a telephone operator voice storage and retrieval system is capable of presenting to the caller a played - back , previously recorded response message in the actual voice of the operator on duty at the time . the operator is also able to follow - up the played - back , previously recorded response message with a conversation with the caller , without the caller detecting a change in the characteristics of the caller &# 39 ; s perceived operator voice . the storage and retrieval system employs a voice analyzer / synthesizer coupled between a response message memory and an audio inteface to the operator &# 39 ; s audio equipment . after the storage of a series of response messages , prepared by the operator , the system is ready for use in answering incoming calls . in this playback mode , as incoming calls are monitored , the appropriate operator &# 39 ; s voice enunciated response message is accessed from memory and , via the voice synthesizer and an audio interface , that message is played back to the caller . when the caller speaks again , the operator , who has been on - line the entire time but has been relieved of the need to actually recite the response phrase , now proceeds to converse with the caller . the audio interface contains automatic level control circuitry which ensures that there is effectively no difference in the recorded voice played back to the caller and the &# 34 ; live &# 34 ; voice spoken by the operator . as a result , the storage and retrieval system is listener transparent .