A helpful guide to Google Cloud’s text to speech

Google has numerous users, and it is one of the most popular platforms today. With the account, you will also get access to Google Cloud text to speech, which gives you a chance to explore the text-to-speech voice generator it offers.

What is Google’s text to speech service?

Speech Services is Google’s text to speech platform you can use. It is developed for Android, and you can use it on your smartphone. This screen reader supports numerous languages, it’s easy to use, and the quality is great.

Using Google’s text to speech API is quite simple, and there are plenty of features and functionalities you can explore. This means that you can optimize the AI voice to your liking, and further improve the accessibility of your device.

Why is it useful?

Text-to-speech software is developed to improve accessibility of various devices. The goal is to allow everyone to use the device, even if they struggle with reading. There are a couple of different disabilities that TTS apps can help with.

This includes dyslexia and other reading disorders, visual impairment, and so much more. But using these apps can also simplify things. You won’t need to read every bit of content on your own, and you can save so much time by listening to it instead.

Key features

When it comes to the key features, Google’s TTS gives you a chance to make your own voice. You can use audio recordings to train the app, and it is an excellent opportunity for those that always wanted to have a custom voice option.

The app also includes over 90 WaveNet high-quality voices, and each of them can be further adjusted in the settings. It is also possible to further customize the app using SSML tags, and you can easily add pauses, date and time formatting, numbers, and so much more.

Supported AI voices and languages

One of the main advantages of Google’s text-to-speech is that it supports many different accents, voices, and languages. You will also get a chance to choose between Basic, Neural, and WaveNet voices.

And since the app is focused on the dynamics and rhythm of each individual language, you can further experiment with different accents and settings.

Use cases

There are plenty of different ways you can use text to speech tools. Even if you don’t have dyslexia, it can still be a great tool to save time. You can listen to the content every time you go outside, and these apps can be perfect for e-learning. Especially for language learners.

Text to speech apps are also great for narration and voiceovers, and if you are a content creator, this is a simpler way to add audio files (mp3 or wav) to your videos. All you need to do is write the script, and the app will do the rest.

How do I use Google text to speech?

Using Google’s TTS is quite simple. If you are using a smartphone or any other Android-based device, you will find the screen reader in the accessibility tab. But if you are focusing on a PC and using the cloud text to speech, the process is a bit different.

Text to speech is also a part of Google’s Cloud, and if you want to use it, you will need to make an account. Once the account is ready, you can transcribe the text in the text box or run the API, and your audio will be available in no time.

Pricing

What many users would like to know is the pricing system this TTS app offers. The first thing to understand is that this text to speech app offers a free version, or rather, a number of characters you can use before you need to pay.

There are different pricing models based on whether you are using standard voices, WaveNet, or Neural2. Any type of character will count for the subscription, and this includes interpunction, SSML tags, and everything else that may appear in the text box.

Using Google’s neural networks for multilingual speech synthesis

The Google Cloud Text-to-Speech API harnesses advanced neural network technology to transform written text into lifelike spoken words. This powerful tool supports an expansive array of languages and dialects, allowing the creation of interactive applications that converse fluently with users around the globe. It features a broad selection of voices, each with unique timbres and rhythms, empowering developers to tailor the listening experience to the specific tone of their project.

Beyond voice variety, the API embraces the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML), offering a comprehensive suite of controls to finely tune speech characteristics, including pitch, emphasis, and cadence, thereby crafting speech that’s both dynamic and expressive.

Mastering the Google Cloud Console for API management

Initiating engagement with the Text-to-Speech API begins within the Google Cloud Console—a streamlined, intuitive interface designed for the effective administration of API functionalities. Developers are met with a robust dashboard that simplifies the oversight of services, security credentials, and financial tracking.

Within this platform, new projects can be swiftly initiated, the text-to-speech service activated, and vital API keys generated. The console stands as the operational hub, presenting analytics and logging capabilities that provide valuable insights, which developers can leverage to fine-tune their applications for peak performance and cost efficiency.

Customizing voice output with AudioConfig’s versatile parameters

Diving deeper into the Google Cloud Text-to-Speech API, the ‘AudioConfig’ parameter stands out, giving users control over how speech sounds. Here, you can change the ‘speaking rate’ to make the voice faster or slower, or tweak the ‘pitch’ to make it higher or lower.

The ‘audioContent’ is the end product you hear, and it can come in formats like OGG—ideal for clear sound that doesn’t eat up too much space.

The API’s compatibility with open-source practices means it’s easily incorporated into a variety of applications, broadening its usefulness. Features like ‘languageCode’ and ‘ssmlGender’ allow for customization across different languages and vocal tones, making it possible to craft a voice that can connect with users worldwide.

Authenticating and commanding the API with ease on Google’s cloud

Integrating the text-to-speech API into projects is made simpler with Google’s SDKs, which act as a toolkit for developers to implement Google’s artificial intelligence. Authentication is a crucial step, managed by creating a service account that generates a JSON file used for secure API requests.

For those who like to keep it straightforward, the Google Cloud Platform offers a command line interface, enabling developers to send requests to the API directly from their terminals.

Regardless of the method—whether a direct command line entry or through an elaborate application—the Google Cloud Text-to-Speech API is known for its straightforward usability, stringent security, and seamless developer experience.

Python and audioencoding: speech that’s tailored to any app

Python programmers will find Google’s client libraries a good resource, offering a clear path to incorporating text-to-speech features into their software. With a straightforward setup and minimal coding, API calls can be executed with ease.

The Text-to-Speech API’s AudioEncoding parameter accommodates various output preferences, including popular formats like MP3 and Linear16, to suit an array of playback contexts. Whether the need is for crystal-clear audio on high-speed internet or compact files for low-bandwidth environments, the API’s versatility ensures that synthesized speech is delivered optimally, enhancing accessibility across devices and network infrastructures.

Speechify

If you want something simpler, Speechify is one of the best text to speech apps you can find today. It will work on any device you can imagine (Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac), and the intuitive UI will eliminate the need for tutorials. Even absolute beginners can use it.

The app also works on any type of text file, and you can use it for PDFs, txt, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and even online texts via the Chrome extension. What makes it even better is that the app can convert physical texts to voice as well.

Furthermore, making the account will allow you to sync all the devices that use Speechify, and you can share files between them using Google Cloud, Dropbox, or iCloud. Finally, the app can use Audible files, which is perfect for those that have a digital library.

With natural-sounding speech, plenty of customization options, voice variants, and features you can explore, it is obvious why Speechify is one of the most popular TTS tools you can find today.

FAQs

What is Google text to speech and do I need it?

Google’s text to speech is a voice-generating app, and it’s perfect for those that are looking to improve the accessibility of their devices. It can also allow content creators to add narration to their videos, and it can help with e-learning.

Other popular TTS providers include Microsoft Azure, Amazon Polly, Speechify, and many others.

What are the benefits of Google Cloud text to speech?

The simplicity of the app with all the benefits it offers allows users to save so much time. You won’t need to read every single text on your own, and you can just use your headphones to listen to the content instead.

Can Google text to speech be used for voice recognition?

No. Text to speech or speech synthesis apps are designed to synthesize voice in real-time based on transcription, thanks to machine learning, deep learning, complex algorithms,  and artificial intelligence.

But if you are looking for speech recognition tools, you should check out speech-to-text instead.