Message banking was developed in clinics working with people with ALS (also called MND), many of whom know their speech will change. While you can still speak, you record words and phrases you use a lot. Later, those recordings play from your communication device.
A recording keeps things a synthetic voice won't reproduce, like a laugh at the end of a sentence or the way you say someone's name. It can only say what you recorded, which is why many people also make a synthetic voice.
How it works in Dawn
- Record in the Phrases tabTap Record, say your phrase, and Dawn saves it as a button on the Quick Phrases board.
- Play it in one tapA recorded phrase sits beside typed phrases and plays the original recording.
- Rename and moveGive each recording a label, and move buttons around the board in edit mode.
- BackupsRecordings are stored on the iPhone or iPad and are included when you export a backup.
With a synthetic voice
For sentences you didn't record, Dawn can make a voice like yours from about eight seconds of speech. Typed messages use that voice; banked phrases play as recorded.
When to start
Recordings are clearest while speech is still easy, so choose a time of day when talking feels easiest. If you've had a diagnosis that may affect speech, start with a few phrases at a time. Our guide on when to bank your voice goes through it.