Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader for Windows

Used Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffFebruary 26, 2016

For many people, having their typed words read aloud is a necessity. If you fall into this category, Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader offers a simple program to help users select text and have it read aloud.

This free program has a very plain interface that may not impress users with its looks, but will gain fans with its simplicity. A large, open white screen with pull-down menus along the top for File, Option, Format, Saving, and Printing options dominates the view. Along the right side are three sliders to control speed, pitch and volume, a time counter, and a link to download more realistic voices. Operating Ultra Hal is very simple. Users type in the word, phrase, or paragraph they want read aloud (there is no space limit). The box mimics a word processor and should be intuitively manipulated. From there, users click on the Read All button and hear their words come to life. There is also an option to highlight certain text and just read a selection. Running the sliders will help dial in the perfect speed and pitch to make the voice sound more human and realistic if they so choose.

No matter what you are reading, Ultra Hal is a simple, effective way to make written text come to life. We highly recommend this download for anyone in need of such a product.

What’s new in version 2.0

Version 2.0 includes better support of AT&T Natural Voices.

Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader for Windows

Used Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: March 28, 2014

Latest update: February 26, 2016

Version: 2.0

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 2003
Windows ME
Windows 10
Windows XP
Windows NT
Windows 98
Windows Vista
Windows 2000
Windows 95

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 594,719

Downloads Last Week: 2

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Program available in other languages

