Text to speech on MacBook and text to speech Mac shortcuts are essential if you are looking to save time, increase productivity, and improve accessibility.
How to use text to speech on MacBook and text to speech Mac shortcuts
Many people own MacBooks, and they are powerful computers. If you are one of numerous Mac users, you might want to check out your text to speech (TTS) options for the Mac operating system. It can be so beneficial for you, and it’s easy to use.
What is text to speech on a MacBook, and how does it work?
Text to speech is a type of speech synthesis software that allows you to easily convert text into speech with an AI-generated voice. What this means is that you can use an existing text, and the program will read it to you.
Using text to speech apps can be quite helpful. So, how does it work? All you need to do is enable your chosen TTS app, and once you do, you will be able to convert any type of text—from web pages to Microsoft Word documents and more—into an audio file.
The app will then go through the text and read it aloud. You will get a chance to customize the speaking rate, languages, accents, and so much more.
There are many text to speech options for MacOS.
How to enable text to speech on your MacBook
The first thing you will need to do is find an app that works on MacBooks and install it on your device. Fortunately, there are plenty of options to choose from. As for the choice, why not pick the best text to speech app available on the market—Speechify.
Once you install Speechify from the App Store, using it is quite easy. The app works on your desktop, and also has both Safari and Google Chrome web browser extensions. Speechify Premium additionally supports OCR, which allows you to snap a photo of a text, and the character recognition will turn the text into audio.
This can save you so much time, and the quality of the app will create a seamless experience for your text to speech needs.
How to use text to speech with different applications
Text to speech APIs work with numerous applications. One of the most common uses is with browsers like Safari or Chrome, and you can add it as an extension. The type of settings and functions you will get mostly depends on the TTS tool you choose. You can also download apps for your Apple desktop or mobile devices—whether that be your MacBook, iPhone, or iPad.
The majority of well-known brands have their own version of text to speech. These include Speechify, Google Cloud Text to Speech Amazon Polly, Microsoft Azure, NaturalReader, and many more.
You can also check out the native TTS app on MacOS, although its functionality is quite limited compared to a more robust TTS app like Speechify.
Text to speech Mac shortcuts
Starting a text to speech app is quite simple—and if you use keyboard shortcuts, the process is even quicker. Follow these steps to turn on text to speech MacBook shortcuts:
- Head over to the Apple menu or Dock, and open System Preferences. A new window will open up.
- Click the Accessibility section in the new window. On the left side of the panel, locate the Speech section.
- See the checkbox “Speak selected text when the key is pressed.” The default key is Option+Esc, but you can add any key you want. Once you do this, using the text to speech feature is as simple as it can be.
- Highlight the text you want to hear, press the shortcut, and the app will start speaking. Once the text is over, the app will stop speaking, and you can select a different piece of text.
The benefits of using text to speech on your MacBook
There are so many benefits of using text to speech apps on your MacBook. First, you will be able to save so much time by not having to read everything. It is great for business, and it will make checking emails a lot more enjoyable.
You can turn on the app and multitask while listening to your emails, social media, favorite web pages, news articles, documents for work, and so much more. Individuals who struggle with reading due to dyslexia, visual impairment, or any other disability can also benefit from Speechify as an excellent accessibility tool. There are people who need a lot of time to finish a single page, and you won’t need to struggle with Speechify or any other TTS tool. Speechify even has a screen reader feature that will highlight the text as it reads it out loud, so users can follow along.
Tips for improving your text to speech experience on MacBook
There are several ways you can improve the experience on your MacBook if you plan on using text to speech tools. The first tip on the list is to ensure the app works properly.
Text to speech programs aren’t always perfect, and the only way you can ensure they work as intended is to focus on spelling and grammar. It’s not rare for someone to make a mistake while typing, but the program won’t be able to spot the error.
This means that you should focus on both spelling and punctuation. Having a question mark at the end of the sentence will change the way the app reads it to you.
Furthermore, you should adjust the sound and voice in your chosen TTS app by customizing it to your listening preference in terms of reading speed, language, and voice quality. But to simplify things even further, you can always download the Speechify app for many incredible and easy-to-use features.
Get text to speech on MacBook with Speechify
Speechify is one of the best options if you are looking for a text to speech tool. It is easy to use, and the intuitive UI makes it an excellent option for beginners. The app lets you choose between numerous languages, accents, and speak selections.
But the most appealing thing about Speechify is that the voiceovers sound so natural. This is one of the primary reasons so many users prefer using Speechify and why it is one of the most popular TTS apps for Macs today. With the addition of OCR technology, Speechify also allows you to use screenshots instead of text files, which is a huge bonus.
Speechify works on any Apple device including iPhones, iPads, or anything using iOS—as well as Android and Windows devices. This means that you can easily add it to your MacBook, and the app will instantly start saving you time and improving your accessibility.
Experience the difference of text to speech on MacBook with Speechify today.
FAQs
What is the shortcut for text to speech on Mac?
The default shortcut for opening text to speech on Mac is Option+Esc—but you can change it at any point.
How do you dictate and type on a Mac?
In the System Preferences section of the menu, you will move the cursor to the Keyboard and Dictation option within it. Once you pick a keyboard shortcut, you can start the app by pressing the selected keys.
What is the hotkey for text to speech for mac?
To start the text to speech on macOS or mac OS x, all you need to do is press Option+Esc, unless you picked a different key combination.
What is text to speech?
Text to speech is a voice synthesis software that uses AI to create a reading system voice for the text. With it, you can have your device read text aloud, and it is a great way to convert text files to audio.
