder. The longer we went the worse it got. Finally it would not recognize any commands. What do we do next?

[Shift_E]

Hi Bigmoe,

It's getting a bit tougher to figure this out. I'll have to make a list of things it may be:

1. Soundcard drivers or soundcard.
2. DirectX 9.
3. Corrupt SAPI profile.
4. Some other program interfering with sound/microphone.
5. Some corrupt system files.

1. Check to see if you have the newest soundcard drivers installed.
2. Run Dxdiag to verify DirectX and you devices.
3. Delete the fold \Documents and Settings\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft\Speech\Files\UserLexicons. You will have to re-train SAPI if you do this. May have to do an uninstall/re-install of SAPI.
4. Do you install another program that is taking control over the sound and microphone.
5. When your power supply went out it may be possible some system files become corrupt. You can run 'sfc /scannow' to verify the files.

[bigmoe]

I don't run a sound card, but use the on board sound on the mother board. The other files seem ok, but I may reinstall the sound recognization from Microsoft just to see. I did some more training and was playing with the phrases. I used the "say" on the edit feature and it is starting to recognize the commands better. I think this may be the way to fix my problem. It does give me some crazy phrases back, but it does recognize them when I speak them. Should this be the standard way to program a profile? Just say the command and let VAC write what ever it thinks you said? Anyway I'm going to play with it some more this weekend and will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for all your help. I do love this program.

[Shift_E]

Hi Bigmoe,

It's the same thing with the soundcard, either added or integrated on the motherboard.

Using the say would work, but something is wrong and you should get it corrected. You'll get your profile updated with the crazy phrases, reload your OS sometime in the future, then your profile wouldn't work.

Double check number 1, and try numbers 2 and 3.

[bigmoe]

I uploaded the latest drivers. Checked DirectX and I have 9c. Unistalled both voice recogintion and vac and re-insalled both. Trained on 3 different sessions. Ran the mic wizard. Getting the same effect. It takes a long time during training to recognize the words. Sometimes it get pharses sometimes only individual words. Tested commands within VAC and hardly any are recognized. Phrases are like, bridge, map, ahead one third, scope, etc. What next? I'm running XP sould I stay with 1.8.5 or go to the new version?

[Shift_E]

Hi Bigmoe,

Remove the old SAPI 5.1 profiles.


To delete the user lexicon file, delete the following folder:
\Documents and Settings\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft\Speech\Files\UserLexicons

Next remove the registry entry for SAPI.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Expand Registry Editor to the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Speech
3. Select the Speech folder, and then click Export Registry File on the Registry menu.
4. Save the Speech folder as a backup so that you can restore your original settings if the registry key is not the problem.
5. After you export the Speech key, click Edit, and then click Delete. You receive the following message:
Are you sure you want to delete this key and all of its subkeys?
6. Click Yes.
7. Click Registry, and then click Exit.

After this you'll have to re-train and run through the microphone wizard. You should only have to run the voice training one time. If this doesn't work then post your use Dxdiag to post your system diag file.