I use pulseaudio on my system. I have installed the tts applications espeak and flite. Both of which work perfectly when called from the commandline, but fail to work when called via spd-say. I need them to work via spd-say, because I want to configure a TTS engine for Okular. Here is the output for sudo systemctl status speech-dispatcherd.service

● speech-dispatcherd.service - Speech-Dispatcher an high-level device independent layer for speech synthesis.
   Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/speech-dispatcherd.service; disabled; vendor preset: disabled)
   Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Fri 2019-01-18 00:30:18 IST; 2min 9s ago
  Process: 1067 ExecStart=/usr/bin/speech-dispatcher -d (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)

Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: Starting Speech-Dispatcher an high-level device independent layer for speech synthesis....
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname speech-dispatcher: [Fri Jan 18 00:30:18 2019 : 363344] speechd: Speech Dispatcher 0.8.8 starting
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: speech-dispatcherd.service: Control process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: speech-dispatcherd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: Failed to start Speech-Dispatcher an high-level device independent layer for speech synthesis..

Here is the output for journalctl -xe

➜ journalctl -xe

Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname sudo:       codingcoffee : TTY=pts/1 ; PWD=/home/codingcoffee ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/systemctl restart speech-dispatcherd.service
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname sudo: pam_unix(sudo:session): session opened for user root by codingcoffee(uid=0)
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: Starting Speech-Dispatcher an high-level device independent layer for speech synthesis....
-- Subject: A start job for unit speech-dispatcherd.service has begun execution
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel 
-- 
-- A start job for unit speech-dispatcherd.service has begun execution.
-- 
-- The job identifier is 4254.
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname speech-dispatcher: [Fri Jan 18 00:30:18 2019 : 363344] speechd: Speech Dispatcher 0.8.8 starting
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: speech-dispatcherd.service: Control process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
-- Subject: Unit process exited
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel 
-- 
-- An ExecStart= process belonging to unit speech-dispatcherd.service has exited.
-- 
-- The process' exit code is 'exited' and its exit status is 1.
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: speech-dispatcherd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
-- Subject: Unit failed
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel 
-- 
-- The unit speech-dispatcherd.service has entered the 'failed' state with result 'exit-code'.
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname systemd: Failed to start Speech-Dispatcher an high-level device independent layer for speech synthesis..
-- Subject: A start job for unit speech-dispatcherd.service has failed
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel 
-- 
-- A start job for unit speech-dispatcherd.service has finished with a failure.
-- 
-- The job identifier is 4254 and the job result is failed.
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname audit: SERVICE_START pid=1 uid=0 auid=4294967295 ses=4294967295 msg='unit=speech-dispatcherd comm="systemd" exe="/usr/lib/systemd/systemd" hostname=? addr=? terminal=? res=fail>
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname kernel: audit: type=1130 audit(1547751618.383:189): pid=1 uid=0 auid=4294967295 ses=4294967295 msg='unit=speech-dispatcherd comm="systemd" exe="/usr/lib/systemd/systemd" hostname=>
Jan 18 00:30:18 archlinux-hostname sudo: pam_unix(sudo:session): session closed for user root
Jan 18 00:30:19 archlinux-hostname sudo:       codingcoffee : TTY=pts/1 ; PWD=/home/codingcoffee ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/systemctl status speech-dispatcherd.service
Jan 18 00:30:19 archlinux-hostname sudo: pam_unix(sudo:session): session opened for user root by codingcoffee(uid=0)
Jan 18 00:30:19 archlinux-hostname sudo: pam_unix(sudo:session): session closed for user root

Here is the output to my speech-dispatcher config file ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf

LogLevel  3
LogDir  "default"
DefaultRate   0
DefaultPitch   0  
DefaultVolume 100
DefaultLanguage   en
AudioOutputMethod   pulse
DefaultModule   espeak
Include "clients/*.conf"

I'm using Puppy Linux:

Linux PuppyPC 4.9.163-lxpup-32-pae #1 SMP Thu Mar 14 15:41:19 GMT 2019 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux

