Converts text, PDFs and e-books to Speech. TTSReader text to speech extracts the text from common files such as txt, pdf, epub and more. Want to listen to websites without having to copy their content to here? Then you should get our free extension for Chrome. Converts text, PDFs and e-books to Speech. TTSReader text to speech extracts the text from common files such as txt, pdf, epub and more. Want to listen to websites without having to copy their content to here? Then you should get our free extension for Chrome. Text2Speech is a free program that converts text into audible speech. You can play the text at a custom rate and volume, have the text be highlighted as it’s read, and export the text into a WAV file or an MP3 file. The program required.NET Framework 2.0 to run. 'Festival is a general multi-lingual speech synthesis system developed at CSTR. It offers a full text to speech system with various APIs, as well an environment for development and research of speech synthesis techniques.
As of the early 2000s, several speech recognition (SR) software packages exist for Linux. Some of them are free and open-source software and others are proprietary software. Speech recognition usually refers to software that attempts to distinguish thousands of words in a human language. Voice control may refer to software used for communicating operational commands to a computer.
- 1Linux native speech recognition
- 1.2Development status
- 1.3Speech recognition concept
- 3Running Windows speech recognition software with Linux
Linux native speech recognition[edit]
History[edit]
In the late 1990s, a Linux version of ViaVoice, created by IBM, was made available to users for no charge. In 2002, the free software development kit (SDK) was removed by the developer.
Development status[edit]
In the early 2000s, there was a push to get a high-quality Linux native speech recognition engine developed. As a result, several projects dedicated to creating Linux speech recognition programs were begun, such as Mycroft, which is similar to Microsoft Cortana, but open source.
Speech sample crowdsourcing[edit]
It is essential to compile a speech corpus to produce acoustic models for speech recognition projects. VoxForge is a free speech corpus and acoustic model repository that was built with the aim of collecting transcribed speech to be used in speech recognition projects. VoxForge accepts crowdsourced speech samples and corrections of recognized speech sequences. It is licensed under a GNU General Public License (GPL).
Speech recognition concept[edit]
The first step is to begin recording an audio stream on a computer. The user has two main processing options:
- Discrete speech recognition (DSR) – processes information on a local machine entirely. This refers to self-contained systems in which all aspects of SR are performed entirely within the user's computer. This is becoming critical for protecting intellectual property (IP) and avoiding unwanted surveillance (2018).
- Remote or server-based SR – transmits an audio speech file to a remote server to convert the file into a text string file. Due to recent cloud storage schemes and data mining, this method more easily allows surveillance, theft of information, and inserting malware.
Remote recognition was formerly used by smartphones because they lacked sufficient performance, working memory, or storage to process speech recognition within the phone. These limits have largely been overcome although server-based SR on mobile devices remains universal.
Speech recognition in browser[edit]
Discrete speech recognition can be performed within a web browser and works well with supported browsers. Remote SR does not require installing software on a desktop computer or mobile device as it is mainly a server-based system with the inherent security issues noted above.
- Remote: https://dictation.io (use Chromium/Chrome) The dictation service records an audio track of the user via a web browser. In turn, dictation.io uses the Google API for speech recognition. Within Google Docs, Google voice typing works within a Chrome browser, regardless of operating system as it is a server-based system.
- DSR: There are solutions that work on a client only, without sending data to servers, e.g. pocketsphinx.js.
Free speech recognition engines[edit]
The following is a list of projects dedicated to implementing speech recognition in Linux, and major native solutions. These are not end-user applications. These are programming libraries that may be used to develop end-user applications.
- CMU Sphinx is a general term to describe a group of speech recognition systems developed at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Julius is a high-performance, two-pass large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) decoder software for speech-related researchers and developers.
- Kaldi a toolkit for speech recognition provided under the Apache licence.
- Mozilla DeepSpeech is developing an open source Speech-To-Text engine based on Baidu's deep speech research paper.[1]
Possibly active projects:
- Parlatype, audio player for manual speech transcription for the GNOME desktop, provides since version 1.6 continuous speech recognition with CMU Sphinx.[2]
- Lera (Large Vocabulary Speech Recognition) based on Simon and CMU Sphinx for KDE.[3]
- Speechpad.pw[4] uses Google's speech recognition engine and Chrome native messaging API to provide direct speech input in Linux.
- Speech[5] uses Google's speech recognition engine to support dictation in many different languages.
- Speech Control: is a Qt-based application that uses CMU Sphinx's tools like SphinxTrain and PocketSphinx to provide speech recognition utilities like desktop control, dictation and transcribing to the Linux desktop.
- Platypus[6] is an open source shim that will allow the proprietary Dragon NaturallySpeaking running under Wine to work with any Linux X11 application.
