Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
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.Publisher's Description
From DeskShare:
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.
What's new in this version: Version 3.2 adds full Windows 8 support, allows you to create Talking Reminders and make Audio Outlines from highlighted text automatically.
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All versions:
2.9 starsout of 13 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
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"sure DocumentSpeaker is better"
Version: Text Speaker 3.19
Pros
Their function is similar.
Cons
Too expensive.Too expensive. If use documentspeaker, may save 50%.
Summary
The function is similar. Chooses cheaply. I choose documentspeaker.
http://download.cnet.com/DocumentSpeaker/3000-18483_4-75622434.html?tag=mncol;1 -
"another better"
Version: Text Speaker 3.19
Pros
see good. but not try more.
Cons
could not support more format documents.
Summary
should support more format documents.
another one is better.
DocumentSpeaker can read more documents.
http://download.cnet.com/Text-Speaker/3000-7239_4-10877963.html?tag=mncol;5 -
"Buy before try"
Version: Text Speaker 3.18
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.
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"Didn't Work, kept wanting to buy."
Version: Text Speaker 3.18
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.
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"Just... awesome!"
Version: Text Speaker 3.17
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. :)
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"Reads my documents aloud to me while I work"
Version: Text Speaker 3.15
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.
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"One of the best products I own"
Version: Text Speaker 3.15
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:-))))
Sorry I meant Speakonia go home instead of Draconia go home - doo!
Updated on May 18, 2011 -
"could not run this program to work"
Version: Text Speaker 3.15
Pros
the play back for the testing was ok
Cons
could not get the trial program to start with a english voice
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"Does not work"
Version: Text Speaker 3.14
Pros
None, it doesn't work
Cons
Double clicked the icon to start it and nothing happened.
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"Not too good but it does what it says somewhat..."
Version: Text Speaker 3.14
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.