I'm trying to use spd-say tool with festival. The problem is I can use festival by itself using this command:

echo "Hello world" | festival --tts

but not the spd-say

spd-say "Hello world"

Whatever I do I get the same error:

Failed to connect to Speech Dispatcher:
Error: Can't connect to unix socket /root/.cache/speech-dispatcher/speechd.sock: No such file or directory. Autospawn: Autospawn failed. Speech Dispatcher refused to start with error code, stating this as a reason:

I don't have this file /root/.cache/speech-dispatcher/speechd.sock I can run festival server:

# festival --server
server    Sun Jul 21 15:18:09 2024 : Festival server started on port 1314

and when I try to use sdp-say I got this messages on server:

client(1) Sun Jul 21 15:19:32 2024 : accepted from localhost
client(1) Sun Jul 21 15:19:33 2024 : disconnected

As you can see it disconnects immediately. A while before there also was an error SIOD: unknown voice cmu_us_aew_cg but after reading [this question](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/573279/speech-dispatcher-voice-configuration-problems-with-festival) I solved the issue **Additional info:** I installed these packages: /etc/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf:

LogLevel  5
LogDir  "/var/log/speech-dispatcher/"
DefaultVolume 100
AddModule "festival"     "sd_festival"  "festival.conf"
DefaultModule festival
Include "clients/*.conf"

/usr/share/speech-dispatcher/conf/speechd.conf:

LogLevel  3
LogDir  "stdout"
DefaultVolume 100
AddModule "festival"     "sd_festival"  "festival.conf"
DefaultModule festival
Include "clients/*.conf"

/usr/share/festival/voices/us/cmu_us_aew_cg/festvox/cmu_us_aew_cg.scm (at the end):

(proclaim_voice
 'cmu_us_aew_cg
 '((language english)
   (gender male)
   (dialect american)
   (description
    "This voice provides an American English male voice using a
     residual excited LPC diphone synthesis method.  It uses
     the CMU Lexicon pronunciations.  Prosodic phrasing is provided
     by a statistically trained model using part of speech and local
     distribution of breaks.  Intonation is provided by a CART tree
     predicting ToBI accents and an F0 contour generated from a model
     trained from natural speech.  The duration model is also trained
     from data using a CART tree.")))

(provide 'cmu_us_aew_cg)

/etc/festival.scm (at the end):

(set! voice_default 'voice_cmu_us_aew_cg)

**Logs:** /var/log/speech-dispatcher/speech-dispatcher.log:

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 56876] speechd:   Speech Dispatcher Logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//speech-dispatcher.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 57338] speechd:     Module name=festival being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 83160] speechd:    Reading configuration for pattern emacs:*
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 83377] speechd:  Configuration has been read from "/etc/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf"
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 121762] speechd:     Module name=espeak being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 121864] speechd:     Module name=pico being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 121928] speechd:     Module name=dummy being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 121991] speechd:     Module name=festival being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122053] speechd:     Module name=cicero being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122116] speechd:     Module name=generic being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122179] speechd:     Module name=flite being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122242] speechd:     Module name=espeak-ng being inserted into detected_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122302] speechd:     Module name=espeak being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122346] speechd:     Module name=pico being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122388] speechd:     Module name=dummy being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122429] speechd: Load request for module festival with command sd_festival and configuration file festival.conf was previously received; ignoring the second one.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122539] speechd:     Module name=cicero being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122591] speechd:     Module name=generic being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122634] speechd:     Module name=flite being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122676] speechd:     Module name=espeak-ng being inserted into requested_modules list
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122882] speechd:  Initializing output module festival with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_festival and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/festival.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 122941] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//festival.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 123823] speechd:  Module festival loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 123948] speechd:    Trying to initialize festival.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 124017] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 492539] speechd:     Reply from output module: 480 399-Communicating with Festival through a socket. Can't connect to Festival server. Check your configuration in etc/speechd-modules/festival.conf for the specified host and port and check if Festival is really running there, e.g. with telnet. Please see documentation for more info.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 492678] speechd:     Reply from output module: 480 399 ERR CANT INIT MODULE