- FreeSpeech,[7] from the developer of Platypus, is a free and open source cross-platform desktop application for GTK that uses CMU Sphinx's tools to provide voice dictation, language learning, and editing in the style of Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
- Vedics[8] (Voice Enabled Desktop Interaction and Control System) is a speech assistant for GNOME Environment
- GnomeVoiceControl[9] is a dialogue system to control the GNOME Desktop that was developed in the Google Summer of Code in 2007.
- NatI[10] is a multi-language voice control system written in Python
- SphinxKeys[11] allows the user to type keyboard keys and mouse clicks by speaking into their microphone.
- VoxForge is a free speech corpus and acoustic model repository for open source speech recognition engines.
- Simon[12] aims at being extremely flexible to compensate dialects or even speech impairments. It uses either HTK – Julius or CMU SPHINX, works on Windows and Linux and supports training (see Demo Video: Simon Dictation Prototype).
- Speeral Speeral a group of speech recognition tools developed at University of Avignon
- Jasper project[13] Jasper is an open source platform for developing always-on, voice-controlled applications. This is an embedded Raspberry Pi front-end for CMU Sphinx or Julius
It is possible for developers to create Linux speech recognition software by using existing packages derived from open-source projects.
Inactive projects:
- CVoiceControl[14] is a KDE and X Window independent version of its predecessor KVoiceControl. The owner ceased development in alpha stage of development.
- Open Mind Speech,[15] a part of the Open Mind Initiative,[16] aims to develop free (GPL) speech recognition tools and applications, and collect speech data. Production ended in 2000.
- PerlBox[17] is a perl based control and speech output. Development ended in early stages in 2004.
- Xvoice[18] A user application to provide dictation and command control to any X application. Development ended in 2009 during early project testing. (requires proprietary ViaVoice to function)
Proprietary speech recognition engines[edit]
- Verbio ASR[19] is a commercial speech recognition server for Linux and windows platforms.
- DynaSpeak,[20] from SRI International, (speaker-independent speech recognition software development kit that scales from small- to large-scale systems, for use in commercial, consumer, and military applications)
- Janus Recognition Toolkit (JRTk)[21] is a closed source speech recognition toolkit mainly targeted at Linux developed by the Interactive Systems Laboratories developed at Carnegie Mellon University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology for which commercial and research licenses are available.
- LumenVox Speech Engine is a commercial library for including in other software for Linux and Windows. It has been integrated into the Asterisk private branch exchange system.[22]
- VoxSigma is a speech recognition software suite developed by Vocapia Research.[23]
Voice control and keyboard shortcuts[edit]
Speech recognition usually refers to software that attempts to distinguish thousands of words in a human language. Voice control may refer to software used for sending operational commands to a computer or appliance. Voice control typically requires a much smaller vocabulary and thus is much easier to implement.
Simple software combined with keyboard shortcuts, have the earliest potential for practically accurate voice control in Linux.
Running Windows speech recognition software with Linux[edit]
Via compatibility layer[edit]
It is possible to use programs such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking in Linux, by using Wine, though some problems may arise, depending on which version is used.[24]
Via virtualized Windows[edit]
It is also possible to use Windows speech recognition software under Linux. Using no-cost virtualization software, it is possible to run Windows and NaturallySpeaking under Linux. VMware Server or VirtualBox support copy and paste to/from a virtual machine, making dictated text easily transferable to/from the virtual machine.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'A TensorFlow implementation of Baidu's DeepSpeech architecture'. Mozilla. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^Parlatype 1.6 released, Apr 24, 2019, http://gkarsay.github.io/parlatype/2019/04/24/v1.6.html Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^Lera KDE git repository – (2015) – https://cgit.kde.org/scratch/grasch/lera.git/ Retrieved 2017-07-25.
- ^'Speech to text online, Windows and Linux integration'. speechpad.pw.
- ^'andre-luiz-dos-santos/speech-app'. GitHub. 2018-07-12.
- ^'The Nerd Show – Platypus'. thenerdshow.com.
- ^'FreeSpeech Realtime Speech Recognition and Dictation'. TheNerdShow.com.
- ^'Vedics'.
- ^'Projects/GnomeVoiceControl – GNOME Wiki!'. wiki.gnome.org.
- ^'rcorcs/NatI'. GitHub. 2018-09-24.
- ^'worden341/sphinxkeys'. GitHub. 2016-07-11.
- ^Simon KDE – Main Developer until 2015 Peter Grasch – (accessed 2017/09/04) – [1]
- ^'Jasper'. GitHub.
- ^Kiecza, Daniel. 'Linux'. Kiecza.net.
- ^'Open Mind Speech – Free Speech Recognition for Linux'. freespeech.sourceforge.net.
- ^'Open Mind Initiative'. Archived from the original on 2003-08-05. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ^'Perlbox.org Linux Speech Control and Voice Recognition'. perlbox.sourceforge.net.
- ^'Xvoice'. xvoice.sourceforge.net.
