diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 15390b4e..c7514671 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 ToDos in Priority order:
   
 - try to consume shortcuts
-- convert pitch to percent in config
-- convert rate to percent in config
   
 - implement commands
   set_copy_begin_mark
@@ -123,6 +121,9 @@ except KeyboardInterrupt:
 - performance tuning
 - add sound volume
 - convert volume to percent in config
+- convert pitch to percent in config
+- convert rate to percent in config
+
 - default soundIcon theme (soundfiles)  
 - implement commands
   curr_word
diff --git a/config/settings/settings.conf b/config/settings/settings.conf
index 63b0d4b0..cdf317e9 100644
--- a/config/settings/settings.conf
+++ b/config/settings/settings.conf
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ volume=1.0
 [speech]
 enabled=True
 driver=espeak
-rate=800
-pitch=50
+rate=0.75
+pitch=0.5
 module=espeak
 voice=en-us
 language=en-us
diff --git a/src/fenrir-package/core/outputManager.py b/src/fenrir-package/core/outputManager.py
index 0a75f112..cb04aa0e 100644
--- a/src/fenrir-package/core/outputManager.py
+++ b/src/fenrir-package/core/outputManager.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class outputManager():
         if self.playSoundIcon(environment, soundIconName, interrupt):
             return
         self.speakText(environment, text, interrupt)
-        self.brailleText(environment, text)
+        self.brailleText(environment, text, interrupt)
 
     def speakText(self, environment, text, interrupt=True):
         if not environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsBool(environment, 'speech', 'enabled'):
@@ -18,23 +18,23 @@ class outputManager():
             self.interruptOutput(environment)
         environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setLanguage(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSetting(environment, 'speech', 'language'))            
         environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setVoice(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSetting(environment, 'speech', 'voice'))
-        environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setPitch(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsInt(environment, 'speech', 'pitch'))
-        environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setSpeed(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsInt(environment, 'speech', 'rate'))
+        environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setPitch(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsFloat(environment, 'speech', 'pitch'))
+        environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setSpeed(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsFloat(environment, 'speech', 'rate'))
         environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setModule(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSetting(environment, 'speech', 'module'))
         environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].setVolume(environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsFloat(environment, 'speech', 'volume'))
         environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].speak(text)
 
-    def brailleText(self, environment, text, soundIconName = '', interrupt=True):
+    def brailleText(self, environment, text, interrupt=True):
         if not environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsBool(environment, 'braille', 'enabled'):
             return
         if environment['runtime']['brailleDriver'] == None:
             return        
-        print('braille')
+        print('braille:'+text)
     def interruptOutput(self, environment):
         environment['runtime']['speechDriver'].cancel()
         environment['runtime']['soundDriver'].cancel()
 
-    def playSoundIcon(self, environment, soundIconName, interrupt=True):
+    def playSoundIcon(self, environment, soundIconName = '', interrupt=True):
         if soundIconName == '':
             return False
         if not environment['runtime']['settingsManager'].getSettingAsBool(environment, 'sound', 'enabled'):
diff --git a/src/fenrir-package/core/settings.py b/src/fenrir-package/core/settings.py
index 6e0dfe8e..4e7d750e 100644
--- a/src/fenrir-package/core/settings.py
+++ b/src/fenrir-package/core/settings.py
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ settings = {
 'speech':{
     'enabled': True,
     'driver':'speechd',
-    'rate': 1,
-    'pitch': 1,
+    'rate': 0.75,
+    'pitch': 0.5,
     'module': '',
     'voice': 'de',
     'language': 'de',
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ settings = {
 'general':{
   'keyboardLayout': "desktop",
   'debugLevel': debug.debugLevel.DEACTIVE,
-  'punctuationLevel': 1 
+  'punctuationLevel': 1,
 },
 'keyboard':{
   'device':"all",
diff --git a/src/fenrir-package/speech/espeak.py b/src/fenrir-package/speech/espeak.py
index d008cd14..37a82ee1 100644
--- a/src/fenrir-package/speech/espeak.py
+++ b/src/fenrir-package/speech/espeak.py
@@ -43,12 +43,12 @@ class speech():
     def setPitch(self, pitch):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
-        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Pitch, pitch) 
+        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Pitch, int(pitch * 99)) 
 
     def setSpeed(self, speed):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
-        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Rate, speed) 
+        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Rate, int(speed*450 + 80))
 
     def setModule(self, module):
         if not self._isInitialized:
diff --git a/src/fenrir-package/speech/speechd.py b/src/fenrir-package/speech/speechd.py
index 7d4fbdc1..d1ed470e 100644
--- a/src/fenrir-package/speech/speechd.py
+++ b/src/fenrir-package/speech/speechd.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class speech():
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
         try:
-            self._sd.set_pitch(pitch) 
+            self._sd.set_pitch(int(-100 + pitch * 200)) 
             return True
         except:
             return False
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class speech():
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
         try:
-            self._sd.set_rate(speed)
+            self._sd.set_rate(int(-100 + speed * 200))
             return True
         except:
             return False