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 492746] speechd: ERROR: Module festival failed to initialize. Reason: 
---------------
Communicating with Festival through a socket. Can't connect to Festival server. Check your configuration in etc/speechd-modules/festival.conf for the specified host and port and check if Festival is really running there, e.g. with telnet. Please see documentation for more info.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 493050] speechd:  Initializing output module espeak with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_espeak and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/espeak.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 493121] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//espeak.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 493857] speechd:  Module espeak loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 494205] speechd:    Trying to initialize espeak.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:38 2024 : 494324] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396219] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299-Espeak: Initialized successfully.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396329] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299 OK LOADED SUCCESSFULLY

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396406] speechd:  Module espeak started successfully with message: 
---------------
Espeak: Initialized successfully.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396519] speechd:    Module set parameters.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396624] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |AUDIO
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396722] speechd:     Got 32 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396767] speechd:     Reply from output module: |207 OK RECEIVING AUDIO SETTINGS
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396827] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |audio_output_method=pulse
audio_oss_device=/dev/dsp
audio_alsa_device=default
audio_nas_server=tcp/localhost:5450
audio_pulse_server=default
audio_pulse_min_length=100
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 396891] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |.
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 514202] speechd:     Got 70 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 514318] speechd:     Got 18 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 514363] speechd:     Reply from output module: |300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 514404] speechd:  Error: Module reported error in request from speechd (code 3xx): 300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 514483] speechd: ERROR: Can't initialize audio in output module, see reason above.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 514808] speechd:  Initializing output module pico with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_pico and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/pico.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 514873] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//pico.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 515672] speechd:  Module pico loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 515846] speechd:    Trying to initialize pico.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:39 2024 : 515927] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 139013] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299-pico: Initialized successfully.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 139141] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299 OK LOADED SUCCESSFULLY

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 139223] speechd:  Module pico started successfully with message: 
---------------
pico: Initialized successfully.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 139280] speechd:    Module set parameters.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 139373] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |AUDIO
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 139644] speechd:     Got 32 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 139742] speechd:     Reply from output module: |207 OK RECEIVING AUDIO SETTINGS
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 140050] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |audio_output_method=pulse
audio_oss_device=/dev/dsp
audio_alsa_device=default
audio_nas_server=tcp/localhost:5450
audio_pulse_server=default
audio_pulse_min_length=100
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 140153] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |.
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 151542] speechd:     Got 70 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 151744] speechd:     Got 18 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 151803] speechd:     Reply from output module: |300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 151847] speechd:  Error: Module reported error in request from speechd (code 3xx): 300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 151920] speechd: ERROR: Can't initialize audio in output module, see reason above.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 152641] speechd:  Initializing output module dummy with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_dummy and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/dummy.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 152736] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//dummy.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 153516] speechd:  Module dummy loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 153674] speechd:    Trying to initialize dummy.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 153795] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 197641] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299-Everything ok so far.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 197740] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299 OK LOADED SUCCESSFULLY

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 197796] speechd:  Module dummy started successfully with message: 
---------------
Everything ok so far.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 197841] speechd:    Module set parameters.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 197925] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |AUDIO
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 198023] speechd:     Got 32 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 198067] speechd:     Reply from output module: |207 OK RECEIVING AUDIO SETTINGS
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 198128] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |audio_output_method=pulse
audio_oss_device=/dev/dsp
audio_alsa_device=default
audio_nas_server=tcp/localhost:5450
audio_pulse_server=default
audio_pulse_min_length=100
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 198194] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |.
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 208561] speechd:     Got 70 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 208683] speechd:     Got 18 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 208729] speechd:     Reply from output module: |300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 208771] speechd:  Error: Module reported error in request from speechd (code 3xx): 300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 208816] speechd: ERROR: Can't initialize audio in output module, see reason above.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 209108] speechd:  Initializing output module cicero with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_cicero and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/cicero.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 209171] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//cicero.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 209845] speechd:  Module cicero loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 209977] speechd:    Trying to initialize cicero.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 210075] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 270484] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299-Cicero initialized successfully.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 270785] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299 OK LOADED SUCCESSFULLY

