1. What is speech recognition software?
- Best Text To Speech Software For Mac
- Download Speech To Text Software
- Best Text To Speech Software For Mac
- Best Text To Speech App For Mac
- Free Text To Speech Download
Looking for the best free Windows speech to text software? The most-repeated paid recommendation is Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS). But some might scoff at paying money for software. Most of the best text to speech software are used to make eLearning courses, Digital books, Maps navigation, Voice assistant and much more. You can use text to speech software to convert your digital books into audio books and listen to them. What text-to-speech software was used in the video series 'If the Emperor had a text to speech device?' What is the best voice recognition software to use for speech-to-text? What is the best tool to convert 'text to speech'?
Speech recognition software (aka voice recognition software) enables computers to interpret human speech and transcribe that speech to text, and vice versa. Speech recognition software can also power personal virtual assistants, facilitating voice commands that prompt specific actions. Speech recognition software applications include interactive voice response (IVR) systems, which route incoming calls to the correct destination based on customer voice instructions.
2. The benefits of speech recognition software
- Faster documentation: According to a Stanford study, taking notes via dictation is three times faster than typing. Speech recognition solutions free up users to focus on important tasks rather than taking notes. As an example, medical practitioners can document patient visits/appointments without having to manually record each note. Customer service agents can document calls without typing, letting agents speed up the entire process of helping customers and improving overall customer service quality.
- Efficient note-taking: A common misconception around speech recognition solutions is that such tools are error-prone. However, as speech recognition systems approach near-human levels of accuracy, this concern has become virtually nonexistent. In fact, users now look at these solutions as a way to improve accuracy in their note-taking and documentation processes.
3. Typical features of speech recognition software
- Audio Capture: Record audio or import/upload audio files into the system.
- Automatic transcription: Transcribe voice messages and audio files.
- Multi-language: Recognize and support multiple languages/dialects.
- Speech-to-text analysis: Analyze, correct, and monitor speech for transcriptions or recordings.
- Text editor: Review transcribed text and make basic corrections (e.g., fix typos).
4. The cost of speech recognition software
Speech recognition software vendors offer a variety of pricing models based on factors such as duration of use, number of users, number of words, and audio duration.
Here are the most four common pricing models:
- Per user, per year/Per user, per month: Base plans start at around $39 per user, per year.
- Perpetual pricing (one-time license): Pricing for one-time licenses starts at around $100 per user.
- Per word: Pricing is usually around six cents per word.
- Per minute (audio): Some products also charge based on total duration of the audio being transcribed; this pricing is usually around eight cents per second.
*The pricing included in this table is for the entry-level/lowest priced offering found on vendor websites on September 12, 2018.
5. Considerations when purchasing speech recognition software
Best Text To Speech Software For Mac
- Mobile app: The proliferation of smartphones has turned mobile devices into indispensable business assets. As in other markets, mobile applications have made their way into the speech recognition software space with apps that let users take notes while on the go. Users can also connect mobile devices to bluetooth headsets and headphones with a microphone to facilitate easy dictation. Businesses with mobile workforces should shortlist products that offer mobile app functionality.
- Industry-specific needs: To maximize any speech recognition solution, you should use a system with features that meet your industry needs. Some speech recognition products are better-suited for specific industries. For example, medical practices require voice recognition solutions that support medical terminologies. Buyers should evaluate products that fit their industry-specific needs—including reading user reviews—and shortlist accordingly.
- Total cost of ownership (TCO): As shown in the pricing section above, speech recognition solutions are available in a variety of pricing models. Since the myriad of options can make direct pricing comparison difficult, buyers should estimate their business’ needs by calculating their number of words, audio duration, and user number to determine the TCO. Buyers should then use this estimated TCO to shortlist products based on their actual budget.
6. Relevant speech recognition software trends
- Speech recognition will integrate with smart devices: The internet of things (IoT) is one area where speech recognition software holds immense promise. Speech recognition software that integrates with IoT mobile applications lets users control smart devices using voice instructions. As speech recognition solutions become more and more accurate while businesses continue to embrace the IoT, expect to see increased integration between the two within the next five years.
- Voice-based bots is the next big thing: Another area where speech recognition technology holds promise is chatbots. When integrated with speech recognition technology, chatbots can emulate human conversations in customer-facing communications by listening to customer queries, interpreting them, and making recommendations. In the same way businesses have started using chatbots, expect similar adoption of voice-based bots within the next five to seven years.
