tag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:/discussions/suggestions/10045-importing-audio-flashcards-as-used-to-be-able-to-do-with-flashcard-exchangeThe Mental Faculty: Discussion 2018-10-19T02:24:18Ztag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-14T10:42:25Z2016-02-14T10:42:25Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>I think Flashcard Exchange did export the audio in the
beginning, but at some point they stopped going that too.</p>
<p>Cram, as it is now called, closed down third party apps. Even
before them, Quizlet did too, but went back on the decision
probably due to outcry.</p>
<p>The thing is, each service now has their own app, and they have
no interest in supporting third parties anymore. So we decided to
make a break with Studies to not be reliant on them. We have some
plans to possibly introduce some sort of sharing ourselves, but
nothing to announce at this point.</p>
<p>Kind regards,<br>
Drew</p></div>drewmccormacktag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-14T17:32:40Z2016-02-14T17:32:40Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Do you know what mechanism quizlet and Cram use to automatically
add audio to their cards the way they do? Is it an enhancement that
you could add to Studies? I hope so. I have their apps, but they
don't cut it. What would be really great for language study is to
be able to play the audio without seeing the text of the word, so
that your are testing purely your audio recognition. Yet for audio
to automatically generate based on the text, the text would need to
be there. But if I made the text the same color as the background,
that would effectively make it invisible (i.e., text green,
background green = Spanish audio card). Next facet would be the
English audio, and then a hint/info card could show the written
word.</p></div>zeppotag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-14T17:39:43Z2016-02-14T17:39:43Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>I don’t know exactly what they use, but there are
libraries available to do it. It would be good to add. The problem
may be the language. Would depend on the library recognizing that
properly.</p>
<p>Note that on the Mac, you can choose Edit > Speech to say the
text. I doubt it will work well with foreign languages though, but
maybe worth a try.</p>
<p>As for hiding the text, I would think you could just look away
or close your eyes to achieve the same thing.</p>
<p>With a real audio file, you could of course put the audio on one
facet, and the text on the next.</p>
<p>Will think about what we can do. Busy with Studies on iOS at the
moment.</p>
<p>Drew</p></div>drewmccormacktag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-15T00:32:57Z2016-02-15T00:32:57Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>Looking away to avoid seeing the text might be an option with
your iOS app because you can use gestures to advance past the
prompt. With Cram's you have to tap a specific button to play the
audio, which is hard to hit without looking.</p>
<p>One reason I would create a template where the text is hidden by
being the same color as the background is that if the audio files
could populate automatically as they used to do with Cram, it would
save me the work of having to move the audio file or delete the
text afterwards.</p></div>zeppotag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-15T07:01:02Z2016-02-15T07:01:02Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>Have you tried the OS X speech menu to see if that is OK?</p>
<p>iOS has a similar speech generator which we could add.</p>
<p>Kind regards,<br>
Drew</p></div>drewmccormacktag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-15T17:51:12Z2016-02-15T18:34:52Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>Yes, if you are talking about the one that you activate in
System>Preferences. If so, it was awful. It is like Stephen
Hawking's.</p>
<p>I created a few identical cards with Cram, Quizlet and
Flashcards Deluxe, and, at least for those examples, the same TTS
was used, though their choice of speed varies. These are human
voices speaking the full words in most common cases, not a
composite of spoken or computer generated syllables. To test it
further I used some words used in every day speech and did find a
couple that resulted in a composite audio. But even with these less
common words, more than not were fully spoken words, or else very
well done composites. They do use composite verb endings, like
-ing, -ed, and probably adverb endings like -ly (I didn't test it)
. By comparison, Google Translate is better than Apple's TTS, but
still is not near as good as what the three apps I mentioned
use.</p>
<p>A google search led me to this link where a Quizlet developer
tells where they got their TTS:</p>
<p><a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4935909/text-to-speech-on-quizlet-com">
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4935909/text-to-speech-on-quizle...</a></p>
<p>You know, now that I think of it, though I always study on my
iPhone, audio flashcards could be the one time I might use the
desktop app, since I could turn up the volume and put on a
slideshow (assuming you allowed some control for the amount of time
it takes between facets) and still go about getting other things
done (preparing a meal, cleaning, etc.) The problem with the three
apps mentioned is their navigation does not suit the way I would
like to make use of audio study, whereas I could see yours being
more suitable.</p></div>zeppotag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-15T19:00:26Z2016-02-15T19:00:26Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>Seems like what they are using is server software that has an
expensive commercial license. Quizlet is a startup with deep
pockets. Don't think that would be an option for us, but I'll look
into it.</p>
<p>Kind regards,<br>
Drew</p></div>drewmccormacktag:mentalfaculty.tenderapp.com,2010-10-19:Comment/391647052016-02-16T16:02:27Z2016-02-16T17:02:49Zimporting audio flashcards (as used to be able to do with Flashcard Exchange)<div><p>I see. Well, I hadn't actually thought of hiding the text by
making it the same color as the background until I typed the idea
above. Turns out I can do this with the Flashcards app, so I can
try that one for audio testing and leave the rest of my study to
your app. I've yet to try audio testing. It may not be worth the
effort of creating the cards and loading audio one by one (although
you just tap a download button), versus whereas I used to be able
to take any of my existing decks on Cram and load the audio for the
entire deck at once and then upload to your app-- so simple. Thats
a big difference in the amount of effort involved, and probably my
time now would be better spent on iTalki in actual conversation.
But the idea is still intriguing to me. So when I get the time I'll
create a few decks and try it out and let you know what I think of
it as a learning method. It is unfortunate that they have the
audio, but you've got the mobile app that would be most suited to
it. Maybe they'll use those deep pockets and buy your app. :) Plus,
as I've said before, I like being able to create and edit cards on
a large screen desktop. So you've got them beat there if the new
sync turns out as you say. I can't wait to try your new iOS app
(looking forward to it)!</p></div>zeppo