type to speech mac

How to dictate on a Mac computer, using the voice-to-text dictation feature that can type out your speech

• You can dictate on a Mac computer so that your computer types out your speech. 
• But before you can start using dictation, you'll have to enable it via your Mac's System Preferences, and decide the shortcut you'll use to turn it on, as well as the language it will dictate in.
• Here's how to set up and use the dictation feature on a Mac computer.
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Voice-to-text is a helpful feature for those who are often out and about.

And for those who have a Mac computer, you can take that feature and use it in your everyday workflow. The key is a built-in feature known as dictation. 

But before you can take advantage of dictation, you'll have to enable it. After that, it works similarly as any voice-to-text feature, any you may be able to access more in-depth voice commands to format your document.

Here's how to set it up and start using it.

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Macbook pro (from $1,299.99 at best buy), how to set up dictation on a mac.

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left toolbar, then choose "System Preferences."

2. Select "Keyboard."

3. Toggle over to "Dictation" in the menu at the top of the window.

4. Next to "Dictation" select "On" and if desired, turn on enhanced dictation by ticking the corresponding box — this allows you to use additional commands, like bold, italics, underline, copy, delete, and undo — and dictate without an internet connection (enhanced dictation is only available for those with OS X Mavericks v10.9 or later ).

5. Set the language and create the desired shortcut.

How to dictate on a Mac

Once you've enabled the dictation feature, here's how to use it:

1. Open a document.

2. Place your cursor to the desired location for your dictation.

3. Use the shortcut you established when setting up dictation; alternatively, you can also select "Edit" and then "Start Dictation."

4. Start talking.

You should see a microphone icon appear on the screen after you start the feature. 

As you speak, it's important to remember to say your desired punctuation out loud, otherwise you'll end up with a long, run-on sentence. To stop dictation, click "Done" below the microphone icon.

Related coverage from  How To Do Everything: Tech :

How to easily record audio on your mac using either of its 2 simple recording apps, how to uninstall apps on a mac computer in three different ways, how to create folders on a mac computer and organize your files, how to set an alarm or event reminder on a mac using the calendar app.

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How to Use Dictation on a Mac for Voice-to-Text Typing

Here's how to use the dictation feature on your Mac to type without using a keyboard.

Typing isn't for everyone. If you have clumsy fingers or difficulty spelling, typing might be your least favorite part of using a computer. Fortunately, you can use the built-in dictation software on your Mac to speak what you want to type instead.

Unlike Voice Control---which is Apple's fully-featured accessibility tool---dictation is easy to use. It's also so accurate at translating your voice that some of the best dictation software developers, like Dragon Dictate, stopped making their own dictation apps for Mac to compete with it.

How to Use Dictation on a Mac

Double-press the Fn button to start dictating on your Mac. You should see a microphone icon appear or hear a macOS confirmation tone. If this is your first time using Dictation, click OK in the popup window to confirm you want to use it.

After activating Dictation, start saying what you want to type to see it appear on screen. Dictation ignores pauses in your speech, allowing you to take a moment to compose your thoughts. However, this does mean you need to dictate your own punctuation, which we explain below.

Apple suggests you dictate in short bursts of 40 seconds or less. This keeps your Mac from falling behind, since you can speak much faster than it can process what you say.

You can dictate text anywhere you'd usually type on your Mac. That includes writing documents, using Spotlight or search bars, entering web addresses, and composing emails. If that sounds useful, you might want to take a look at these dictation apps for your Android phone as well.

Use any of the following methods to stop dictating:

• Press Fn again
• Click Done beneath the microphone

Your dictated words appear underlined while your Mac is processing them. After you stop dictating, they'll reformat themselves, and any words your Mac was unsure of appear underlined in blue. Click these words to pick an alternative option or type it out manually if it was wrong.

The more you use Dictation, the better your Mac gets at understanding your voice. This means you'll see fewer mistakes and words underlined in blue less often.

How to Add Punctuation and Format Your Dictation

Chances are that you need to add punctuation to your dictation to make sure it's formatted correctly. This is easy to do while dictating your text by saying the particular punctuation marks you want to add.

For example, to dictate the following text:

Hello, my name is Dan. How are you?

You need to say:

Hello comma my name is Dan period how are you question mark

Apple includes a long list of over 50 punctuation marks, typography symbols, currency signs, mathematical signs, and voice commands you can use with Dictation in the macOS user guide. Visit Apple's voice dictation commands page to take a look at the list yourself.

Along with adding punctuation, you can also use a small set of voice commands to change the formatting of dictated text on your Mac. These commands include capitalization, line breaks, and even typing without spaces.

Say the following voice commands to format text with Dictation:

• New Line: Equivalent to pressing the Return key once
• New Paragraph: Equivalent to pressing the Return key twice
• Caps On/Off: Types the following words in "Title Case"
• All Caps On/Off: Types the following words in "ALL CAPS"
• No Space On/Off: Types the following words "withoutspaces" (useful for website URLs)

Troubleshoot Dictation Problems on Your Mac

Dictation is a fairly simple tool, but it doesn't work all the time. There are a few different problems that might stop you from being able to use Dictation on your Mac. Here's what they are and how to fix them.

Change the Dictation Shortcut

If nothing happens when you double-press the Fn button, you might have changed the Dictation shortcut on your Mac. You can change this shortcut to whatever you like, or check what the new shortcut is and use that instead.