Download Speech To Text Software
Sources
Products evaluated for pricing calculation were taken from Capterra’s product catalog (sorted by “most reviewed”). The pricing ranges exclude freemium versions of the products. The features highlighted were identified based on their relevance and the percentage of products in Capterra’s directory that offer them.
The following sources were used for this document:
- Top 5 Tech Trends for Small Business, Capterra (Date accessed: September 12, 2018)
- Speech Is 3x Faster than Typing for English and Mandarin Text Entry on Mobile Devices, Stanford (Date accessed: September 13, 2018)
- Google’s speech recognition is now almost as accurate as humans, 9To5Google (Date accessed: September 13, 2018)
- The Past, Present, and Future of Speech Recognition Technology, The Startup (Date accessed: September 13, 2018)
Best text to speech software
Read on for our detailed analysis of each app
The use of audio for commands has become popular for use with assistants such as Alexa and Siri, and audio is increasingly being used for search and other tools. It's also becoming much more common for audio to be used to convert text-to-speech for a number of reasons.
The traditional one is for helping people with additional sight needs. However, as with audio assistants, users commonly find that audio can be much easier to work with. This is especially the case where multitasking is required, with audio allowing the user to also direct their attention on some other physical task.
This is especially highlighted by the rise of audiobooks, which allow the user to drive, walk, or otherwise engage in a physical activity that would preclude using a text-version as impractical.
Therefore it's no wonder that text-to-speech and other voice software is becoming more commonly used, allowing the user to engage in other activities at the same time, whether it be walking, gardening, household chores, or similar.
Text-to-speech software is also popular in business environments, with people utilizing it to boost productivity. Here then are the best in text-to-speech synthesis software and apps.
- We've also highlighted the best speech to text apps
- Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to [email protected] with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.
1. Amazon Polly
Affordable
Supports multiple file types
Alexa isn’t the only artificial intelligence tool created by tech giant Amazon; it also offers an intelligent text to speech system called Polly. Employing advanced deep learning techniques, the software turns text into lifelike speech. Developers can use the software to create speech-enabled products and apps.
Best Text To Speech Software For Mac
It sports an API that lets you easily integrate speech synthesis capabilities into ebooks, articles and other media. What’s great is that Polly is so easy to use. To get text converted into speech, you just have to send it through the API, and it’ll send an audio stream straight back to your application.
You can also store audio streams as MP3, Vorbis and PCM file formats, and there’s support for a range of international languages and dialects. These include British English, American English, Australian English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish and Russian.
Polly is available as an API on its own, as well as a feature of the AWS Management Console and command line interface. In terms of pricing, you’re charged based on the amount of text characters you convert into speech. The Free Tier allows for up to 5 millions characters per month for twelve months, but if you need more than that it costs $4 per million characters for speech.
2. Voice Reader Home
A trusted text-to-speech app
Best Text To Speech App For Mac
Comes with 67 voices
Multiple language options
Based in Germany, Linguatec is another company that’s been creating text to speech applications for a number of years, and its flagship Voice Reader software can quickly convert text into audio files.
With the standard edition costing €49 (£42/$57) per voice, it’s a little on the expensive side - but you’re able to convert text such as Word documents, emails, EPUBs and PDFs into audio streams quickly. You can then listen to them on a PC or mobile device. What’s more, you can choose from 67 different voices, and there’s support for up to 45 languages such as French, Spanish, Italian, Danish and Turkish.
The aim of this software is to improve productivity. For instance, you can get the application to read out manuscripts for speeches, lectures or presentations to look out for incorrect word ordering or missed-out words. Overall, the user interface is sleek and easy to use. You can quickly adjust the speed, pitch or volume of audio files, and each export option is clearly listed.
When it comes to technical requirements, the software works with Window Vista, Windows 7, 8 and 10. Each voice will take up to 1GB of disk space, and it works best if your device has at least 2GB of RAM.
3. Capti Voice
Tailored for learning
Integration with cloud platforms
Speech synthesis applications are also popular in the education world, where they’re used to improve comprehension among other things. Capti Voice is one such effort, letting you listen to anything you want to read. With it, you can personalize learning and teaching, as well as overcome language barriers.
