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Txt to Speech Programmes

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  • 06-02-2013 2:23pm
    #1
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭


    Can anyone recommend a txt to speech programme?

    Thanks


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    #2
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Cool Reader 2... free and easy to use.

    It doesn't have to be installed, unzip to a folder of your choice, run CR2.EXE and load your document (txt, rtf, html, doc, fb2). For TTS just press ENTER (press ENTER again to turn it off).

    Note: CoolReader (on the same page) has gone open source, but the new version 3 does not support TTS, so for this you'll need CoolReader 2.

    Although it says "For Win32 only. Supported platforms: Win9x/ME/NT4.0/Win2K/XP", it works just fine with Windows 7 (x64) and Microsoft Anna.


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    #3
    kaisersoze
    Registered Users Posts: 193 ✭✭kaisersoze


    Ive used Dragon for pc and its fine.

    I see now there is also a free app for iphone for same, however, you may need to tweak your itunes settings as its not currently available in Irish store
    https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/dragon-dictation/id341446764?mt=8


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    #4
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    kaisersoze wrote: »
    Ive used Dragon for pc and its fine.

    Hmm... DNS is a (commercial) dictation/transcription software, doing quite the opposite, speech to text, no? ;)


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    #5
    kaisersoze
    Registered Users Posts: 193 ✭✭kaisersoze


    True torquay, sorry :-)

    Brain working in reverse today! my bad!


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    #6
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭dienbienphu


    thanks. these are going to save a me a load of time!

    what do you guys use them for?


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    #7
    sumeas
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭sumeas


    Adobe acrobat has "read out loud" function


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    #8
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭dienbienphu


    sumeas wrote: »
    Adobe acrobat has "read out loud" function

    does that read pdf files also?


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    #9
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    dienbienphu wrote: »
    thanks. these are going to save a me a load of time!

    what do you guys use them for?

    I'm using Cool Reader 3 to read ebooks on the computer. I don't need TTS, so version 3 suits me fine. I still have version 2 around, which is better in many regards but it doesn't support EPUB.
    dienbienphu wrote: »
    does that read pdf files also?

    I'm pretty sure PDF is the only format that Adobe Reader can read aloud... and it's rather poor at that, NextUp's TextAloud does a much better job, the reference in TTS if you will, but it ain't free.


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    #10
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭dienbienphu


    Torqay wrote: »
    I'm using Cool Reader 3 to read ebooks on the computer. I don't need TTS, so version 3 suits me fine. I still have version 2 around, which is better in many regards but it doesn't support EPUB.



    I'm pretty sure PDF is the only format that Adobe Reader can read aloud... and it's rather poor at that, NextUp's TextAloud does a much better job, the reference in TTS if you will, but it ain't free.

    if I download cool reader 3, is there any danger that I might download viruses?


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    #11
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭dienbienphu


    lol I found a programme on my laptop. I didn't realise I had it!


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    #12
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    dienbienphu wrote: »
    if I download cool reader 3, is there any danger that I might download viruses?

    Nah...

    But as I said, for TTS, you'll need the older version 2.


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    #13
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭dienbienphu


    Torqay wrote: »
    Nah...

    But as I said, for TTS, you'll need the older version 2.

    that's a good idea using it for ebooks, how long does it take to read an ebook? it must be like listening to a documentary or something similar?


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    #14
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    dienbienphu wrote: »
    how long does it take to read an ebook?

    How long is a piece of string? ;)


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    #15
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭dienbienphu


    Torqay wrote: »
    How long is a piece of string? ;)

    on average? hours days weeks?


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    #16
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    I really don't know, I have never tried. Serious, if I want to listen to an audio book I much prefer a real person reading it rather than Microsoft Sam or Anna. ;)


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    #17
    dienbienphu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭dienbienphu


    Torqay wrote: »
    I really don't know, I have never tried. Serious, if I want to listen to an audio book I much prefer a real person reading it rather than Microsoft Sam or Anna. ;)

    I'd be interested to see any studies done which illustrate how people comprehend documents read out loud in this format with documents read in silence.
    I just discovered adobe reader also has this funtion for pdf documents.


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    #18
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Well, I've never taken to audio books at all, I still prefer reading myself. I do read books almost exclusively "on computers", mind you, a 42" telly makes for a great ebook reader! :D I also have a little Kobo Glo for "the road".

    TTS might be a great help for the visually impaired but I don't really like listening to a computer-generated voice.


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