As the name implies, Text-to-Speech software allows one to have anything that is in text on the computer spoken. Using automated voice technology, the computer creates a voice according to specifications that is used to read the text.
This has obvious uses for those that are visually impaired in any way. This makes this issue of small text a non-issue. Merely use the Text to Speech software to read whatever is less than adequately visible.
But besides the aforementioned uses, Text to Speech software can be used to have a lot of fun and can be very convenient. It can be used to send voice messages via email to friends. It can be used to read text that one does not have time to read.
One example: I can do house work and have my computer read me a document at the same time. This allows me to study a subject and get some things done around the house.
Another example: I sent my youngest son a message on his email. It is a lot of fun giving him instructions in another voice and joking with him via the computer.
Be creative and find your own fun and business use for Text to Speech software.
First of all, Windows has some good Text-to-Speech (TTS) software available to use with your PC. Ever tried it? Here’s how.
Go to Start>Control Panel>Speech. Then select the Text to Speech tab. Here you can select which options you want and control the sound and speed of the voice used.
After these selections are made, if you want to have the Narrator use the TTS for Windows, hit the CTRL and ESC buttons at the same time. Then hit R. This will give you the Run command. Type in Narrator and it will go from there, giving you options and settings that you can play with.
There are also a few other free TTS programs available to Windows users.
1. Speakonia: Speakonia is some great free TTS software that is very easy to use and install.
Just go to the Resources section of this article and check on the download link for Speakonia. It downloads and sets up as easily as most Windows programs do.
Then, once you have Speakonia open, take a look at the options. Anything you put in your clip-board (anything you cut, or copy, etc.) will be read by Speakonia as long as it is open. Or, you can cut and paste words from Word documents and PDF files and the like in the text square for Speakonia.
The true fun with TTS software, as with Speakonia, is adjusting the voice options and finding just the right voice to suit your needs. Speakonia has a variety of different voices to pick from and a sliding bar of setting for each voice to adjust things like pitch and speed.
One good option with most TTS software is the ability to save the text as a sound file (WAV file). To do this with Speakonia you must register your software. Easily done, just provide an email address and feedback so that they can work on improvements for their free software. That done, you now have the ability to save whatever you are having read as a WAV file. Later, you can send that file to someone else or re-listen to it. If you choose, you can then use a third party software to convert the WAV file to an MP3 file and play it on your MP3 player to, perhaps, study while you are working out. A possible free option for converting these types of files is RiverPast’s WAV to MP3.
2. SayzMe. Very simple TTS freeware, SayzMe makes TTS easy. Speakonia is easy, but SayzMe is even simpler. Cut and paste and you are reading things that are printed on your screen. Only one voice is available but you can adjust the settings as you see fit. You can be up and running with SayzMe in minutes. Good freeware, but very basic.
3. But the best free TTS freeware that I found was Ultra Hal Text to Speech Reader (listed in Resources under Zabaware). Hal has a great selection of voices and multiple different settings. Some of the voices even have options like “Mike in a Hall” which, as you might have guessed, features the voice “Mike” in a hallway. You also have choices like “Mike in Space,” or “Mary,” or “Mary in a Hall.” Very fun.
And Hal’s voices can be adjusted the most I’ve seen of the freeware I looked at. Hal also gives you the ability to save things as WAV files right out of the install. As with the others, the clipboard and cut to paste options immediately get Hal to reading with any of the voice options that you have selected already.
Do paperwork and have the computer read to you. Send computerized voices to your friends via email. Have the computer read that tiny print. However you use it, TTS software can be a great asset.