Positioned as an offline and online reading support solution, Capti Voice is used by a range of schools, colleges, businesses and professionals across the world. Supporting more than 20 languages, the app can be used to improve vocabulary and as part of active reading strategies. It can narrate a range of content, including ebooks, articles and web pages.
You can also use the software with cloud storage platforms such as Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox, and it’s universally accessible across a plethora of devices, content formats and age groups.
There's a free version for personal use, which allows for a lot of features but not the higher-end ones, such as higher-quality voice samples. You got those with the Pro version, which is billed at either $1.49 per month or $17.99 annually. The Educator level is advertised as from $0.50 per student per year, but for larger schools this means the software could become quite expensive to license.
4. Natural Reader
A quality cloud-based offering
Wide file support
If you’re looking for a cloud-based speech synthesis application, you should definitely check out Natural Reader Online. Aimed more at personal use, the solution allows you to convert written text such as Word and PDF documents, ebooks and web pages into human-like speech.
Because the software is underpinned by cloud technology, you’re able to access it from wherever you go via a smartphone, tablet or computer. And just like Capti Voice, you can upload documents from cloud storage lockers such as Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive.
Currently, you can access 56 natural-sounding voices in 9 different languages, including American English, British English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch. The software supports PDF, TXT, DOC(X), ODT, PNG, JPG, plus non-DRM EPUB files and much more, along with MP3 audio streams.
There are three plans available, with the most basic Web Free allowing for unlimited use of basic voices, and up to 20 minutes use of Premium Voices. Web Premium unlocks these and up to one million characters of speech per month, priced at $9.99. Premium plus allows all features for $15.99 per month.
5. Voice Dream Reader
A mobile-optimized option
Multilingual
There are also plenty of great text to speech applications available for mobile devices, and Voice Dream Reader is an excellent example. It can convert documents, web articles and ebooks into natural-sounding speech.
The app comes with 186 built-in voices across 30 languages, including English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese and Korean.
You can get the software to read a list of articles while you drive, work or exercise, and there are auto-scrolling, full-screen and distraction-free modes to help you focus. Voice Dream Reader can be used with cloud solutions like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Pocket, Instapaper and Evernote.
Pricing for the app is $14.99 for the app for iOS, with further in-app purchases to unlock additional voices. For Android, the app costs $7.99, also with additional in-app purchases to unlock additional voices.
Other text to speech software to consider
Free Text To Speech Download
There are a number of other software applications you can try or buy for converting text to speech (TTS), each one tending to focus on a different aspect. For example, some specialize in one area, such as providing speech for documents, or providing narration for ebooks. Then there are other software solutions that aim to be as comprehensive as possible. Each one has its own advantages and benefits, according to different user needs. We'll list some of the other speech-to-text options below:
iSpeech is especially good at providing text-to-speech in different audio formats. It can read text from most any document format and even chat apps, and save to Wav, MP3, ogg, wma, aiff, alaw, ulaw, vox, MP4 and other audio formats. What's even better is that it provides mobile apps for use not just for Android or iOS devices, but also Blackberrys.
Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader has a range of voice options available to read any text, and there's a free version in which you can access the basic synthesized voice. However, there are upgrade packages available to use more realistic-sounding voices, not least the Cerevoice and AT&T voice packages, both starting at $24.95 as a one-off purchase.
Audio Book Reader is one of the more simple offerings, intended to help read ebooks aloud on your existing device. While it's capabilities are more limited than offers, it's Freeware and therefore costs nothing to try and use. You can also customize how the voice sounds by changing pitch and speed to suit your personal tastes.
Read4Me TTS Clipboard Reader is another simple but surprisingly versatile text-to-speech application that uses a pre-installed SAPI5 TTS voice to read the contents of your clipboard when a hotkey is pressed. This is where Read4Me TTS comes into its own, as you can set different hotkeys for different voices, and even languages. It can even auto-detect which language is to be read from. Better still, it's free to download, install and use.
T2S: Text to Voice is an Android app that uses Google's own text-to-speech software. You can open or import a text file to be read, and save the output as an MP3 file. It also has a feature called Type Speak, which will provide audio for text as you speak, which could be especially helpful for people with communication problems. It's free to use, but does contain ads.