CNET 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 3.19 allows 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:
3.0 starsout of 2 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-2 of 2
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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
Results 1-2 of 2
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