facebook pixel Skip to Main Content
Idaho State University home
Apply
Give

Text-to-Speech

Text-to-Speech (TTS) is a technology that converts written text into spoken words. It works by processing the text and using a synthesized voice to "read" it aloud. TTS is used in various applications such as virtual assistants, audiobooks, navigation systems, accessibility tools for people with visual impairments, and more. The goal of TTS is to make information more accessible and provide a human-like auditory experience.

Some TTS systems can produce voices with various tones, accents, and languages to make the speech sound more natural.

Built-in TTS Features

  • Windows:
    • Narrator is a built-in TTS tool that reads text aloud on your screen.
    • To enable it, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Narrator.
  • macOS:
    • The VoiceOver feature is the built-in screen reader.
    • To turn it on, go to System Preferences > Accessibility > VoiceOver.
  • iOS/Android:
    • Both iOS and Android devices have built-in TTS settings under Accessibility. On iOS, it’s called Spoken Content, and on Android, it’s Text-to-Speech settings.

Third-Party TTS Apps & Software

  • Natural Reader (Windows, Mac, Web):
    • Offers a wide range of natural-sounding voices with high-quality output.
    • Free version available, with additional features available in paid plans.
  • Balabolka (Windows):
    • A free TTS tool that supports a variety of voices.
    • It allows you to save the speech as audio files for later use.
  • Speechify (Web, Chrome extension, iOS, Android):
    • Converts text into speech and offers many voices.
    • Great for reading articles, PDFs, and eBooks aloud.

Online Text-to-Speech Websites

  • TTSReader (Web):
    • A free, easy-to-use website that reads aloud text you input or paste.
    • It supports multiple languages and voices.
  • Voicepods (Web):
    • Provides a cloud-based TTS service with good-quality voices, especially useful for creating voiceovers or audio content from text.
  • Capti Voice (Web, iOS):
    • A versatile TTS tool designed for education, work, and personal use. It reads documents, web content, and more.

Browser Extensions

  • Read Aloud (Chrome extension):
    • A simple TTS extension that reads web pages aloud. Supports a variety of voices and languages.
  • SpeakIt! (Chrome extension):
    • Another TTS extension for Chrome that reads aloud text from web pages.

Things to Consider:

  • Voice Quality: Some tools have more natural-sounding voices, especially those that use neural networks or machine learning (e.g., Google Cloud or Amazon Polly).
  • Languages and Accents: Make sure the TTS software you choose supports the languages and accents you need.
  • Cost: Free tools usually have limitations, while premium tools offer more features and better voice quality.