- ^'Verbio'. www.verbio.com.
- ^'SRI Speech: Home'. www.speechatsri.com.
- ^(IAR), Roedder, Margit (26 January 2018). 'KIT – Janus Recognition Toolkit'. isl.ira.uka.de.
- ^'Speech and Multifactor Authentication Technologies'. LumenVox. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^'Speech to Text Software & Service – Speech Recognition Software'. Vocapia Research. 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ^'WineHQ – Dragon Naturally Speaking'. appdb.winehq.org.
External links[edit]
In years gone by, text to speech software was rather expensive, but these days there are excellent text to speech tools available free of charge. We're here to help you find the very best tools that will make converting written documents to audio files as easy as possible.
Text to speech software can be enormously helpful for anyone who's visually impaired, or has a condition like dyslexia that makes reading on screens tricky. It can also help overcome language barriers for people who read a language but don't speak it, or are in the process of learning.
Text to speech software is also ideal if you want to listen to a document while doing something else, if you find it easier to retain information you've heard, or if you want to sense-check something you've written.
Here's our pick of the best free text to speech software for reading either individual paragraphs or whole documents aloud.
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1. Balabolka
Save text as a spoken audio file, with customizable voices
There are a couple of ways to use Balabolka's free text to speech software: you can either copy and paste text into the program, or you can open a number of supported file formats (including DOC, PDF, and HTML) in the program directly. In terms of output you can use SAPI 4 complete with eight different voices to choose from, SAPI 5 with two, or the Microsoft Speech Platform if you download and install the necessary files. Whichever route you choose, you can adjust the speech, pitch and volume of playback to create custom voice.
In addition to reading words aloud, this free text to speech software can also save narrations as audio files in a range of formats including MP3 and WAV. For lengthy documents you can create bookmarks to make it easy to jump back to a specific location and there are excellent tools on hand to help you to customize the pronunciation of words to your liking.
With all these features to make life easier when reading text on a screen isn't an option, Balabolka is best free text to speech software around.
2. Natural Reader
Free text to speech software with its own web browser
Natural Reader is a free text to speech tool that can be used in a couple of ways. The first option is to load documents into its library and have them read aloud from there. This is a neat way to manage multiple files, and the number of supported file types is impressive, including ebook formats. There's also OCR, which enables you to load up a photo or scan of text, and have it read to you.
The second option takes the form of a floating toolbar. In this mode, you can highlight text in any application and use the toolbar controls to start and customize text to speech. This means you can very easily use the feature in your web browser, word processor and a range of other programs. There's also a built-in browser to convert web content to speech more easily.
3. Panopretor Basic
Easy text to speech conversion, with WAV and MP3 output
As the name suggests, Panopreter Basic delivers free text to speech conversion without frills. It accepts plain and rich text files, web pages and Microsoft Word documents as input, and exports the resulting sound in both WAV and MP3 format (the two files are saved in the same location, with the same name).
The default settings work well for quick tasks, but spend a little time exploring Panopreter Basic's Settings menu and you'll find options to change the language, destination of saved audio files, and set custom interface colors. The software can even play a piece of music once it's finished reading – a nice touch you won't find in other free text-to-speech software.
If you need something more advanced, a premium version of Panopreter is available for US$29.95 (about £20, AU$40). This edition offers several additional features including toolbars for Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer, the ability to highlight the section of text currently being read, and extra voices.
4. WordTalk
Linux Text To Speech Pdf Files
An extension that adds text to speech to your word processor
Developed by the University of Edinburgh, WordTalk is a toolbar add-on for Word that brings customizable text to speech to Microsoft Word. It works with all editions of Word and is accessible via the toolbar or ribbon, depending on which version you're using.
The toolbar itself is certainly not the most attractive you'll ever see, appearing to have been designed by a child. Nor are all of the buttons' functions very clear, but thankfully there's a help file on hand to help.
Best Speech To Text Software
There's no getting away from the fact that WordTalk is fairly basic, but it does support SAPI 4 and SAPI 5 voices, and these can be tweaked to your liking. The ability to just read aloud individual words, sentences or paragraphs is a particularly nice touch. You also have the option of saving narrations, and there are a number of keyboard shortcuts that allow for quick and easy access to frequently used options.
5. Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader
A great choice for converting text from websites to speech
Despite its basic looks, Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader has more to offer than you might first think. You can open numerous file formats directly in the program, or just copy and paste text.
Alternatively, as long as you have the program running and the relevant option enables, Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader can read aloud any text you copy to the clipboard – great if you want to convert words from websites to speech – as well as dialog boxes that pop up. Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader can also convert text files to WAV format.
Unfortunately the selection of voices is limited, and the only settings you can customize are volume and speed unless you burrow deep into settings to fiddle with pronunciations. Additional voices are available for a US$25 fee (about £20, AU$30), which seems rather steep, holding it back from a higher place in our list.