Here's how to use a text to speech desktop app and how to download the best TTS app for desktop.
How to use a text to speech desktop app
The demand for accessible, versatile, and user-friendly tools is on the rise. One such tool making waves are text to speech (TTS) desktop apps, a game-changing technology designed to convert written content into audible formats. Whether you’re an e-learning enthusiast, an avid reader, or simply someone seeking a more hands-free way to engage with text, TTS apps offer a plethora of benefits. This guide delves into the world of TTS, its various applications, and how you can seamlessly incorporate it into your digital routine, spotlighting Speechify as a leader in this realm.
What is text to speech?
Text to speech (TTS), often termed speech synthesis, is an innovative technology that turns written text into audible speech. TTS technology has been embedded in a multitude of apps, e-learning modules, audiobooks, and specific text software tools. Whether you’re navigating through Microsoft Word docs or browsing web pages, TTS tools and apps are designed to read aloud virtually any written content with precision.
It is important to note that text to speech is not the same as speech recognition or dictation apps. Text to speech readers will read your text files out loud to you in human voices, while speech recognition and dictation apps transcribe human voices and turn them into text.
Benefits of using a desktop text to speech application
There are many reasons to use a desktop TTS app, including:
- Accessibility for people with disabilities: For individuals with dyslexia or visual impairments, TTS apps can be a transformative tool. By vocalizing content, these tools make it considerably more accessible and understandable.
- Multitasking: Imagine being able to listen to your PDF reports or web pages while working on other tasks or even while exercising. The possibilities are endless.
- E-learning: For online courses, tutorials, and academic modules, TTS is indispensable, serving varied learning preferences effectively.
- Audiobooks and podcasts: With TTS, you can quickly transform any text content into an audio format, effectively creating your collection of audiobooks or podcasts.
- Language learning: Modern TTS tools come with multiple language options, from Spanish to Portuguese, enabling users to hear and learn accurate pronunciations and dialects.
- Customization: Many apps offer adjustable reading speeds, voice tones, and pitch, ensuring a comfortable listening experience.
- Transcription and dictation: Beyond just converting written text to speech, some advanced tools also offer dictation and transcription features, making content creation simpler.
The realm of text to speech software is expansive and growing, with applications capable of converting an array of text—from web pages, txt documents, to intricate docx files—into pristine, natural-sounding audio files. These tools are not just for those with disabilities. They serve a broader audience looking for diverse ways to consume content. With giants like Microsoft and Apple stepping into the arena, and with the integration of tools like Chrome’s web browser extension and diverse file format support, the horizon for TTS looks promising and technologically thrilling.
How to use a desktop app to convert text to Speech
- Download and install: Start by selecting the best text to speech software suitable for your operating system (Windows, macOS, etc.). Windows 10 users have a multitude of choices, one of the most notable being the ‘speech to text software free download for windows 10’.
- Select your text: This can be any text—from pdf files, txt, doc, docx, to epub and html.
- Choose a voice: Modern TTS tools are equipped with a plethora of natural-sounding voices, mimicking human vocal tones and nuances in multiple languages.
- Convert: Once satisfied, initiate the conversion process.
- Playback or save: Users can either immediately listen to the converted audio or save it in various formats like wav, mp3 files, or wma for later.
Speechify: The best text to speech desktop app
While there are numerous contenders like Balabolka and NaturalReader, Speechify is often lauded as the pinnacle of text to speech desktop apps. So, what makes Speechify stand out?
- High-quality voices: It boasts human-like voices that sound incredibly natural, with multilingual options including Spanish, Portuguese, and many more different languages.
- Broad functionality: From seamlessly reading Microsoft Word docs to web browser content via Chrome extensions, Speechify promises comprehensive coverage.
- Multiple format support: Be it PDF files, Microsoft docs, txt, rtf, or html, Speechify manages all with ease.
- Cross-platform integration: It’s designed for an array of devices, from desktops and laptops to Android smartphones and iOS devices like iPhones.
- Free premium versions: While its advanced features can be found in Speechify Premium, Speechify’s free version still stands as the best free text to speech app with a wide range of functionalities.
- OCR technology: With optical character recognition in the premium version, Speechify can read text aloud from pictures of print text.
How to download Speechify
If you want to use Speechify as your preferred text to speech desktop app, it’s easy to download and get started. Here’s what to do:
- Visit speechify: Navigate to the Speechify platform and click on the text to audio link.
- Choose your purpose: Define your text to speech goals, whether for work, school, or leisure.
- Download the app: You’ll see options to determine your primary use – productivity, leisure reading, or academic study.
- Voice selection: Choose from a range of natural-sounding voices available in multiple languages.
- Customize speech rate: Tailor the speed of speech based on your needs. For casual listening like podcasts, opt for a faster rate; for in-depth learning from a PDF, choose a slower pace.
- Account creation: Set up your Speechify account using a Google email or by creating a dedicated Speechify account.
- Install Chrome extension: You’ll be directed to the Speechify text to speech chrome extension. Download and install it for enhanced text to speech features on various file formats.
- Pin the extension: Add the Speechify extension to your Chrome toolbar for quick access.
- Explore tutorials: Access video tutorials to familiarize yourself with the platform’s features, usable across devices like laptops or iPhones.
- Add text: Within the Speechify Chrome extension, decide the content type you want to be read out loud—be it a web link, text document, or PDF. Use the “+” button to upload your desired text.
Try the free version of Speechify today, and consider Speechify Premium to access even more amazing TTS features.