To do so, open System Preferences and go to Keyboard > Dictation . Open the Shortcut dropdown menu and choose the dictation shortcut you want to use. To create your own, click Customize , then press the keyboard shortcut you'd like.

Test Your Internet Connection

Your Mac requires an active internet connection to use Dictation. This is because Apple processes your voice on its servers---using the latest language data---rather than locally on your Mac.

Without an internet connection, the microphone icon appears with three dots in it, but vanishes before you can start dictating.

To make sure your internet connection is working, try streaming a video on YouTube. To fix problems with your connection, restart your Wi-Fi router and follow our steps to get your Mac connected to Wi-Fi again . Contact your internet service provider for more help.

Choose a Different Microphone to Use

As you dictate, you should see a white bar in the microphone icon that fluctuates with the loudness of your voice. This shows the microphone input on your Mac. If nothing appears in the microphone, your Mac can't hear you. You need to use a different microphone to fix it.

Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation . Open the dropdown menu beneath the microphone at the left of the window to choose a different microphone. If you can't see your microphone, make sure it's connected with the latest drivers installed.

Change the Dictation Language

To dictate in a different language, you need to add that language in System Preferences and select it from the Dictation icon. Using the wrong language results in a lot of mistakes, as Dictation will use regional spellings or replace what you said with similar-sounding words from another language.

In System Preferences , go to Keyboard > Dictation and open the Language dropdown menu. Click Add Language and check the box next to whichever languages you want to use. Make sure you choose the appropriate region if your language is used in multiple countries.

The next time you activate Dictation, you should see the current language displayed beneath the microphone icon. Click it to change to another dictation language instead.

How to Make Dictation as Private as Possible

Dictation communicates with Apple's servers to convert your speech to text. This means it's never completely private, as explained by the popup message that appears when you enable Dictation for the first time. That said, there are still steps you can take to reclaim as much Dictation privacy as possible.

To change the data Dictation uses, open System Preferences and click on Security & Privacy . Go to the Privacy tab and scroll down to select Analytics & Improvements in the sidebar. Disable the option to Improve Siri & Dictation to stop Apple from storing or reviewing your future Dictation recordings.

Apple usually does this to help improve Dictation. Even with this option disabled, you still need to delete existing recordings from Apple's servers. Go to System Preferences > Siri and click Delete Siri & Dictation History to do so.

Do More With Your Voice Using Voice Control

Although many people confuse the two, Dictation and Voice Control are two separate features on your Mac. As we've explained, Dictation allows you to convert your speech to text, adding punctuation and line breaks where necessary. But Voice Control unlocks an entire world of voice commands that control your Mac.

If you want to save documents, switch applications, open menus, and do much more with your voice, you need to use Voice Control. This is primarily an accessibility tool; it lets anyone control a Mac using nothing but their voice. Take a look at our Mac Voice Control guide to learn how it works.

macOS User Guide

• What’s in the menu bar?
• Work on the desktop
• Search with Spotlight
• Quickly change settings
• Get notifications
• Open apps from the Dock
• Organize your files in the Finder
• Connect to the internet
• Browse the web
• Preview a file
• Take a screenshot
• Change your display’s brightness
• Adjust the volume
• Use trackpad and mouse gestures
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• Print documents
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Apps on your Mac
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• Create and work with documents
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• Use Dictation
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• Hand off between devices
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• What is iCloud?
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• Store files in iCloud Drive
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• Set up Family Sharing
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• Manage subscriptions in the App Store
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• Guard your privacy
• Use Mail Privacy Protection
• Control access to your camera
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• Set up your Mac to be secure
• Keep your data safe
• Create a passkey
• Understand passwords
• Keep your Apple ID secure
• Find a missing device
• Get started with accessibility features
• Connect an external display
• Use the built-in camera
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• Optimize your Mac battery life
• Optimize storage space
• Burn CDs and DVDs
• Control accessories in your home
• Use Windows on your Mac
• Resources for your Mac
• Resources for your Apple devices

Commands for dictating text on Mac

When you dictate text, you can use commands for emoji, punctuation, formatting, and capitalization, and symbols for math, currency, emoticons, and intellectual property. The commands listed below are always available while you’re dictating text.

Additionally, in some languages you can insert emoji using your voice while dictating—for example, say “heart emoji” or “car emoji.” For supported languages, Dictation also adds certain punctuation automatically as you dictate text.

If you need additional commands to edit and format text and to control your Mac, use Voice Control. For example, you can speak commands to select or delete text, capitalize or italicize words, or press the Return key. See Use Voice Control commands .

Punctuation

Capitalization, mathematical, intellectual property.

MacBook tips: How to use speech-to-text to dictate in macOS

Take notes without a keyboard using this handy feature

Speech-to-text is a handy tool for dictation available in macOS. Once you set it up, you can scribble words to a page using this tool anywhere you would otherwise type with a keyboard. In addition to typing text, you can also enter punctuation marks and formatting such as line breaks and special symbols by speaking the commands.  

While this feature was full of glitches and actually made typing more laborious in years past, Apple really has ironed out most of the wrinkles and made it fairly useful. If you find yourself needing a break from the keyboard, it’s definitely worth trying.

It is a handy tool when you need to work hands-free, or jot down a quick note before its lost forever. That said, it’s still not perfect, and I find that it works best when you speak slowly and accentuate bigger words.

1) Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner.

2) In the menu that opens, select System Preferences .

3) In System Preferences, select Keyboard .

