Text Speaker for Windows

Name: Text Speaker
Rating: 2.9 (13 reviews)
Author: DeskShare

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Editors’ Review

Download.com staffJune 8, 2020

Speech synthesis has come a long way since its most famous application, giving voice to Professor Stephen Hawking, whose iconic cadence still echoes in the latest and most capable voice generators, such as Text Speaker 3.14 from DeskShare. It can read virtually any text document aloud, accurately, reliably, and pleasantly. You can configure the speaking voice to suit and download additional voices in a wide range of accents and speaking styles.

Text Speaker's efficient interface resembles a word processor but with mission-specific controls such as Voice and Pronunciation, which activate pop-up configuration dialogs. The program is easy to use: open your chosen document and press Speak, and the default voice, Microsoft Anna, reads it aloud in clear, slightly mechanical tones. Changing the voice properties is so much fun it could be a time-waster, since the speed and pitch vary from so low and slow it's almost inebriated, to fast and high enough for cartoon characters. You can also configure it to pronounce (or mispronounce!) specific words in certain ways, for regional or personal needs. It uses Lernout & Hauspie's speech engine, so there are plenty of voices in all sorts of accents and languages available online. Text Speaker has some notable extras, such as Talking Reminders and the ability to output finished audio files, making it a "virtual announcer."

Text Speaker's tutorial and user's guide are accessible from the interface and the Start Menu, and there's online assistance, too. This tool combines speech generating and text recognition technology in one useful package. We recommend it highly.

Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of Text Speaker 3.14. The trial version is limited to 200 words per document.

What’s new in version 3.3

Version 3.3 adds full Windows Build 2004 Update support.

Text Speaker for Windows

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Used Text Speaker for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: June 8, 2020

Latest update: June 8, 2020

Version: 3.3

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows 8
Windows 2003
Windows Server
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 141,122

Downloads Last Week: 1

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Program available in other languages

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Last Updated

User Reviews

2.9/5

13 User Votes

Excellent text to speech software for creating mp3
WilliamBrady226February 26, 2015
Pros
Available voices are top quality and free to try. Reads just about any format text, including PDF files. Very convenient 'speak it now' hotkey that reads anything on your screen.
Cons
None that I can find yet
Summary
Make sure to download one of the available voices. They sound way better than the default Windows voices. Pronunciation is excellent and can be customized with the word editor. I really like the way it highlights words as they are spoken, my young children follow along very well.
Choppy voice is too distracting
PiXiYoAugust 5, 2014
Pros
Nice interface Reads pdfs
Cons
Speaker's syntax is barley recognizable as English.
Summary
Choppy voice distracts from being able to comprehend the subject matter. The trial version only reads a paragraph at a time. I spent all the time downloading it to find this out. I won't be purchasing.
Buy before try
Missy_LTMOctober 16, 2011
Pros
I like the sound of the voices it sounds more so like a real person
Cons
It don't want you to try it before you buy it, it just want you to by it.
Summary
Didn't Work, kept wanting to buy.
LizzyGraceAugust 17, 2011
Pros
None, None NOne NONE NONE
Cons
wouldn't let me try, wants me to buy voices , has a 500 word trial, wouldn't even play that, kept wanting me to pay.
Summary
If i can't try a program forget it. I also downloaded Natural Reader and UltraHal Text to speech. Both were decent for Text to speech. The Natural Reader is a little better since it has more voices, and on their website, the trial of the paid version sounded pretty good with their upgraded paid software, but good with basic voices. It also has a tool bar so if you want to read a web page, you don't have to cut and paste.
Just... awesome!
a1130July 16, 2011
Pros
Alternative for Speakonia (it no longer works on my computer). They have the same voices and can do the same voices. It can also prevent eyestrain from small text.
Cons
How are you supposed to uninstall it? I'll try Add and Remove Programs next... The voices are also rather unnatural, but I think that's L&H's fault, not DeskShare's.
Summary
Pretty good overall. I reccommend it- Speakonia sometimes malfunctions on computers. :)
Reads my documents aloud to me while I work
June 1, 2011
Pros
Easy to use, reads all formats- docx, pdf, html, the best pronounciation of all the text to speech software I have tested.
Cons
none that I can find
Summary
One of the most useful software products I have and I use it daily to read out loud my documents and reports emailed to me - and it is great for proof reading before I send out material to anyone. I purchased 3 voices - one English, one Spanish and one French - all are very human sounding and understand punctuation and emphasis correctly for each language. The MP3 conversion is useful for taking documents to go, makes my commute time productive.
One of the best products I own
balthazzzMay 17, 2011
Pros
Nice voices. Easy use. Few clic PDF to mp3. Far the best I have tried. Draconia go home.
Cons
Would like more voices to choose from. Like a younger woman voices - with English accent of course, just like Amy...Besides that non cons comes to mind.
Summary
Very very nice professional voices to be downloaded and integrated easily with the program. Easy and quick convertion of all text to mp3, for convinient listening in the car...Now I can hear all the interesting files within my computer I never would read anyway, while driving at work:-]. For the price of 30$ for the program and 30$ for the nice Amy voice I actually think it's a bargain. Already consuming my first 7½ hour long converted book, has paid the bill in my world:-)))) Updated on May 18, 2011Sorry I meant Speakonia go home instead of Draconia go home - doo!
could not run this program to work
usac44May 16, 2011
Pros
the play back for the testing was ok
Cons
could not get the trial program to start with a english voice
Summary
Does not work
tigerchipsNovember 9, 2010
Pros
None, it doesn't work
Cons
Double clicked the icon to start it and nothing happened.
Summary
Not too good but it does what it says somewhat...
glenn-iainMarch 17, 2010
Pros
It Installs and does what it is supposed to do
Cons
Installs more then just itself (programs not virusses) Contains no uninstall! The CPU voice is really bad, not human at all.
Summary
Not advisable, the full version might be better, if it isn't i would not recoomend to buy.

Developer’s Description

By DeskShare

Turn text into spoken audio and convert documents into MP3 files.

Text Speaker reads any document aloud in a human voice. Listen to ebooks, reports, email, and web pages on your PC. Just press a hotkey to hear any text. Even better, leave the PC behind. Turn your documents into MP3 files for your Apple iPod or other audio player. There are so many ways that Text Speaker can be useful. Listen to email and memos, narrate your tutorials and marketing videos, or create voice menu prompts for your phone messaging system. No need to rent a studio or hire announcers: the program turns your script directly into finished audio files. Available with premium human sounding voices, Text Speaker is an effective way to make your text come to life.

Text Speaker for Windows

Editors’ Review

What’s new in version 3.3

Text Speaker for Windows

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User Reviews

Excellent text to speech software for creating mp3

Choppy voice is too distracting

Buy before try

Didn't Work, kept wanting to buy.

Just... awesome!

Reads my documents aloud to me while I work

One of the best products I own

could not run this program to work

Does not work

Not too good but it does what it says somewhat...

Developer’s Description