New FCC TL CIS voice?

[asylumxl]

I heard an announcement yesterday in a voice I didn't recognise at a station I don't remember, but I assumed it was a member of staff trying to sound robotic.

But upon stopping at St Albans today I have heard the same voice. I'm assuming that this is the new voice for announcements?

If so, god it's horrible.

 

[Mike395]

That would be Matt - I actually quite like him, as he sounds less 'computerised' than Anne does!

 

[Aictos]

That would be Matt - I actually quite like him, as he sounds less 'computerised' than Anne does!

If the OP was referring to Platforms 1 or 2 at St Albans then yes it is Matt who will be pleased with the positive feedback.

Note however that the staff assault announcement is not Matt but rather one of the staff based at West Hampstead Service Delivery Control.

 

[asylumxl]

It's not really the voice that annoys me but I think the announcements sound more robotic when I've heard them. Maybe my opinion will change when I've heard it more often.

 

[trentside]

I'm also a fan of Matt's announcements. He really doesn't sound as glum as most of the others!

 

[jon0844]

Someone posted a recording where Anne had become like a dalek, but that's not normal. Perhaps some more software problems?

 

[Class377/5]

If the OP was referring to Platforms 1 or 2 at St Albans then yes it is Matt who will be pleased with the positive feedback.

Note however that the staff assault announcement is not Matt but rather one of the staff based at West Hampstead Service Delivery Control.

Actually your wrong. He's technically employed to work at Kings Cross SDC.

The announcements by Matt aren't prefect and more recording work is going to be done.

As for sounding robotic, well that's because they record bits of sentences then the system forms sentences out of them.

 

[Matt88]

Hi all,

One of my colleagues pointed me to this thread... I am Matt . There are a couple of phrases we are aware of that aren't quite right. One of them is the "for the" phrase when it announces a train. There's a slight pause between the words. This will be re-recorded when Atos do more recording. On the whole, we are pleased with the outcome. But if you think there are bits that sound odd, let me know and I can get them re done. Both myself, Atos and FCC want it to sound good so suggestions are welcomed. The thing to remember is that I am a completely new voice to Atos. The original female voice has been used for many years, so Atos have been able to re-record any phrases everytime the recording studio is booked and build up a near perfect sound library. 'Anne' is also an Atos employee whereas I'm an FCC man so release to travel to Nottingham is a little harder for me. Even when I recorded the new script, 'Anne' was there re-recording some phrases for us and FGW.

It's a clever way that words and phrases are recorded. They are built into sentences and then words cut from that. That is why it sounds a bit robotic sometimes. Atos then have to spend weeks cutting every file up manually.

Let me know any particular bits that sound wrong and I will let Atos know for when I next record.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[Aictos]

Actually your wrong. He's technically employed to work at Kings Cross SDC.

The announcements by Matt aren't prefect and more recording work is going to be done.

As for sounding robotic, well that's because they record bits of sentences then the system forms sentences out of them.

Actually I'm not wrong, it isn't Matt who voiced the Staff Assault announcement as it was actually a member of staff from West Hampstead SDC as been explained to me by both Matt himself and the Manager responsible for commissioning the announcement in the first place.

As to being technically employed to work at Kings Cross SDC that may well be the case however his signature in his emails clearly have him as being based at West Hampstead SDC, this I should know as we've communicated numerous times via email.

 

[jon0844]

I would just like to say on behalf of the forum that Matt is most welcome here. I am sure there will be many forum members keen to speak to him in the coming days.

Thank you for taking the time to post on Rail UK.

 

[Aictos]

I would just like to say on behalf of the forum that Matt is most welcome here. I am sure there will be many forum members keen to speak to him in the coming days.

Thank you for taking the time to post on Rail UK.

My sentiments exactly,

 

[Class377/5]

Actually I'm not wrong, it isn't Matt who voiced the Staff Assault announcement as it was actually a member of staff from West Hampstead SDC as been explained to me by both Matt himself and the Manager responsible for commissioning the announcement in the first place.

As to being technically employed to work at Kings Cross SDC that may well be the case however his signature in his emails clearly have him as being based at West Hampstead SDC, this I should know as we've communicated numerous times via email.

Actually the staff assault message is me. Just realised you referred to that rather than the actual original post (unless it was changed), I was referring to Matt location but its not that important to stress over.

