So after a good 6 hours trying to get Windows7 to accept other TTS (text to speech) voices other than the default Anna voice I have concluded that until Microsoft patches this it is not possible to change the voice of Anna for text to speech.
To my shock, I can't adjust Anna's settings even under regedit, as those settings are block from altering even as the administrator.
Why on earth MicroSoft would deem Anna's voice to be the best and not allow the older XP TTS voices like Sam, Mike, Mary or others to run I do not know. I read in a blog that installing the MS Speech SDK would install the other voices and at least allows you to call them and use them in other programs like under Visual Studio 2010 applications, but alas, this also was wrong. You can install the Speech SDK that was designed for WinXP or older versions of windows and you will see the additional voices under the regedit and the TTS voice recognition controls as a valid voice, but when you select them you will get errors and they remain un-useable.
I read in a MS blog that the reason for only allowing Anna to work was some song and dance story about how Anna's voice was more realistic and the other voices would not sound as good so they were locked out from use and the settings were preset fined tune to sound the best and that's why you can't really adjust the voice settings like you would like to.
Maybe Windows 8 will fix this, probably not. Maybe they will at least include a male voice. In any case if you use TTS in Windows7 be ready to get used to Anna's voice. Oh, XP, how I miss you!! lol =)