4) In the Keyboard window, go to the Dictation tab .

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5) There, switch on the dictation option .

6) Click Enable Dictation to allow Apple to use the recording.

7) In any document processor, click the Dictate icon and start speaking.

8) To change the default language, click the down arrow to open the language drop-down menu .

9) Select a language you would like to convert from speech to text.

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How to Do Text to Speech on Mac

Learn how to set up and customize your Mac's text-to-speech feature.

Text-to speech technology is transforming how we communicate and consume content—but did you know that your Mac has in-built text-to-speech capabilities?

Imagine your computer reading out documents, emails, or even your favorite web articles with just a simple command. This is the power of text-to-speech on macOS.

Let’s delve into what text-to-speech is and how to use it on your Mac. Whether you're a professional seeking efficiency, a student aiming for a better learning experience, or someone exploring accessibility options, this guide’s for you. 

Setting Up Text to Speech on Your Mac

Enabling text-to-speech on your Macbook or Apple desktop is a straightforward process. Here's how you can set it up and customize it to fit your needs:

Enabling Speak Selection

• First, access your Mac's System Settings and click on 'Accessibility' in the sidebar.
• Within the Accessibility settings, select 'Spoken Content'.
• Turn on the 'Speak selection' option. This feature allows your Mac to read out selected text or, in its absence, any text items in the current window, such as an email in Mail.

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

• To personalize your experience, you can set a custom keyboard shortcut for Speak selection.
• Go to System Settings, then click 'Keyboard' in the sidebar.
• Under Keyboard Shortcuts, choose 'Accessibility' to modify the shortcut for Speak selection. The default combination is Option-Esc, but you can change it to something that suits your workflow better.

Using the Onscreen Controller

• When Speak selection is active, you have the option to display an onscreen controller.
• This controller includes buttons for adjusting the speaking rate, skipping sentences, playing/pausing, and stopping the speech.
• The controller is particularly handy for managing the speech in longer texts, allowing you to easily navigate and control the playback.

Highlighting Spoken Content

• For visual tracking, you can set your Mac to highlight words or sentences as they are spoken.
• In the Spoken Content settings, choose your preferred highlighting style and colors for both words and sentences.
• This feature enhances comprehension and is useful for following along with the spoken text.

Customizing Sentence Style

• You can also customize how spoken sentences are indicated, either by underlining or background color, enhancing the readability and understanding of the text.

Controller Visibility Options

• Decide when the controller appears: automatically with the shortcut, always, or never. This customization ensures the controller is available according to your preference and usage patterns.

Advanced Features and Customization

Now you’ve enabled text-to-speech on your Mac, here’s how you can customize it according to your unique preferences.

Accessing Customization Options

To begin customizing text-to-speech on your Mac, open 'System Preferences' from the Apple menu and navigate to 'Accessibility.' From there, select 'Spoken Content' in the sidebar. This section houses a variety of settings that allow you to tailor the text-to-speech functionality to your specific needs.

Choosing the Right Voice

MacOS offers an extensive selection of voices, varying in gender, accents, and languages—meaning you don’t just have to settle for the default voice. Some of these voices are even available for additional download from the App Store. Use the play button to preview different voices and select the one that resonates best with you.

Adjusting Speaking Rate

The speaking rate of the text-to-speech feature is fully adjustable. You have the option to slow down the speech for clearer comprehension or speed it up to quickly absorb information. This level of control ensures the spoken content is delivered at a pace that suits your listening preferences.

Enjoying the Benefits

Customizing text-to-speech on your Mac enhances the overall user experience, whether for educational, professional, or leisure activities. By experimenting with the various settings available, you can discover the full potential of text-to-speech, making information more accessible and enjoyable for your specific needs and lifestyle.

With these customization features, your Mac becomes a more powerful and accommodating tool, bringing written content to life in a way that best suits your individual preferences and requirements.

Reasons to Choose Dedicated Text-to-Speech Software Over Mac's Built-In Functionality

While Macs have in-built text-to-speech capabilities, that doesn’t mean they’re best suited for all needs. If you’re a serious content creator looking for natural-sounding voices (e.g. if you create podcasts or Youtube videos), then you should use dedicated text-to-speech software like ElevenLabs.

Here’s why. 

Advanced Voice Quality and Naturalness

Dedicated text-to-speech software, such as ElevenLabs , offers voices that are remarkably natural and human-like. This advanced voice quality and speech options significantly surpasses the often mechanical-sounding tones of Mac's built-in system voices. Users experience a more engaging and pleasant listening experience, making the software ideal for a wide range of applications.

Greater Customization and Control

Specialized text-to-speech programs provide extensive customization options. Users can choose from a diverse array of voice types and have greater control over speech modulation and patterns. This level of customization, which is not available in Mac’s in-built functionality, allows for a tailored auditory experience to suit specific preferences and needs.

Enhanced Language and Accent Options

Unlike the limited language and accent options in Mac's system, dedicated text-to-speech software offers a broad selection. This variety caters to a global audience, making it an invaluable tool for users who require content in multiple languages and dialects. Whether you’re looking for English, Spanish, or Arabic text-to-speech options, ElevenLabs has you covered.

Superior Contextual Understanding

The advanced algorithms in specialized text-to-speech software result in a superior understanding of context and nuances in text. This leads to more accurate and contextually appropriate speech output, ensuring that the synthesized voice conveys the intended message effectively and accurately.

