Balabolka Portable for Windows

Used Balabolka Portable for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffJune 5, 2018

Balabolka Portable allows you to convert different text inputs into audio files from a portable drive such as a USB stick. The software is convenient and lightweight, and because it installs directly to a portable drive, it won't create updates within the system registry. This makes for an easy-to-use tool with which you can save, split, and edit audio on your computer.

Pros

Lightweight and easy to use: Designed to be portable, Balabolka Portable runs smoothly without interfering with your other tasks. The interface is clean and doesn't get in the way of the app's functionality, and you can open text files both directly or through the interface itself.

Save audio files from your conversions: Any of your conversions can be saved in a number of audio formats for later editing. You can also combine files, split them, add custom tags, move between files, or change the audio within the file with advanced search functions. These search functions make the app a lot of fun when reviewing a long document.

Cons

Limited voice options: The software only supports a single voice built into Windows. While this reduces the draw on system resources and speeds up load times, it limits how you will experience the app if you prefer a different voice.

Bottom Line

If you need to convert text to speech or would like a tool that will help streamline and speed up the editing process for long documents, Balabolka Portable can help. This nifty, little tool is easy to use and lightweight enough not to be a burden to your PC. Also, it allows you to do quite a bit of things with the audio, which is a nice touch.

Balabolka Portable for Windows

Used Balabolka Portable for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: August 28, 2013

Latest update: June 5, 2018

Version: 2.8.0.557

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 8
Windows 10
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 36,824

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Last Updated

User Reviews

4.3/5

6 User Votes

Great program, but it installed adware
blue_bronx2000January 9, 2014
Pros
It works very well; the pronunciation is very good. Depending on what the text is, you may need to add pronunciation.
Cons
Vaguely robotic, but not so much that it bothers. It uploaded an UNAPPROVED ADWARE browser helper object into my internet explorer. I did not appreciate that.
Summary
So far, it seems that the program is good, and that the unapproved object is gone. I would caution anyone with regards to that.
Outstanding Program!!
John67November 21, 2011
Pros
You can have it read back to you anything that you copy onto your clipboard. It's not tied to any one specific program. I used to use CliCkSpeak with Firefox, but it no longer works with the new versions. Worst part of it all, it doesn't work with any other programs. Balabolka Portable works flawlessly, and best of all, it's free! As for many saying that the voice sounds robotic, that may be due to the fact you might still be running an older Operating System. If you upgrade to Vista or Windows 7, I believe you will hear a much more normal sounding voice. This has been my experience as I moved through all the OS's. As far as I'm aware, this program and many others only work as well as your system allows. Meaning, it works within your computer's capability specs.
Cons
None, Nothing, Nada!
Summary
Bottom line: If you want an invaluable program to read text back to you effectively and clearly, use this program. I don't really use it's interface, I just open the program, minimize it so it stays open. Then I just highlight and copy anything on any program I want read, right click it, copy, then right click on the Balabolka Portable icon on the Taskbar and choose Read Clipboard Aloud. That's it. I highly recommend this program. By the way, I'm running Windows 7 64_bit and it works just fine.
Outstanding!!!
John67November 1, 2011
Pros
Although not perfect, nothing ever is, this program works flawlessly! It read text back with a nice natural flow. The voice it as good as the OS your using can produce. The fact that you can save the text as an audio file just completes it for me.
Cons
None really. I didn't give it a full 5 stars only because I didn't have much other programs to compare it too in order to find out what this program might be lacking. Thus far, it works perfect
Summary
Thus far, it works perfect! I highly recommend it to anyone! I've only tried it on my OS and it works fine. If it helps, I'm running Windows 7 64-bit, 12 gig RAM, and the i7 Core Intel processor which is a real speed demon.
Nifty little program.
bonadventureMarch 20, 2011
Pros
One great use for the program is teaching a child to read. My 3 year old is entering words in from story books to read book at same time is learning to read and spell.
Cons
Do not have any negative comments
Summary
(Almost) Portable TTS program
LincNebDecember 22, 2010
Pros
It really works as advertised and is portable, if you are satisfied with the one male SAPI5 voice or the two female voices on Windows 7. Many features.
Cons
If you are not happy with the limited choices of SAPI5 voices on Windows 7 or XP, you will have to install tv-enusa.exe on the computer It will install with no trouble on Windows XP, and with very little trouble on Windows 7 for SAPI4 voices.
Summary
This program works better than the regular, permanently type of installed program my Windows 7 computer. The voice varied in speed on that program quite a bit, but not with this portable version. This is enough reason to use build over the one that is permanently installed on the computer. If you want a variety of voices, a dozen or two of SAPI4 voices, you must install, TV_ENUA.EXE, on your computer. Windows XP, has no problem with doing that installation, and Windows 7 wants to convert TV_ENUA.EXE into a compatible file, so let it, and it then installs without a problem. Sorting through added features that I use over the years is a problem with many them. They suffer from ever increasing bloat and deciding if any of the new features are worth it and using the menus to set them up is irritating to me. This program can save files in many formats such as Ogg Vorbis files. My question is why? Many MP3 players won't play this type of file (Sandisk owners you're in luck, if you have some deep philosophical dislike for MP3 or WMA files many Sandisk players will play Ogg Vorbis.) This version may have some interesting features that my 2007 doesn't. It will do what the earlier Balabolka versions will do, convert text to speech and then save them as mp3 files, which is just about the only thing I require of a text to speech program, other than being understandable and keep a constant speed in speaking. The nice things that the CNET editor has to say about this program, I agree with on this version.
Works like MS Talk but inflections seem better
JoejackmanNovember 1, 2010
Pros
With MS voices, intelligibility and inflections are better
Cons
still crappy voice (computer voice)
Summary
I t works a bit better than MS but I have uninstalled and will look foe another

Developer’s Description

By Ilya Morozov

Convert text into a WAV, MP3, OGG, or WMA audio files.