Personal easy-to-use text reader. Converts any written text on your PC into spoken words. This text-to-speech reader allows computer to read any text aloud. It can read documents, news, RSS feeds, books, web pages and emails. Main functions: Aloud text reading from any software and any text file. Convert text into mp3 files. Easy integration with most popular applications (Skype, iTunes, Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird). Web pages reader. Emails reader. RSS news feeds reader. Organizer and reminder. Proofreading assistant. A professional film voice talent. Supporting of all SAPI5 standard voices. Easy installation With IVONA Reader you will get: Text reader of books, Internet, documents. Optionally additional brilliant quality voices (22kHz, SAPI5). Free IVONA Player - handy reader of selected text in any applications. Free collection of e-books You can get IVONA Reader together with one of the best-in-the-world IVONA text-to-speech voices in highest sound quality, with 22kHz sampling frequency, exactly the same with which you can listen to the newscasters on the radio. All of them are also compatible with SAPI 5 interface. According to your needs you can adjust speed, pitch, and pronunciation of reading. You can convert text into mp3 files, copy them onto portable mp3 player.
One of the more natural sounding TTS. Also check out ispeech.org.
Cons
-The samples from www.ivona.com DON'T NECESSARILY MATCH the voices and cadence from their distributor Harpo Software.
-CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE. I've been going back and forth with them for 3 days and they STILL won't give me a refund.
Summary
I found Ivona.com and inputted a test phrase into the sampling area and LOVED it. It sounded really natural and non-robotic. After purchasing the software I re-inputted the test phrase and it didn't sound horrible, but it definitely sounded way more robotic. The voice was $45 so if I was going to spend that money, it should be PERFECT...or at least match what was advertised on the Ivona website. So I emailed Harpo and asked for a refund. They sent me to Ivona Customer Support. Ivona Customer Support says you need to talk to Harpo to get a refund, they're the distributor. After THREE DAYS of going back and forth with Harpo, I STILL don't have my money back. I've already moved on to other software that sounds just as good if not better and I don't have to deal with customer service reps that waste my time. I'm not feeling hopeful about getting my money back.
This is 10 times better than any other TTS!
Brain_Buster
Pros
The voices (most of them) sound very natural.
I would honestly prefer to have Brian's voice rather than my own. It reminds me of the hypnotist Paul McKenna. Very easy to pay attention to.
Also, Amy, the obviously buxom British woman who does the voice is super. You can make her say anything, for example, "I love you, Ralph. You are so sexy. I don't know what it as about you. I wanna ___ you. All my friends think the same. You are wonderful, Ralph."
Cons
It somehow always mispronounces "live."
"The live grenade doesn't want me to live."
It will say, "The liv grenade doesn't want me to lieve."
It's backwards.
That's the only problem I've noticed.
Summary
The best TTS available in my opinion :)
Leon7111
Pros
The best TTS voice and pronunciation software available, please correct me if I'm wrong. And it comes with a fully functional 30 day trial.
Cons
I like the Expressivo 1.5.1 version software better, the new Ivona reader seems more complicated and a little less friendly... But that might be because I learned how to use the program with Expressivo.
Summary
I didn't find this software at cnet, I found it through an exhaustive google search for the best TTS reader. I'm glad to see it here though.
I tried out many other readers, most of them incredibly small... less than 5MB, and those programs were simply reconfiguring and using Microsoft's speech software. Ivona/Expressivo is completely original, it's reader is 30+MB and the voices are about 300MB each.
The reader software and the voices software come separately. There are more than a dozen voices in several different languages. Use caution when downloading the voices, unless you don't mind a multi-GB download.
I have Expressivo 1.5.1 reader running on my computer, I installed the newest Ivona reader when it came out but decided to reinstall the old reader. My biggest problem with the new Ivona reader is that they removed the 'test' button for pronunciation changes.
When I purchased this software it cost me about $75, $30 for the reader and $45 for the Kimberly voice. If you choose to buy you can pick one voice, or packs of voices bundled. The description here says it costs $85, that's the price of the reader and maybe four voices?
All in all, I love the software. It speaks very well, almost human, not just reading one word at a time like Microsoft. Well worth a try, and well worth the money if you like to read but keep your eyes free. I would wholeheartedly recommend this software.
Great solution
ivonatts
Pros
Functionality and quality of TTS voices are the best.