Reliability and Support

Dedicated text-to-speech software providers typically offer reliable performance and robust customer support—a key combination. This level of service ensures users have assistance readily available, a benefit not always matched by built-in operating system features. Some providers even have dedicated how-to tutorials. The reliability and support offered make these programs a dependable choice for professional voiceovers and personal use.

Ongoing Development and Innovation

Specialized text-to-speech (TTS) software is often at the cutting edge of technology, with ongoing development and innovation. These continuous improvements ensure users have access to the latest advancements in speech synthesis, a level of innovation that built-in systems like Mac’s may not regularly receive.

In conclusion, dedicated text-to-speech software offers numerous advantages over Mac's built-in functionality, including superior voice quality, extensive customization, diverse language options, constantly updated new voices, enhanced contextual understanding, reliable performance, and continuous innovation. These benefits make it an ideal choice for users seeking an advanced, adaptable, and high-quality text-to-speech experience.

Final Thoughts

Choosing ElevenLabs' dedicated text-to-speech software over Mac's built-in functionality offers a vastly superior experience. 

ElevenLabs provides exceptionally natural and engaging voices, extensive customization options, and a broad range of languages and accents. Its advanced algorithms ensure accurate contextual understanding and pronunciation, enhancing the effectiveness of the spoken word. 

Coupled with reliable performance, continuous innovation, and strong customer support, ElevenLabs represents a significant upgrade in quality and versatility. It’s the ideal choice for those seeking a more immersive, personalized, and sophisticated text-to-speech experience.

Try ElevenLabs today

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Are you looking for an easier way to engage with content? Are you tired of reading long articles, or are you a special needs individual needing assistance? If you’re a Macbook owner, you have some fantastic tools to create content. You can use the free text-to-speech Mac feature, an incredible accessibility tool that reads the existing text aloud in a natural-sounding voice.

The text-to-speech feature is both easy to use and highly beneficial. In this blog, we will explore the top benefits of using the text-to-speech Mac feature and share some tips on how to get started.

How to enable the text-to-speech Mac feature using a keyboard shortcut

Not everyone has time to read lengthy documents or time-consuming emails on their Mac. Sometimes, it’s not about time constraints, but it could be about someone with a learning disability who can’t see very well or are too tired to read. Luckily, you don’t have to go through all that hassle; the text-to-speech Mac feature is handy, and can easily read content aloud.

The text-to-speech Mac feature is available on all macOS versions. All you have to do is press a keyboard shortcut, and the speech will start playing automatically. The keyboard shortcut for enabling the text-to-speech Mac feature is Option + Esc . Once you press this combination of keys, you’ll be presented with the built-in TTS panel where you can make adjustments.

If a particular area of text is marked or the words are highlighted, the text-to-speech Mac feature will read it, but you can also choose a specific section to be read aloud. It’s easy to enable the text-to-speech Mac feature on your machine and use its capabilities. In the interest of writing a comprehensive tutorial, we’ll discuss the other way to enable the text-to-speech Mac feature on your computer.

How to enable the text-to-speech Mac feature from the settings menu

If you don’t want to use the keyboard shortcut, there is an alternate way of enabling the text-to-speech Mac feature through the system preferences. In just a few simple steps, you can enable TTS on your Mac when you open system preferences:

• Step 1 : To find the ‘ Accessibility ‘ option on your MacBook, click the Apple Menu, then select System Settings . After that, look for the ‘ Accessibility ‘ option in the sidebar.
• Step 2 : Click on the ‘ Spoken Content ‘ option.
• Step 3 : Next, turn on the ‘ Speak selection ‘ setting.
• Step 4 : Press the ‘ Option + Esc ‘ key combination to start the TTS in its system voice. If you select a particular text before pressing the key combination, your Mac will speak only that text in the default voice. Otherwise, it will say all the text items in the current window. So, for example, if you want to use the text-to-speech Mac feature in Mail, it will read the recent email message aloud. If no text items are available, you’ll hear the beep sound.
• Step 5 : Press the ‘ Option + Esc ‘ key combination again to stop the text-to-speech feature. The default voice will then stop speaking.

When users choose to display a text box with the controller automatically, it will show up on the screen while the Mac is speaking. In addition, the controller allows users to move one sentence forward or backward in the text. The built-in text-to-speech function on MacBook works well with a keyboard shortcut or when used to speak selected text, but it doesn’t have enough features for different content needs.

Why the TTS feature may not work well for your content

Unfortunately, the TTS feature on the Mac is helpful, but it’s meaningless for anyone looking to make their content easier to enjoy. The text-to-speech Mac feature has limited speech modulations and customizations for users. The AI-generated voice also fails to understand different accents and pronunciations in various languages.

Furthermore, the Mac’s built-in TTS does not have natural-sounding voices to improve the readability of your content. Therefore, looking for free third-party TTS software offering more features would be best.

No speech customizations

The TTS has a controller that enables users to pause, resume or stop speech, change the speaking rate, and skip ahead or back in the text. However, there are limited language options to read text, whereas some users prefer to hear their familiar accents through speech. Additionally, there are few choices to change the style of the displayed text.

Without these valuable features, those with reading comprehension issues or dyslexia can’t benefit from the TTS feature. In addition, with TTS, you can transform a text file into speech with advanced options such as adjusting the pitch and speed of the voice professionally, modifying specific pronunciations, and inserting pauses in the lesson. However, these features are not available in the TTS function on MacBook.

