Understanding Voice Banking for Communication Support and Key Companies Offering Solutions

lvaughton
Oct 6
5 min read

Updated: Oct 11

Voice banking is emerging as a groundbreaking technology that allows individuals to create a personalized digital voice. This innovation is especially beneficial for people who may lose their ability to speak due to conditions such as motor Neurone Disease/ALS, Myotonic Dystrophy, Stroke, Head and Neck Cancers, or other speech and neurological conditions. By pre-recording their voice and generating their own synthetic voice, users can preserve their identity and communicate effectively, even when their natural voice is no longer available.

In this blog post, we will explore what voice banking for communication support involves, its significance, the difference between voice banking and message banking, and the various companies that offer these solutions.

What is Voice Banking?

Voice banking refers to the process of recording a person’s voice to create a digital version that can be used in speech-generating devices or applications. This technology allows users to communicate using a voice that mirrors their own, providing comfort and empowerment.

The voice banking process involves three main steps:

Recording: Users are instructed to record a variety of phrases or sentences. This captures the distinct characteristics of their voice, such as tone, pitch, and inflection.
Processing: The recorded audio is processed using machine learning algorithms to create a digital voice model. This model can generate speech that sounds like the user, even when they cannot physically speak.
Integration: The digital voice can then be integrated into communication devices or applications, enabling users to communicate through text-to-speech technology.

Voice banking is more than just a method of preserving a voice; it is about retaining a connection to one’s identity and facilitating communication in a natural and personal way.

Importance of Voice Banking

The importance of voice banking goes beyond convenience. For those facing speech loss, having a personalized voice can significantly improve their quality of life. Here are some key benefits:

Familiarity: Studies have shown that familiar voices are easier to understand, as opposed to a stranger's voice, even when we aren't able to identify who those voices belong too. For example, if a feature of voice is manipulated such as the resonance, we are still able to pick out what is being said, better than if it is a complete strangers voice.
Identity: Voice banking can help to preserve one own's identity and is one of the main motivations for someone considering voice banking.
Improved Communication: A personalized voice enhances communication with family and friends, making interactions smoother and more meaningful.
Empowerment: Voice banking gives individuals control over how they communicate, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings more freely.
Accessibility: Voice banking technology is available on various platforms, making it easy to use in different settings like home, healthcare institutions, or while traveling.

The difference between Voice Banking and Voice Messaging

Voice Messaging: Voice messaging is when you save or "bank" pre-recorded phrases. Examples might include: "I love you" or "Can I have a hug". This is your own original message saved which can be replayed at a later stage. Voice messaging is suitable to do at the beginning of your voice changes or later on, if your voice becomes difficult to understand.

Voice Banking: Voice banking is when you upload recorded phrases so that your chosen voice banking software can extract nuances of your voice to make a synthetic voice that sounds like you.

For both of these solutions, it is best to start voice banking as early as possible, rather than leaving it till later.

The role of Speech Pathologist in Voice Banking

Speech pathologists play a key role in voice banking for individuals at risk of losing their natural speech, such as those with ALS (Motor Neuron Disease) or other progressive neurological conditions. Their role includes:

Education and Counselling: Explaining what voice banking is, how it works, and why early recording is important.
Assessment: Evaluating the person’s current speech and voice quality to determine the best timing and method for recording.
Planning and Setup: Helping select appropriate software, recording equipment, and phrases for creating a personalized synthetic voice.
Recording Support: Guiding the individual through recording sessions to ensure clear, consistent speech samples and managing fatigue.
Voice Integration: Assisting with testing and implementing the synthesized voice on communication devices or apps.
Ongoing Support: Providing training, emotional support, and communication strategies as the person transitions to using their digital voice.

In essence, the speech pathologist ensures the technical and emotional success of the voice banking process, helping maintain the person’s communication identity and autonomy.

Key Companies Offering Voice Banking Solutions

Several companies are at the forefront of voice banking technology, providing unique solutions for varied needs. Here are a few notable players in this space:

Acapela Group

Acapela Group specializes in voice synthesis and offers a wide range of voice banking solutions. Their technology enables users to create personalized voices for different applications, including communication devices and assistive technologies. Acapela's focus on emotional expression ensures that their synthesized voices sound natural, enriching user interactions. You can record a couple of sentences for free to see what your voice wouls sound like.

The Voicekeeper

The Voicekeeper is dedicated to preserving the voices of individuals facing speech loss. Their platform allows users to record their voices and develop a digital voice that can be used across multiple communication devices including IPad. Voicekeeper prioritizes maintaining personal connections through voice, ensuring users can communicate authentically. Installing it on an IPad means you can use your voice in Facetime, phone calls, and other applications. Voicemaker is free to use with specific communication apps.

Eleven Labs

Eleven Labs is recognized for its advanced voice cloning technology, allowing users to create high-quality digital voices. Their user-friendly platform caters to individuals with varying levels of technical expertise. Eleven Labs focuses on providing a seamless experience, enabling users to easily record and generate their personalized voices. If you have Motor Neurone Disease/ALS, your Speech Pathologist may be able to help you get a free license to record and clone your voice.

Apple’s Personal Voice Banking for iPhones

Apple has integrated voice banking capabilities into its iPhone devices, offering users the ability to create a personalized voice through their "Personal Voice" feature. This function benefits individuals with speech impairments by allowing them to communicate with a voice that resembles their own. Apple's commitment to accessibility helps users navigate the process smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Voice banking for communication support represents a transformative advancement that empowers individuals facing speech loss to maintain their identity and engage in meaningful conversations. With continuous improvements in voice cloning and an expanding range of companies offering innovative solutions, users now have access to multiple options tailored to their unique needs.

As technology progresses, the potential for voice banking to enhance communication and improve the quality of life for those with speech impairments will only continue to grow. Understanding the role of the Speech Pathologist, the available solutions and the leading companies can help users make informed choices about their communication support needs.