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Last Updated

User Reviews

2.6/5

77 User Votes

works great
bgraaphicMay 27, 2013
Pros
it read everything I want it to read
Cons
dont install the ads... its your choice... read b4 you hit next.. you can do copy and it read the whole doc...
Summary
helps so much
WARNING!!! SPYWARE
DenverMattMay 10, 2013
Pros
None, it's a piece of junk
Cons
This program installed the SweetPacks spyware virus on my computer. DO NOT INSTALL THIS PROGRAM OR YOU WILL GET SPYWARE. I thought I could trust CNET not to allow spyware/malware downloads. I guess not. I will never download from CNET again.
Summary
This program installed the SweetPacks spyware virus on my computer. DO NOT INSTALL THIS PROGRAM OR YOU WILL GET SPYWARE. I thought I could trust CNET not to allow spyware/malware downloads. I guess not. I will never download from CNET again.
Good, cheap, won't work with Dragon Natural Speaking
issachar5April 26, 2013
Pros
You get 2 true voices for about $30...the cheapest. A pretty good program.
Cons
Won't work with Dragon naturally speaking. Works with Vista and Windows 7. Screen could be larger for presentation of larger fonts on a flatscreen (to seniors).
Summary
I would buy it. It is pretty good with just the Microsoft Anna free download.
Couldnt even get it to work
zoomdownloadNovember 1, 2012
Pros
none at all
Cons
didnt work
Summary
Installed free games I did NOT want! Please BEWARE!!!!!
LyberryianOctober 10, 2012
Pros
PROS?!?!? Yes, these 'PROS' seem to be circumventing the CNET options selection 'buttons' - and maybe making money from upgrades of the program or 'free games' or selling info to 3rd party interests or... WHATEVER! No PRAISE for HAL in this prose...
Cons
Thank You (!) 92up7 for your review - which I read offline (grabbed the page w/ Firefox). Others - read 92up7's review (STAY AWAY). I am VERY careful to uncheck things I do NOT want and did so... and after reading that review... lo & behold... 3 FREE GAMES ICONS were on my laptop (I'm guessing, after re-boot). I DON'T even use this laptop for gaming - more important things to do. I THINK... I have uninstalled this software successfully... Attention CNET Lords: THIS is the ONLY negative experience I have incurred on your lovely website - - REMOVE this TRASH option! Same day, I had installed the TTS READER > (free). Tried it out already to use for an outgoing message on my answering machine. It's great. One customer of mine (Biff's voice cracked me up & you have many options) and 'Biff' had her shaking her head at my latest extremes... Another lady customer was bewildered (my intention) and my youngest BRO thought it was hilarious. Cheers everyone! (on FREE lyberry WiFi here...)
Summary
CNET - send ULTRA HAL to outter space - or put this software under a large black burial slab...
Worthwhile product with AT&T Natural Voice extra
amhoffOctober 4, 2012
Pros
Can rapidly convert text to wave files. Sounds pretty good with AT&T Natural Voice Mike or Crystal.
Cons
Default voice, Microsoft Sam, hard to understand. Not realistic.
Summary
Didn't like
BiwySeptember 2, 2012
Pros
Reads text
Cons
Robot-like voices Doesn't read text very well
Summary
Don't get this.
Easy to use text to speech and and to WAV file.
survivor_mark2002July 26, 2012
Pros
Simple easy to use interface.
Cons
None that I can find so far.
Summary
Keep away! This program has malicious behavior! Danger!
92up7April 30, 2012
Pros
none for me
Cons
Didn't give me anything and even erased its desktop shortcut right in front of my eyes, installed 3 other programs, hid itself from uninstaller, changed system settings without permission, hijacked chrome browser(may have been in user agreement), falsified system information such as install dates and places. If you have trouble deleting this program, check to see if it is listed as being installed months before it actually was, you may find files hidden their and other places.
Summary
It installed and made an attempt to change settings to Google Chrome witch failed, so I watched as the shortcut and program features disappeared. I couldn't find it anywhere, but I did find 3 other programs installed with falsified instillation information like saying installed 60 days ago. Unable to uninstall, it said I did not have permission. Then I used IObit uninstaller to do a force uninstall, but just as I looked the files auto-moved and renamed themselves into strange areas of my computer. I am angry - if I had had poor vision like my father, who I am installing this for, I wouldn't have have any chance of noticing what this program was doing. I likely would've just assumed it was a failed instillation. This I think is the motive behind this program, to force people who cannot see well to agree to accepting their search bar, their advertisements, and their networks without even knowing it. When something fails, it hides/deletes it's self and who knows what else in order to protect itself from people finding out. This program is bad new! Anyone who would attempt something like this(it's deception: changing dates, making things vanish, renaming things and moving itself to name a few, seemed centered upon the idea that the person would not read fast enough or see well enough to notice) would likely make viruses and steel information. I read some of their user agreement witch does refer to these things, but in a misleading way. Imagine that I was driving my car and you asked to use it. I say, 'yes, under a few conditions. You need to pay for the gas in the tank, and when you return it must be in good condition. Last, if I happen to need it while your using it then you must give me a ride and drop me off to where I must go." You think, 'ok, that seems reasonable' and you put it all in writing and barrow the car the next weekend. Every time you barrow the car, the guy makes you give him rides(you agreed), he makes you pay twice the price of regular gas because it turns out it is worded in such a way that, you agreed, and last you end up spending alot of money fixing his car because of this agreement that by now is angering you. So you decide not to use the car anymore, and despite the terrible cost of it all, you still got to use the car. The point here, is that this program is exactly like this but much worse. I had to suffer all these changes without even getting to use the program. Because of how it hid itself and executed and hid actions, I was unable to uninstall it witch is the equivalent of not driving the car. Stay away from this program, it will save you trouble, and make me feel as if I am not such a fool for not fully reading the agreeing yet agreeing to it anyway.( lol ^_^)
Works well for what it does
HimselfApril 18, 2012
Pros
The single included voice is good. The program hasn't crashed on me, in spite of the other comments, here. Easy to install, too.
Cons
Only one voice included, but you can buy more. By default it automatically reads the clipboard, which is annoying. However, that's easier than having to paste the text into the box, and you can disable that feature. Just select and copy the text you want read, then the reading starts. I only wish there was a hotkey to just read a selected window.
Summary

Developer’s Description

Have document text read out loud.

The Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader application will read your documents out loud in one of its many high-quality voices. This can be a great tool for proofreading because hearing your text out loud helps you spot all mistakes. This program also can be used for reading e-books, reading Clipboard content, and speaking instant messages. Also, it is able to save its output as a WAV file, which can be converted into a MP3 file.

Version 1.0.5 includes better support of AT&T Natural Voices.