TalkingSoft.com Forums: Problem Installing Codecs - TalkingSoft.com Forums

I always hate to post what usually turns out to be a very silly question, but after almost four hours of painful research, I am absolutely at the end of my rope and don’t know where else to turn.

I use a VoIP program called Ventrilo that supports multiple codecs including Lernout & Hauspie 8000Hz, 16bit, which from what I have learned, used to be included with Windows ME and Windows 2000. But I use Windows XP Pro and the L&H codec is no longer included in Windows.

I did, however, find the L&H codec I think I need which is filename (LHACM.ACM). From what I have read, I thought I all I had to do was place this ACM file in my Windows\System32 folder and that’s it. I am now thinking that I need to somehow “register” or “install” the codec in Windows.

After I moved the codec to Windows\System32 I checked my Audio Codecs Properties under Sound, Video and Game Controllers in my Device Manager. The L&H codec is not listed with all the other codecs, but then I didn’t suspect it would be listed unless there is some background process constantly checking for the presence of ACM files, which would be kind of silly, and that is why I think there must be another step I am missing to properly “activate” a codec. I did read some stuff in the FAQ about running Add Hardware, but that didn't apply.

Can anyone give me some help on this problem?

Have you read this Guide on how to register codecs?

CHP, thank you for your reply. Yes I did happen to read that post and followed its suggestions earlier, but the regsvr32 program is apparently only used for DLL or AX files. I also tried RadLight Filter Manager 1.4 and got a similar problem.

I am wondering if LHACM.ACM is a "codec" file. I don't know what the extension .ACM means anyway. I am so puzzled by this problem.

L&H audio codec is associated with voice dictation/recording. Placing codec in Windows/System32 should work.

Normally a 3rd party app will install this codec for you. Usually bundled with Voice Dictation, VoiceIp, webcam software etc.

You can check to see if it's installed in WINXP:
Control Panel... Speech..text toSpeech
There should be more choices under Voice selection with LH prefix. The preview voice will also say the L&H in full.

*ACM stands for audio codec manager

Mischcabob, thank you for your reply. I followed your suggestion and pulled up the Speech application in my Control Panel. There were no indications of L&H being installed on my system. Under the Voice Selection there was only one voice available - Microsoft Sam, and Under the Audio Output button, the only option available was Realtek AC97 Audio.

What makes me think this codec needs to be "installed" is that when I go to the Control Panel and run Sounds and Audio Devices, I select the Hardware tab and on the list of Devices I can see Audio Codecs. When I check the Properties for Audio Codecs, all the codecs that have been "registered" show up in the list.

So that makes me think after I place the LHACM.ACM file in Windows\System32, the next step would be to run a program to "register" the codec so it will show up in the list of Audio Codecs along with all the other registered codecs. Maybe its something as simple as a registry entry, I just don't know.

I believe MS Office (I have 2003) will install extra voice profiles
i.e. LH Michael & LH Michelle

Win9x/Me uses the "Speech SDK 5.1" TTS library...
http://www.microsoft.com/speech/download/sdk51/

For windows XP....the speech libraries are included unless you did a custom install. Make sure you have latest Ventrilo win32 x86 client, DirectX 9 and latest service pack (SP2).

Any further probs, you may want to check out Ventrilo's site including FAq/forum:
http://www.ventrilo.com/index.php