Text-to-Speech API in C#

In recent years, text-to-speech (TTS) technology has made significant strides, enabling a wide range of applications from accessibility tools to interactive voice response systems. As a software engineer with a penchant for making complex topics understandable, I’m excited to guide you through creating a text-to-speech application in C#. This tutorial will cover the essentials using Microsoft Azure's Cognitive Services and the .NET ecosystem, providing you with a solid foundation to build upon.

Getting Started with Text-to-Speech in C#

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, ensure you have the following set up:

• Visual Studio: An integrated development environment (IDE) for C#.
• .NET Core SDK: A cross-platform .NET implementation for building modern applications.
• Azure Subscription: Required to access Azure Cognitive Services.
• NuGet Package Manager: For managing dependencies in your project.

Step 1: Create a New .NET Core Console Application

Open Visual Studio and create a new .NET Core console application. Name your project something meaningful, like TextToSpeechDemo.

bash

dotnet new console -n TextToSpeechDemo

cd TextToSpeechDemo

Step 2: Install Required NuGet Packages

Install the Microsoft.CognitiveServices.Speech NuGet package, which contains the SDK for Azure Cognitive Services.

bash

dotnet add package Microsoft.CognitiveServices.Speech

Step 3: Set Up Azure Cognitive Services

1. Create an Azure Cognitive Services Account: Navigate to the Azure portal and create a Cognitive Services account.
2. Obtain API Keys: Once the account is created, get your API keys and endpoint URL.

Step 4: Write the Code

In your Program.cs file, you’ll use the following namespaces:

csharp

using System;

using Microsoft.CognitiveServices.Speech;

csharp

namespace TextToSpeechDemo

{

    class Program

    {

        static async Task Main(string[] args)

        {

            var config = SpeechConfig.FromSubscription("YourSubscriptionKey", "YourServiceRegion");

            using var synthesizer = new SpeechSynthesizer(config);

            var result = await synthesizer.SpeakTextAsync("Hello, this is a text-to-speech demo using Azure Cognitive Services.");

            

            if (result.Reason == ResultReason.SynthesizingAudioCompleted)

            {

                Console.WriteLine("Speech synthesized to speaker successfully.");

            }

            else if (result.Reason == ResultReason.Canceled)

            {

                var cancellation = SpeechSynthesisCancellationDetails.FromResult(result);

                Console.WriteLine($"Error synthesizing. Reason: {cancellation.Reason}");

                Console.WriteLine($"Error details: {cancellation.ErrorDetails}");

            }

        }

    }

}

Replace "YourSubscriptionKey" and "YourServiceRegion" with your actual Azure Cognitive Services subscription key and service region.

Step 5: Run the Application

Run your application in Visual Studio. You should hear the text "Hello, this is a text-to-speech demo using Azure Cognitive Services." spoken aloud. This demonstrates the basic functionality of converting text to speech.

Step 6: Enhance the Application

Using SSML for Advanced Control

Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) allows for more control over the speech output, such as voice, pitch, rate, and volume.

csharp

var ssml = @"



    

        Hello, this is an SSML based text-to-speech synthesis.

    

";

var result = await synthesizer.SpeakSsmlAsync(ssml);

Saving Speech to an Audio File

You can also save the synthesized speech to an audio file.

csharp

var audioConfig = AudioConfig.FromWavFileOutput("output.wav");

using var synthesizer = new SpeechSynthesizer(config, audioConfig);

var result = await synthesizer.SpeakTextAsync("This text will be saved to an audio file.");

Exploring Other Options

Google Cloud Text-to-Speech

For those interested in exploring Google Cloud’s TTS, there are APIs available that provide similar functionality. You would need the Google.Cloud.TextToSpeech.V1 NuGet package and follow a similar setup process.

Open Source and Other Languages

There are open-source options and APIs available for other languages like Python, Java, and JavaScript. These can be useful for integrating TTS functionality into web applications or cross-platform software.

With the basics covered, you can now explore the vast potential of text-to-speech technology. Whether you’re building accessibility tools, creating interactive applications, or simply experimenting, TTS provides a powerful way to enhance user experiences.

For more detailed information, refer to the official Microsoft docs and explore GitHub repositories for more examples and advanced use cases.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. Happy coding!

How to make text to speech in C#?

Use the System.Speech.Synthesis namespace in C# .NET on Windows to create a text-to-speech application, as shown in many beginner tutorials.

Is text to speech API free?

Some text-to-speech APIs offer free tiers with limited usage, such as the Google API and Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services.

How to convert speech-to-text in C#?

Use Azure Cognitive Services or Google API for speech recognition in C# .NET, leveraging available SDKs and libraries for easy integration.

How do I create a text to speech API?

Develop a text-to-speech API using System.Speech.Synthesis in ASP.NET for C# .NET applications, providing options for different voices, including female, and supporting various languagecode settings.