How Does Adobe PDF Reader Convert Text to Speech?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conversion of text files into audio files, specifically focusing on text-to-speech (TTS) technology and its applications. Participants explore various software options, their functionalities, and specific use cases for TTS.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention that the common term for converting text to audio is "text to speech" (TTS) and suggest changing the thread title accordingly.
  • Several participants inquire about specific TTS software and share links to various online tools for converting text to audio files, such as MP3.
  • There is discussion about the context in which TTS is used, with mentions of applications for listening to stories, lectures, and other content.
  • Some participants highlight the evolution of TTS technology, noting improvements in pronunciation and the use of neural networks in modern applications.
  • Participants express interest in the capabilities of TTS in devices like smartphones and cars, mentioning that many devices now have built-in TTS functions.
  • One participant raises a question about the specific purposes for which TTS programs can be used, prompting further exploration of applications in gaming, accessibility, and education.
  • There is a mention of Adobe PDF Reader having a TTS feature, with a question about its pronunciation quality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the existence and functionality of TTS technology, but there are multiple competing views regarding specific software options, their effectiveness, and the contexts in which they are best utilized. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best TTS solutions and their comparative performance.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various assumptions about the capabilities of different TTS software and devices, as well as the subjective nature of audio quality and pronunciation. Some participants express uncertainty about the effectiveness of specific tools and their suitability for different purposes.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in text-to-speech technology, including those looking for software solutions for personal use, educators exploring accessibility tools, and developers seeking insights into TTS applications.

mech-eng
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How can we turn a text file into an audio file? What are the programs making this job are called?

Thanks
 
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DrClaude said:
The common usage is "text to speech".

Can we change the title to "text to speech"?

Thanks.
 
DrClaude said:
The common usage is "text to speech".
With an acronym of TTS.

mech-eng said:
Can we change the title to "text to speech"?
Done.

There are quite a few companies with products to do this. If you do a web search for "tts software" you'll get a lot of hits.
 
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Mark44 said:
There are quite a few companies with products to do this. If you do a web search for "tts software" you'll get a lot of hits.

Are there anyone here who tried one of them? And how are Google translate and Bing translator in this area?
 
mech-eng said:
Are there anyone here who tried one of them? And how are Google translate and Bing translator in this area?

Sorry I don't have the time to find the link today, but there was a news report that Google had a device (maybe prototype) that fits in your ear and does real time translation of more than 20 languages.

Considering that we have, Alexa, siri, and Cortana devices everywhere, it is mainstream technology.
 
mech-eng said:
Are there anyone here who tried one of them? And how are Google translate and Bing translator in this area?
In what context/for what purpose? There are different programs/apps for different uses.
 
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I do this: http://www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php

I can't explain exactly how our technology works, but we have a variety of backend programs all working together. Some voices are human recorded voices that are parsed and merged, others use neural networks to generate sounds. There is also a significant amount of post-processing that acts sort of like auto-tune since even the best TTS engines can have same harsh artifacts. The technology is fairly old, the current push is to figure out how to do it efficiently on smaller devices like phones.
 
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russ_watters said:
In what context/for what purpose? There are different programs/apps for different uses.

Just for listening, For example I could listen a story or a lecture note.

What are the some special purposes for this programs?
 
  • #10
mech-eng said:
Just for listening, For example I could listen a story or a lecture note.

What are the some special purposes for this programs?
On your phone or computer? For example, android phones have a native text-to-speech function.
 
  • #11
russ_watters said:
On your phone or computer? For example, android phones have a native text-to-speech function.

For all devices. Phone, PC and others if there is any. (The devices people have been using are becoming more and more smart in time. Such as cars. So I said others). But mainly for PC.
 
  • #12
mech-eng said:
For all devices. Phone, PC and others if there is any. (The devices people have been using are becoming more and more smart in time. Such as cars. So I said others). But mainly for PC.
Sorry, but this question is too broad/unfocused for my taste. I thought you had a specific purpose in mind that I we could help with.
 
  • #13
russ_watters said:
Sorry, but this question is too broad/unfocused for my taste. I thought you had a specific purpose in mind that I we could help with.

Then it is for PC, I would ilke to turn some texts into speech for just listening to them. But I mean turning them to some file formats such as MP3, this is why I did the title as text to audio. If I turn them into those formats I can listen to them from every device.

Thanks
 
  • #15
mech-eng said:
Just for listening, For example I could listen a story or a lecture note.
Any of the links CWatters posted would work. Just hunt around for what you want, some have limits on how much text they're willing to do for free, some don't. I use this for editing because having someone read it to me helps me hear it and computers don't misread like humans do.

mech-eng said:
What are the some special purposes for this programs?
Video games, handicapped accessibility, teaching, websites, telephony... it's used for lots of stuff.
 
  • #16
My car GPS has a "text-to-speech" function as the navigation "voice" reads out the name of the street you shall turn into. Ten years ago, the pronunciation was amateurish and hard to understand, on my last unit it is close to perfect. And Norwegian is not the most common language in the world...
 
  • #18
I think adobe pdf reader has this feature many years. Have you ever tried it? How is its pronunciation?
 

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