No other voice languages or limited voice options

TTS software allows users to choose voice options for their audio content, which Mac doesn’t offer. Users can select from multiple languages and accents and apply filters such as gender, age group, and use cases to meet their specific project needs. In addition, many TTS tools have multiple AI voices that creators can use to improve their situation.

Limited download formats

If you’re a creator making more accessible content for everyone, you’ll likely need many different audio formats depending on your tools. Unfortunately, you don’t get this freedom with the text-to-speech Mac feature. Instead, users would need to listen to text directly from a web page by adding a Chrome extension.

Additionally, TTS software enables users to convert text files such as Microsoft Word documents, PDF files, and images into speech by dragging and dropping them. Some TTS software can also create voice-overs for various content rather than only reading the text aloud. With the right TTS software, you can download your projects in multiple audio formats (such as MP3, AAC, WMA, and WAV) without needing an external tool to convert the file.

Why a voice-over program that uses natural-sounding voices is better

The main benefit of this feature is that it allows you to easily convert existing text into a natural-sounding speech using AI-based speech synthesis technology. All you have to do is use the voice-over program and select online text or write the content you want to read aloud. Then, the text-to-speech software will read it to you naturally.

While multitasking, the voice-over program lets you listen to emails, social media, web pages, news articles, and work documents. Additionally, those with disabilities like dyslexia or visual impairments can benefit from the app’s accessibility features. Not having to read everything will save you a lot of time. This is beneficial for businesses, too, and will make checking emails more enjoyable.

Use Typecast to create text-to-speech content on your Mac

Typecast is the perfect text-to-speech Mac tool for those who want a natural-sounding voice and advanced customizations. With Typecast, you can customize your speech output with pitch, speed, pauses, and more. You can also choose from various natural-sounding voices from different cultures and languages, all in an extensive cloud library.

In addition, Typecast is perfect if you need a text-to-speech tool to create audio files for work documents, eBooks, podcasts, blog posts, and more.

Whether you are a student who needs text to speech app to read textbooks out loud, a person with a disability who needs an accessible format for reading text, or a business owner who needs to create audio recordings from written content, text-to-speech software is a great solution.

With the right text-to-talk software, you can save time, improve accessibility for everyone and create engaging content with natural-sounding voices.

Typecast is the perfect tool for Mac users who want to use text-to-speech technology and easily create audio content. Try it today to see how Typecast can improve your text-to-speech experience.

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macOS Sonoma: How to train your Mac to talk in your voice

With macOS Sonoma, you can create a Personal Voice, which is a voice that your Mac uses that sounds like you. The Mac’s text-to-speech capabilities can be used to recite in a voice similar to yours anything typed using the Live Speech feature.

According to Apple, the voice that is created uses the Mac’s machine learning, and since everything is kept on the Mac, the user’s voice information is kept private and secure. So you don’t have to worry about your recording being used for nefarious reasons by Apple or anyone else. 

The Personal Voice isn’t perfect. It sounds robotic, lacking inflection and emotion, but it’s more personal than the artificial voices that come with the Mac. To hear what it sounds like, I created samples. The first recording is me speaking, and the second is My Personal Voice created in macOS Sonoma. Give it a listen.

The process of creating a Personal Voice involves a long recording session. If you are using a MacBook, you can get away with using its built-in microphone. For best results, however, you should use an external USB mic.

Here’s how to create a Personal Voice in macOS Sonoma. For more information about Apple’s new Mac operating system, check out our macOS Sonoma superguide .

How to create a Personal Voice in macOS Sonoma

• Tools required: microphone if your Mac doesn’t have one
• Materials required: macOS Sonoma

Accessibility settings

In System Settings, click on Accessibility in the left column. In the main section of the window, scroll down to the Speech section and click Personal Voice .

This will open the Personal Voice section. Click Create a Personal Voice .

Get ready to record

After entering the user password, an introduction appears. It tells you that you’ll need to recite 150 phrases that will be used to create the Personal Voice. This voice can then be used in FaceTime, Phone, and other apps. The process takes 15 to 20 minutes. Click Continue .

Another intro screen appears, advising you on how to get the best results. You should perform the recordings in a quiet place that creates very little echo, and you should speak naturally. If you need to, you can stop the session, save the results, and finish it later. Click Continue again to start.

Recording check

Before you begin recording, you need to provide a name for the voice. Enter it and click Continue .

Now the Mac will check the sound quality. At the bottom of the window is a red record button and a label that indicates which mic it is recording from. If it is not the mic you want, you’ll need to cancel the session and then go into the Sound System Settings and select the mic you want to use. Then you need to go back to the first step and start over.

If the red button shows the correct mic, you may proceed. Click the red circle and read the bold phrase. Remember, speak as you normally would in a conversation. When you are done, the process will automatically sense that you are finished talking and proceed to the next step.

Recording Considerations

When you finish the initial recording, the Mac analyzes it and will let you know if there are any issues. For example, the analysis shown here says that there is too much background noise. You can take this opportunity to address any issues you may have and then click Check Again to do another test.

You can also ignore these suggestions and plow ahead. Or maybe you got the all-clear in the first place. In any case, click Continue to start the procedure.

