Set the Voice Region vs RealTime API

API
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1

Hello,
According to the documentation, the RealTime API is global and detect the language from Text/Audio input.

But I oberserve, from the same location and device, with 2 accounts I listen the same named voice with 2 different accent.

  • One is French with an english accent
  • The other is French without english accent

It doesn’t change even if I clarify I want French France. So I assume there is something related to the account ? local ? That do something ? This observation happened just after Europe deployment of new VoiceModel.

Any tips to target the right region with the API ?
BTW the voice name are not the same between App and API

2 Likes
2

Hi @jp.encausse,

The Realtime API voices can be given accents by specifying the exact way it should sound. Additionally, you can try specifying the geographic regional accent it should resemble.

Here’s a small list of regions curated by AI with the accent variety that you might find useful.

French with English accent (Anglicized French)

Canadian provinces:

  • Ontario
  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • New Brunswick (mixed, as it’s officially bilingual)
  • Nova Scotia
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
French without English accent (Native French)

Canadian provinces:

  • Quebec (strongest French-speaking presence)
  • Parts of New Brunswick (especially northern regions)
  • Small communities in Ontario (especially near the Quebec border)

French regions (départements/regions with traditional French):

  • Île-de-France (Paris region)
  • Grand Est
  • Hauts-de-France
  • Normandy
  • Centre-Val de Loire
  • Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
  • Occitanie
  • Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  • Brittany
  • Pays de la Loire

Note that within France, while there isn’t an English accent influence, there are regional variations in French accents (like the southern “Midi” accent or the Parisian accent).

I’d recommend experimenting in the Realtime API Playground to find the best prompts that work for your use case. There’s also a prompt builder that you can use to craft your prompts.

A note in a system interface states, "You have an Anglicized French accent." (Captioned by AI)
A note in a system interface states, "You have an Anglicized French accent." (Captioned by AI)646×312 10.1 KB

3 Likes
3

Hello, thanks I tried to be very very specific. The french is very good but I still here a little accent. I merge it with new HeyGen avatar feature for a newsletter.

(Sorry it’s in French)

4

Hi @sps ,

On the Realtime API playground, I have been experimenting with the Australian Accent. In the first exchange, it attempts to use an Australian accent.

In the subsequent interactions, I notice it reverting back to an American Accent.

Is there a prompt where you can specify it to be more strict on the accent? Can you specify a custom voice in the Realtime API?

Thanks,
Gaj