Children Voice Recording Project for Teaching Software

This document is the recording specification of children (US) speech collection project which requires the recording of following languages. English - American accent Recorded by computer with microphone, the project includes a total of 50 people, with 350 words and sentences per person. The project can be implemented according to the detailed illustration, which includes the requirements of speaker, collection methods, recording tools, recording environment, and so on. 2.2 Pronunciation Standard Pronunciation must be clear, avoid situations such as unclearly speaking, midway cough, stutter and hoarse. 2.3 Speakers and his guardian must be clearly informed all the requirements. 3 Recording Requirement 3.2 Recording Environment Relatively quiet environment required, while there is no other voice of speaking, laughter and other noise (air-condition noise, music, vehicle, wind, crash, etc), no echo. (The recording should avoid big, hollow places such as classroom, hall, washroom and hotel lobby.) Related issues about surrounding noise: 1) Only speaker’s voice should be recorded. If there is another person’s voice, the data can be qualified while it has no pronounced effect to the speaker ‘voice when the recording is played and checked. 2) Speaker’s breathing sound could be in the recording, but not too loud. 3) Exclude other noise. For example: sound of breaking things, drinking, laughing, flipping books, music, coughing, vehicle noise and so on. 3.3 Recording 1) The speaker read the words and sentences in American English and all the 350 words and sentences can only be read by one speaker. 2) Read in normal speed and tone. Read clearly and fluently. 3) Avoid intended lower tone, whisper, dramatic speaking and read with laughter. 4) Moderate the talking speed, try to speak clearly; avoid frequent pause and stammer. 5) It is appropriate to keep the distance within 20-25cm between microphone and mouth; Please do not put microphone too close to your mouth otherwise there will be blowing noise. Using earphone will cause the blowing noise as well. 6) Try to not move during recording in case the distance becomes inappropriate. 7) Start to record when the countdown 3-2-1 finish and stop when recording finish. 8) Pause the recording when speaker misread, cough, stammer, or other noise occur and restart when the condition is normal. 9) Try to subject to the original sentence when recording. But if there is any wrong words or sentences that affect the normal reading, speaker can make a little modification 10) Speaker cannot record when he get a cold and has a harsh voice. 5 Authorization Letter of Authorization should be signed before the recording. Also the speaker should provide a picture of himself (either front or side) on the recording day to prove the reality of data. Attached are samples of the script that has to be read by 9 to 12 year old kids. Also the file with all the requirements.