The audio file that is being played in the video sounds very low volume. I would recommend a normalized audio file that has been recorded at a higher volume. Also, if you are cranking the volume into "overdrive" (any volume value past 100), then the "clip" (in red) will flash on the sound board. Clip means the volume is too high and causing distortion. I would recommend researching what audio volume clip means for more information.

I have done a number of tests using a larger set of audio files at different recorded and control set volumes. The controll set volumes were between 60 and 80 volume level to prevent clipping. I used a combination of wav, mp3 and ring tones for a cell phone.

I have to agree it's not speaker quility. On some of the clips the audio is amazing.

Taking the EZB out of the base makes a huge difference on how audible the voice is rendered when the sayezb script command is used.

I will wait until I get my other parts to build six and see what difference the plastic channels DJ described makes.

Worse case I think i will use the bypass method since it may fit my use case better.

Can anyone confirm for me that the amp board wolfie suggested would work or if there is another board that would work better.

I truly appreciate all the help.

Thanks

I bypass the base and am very pleased with the quality of the audio on voices and mp3s

I have done some more testing.

I took the little board with mini deans connector our of the base and connected it directly to the EZB so I can do easy testing without the base.

It is a night and day difference with and without the developer kit base.

I will end up not using the base or mod the base based on DJ's recommendation.

One thing I did notice is that there is a very big difference in volume between using the soundboard and the sayezb command.

For the sayezb script command I need to set a volume level of 146 do get the sound clearly heard even without the base. I picked 146 since any higher causes clipping.

Does anyone have an idea what would cause the difference?

Thanks

The text to speech synthesis built into windows is a little lower volume, depending on the voice selected. The question of why Microsoft made their voices quiet may be a question for their forum if you ever stumble across it. We have many questions of why Microsoft does what they do

As for the audio volume with the power base, I recommend cutting a hole in the base that aligns with the speaker of the ezb v4. The robot bases each have a hole to use the body as an audio chamber. The power base does not have a hole. If you made one, it will be much louder.

@DJ

I have given up a long time ago on trying to make sense of the decisions Microsoft makes. The logic sometime boggles the mind.

In the short term I think what I will do is make a cable that will fit the deans connector on the EZB and do without the power base.

In the long term I will have to get the volume loud enough to be heard over the noise the servos make anyway and I think going the amp bypass way might be my best bet.

I really appreciate everyones input on this.