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Complaints about the Speech Synthetic/AI Cast "Digital Performer (Various)".
Three months ago, I asked in the community forum whether text-to-speech/speech synthesis casts like Microsoft SAM, Software Automatic Mouth (SAM), MacinTalk, etc., should be added to IMDb, as some titles had used one of these. I received a response and they added a new cast called "Digital Performer (Various)," which I think is a good idea and better for those who used they titles (Movies, series, games, etc.) a speech synthesis/text to speech voices program. This way, they can add the cast without having to constantly create a new cast entry with the name of the speech synthesis program (unless you can add it to the "as" attribute).
What really bothers me, and what I keep doing with contributors but only get declined for, is that they only have to add them to the "Self" category instead of the "Cast" category.
I have repeatedly tried to add a title like The Walten Files Season 1 Episode 1 to the Digital Performer (Various) because it contains a Text to Speech voice, but I only received rejections due to "others", even though I provided explanations and evidence.

And besides, it's also stupid that their roles are constantly labeled "Self," when it's supposed to be about her character role.

What I also noticed is that there is only one title in the Digital Performer (Various) that is only credited in the Cast category. I don't know how they managed to add it to the Cast category, even though they locked everything except the "Self" category in the editing settings, but this "Digital Performer (Various)" entry still doesn't work properly.

Also, I found Microsoft Sam on IMDb, which I thought should be merged with "Digital Performer (Various)."
This isn't meant to be offensive, but I really wanted to do my best and try to optimize some titles that I know and would like to support. My suggestion would have been to add the Speech Synthesis voice to the Cast category anyway, and perhaps add an attribute indicating that it's an AI voice and not spoken by a real person. However, if IMDb has an alternative idea, or wants to keep it as is with the Digital Performer (Various) page and only add it to the Self category, then I respect that. But as I see it, the Digital Performer (Various) page doesn't really look very neat and tidy.






Maya
Employee
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7.3K Messages
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77.3K Points
12 hours ago
Hi Ravendark-
Thank them for the feedback and for providing all the information! We have passed it along to the appropriate team for visibility (Ref Ticket #P364785353). We'll reply once we receive further information. Thank you for your patience.
Cheers!
(edited)
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