New voice on recordings

I was on holiday using the iPhone app, and heard a new voice on the various exercises, and having returned to using my Mac, it's the same.  The pace of speech is quicker and to my hearing, is less intelligible than the male voice previously used.  I realise that likes and dislikes are incredibly subjective, but for me, a reversion back to the previous recordings would be welcome.

Chris

Update: I'm on 13.5, using Mac IoS 12.6; Safari Google bowser.

Hi ChrisM108,

Thanks so much for your feedback. We recently replaced the male voice in Rocket Italian Level 2. We're sorry to hear that you aren't as satisfied with the new voice - I will pass your feedback on to the Italian team for their consideration.

HI ChrisM108

Haven't been doing much Italian or basically none at all. Been a busy month and thought we were going to Germany, so concentrated on that. Shouldn't have landed not going. Airports too chaotic. Canada included. I can still only find Roberto's voice and now am intirgued where the new voice is, as would like to test it and see if I feel the same way as you do. Margaretsaid level 2. But can't find it. Hope you had a good holiday. We decided to stay on the Island, less chaotic

Keep well

Sebongela

Hi Sebongela,

You will find the new voice in the level 2 Language and Culture lessons. We would love to get your feedback about it as well. 

Here's hoping that the chaos at airports doesn't last too much longer (although I can see it continuing to be a stressful process for a while). 

Hi Sebongela

It's good to hear from you.  I'm doing lesson 13.5 and as Margaret says, the new voice appears only (so far) in the Language & Culture section.  I'm an adaptable and pragmatic guy, but find the speaker's voice to be slurred on a number of occasions, so I am having to guess the word from a couple of grammatical possibilities.  One could argue re the frequent speed acceleration that at 13.5, I need to get used to fast-paced Italian, but as I say, personal preference at my stage of learning is for the previous speaker's clarity of speech and pace.

We had a holiday here in England, but found the price to be a rip-off, given many people have been putting off flying for the same reasons as you, and UK cottage owners are pushing up the prices to bonkers levels.  Just as good I enjoy my gardening and local attractions.  It's just as much fun, as there is so much to visit in the south-east of England.

What do you think you will do with your languages now?  German and Italian or just one?

Have fun either way!

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

Same thing has happened in B.C. prices for holiday accommodation has been rediculous. Went down to Victoria for my youngest daughters defence to finish her Masters, hotel bill for 1 night 470 $,

For a normal hotel. Went down for 2 nights last week bill came to 1700. Granted a sea view, a pet friendly room and quite lovely, but not worth that. My daughter has just started her PhD. I have 2 daughters at university in Victoria. Philip took the month of September off and I just decided I have lots to keep me busy here in the valley and so glad I did. 

That said we may go to Japan in November to see the autumn colours in their lovely gardens. I am a great fan of Month Don and he did a program on their spring and autumn gardens. Just amazing!

I am going to carry on with my Italian, just a waste to let it go. Have been doing Duolingo Italian, German and Swedish. Very annoying, but it does keep me in revision mode and reinforces conjugations and some of the grammar issues I have problems with. Enjoy your garden. I have cut back my garden and am currently planting bulbs. Can't plant tulips, as we have some very tame and pesky deer that come through my garden. I'm okay with that as enjoy having them around. I miss that about Africa most of al. Grew up on a farm on the border of the Kruger Park and had all sorts of things in our garden.

A presto

Sebongela

Wow - Kruger!  How amazing that would have been!  My suburban garden is slowly being changed to more sedums, salvias, grasses (e.g. Mexican Feather Grass/Stipa Tenuissima), lavenders, verbena, etc.  I like that style of planting, and it does well in my area.

How do you get on with studying more than one language?  The closest I got to that was Italian and Latin, but soon concentrated on just Italian.  With the gardening commitments, I only have time to use Rocket and have paused the other resources.

A presto

Chris

Hi Again ChrisM108

Pleased you are enjoying your new garden. I on the other hand have an English country garden in one of my flower beds. Very labour intensive in the autumn, sd most die down and come back in spring. It is quite glorious in the summer. We also have a family of hares that reside in our garden and that provides shelter for the babies.  As you may have gathered wildlife gives me great pleasure and if I lived in England I would love a hedgehog or 2. 

Yes spent 18 years of my childhood on a farm that had 15 km's of frontage to the Crocodile River on the Kruger. We had lions, elephants rhinos on the farm and even a night visit from a hippo in our garden. Idyllic and I miss Africa terribly. So have resigned myself to living with less variety here, but at least we don't live with crime and violent crime at that. 

As for language I cobble along. My German is stronger than my Italian and Swedish very, very basic still. While I garden I listen to Coffee break. Sit and weed with a cup of tea and my tablet. 

My life is fairly quiet and I am an introvert, so enjoy being on my own and Covid has made it even easier for me to be home. I very rarely get bored, as have many hobbies. Too many in fact.

Enjoy your garden while the weather holds

Sebongela

Dear Rocket team: As an update; I'm on 14.5 All About Infinitives and the female voice is very clear and enunciates well.  So much so, that I'm listening even more closely and refining my pronunciation more than I would have done before.  I wanted to update my feedback to balance my initial post on this thread.

All the best to the team for a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and for all your brilliant work on the product.

Buon Natale

Chris

Ciao ChrisM108

Was wondering how you were doing. That is great to hear. In the German season 2 there is a new lady and she speaks fast and not as clearly as the season one lady. While I was still on season 1 listened to one of her lessons and was totaly lost. Now I find it easy. Also challenges us to get used to different voices. I found Maria always speaks very clearly, but in Travelogues different voices and I feel that is good. Have not lisrened much to season 3. Will get there. 

Wishing you a great Christmas

Sharon

Buon Natale anche a te, Sharon.

Chris

Thanks for your feedback ChrisM108 and Maxie, it's sincerely appreciated. I hope you both have a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate), and a fantastic 2023. Thanks so much for all of your engagement in the forums this year!