Free The Voices, The First Diverse Synthetic Voice Bank Adds a New Voice

LLYC announces the launch of Vega, the fifth diverse synthetic voice created from its innovative “Free The Voices” project. This new advancement has been achieved thanks to the voices donated by the community through the project’s official landing page, obtaining contributions from four languages: English, Spanish, European Portuguese, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Developed in collaboration with Monoceros Labs and their Fonos product, “Free The Voices” is the first diverse synthetic voice bank that combats biases against voices from the LGBTIQ+ community. The project aims to dismantle biases and discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community by creating a more inclusive and representative digital environment. This innovative project has enabled the collection of over 500 voices from the community across 12 countries, ensuring that vocal diversity is reflected in digital platforms.

Since its inception, “Free The Voices” has sought to increase the visibility of diverse voices and raise awareness about the prejudices associated with voice. The launch of this fifth synthetic voice marks a significant milestone in our commitment to promoting inclusion and equity.

David González Natal, Partner at LLYC and project leader, commented: “The creation of this fifth voice is a testament to the power of community and technology working in harmony. Each donated voice represents a story, an identity, and is essential for dismantling stereotypes and building a future where all voices are valued and respected. We are incredibly grateful for the support and participation of everyone who has contributed.”

The process of creating the fifth voice involved collecting recordings through freethevoices.llyc.global, a platform where individuals from the LGBTIQ+ community and allies read a manifesto designed to capture a wide range of vocal characteristics. This process also ensured that the donated voices were treated with the utmost respect and privacy, without collecting additional personal data.

Vega is now available on Fonos, along with Libertas, Castor, Fulu, and Hatysa, the four previous voices created in the project. These voices are ready for anyone to use freely in their audiovisual and creative projects, from videos and podcasts to video games and advertisements, contributing to a more inclusive and representative digital environment.