Text-to-speech (TTS) software is a cutting-edge technology that helps convert text formats into voice outputs. Also known as speech synthesis, text-to-speech is an assistive technology that accurately interprets any form of text document and web page. Businesses widely employ it to enhance the user experience, increase engagement, and make the data more accessible. The advancement of artificial intelligence has allowed for more natural-sounding voices that often sound almost indistinguishable from authentic voices.
Modern TTS software offers diverse features that cater to various needs and preferences. It includes one or more of the following functions: voice selection, speed and pitch adjustment, multilingual support, and voice customization. With TTS software, users can modulate and tailor the reading experience to the desired pace and vocal tone, break down language barriers, and enhance comprehension. They can also add synthesized voices to their websites or applications, typically via an application programming interface (API).
TTS software differs from voice recognition software or speech-to-text software as the latter transforms speech data to text. In addition, natural language understanding (NLU) software helps in produce pauses, phrases, and more for text-to-speech software to produce natural-sounding speech.
To qualify for inclusion in the Text-To-Speech (TTS) category, a product must:
Convert written text to natural-sounding speech
Integrate with applications and websites via a connector such as an API
Control aspects of the synthesized voice, such as volume, pitch, and emotion