 Nowadays
GPS units aren't the basic turn left, turn right units they once were. Many now offer text-to-speech voice direction, and most Garmin nüvi's will actually accept custom voices. Those using a nuvi with text to speech could find the common 'Jack' and
'Jill' vocal selections a tad dull. As an interesting alternative, users can record your own voice or that of a friend or family member. One could have their Grandpa Smith guiding them through the streets of Manhattan. Garmins Voice Studio
is the tool to accomplish this task. To get started, download
the free Garmin Voice Studio program, from www.garmin.com, and install it on your PC (not Mac compatible just yet). You
will be led through a series of phrases that can be edited and
reviewed directly within the application. To achieve the best quality
recordings, an external microphone is recommended. Once finished,
you'll be ready to go with custom voices on your compatible device! It's fun, it's easy, and it's a great way to add a bit of personality to your device!
Compatible Garmin products: the aera
series, the GPSMAP 620 & 640, the nuvi series (except for the 3xx and 6xx models), and the zumo series. | 
