Five Apps: Text-to-speech tools

Text-to-speech applications

This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic article.

Text-to-speech applications have a number of different\r\nuses. They can assist the visually impaired by reading various screen elements,\r\nand they’re also useful to writers. Text-to-speech engines have\r\nthe ability to verbally read a document, thereby making the proof-reading\r\nprocess a lot easier. Here are five text-to-speech applications.

1. Text Speaker

\r\nText Speaker is a text-to-speech utility that has some really nice extras built in. It costs $29.95 (USD), but a free trial version\r\nis available for download.

Text Speaker setup wizard

Follow the prompts to download and setup Text Speaker.

Text Speaker voice properties

In Text Speaker, the voice is fully\r\ncustomizable. You can download a variety\r\nof different voices for use with the utility.

Text Speaker conversion process

Another nice feature in Text Speaker is the ability to convert a document\r\nto an audio recording. 

Text Speaker Talking Reminders

My personal favorite feature is the Talking Reminders.\r\nThe software allows you to set up reminders for various events, and then it verbally reminds you of them.

2. Verbose Text to Speech

Verbose Text to Speech is another utility for converting a block of text into speech. It costs $40.00 (USD), but a free trial is\r\navailable for download.

Verbose Text to Speech load text

Text can be loaded from a\r\nfile and pasted into the interface, or you can load a text file directly. 

Verbose Text to Speech saving files

In addition to being able\r\nto read text aloud, the utility can also save the speech as an audio file or audio CD. 

Verbose Text to Speech options

The utility also allows you\r\nto choose from a couple of different voices.

Verbose Text to Speech voice pronunciations

Under Voice Pronunciation, check your Voice Selection.

3. Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader

Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader is a free utility for converting text into speech. 

Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader File

The interesting thing about\r\nUltra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader is that it is more of a speech-enabled text\r\neditor than a text-to-speech engine. 

Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader Edit

Edit features.

Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader Format

The software offers basic\r\nfont formatting capabilities, which is something that you wouldn’t ordinarily\r\nexpect to find in a text-to-speech utility.

Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader Options

Available options.

4. Sayvoice Text to Speech Reader

Sayvoice Text to Speech Reader is a basic text to speech reader. It costs $47.98 (USD), but a free trial is available for download.

Sayvoice Text to Speech Reader skins

The one feature Sayvoice has that the other\r\nutilities I reviewed didn’t is the ability to choose from a\r\nvariety of skins.

Sayvoice Text to Speech Reader controls

This lightweight utility\r\ndoesn’t have a lot of controls. You can pick from a few different voices, plus adjust the pitch and speed of the speech. 

Sayvoice Text to Speech Reader export

You can also export the speech to an\r\naudio file.

5. Alive Text to Speech

Alive Text to Speech is another text to speech engine. It costs $29.95 (USD), but a free trial is available for download.

Alive Text to Speech conversion

The cool thing about Alive\r\nText to Speech is that the program starts out by giving you a quick tutorial on\r\nhow to use it. This is helpful because speech commands are integrated into\r\nWindows Explorer.

Alive Text to Speech options

The tool also features an\r\nadd-in for Internet Explorer. 

Alive Text to Speech with Windows

Additionally, the tool is\r\nconfigured to automatically use the Windows clipboard. When you copy a block of\r\ntext to the clipboard, the text is automatically read. Unfortunately, Alive Text to Speech does not\r\nseem to work with Windows 8.