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 270902] speechd:  Module cicero started successfully with message: 
---------------
Cicero initialized successfully.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 270963] speechd:    Module set parameters.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 271056] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |AUDIO
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 271280] speechd:     Got 32 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 271340] speechd:     Reply from output module: |207 OK RECEIVING AUDIO SETTINGS
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 271400] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |audio_output_method=pulse
audio_oss_device=/dev/dsp
audio_alsa_device=default
audio_nas_server=tcp/localhost:5450
audio_pulse_server=default
audio_pulse_min_length=100
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 271498] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |.
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 287512] speechd:     Got 70 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 287714] speechd:     Got 18 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 287777] speechd:     Reply from output module: |300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 287831] speechd:  Error: Module reported error in request from speechd (code 3xx): 300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 287891] speechd: ERROR: Can't initialize audio in output module, see reason above.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 288290] speechd:  Initializing output module generic with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_generic and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/generic.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 288398] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//generic.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 290207] speechd:  Module generic loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 290354] speechd:    Trying to initialize generic.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 290514] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 319844] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299-Everything ok so far.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 319937] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299 OK LOADED SUCCESSFULLY

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 319998] speechd:  Module generic started successfully with message: 
---------------
Everything ok so far.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 320044] speechd:    Module set parameters.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 320114] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |AUDIO
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 320263] speechd:     Got 32 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 320311] speechd:     Reply from output module: |207 OK RECEIVING AUDIO SETTINGS
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 320372] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |audio_output_method=pulse
audio_oss_device=/dev/dsp
audio_alsa_device=default
audio_nas_server=tcp/localhost:5450
audio_pulse_server=default
audio_pulse_min_length=100
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 320518] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |.
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 329945] speechd:     Got 70 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 330052] speechd:     Got 18 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 330098] speechd:     Reply from output module: |300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 330138] speechd:  Error: Module reported error in request from speechd (code 3xx): 300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 330183] speechd: ERROR: Can't initialize audio in output module, see reason above.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 330477] speechd:  Initializing output module flite with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_flite and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/flite.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 330552] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//flite.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 331177] speechd:  Module flite loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 331299] speechd:    Trying to initialize flite.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 331372] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 522342] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299-Flite initialized successfully.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 522546] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299 OK LOADED SUCCESSFULLY

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 522652] speechd:  Module flite started successfully with message: 
---------------
Flite initialized successfully.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 522715] speechd:    Module set parameters.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 522819] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |AUDIO
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 523045] speechd:     Got 32 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 523175] speechd:     Reply from output module: |207 OK RECEIVING AUDIO SETTINGS
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 523251] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |audio_output_method=pulse
audio_oss_device=/dev/dsp
audio_alsa_device=default
audio_nas_server=tcp/localhost:5450
audio_pulse_server=default
audio_pulse_min_length=100
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 523316] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |.
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 556700] speechd:     Got 70 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 556853] speechd:     Got 18 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 556911] speechd:     Reply from output module: |300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 556964] speechd:  Error: Module reported error in request from speechd (code 3xx): 300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 557021] speechd: ERROR: Can't initialize audio in output module, see reason above.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 557328] speechd:  Initializing output module espeak-ng with binary /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_espeak-ng and configuration /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/espeak-ng.conf
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 557403] speechd:   Output module is logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//espeak-ng.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 558358] speechd:  Module espeak-ng loaded.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 558556] speechd:    Trying to initialize espeak-ng.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:40 2024 : 558698] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |INIT
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280245] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299-Espeak-ng: Initialized successfully.