Hopefully this forum will provide some good feedback for us all.

 

[Aictos]

Actually the staff assault message is me. Just realised you referred to that rather than the actual original post (unless it was changed), I was referring to Matt location but its not that important to stress over.

Hopefully this forum will provide some good feedback for us all.

I wondered who the staff was.

 

[jon0844]

I have mixed feelings about the announcement. Not the voice but the fact it may make passengers feel uncomfortable or unsafe. It does give the impression there's a lot of trouble on the line, which isn't my actual experience through travelling at all hours of the day.

Sent from my Commodore 64 using Tapatalk

 

[Class377/5]

I wondered who the staff member was, my only issue with it and it has been explained to me by the manager responsible is the announcement should finish "will be prosecuted" rather then "may be prosecuted" as the former gives a zero tolerance message to these who assault staff but also fellow passengers.

Completely wrong. Prosecuted would mean the company going after you privately than just letting the Police deal with it.

See my PM.

 

[trentside]

My sentiments exactly,

And mine too, welcome to the forum Matt.

For those who haven't heard the announcements yet, I came across this YouTube video from St Pancras;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LhxVdks734

 

[Aictos]

Completely wrong. Prosecuted would mean the company going after you privately than just letting the Police deal with it.

See my PM.

Ah see, well we have different views then.

 

[Skimble19]

Noticed this at Stevenage the other day - it seems the speakers there could do with some adjusting; definitely preferred over Sargent Anne though! As for the staff assault announcement - is there any need for yet another announcement? The sort of people that are likely to do such things aren't the sort of people that stand around listening to announcements about not doing it.. the same with the ones about smoking.

 

[12CSVT]

someone posted a recording where anne had become like a dalek, but that's not normal. Perhaps some more software problems?

e x t e r m i n a t e !

 

[Matt88]

We hope we've cleared the dalek problems now after their invasion! I'm not in charge of the hardware side of the CIS but from what I understand, there was a problem with the PCs at a few stations that drive the automated PA. These PCs have been replaced or rebuilt so hopefully (fingers crossed!), the daleks have gone. If not, mention it to a member of station staff. Staff are aware that any CIS faults need to be reported to the route control centre so our engineers can attend.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[Skimble19]

Stevenage's northbound platforms definitely have the Daleks hiding under the stairs still . I'll mention it next time I'm there if they haven't left.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

I actually like the new voice as it sounds more friendlier.

 

[12CSVT]

Stevenage's northbound platforms definitely have the Daleks hiding under the stairs still . I'll mention it next time I'm there if they haven't left.

Hope the Cybermen don't invade as well

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Hope the Cybermen don't invade as well

Storm Troopers have invaded FCC

 

[Bedpan]

At least the RPI team are easily recognisable, now that they have their new uniforms.

 

[gogogoadam]

Hi all,

One of my colleagues pointed me to this thread... I am Matt . There are a couple of phrases we are aware of that aren't quite right. One of them is the "for the" phrase when it announces a train. There's a slight pause between the words. This will be re-recorded when Atos do more recording. On the whole, we are pleased with the outcome. But if you think there are bits that sound odd, let me know and I can get them re done. Both myself, Atos and FCC want it to sound good so suggestions are welcomed. The thing to remember is that I am a completely new voice to Atos. The original female voice has been used for many years, so Atos have been able to re-record any phrases everytime the recording studio is booked and build up a near perfect sound library. 'Anne' is also an Atos employee whereas I'm an FCC man so release to travel to Nottingham is a little harder for me. Even when I recorded the new script, 'Anne' was there re-recording some phrases for us and FGW.

It's a clever way that words and phrases are recorded. They are built into sentences and then words cut from that. That is why it sounds a bit robotic sometimes. Atos then have to spend weeks cutting every file up manually.

Let me know any particular bits that sound wrong and I will let Atos know for when I next record.

Thanks,

Matt

Hi Matt, welcome!

Do you do the 'male' voice on FGW as well? I must admit I can't stand Anne's voice and am dreading when she arrives at Bristol Temple Meads, I have seen the Thales guys installing new speakers.

I however, am planning a campaign to get Ruth back on FGW ! Who is with me !

Adam

 

[TEW]

The new male voice on FGW is a FGW employee, who already did the engineering announcements on the old system.