Do this before recording the first phrase

The first Read the Phrase screen appears, but don’t click the red record button just yet. There are a few  things you should know:

• Under Read the Phrase is an indicator of your progress. If you want to go back to a previous phrase, click the left button. Click the right button to move forward in the list.
• At any time you can click Done, even if you haven’t read all 150 phrases. Your place in line will be saved and you can come back and continue the process.
• The blue Preview button will have the Mac read the phrase to you, in case you have trouble reading. You can then click the red button and repeat what you heard.
• Continuous Recording : After saying each phrase, the next one automatically appears and you don’t need to press the record button at all.
• Stop at Each Phrase : After saying each phrase, the next one automatically appears, but you must click the record button.

Now that you know what’s going on with the UI, make any adjustments you want. 

Start recording the phrases

Click the record button to start the process. This will take 15 to 20 minutes.

Tip: If you are reading a phrase, mess up, and want to start over, click the record button to stop. When you’re ready, click the record button and continue recording.

How to pause and then restart later

Maybe you need a break or have to go do something else. To stop the session, click Done to exit. To restart the session, follow these steps:

• Go into S ystem Settings > Accessibility , look for the Speech section, and click Personal Voice .
• Under the Personal Voice section you’ll see an entry with the name of your personal voice and underneath it is the number of phrases you need to record. Click the “i” icon next to it.
• Enter your user password in the pop-up that appears.
• A window appears with a Continue Recording button. Click it.

You’ll need to do the sound quality check again, but after that, the phrase recording will proceed and you can continue the process.

You’re Done Recording

After you say the 150th phrase, you’ll reach the end of the session. A You’re Done Recording window appears and after you’re done patting yourself on the back, click Continue .

Prepare Your Personal Voice

Now your Mac needs to get to work–and it’s going to take a while, so if you’re using a MacBook, plug it in. You’ll get a notification when the Personal Voice is done and ready to use. On a M1 Pro MacBook Pro, this took about 90 minutes.

Click Done to start the process. The Personal Voice section in the Accessibility System Setting will display the progress made on making your voice. You can use your Mac for other work while this is going on, but you shouldn’t shut it down. When the process is done, the progress notification will be replaced by the creation date.

The Personal Voice System Setting has a couple of other preferences to set:

• Share across devices : This allows your Personal Voice to be used on other Macs running macOS Sonoma, iPhones with iOS 17, and iPads with iPadOS 17. Turn this one if you’d like to do that.
• Allow applications to use your Personal Voice : Turning this on allows applications to request to use Personal Voice to speak aloud through the Mac’s speakers or during calls.

Adjust the Live Speech System Setting

Now that your Personal Voice has been created, you need to adjust the Mac’s settings so you can use it in apps. This is done in the Live Speech setting,

• Go to System Settings > Accessibility , then scroll down to the Speech section and click on Live Speech .
• In the Voice setting, click the pop-up menu. Look for your Personal Voice and select it.
• Turn on the switch at the top for Live Speech .

A Type to Speak box will appear, and you can enter some text and hit Return to sample your Personal Voice. If you want to hide the box, click the menu bar icon that looks like the Live Speech icon (a keyboard with a microphone in the lower right corner).

How to use Text to Speech in FaceTime, macOS

If you want to use text-to-speech input in FaceTime, go to the Video menu in the FaceTime app, and select Transcriptions Text-To-Speech under the Microphone section.

If you want to set macOS to use Text to Speech for the Mac, go to System Settings > Sound , then scroll down to the Output & Input section and click on Input . Click on Transcriptions Text-To-Speech.

That’s it! You should be able to use your Personal Voice in text-to-speech situations. If you don’t like how the Personal Voice sounds, you can delete it and do the procedure again. You even add another Personal Voice by doing the procedure again.

Author: Roman Loyola , Senior Editor

Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started at MacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.

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How To Enable The Speech To Text Mac Shortcut In macOS

Here’s how to enable a speech to text Mac shortcut in MacOS.

Want to talk to your computer and have it type for you? Setting up a speech to text Mac shortcut is easy to do and doesn’t require any additional Mac dictation software. The macOS already has voice to text natively built into the operating system. Here’s an easy speech to text Mac shortcut tutorial for beginners.

Open System Preferences

Keyboard options, dictation & language selection, enhanced dication & offline access, setup a speech to text mac shortcut, place your mouse where you want to start dictating text, press your assigned function key or sequence, start talking, macos speech to text tips, how to use speech to text on macos.

To use speech to text on macOS, you first need to turn it on. This is a very easy tutorial. If you are very Mac savvy, then just enable the Dication feature under the Keyboard setting in System Preferences . Or follow the steps below. Let’s begin!

On your Mac, choose the Apple menu in the top left of your menu bar and select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

• Apple > System Preferences

After you open the System Preferences panel, you’ll see a collection of preference icons. Select Keyboard .

• System Preferences > Keyboard

There are several sub-options under the Keyboard ‘s Dictation submenu: Keyboard, Text, Shortcuts, Input Sources, Dictation.

• Click on the Dictation sub menu.
• Turn on Dictation .
• If you’re asked if you want to improve Siri and Dictation, click Not Now .
• Choose a Language . To dictate using another language besides English, click the Language pop-up menu, then choose a language and dialect.
• Apple > System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation > On

Enhanced Dictation is optional. You can skip to the next step if you want.

Do you want the ability to dictate speech to text without an Internet connection? Depending on your installed version of the macOS, you might be presented with an option to enable offline dictation. This could be useful if you are in an area with limited connectivity or want to use this feature while on an airplane.

Just be aware that this feature requires at least a gigabyte of hard drive storage. Make sure you have extra space for these files before trying to install.