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280359] speechd:     Reply from output module: 120 299 OK LOADED SUCCESSFULLY

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280510] speechd:  Module espeak-ng started successfully with message: 
---------------
Espeak-ng: Initialized successfully.
---------------

[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280587] speechd:    Module set parameters.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280681] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |AUDIO
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280779] speechd:     Got 32 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280823] speechd:     Reply from output module: |207 OK RECEIVING AUDIO SETTINGS
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280883] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |audio_output_method=pulse
audio_oss_device=/dev/dsp
audio_alsa_device=default
audio_nas_server=tcp/localhost:5450
audio_pulse_server=default
audio_pulse_min_length=100
| (0)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 280948] speechd:     Command sent to output module: |.
| (1)
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 284369] speechd:     Got 70 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 284531] speechd:     Got 18 bytes from output module over socket
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 284584] speechd:     Reply from output module: |300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
|
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 284625] speechd:  Error: Module reported error in request from speechd (code 3xx): 300-Opening sound device failed. Reason: Couldn't open pulse plugin. 
300 UNKNOWN ERROR
.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 284670] speechd: ERROR: Can't initialize audio in output module, see reason above.
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 284808] speechd:   Speech Dispatcher Logging to file /var/log/speech-dispatcher//speech-dispatcher.log
[Sun Jul 21 15:48:41 2024 : 284890] speechd: Error [speechd.c:649]:No speech output modules were loaded - aborting...

If you need more info please ask me in comments and I will provide as more information as I can

I installed apt install festival #Version: 1:2.5.0-5 and apt install mbrola-de{1..7} #Version: 3.3+dfsg-4 **How can I make use of this German mbrola voices in festival?**

I finally got Festival working with the US HTS voices: cmu_us_awb_cg, cmu_us_jmk_cg, cmu_us_slt_cg, cmu_us_bdl_cg, cmu_us_clb_cg, cmu_us_rms_cg. I manually configured festival.scm to use bdl voice: (set! voice_default 'voice_cmu_us_bdl_cg) It's now working fine both from within interactive festival and when server is running (festival --server): nc localhost 1314 The DefaultVoiceType controls which voice type should be used by > default. Voice types are symbolic names which map to particular > voices provided by the synthesizer according to the output module > configuration. Please see the synthesizer-specific configuration > in etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/ to see which voices are assigned to > different symbolic names. The following symbolic names are > currently supported: MALE1, MALE2, MALE3, FEMALE1, FEMALE2, FEMALE3, > CHILD_MALE, CHILD_FEMALE > > # DefaultVoiceType "MALE1" I also tried to increase heap size up to 50M (as per some posts in other discussions), but it doesn't help: festival --server --heap 50000000 I get the same strange errors. Any suggestions appreciated.

Presently when Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) is set as at text property of SpeechSynthesisUtterance instance at Chromium or Firefox web browsers the SSML is not parsed at *nix as reflected at audio output of speechSynthesis.speak() call. Browsing the source code of the browsers speech-dispatcher appears to be called by .speak() where either spd-say or espeak , if configured to do so, could be called by speech-dispatcher. spd-say has an x option -x, --ssml Set SSML mode on (default: off) espeak has an m option -m Interpret SSML markup, and ignore other tags Have created a user configuration file for speech-dispatcher using spd-conf -u The documentation states that the user configuration file can be used to set parameters for specific clients > **4.1.6 Parameter Settings Commands** > > The following parameter setting commands are available. For > configuration and history clients there are also functions for setting > the value for some other connection and for all connections. They are > listed separately below. > > C API function: `int spd_set_data_mode(SPDConnection *connection, > SPDDataMode mode)` Set Speech Dispatcher data mode. Currently, plain > text and SSML are supported. SSML is especially useful if you want to > use index marks or include changes of voice parameters in the text. > > mode is the requested data mode: SPD_DATA_TEXT or SPD_DATA_SSML. Questions 1. How to set the default option of either or both -x for spd-say and -m for espeak commands at ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/speechd.conf for the clients Chromium and Firefox browsers when .speak() is called? 2. How to adjust the source code at Chromium and Firefox browsers to set the -x or -m options by default for the text set at SpeechSpeechSynthesisUtterance text property which is passed to window.speechSynthesis.speak()?