[dirtyvu]

There's a new free app now in the app marketplace called Voice Studio.

It's to help Microsoft out in improving the voice recognition algorithms. Basically, it's an expanded version of the voice calibration routines that we currently have. You set the volume to the level that you normally play your games at, then you read aloud the sentences or words at your normal speaking level.

If you're like most people who use a headset for game/party chats and Kinect only for voice commands, don't forget to turn off the "mute kinect" option in your chat settings while you're doing your Voice Studio tests. And use the Kinect for the voice recognition tests. And don't forget to follow the on-screen prompts. Some will ask you to read standing up, some will ask you to read sitting down.

So go out there and do your part! Read your sentences correctly! Remember the adage: garbage in, garbage out.

[dirtyvu]

they took away the app but apparently it's returned and it has avatar awards now! some very cool ones:

[dirtyvu]

here are a couple sample 720P videos of Voice Studio, showing the achievements and the avatar awards that you can earn by running the app... it also gives you a glimpse at possible future voice commands... do your part and help improve the voice recognition!

This video is showing the Tin Can avatar award at 2:40. The Baby Babbler achievement at 4:51. The eyeglasses avatar award at 6:50.

This video is showing the Massive Mumbler achievement at 1:29. The T shirt avatar award at 3:32. The Fast Talker achievement at 5:04. The speaker avatar award at 6:46. The Golden Voice achievement at 9:27.