• Apple > System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation > Use Enhanced Dictation

How do you want to tell your Mac to start listening for your speech to text input? The default Mac speech to text shortcut for dictation is to press the Function key twice. But you can use the Command, Control, or whatever keys you want. Just select Customize to change to the keyboard shortcut of your choice.

• Apple > System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation > Shortcut

How To Dictate Text

Once you’ve enabled the Dictation feature and selected your keyboard shortcut, you can now start speaking into your computer and letting it type for you. Try using this speech-to-text feature to compose an email . You’ll be surprised how much time this feature can save you on a daily basis!

• Open a document or locate a text field where you want to start dictating text.
• Click your mouse in the place where you want to start dictating.
• Press the Function key twice (or whatever keyboard shortcut you previously selected).
• A microphone icon should appear with a fluctuating loudness indicator and make a chirp sound.

Once the microphone is active, your computer will start to turn your voice into text.

• Start talking. Speak clearly and only try to dictate in short bursts. Try one or two sentences at a time.
• When you’re finished dictating, press your keyboard shortcut key again.

Here are some tips for using the speech to text feature on macOS:

• Speak clearly and slowly. If you speak too fast, or mumble, your dictation results will be bad. Going back to re-edit everything isn’t worth the time. Just do it right the first time.
• Speak in smaller chunks. Don’t try dictating a college commencement speech in one try. The Mac speech to text function isn’t made to listen for long periods of time. Smaller sections that are 60 seconds are less work best.
• Avoid background noise. If possible, move to a quiet area. Background noise can cause unpredictable results with the Mac dictation software.
• Speak punctuation marks as needed. If you want to end a sentence, then just say “period” or “questions mark” and the dictation software will add that punctuation for you.
• Create new lines or paragraphs. To create a new line or a paragraph break, just say “new line “ or “new paragraph “.
• Use a professional external microphone. The default microphone on your MacBook will work fine for most users. However, if you are having issues with your dictation results, you can try using an external microphone like the(Amazon link) Blue Yeti ($99+) .

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• Productivity

Best text to speech for Mac OS

Table of Contents

If you use a macOS-based device, there are dozens of third-party text-to-speech apps that are fully compatible with Apple’s operating system. Let’s review some of the best options out there.

Text to speech for Mac: Improve accessibility and productivity

Text to speech (TTS) technology has revolutionized the way we interact with digital content, and Apple’s macOS offers robust support for this valuable accessibility feature. Whether you’re using a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or even Windows, text to speech functionality can be a game-changer, allowing you to have selected text read aloud to you, convert written content into audio files, and more. In this article, we’ll explore the text to speech capabilities of macOS, along with the best text to speech apps and software available for Mac users. But first, let’s talk about what text to speech is.

Understanding text to speech

Let’s learn about Text to Speech! It’s a cool tool that turns written words into spoken ones . Think of it like this: your computer can read out loud any words you see on the screen. This is super helpful for people who can’t see well or for those who like to do many things at once.

Text to Speech is really important today. It makes sure everyone can use and enjoy what’s on the internet, no matter if they can see well or not.

When Text to Speech first started, it mostly helped people who couldn’t see. But now, it’s everywhere! We use it all the time without even noticing.

One great thing about Text to Speech is that it can save you time. Let’s say you have a long story or article to read. Instead of reading it yourself, you can let your computer read it to you. This way, you can do other things at the same time.

It’s also a big help for people learning a new language. By hearing how words sound, they can learn faster and better. It’s like having a teacher right there with you.

Text to Speech is also changing how we enjoy stories. Writers can now turn their stories into something you can listen to, like audiobooks . This means you can enjoy books while walking, driving, or just relaxing.

Plus, Text to Speech is a lifesaver for people with learning challenges. If someone has trouble reading, they can listen instead. It’s another way to understand and learn.

And guess what? Text to Speech is getting even better! There are smart computer programs that are making the spoken words sound more real and natural. Soon, we might have talking robots, helpful chat buddies, and voice systems made just for us!

Built-in text to speech on macOS

Apple has long been committed to accessibility, and macOS is no exception. Within the system preferences, you can easily find the text to speech feature under “Accessibility.” With this feature, you can customize the system voice, adjust speech settings, and even use a keyboard shortcut to have selected text read aloud.

The initial setup process is straightforward:

• Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
• Select “System Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
• Click on “Accessibility.”
• In the sidebar, select “Speech.”
• Check the box next to “Speak selected text when the key is pressed,” and choose a key combination of your preference.

Once you’ve completed the initial setup, you can further customize your Text to Speech preferences.

Customizing your preferences

The customization options in Text to Speech on Mac OS X are impressive. To access them, follow these steps:

• Go to “System Preferences” from the Apple menu.
• Select “Accessibility” and then choose “Speech” from the sidebar.
• Explore the various options available, such as changing the voice, adjusting the speaking rate, and modifying pronunciation.

Playing around with settings can help you find the best voice and speed that you like. There are many different voices you can choose from, each one sounding unique. Some of these voices might even be available for download from the App Store.

Setting up Text to Speech on your Mac is easy and user-friendly. Just follow a few simple steps, and your Mac will be able to read text, TXT files, or even your Mail to you in no time!

When you go to the Speech preferences, you’ll see how many cool changes you can make. You can pick different voices, including guys and girls, and even ones with different accents or languages. If you ever want the voice to stop speaking, there’s a “stop speaking” option available. And if you want to hear a preview, just hit the play button.

But you can change more than just the voice! You can also decide how fast the voice talks. This is great if you like listening slowly to understand better or quickly to save time.

You can also change how words are pronounced. This is super helpful for words that sound different than they look, for words from other languages, or even for apps like Ghost Reader.

By trying out all these changes, you can make Text to Speech work just the way you like it. It’s great for school, understanding what you read better, or just for fun. Finding the right voice and settings will make using your Mac even more enjoyable.

Remember, Text to Speech on Mac can read more than just a bit of text. It can read whole documents, websites, or emails to you. This is really helpful for people who have trouble seeing or who like to hear things instead of reading them.

With all these custom changes, Text to Speech on Mac makes reading stuff easy and fun for everyone. Whether you’re in school, working, or just like listening to stories or articles, this feature makes learning and enjoying information easy.

So, go ahead and see what Text to Speech on your Mac can do! With a few clicks, you can make your Mac read to you, making words come alive and easy for everyone to understand.

Expanding the capabilities with third-party apps

While the built-in text to speech feature is reliable, third-party apps offer additional functionalities and natural-sounding voices. Apps like “ VoiceOver ” on iOS devices and “Natural Reader” for macOS provide more customization options and support a wide range of file formats, including web pages, Microsoft Word documents, and more.

Using keyboard shortcuts and pop-up tools

For seamless multitasking, you can use keyboard shortcuts to initiate text to speech on Mac. Simply select the text you want to hear, press the key combination, and the system will start speaking. Some apps also offer pop-up tools, allowing you to easily access text to speech capabilities while reading content online or within documents.

Text to speech apps and software

For Mac users seeking powerful text to speech software, Speechify stands out with its advanced AI, optical character recognition (OCR), and support for over 30 languages. The app’s high-quality voices and customizable features make it a top choice for converting text into audio files, making it perfect for creating podcasts, audiobooks, and more. Available for Mac, Android, Windows, and more, it’s accessible to all.

Speechify stands out as the best text to speech app for Mac due to its exceptional features and advanced capabilities. Powered by advanced AI, machine learning, and optical character recognition (OCR), Speechify delivers a seamless and natural-sounding reading experience.

With support for over 30 languages, users can choose from more than 150 high-quality voices, making it highly versatile for diverse audiences. Whether you want to listen to emails, web pages, or text files, Speechify offers an intuitive interface, easy customization options, and the ability to adjust reading speed, enhancing both accessibility and productivity.

Its compatibility with macOS devices, including Macbooks and iPhones, makes it a convenient and reliable choice for converting text into audio files. For users seeking a next-generation text to speech app, Speechify is undoubtedly the top contender that unlocks the full potential of spoken content on Mac.

Enhancing accessibility and productivity

Text to speech technology and TTS software have become a valuable tool, not only for individuals with disabilities but also for enhancing productivity and multitasking. Whether you’re an avid reader looking for a more immersive experience to convert text or a content creator seeking innovative ways to engage your audience or to create compelling YouTube videos, text to speech for Mac offers a wealth of possibilities.

Text to speech for Mac, a valuable feature offered by the macOS operating system, empowers users to have selected text read aloud effortlessly. With a variety of options available, including Siri, Speak Selection, and Dictation, Mac users can enjoy spoken content in English and other languages.

Whether you’re reading emails, browsing web pages on Chrome or Safari, or working on a text file, Mac’s text to speech tool, available in the Apple Menu and system settings, allows for seamless conversion of text into spoken words. Simply press play, and the Macbook will read text with ease, providing accessibility and convenience for various tasks.

Text to speech capabilities on macOS empower users to access and consume digital content in new and efficient ways. Whether you’re reading emails, browsing web pages, or working on documents, text to speech apps and software provide a seamless solution for converting written content into spoken words.

With the ability to customize voices, adjust settings, and enjoy high-quality audio, Mac users can take full advantage of text to speech technology to enhance their accessibility and productivity.

Get to know the power of Speechify Text to Speech on your Mac!

If you haven’t tried Speechify on your Mac yet, you should. It’s a game-changer! With its advanced AI and support for over 30 languages, it turns any text into natural-sounding speech, making it perfect for creating audiobooks, podcasts , or just reading out your emails and articles. Whether you’re learning a new language or just want to rest your eyes, Speechify makes it so easy and enjoyable to listen to text. Ready to transform your reading experience? Give Speechify Text to Speech a try today!

How do I enable text to speech on my Mac?

To enable Text to Speech, go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Speech. Here, you can select the “Speak selected text when the key is pressed” option. You can also choose your preferred voice and adjust the speaking rate.

Can I change the voice or accent of the text to speech feature?

Yes! Mac offers a variety of voices in different accents and languages. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Speech and click on the dropdown menu next to “System Voice” to explore and select your preferred voice.

Is there a way to make my Mac read entire documents or web pages aloud?

Absolutely. You can highlight the text you want to be read, then press the key combination you’ve set up (default is Option+Esc). If you want to read an entire document, simply select all the text (Cmd+A) and then use the Text to Speech shortcut.

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• Next The benefits of reading to children

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

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5 Best (TTS) Text To Speech For Mac

Whether you prefer articles read to you while you do something else or trying to grasp a new foreign language or even for specially abled students, TTS (short for text-to-speech) has proved to be very useful.

In our previous articles we saw some of the best text to speech apps for Windows and Android . And today, we take a look at some of the best TTS options available for Macs.

Table of Contents

Text To Speech For Mac

1. macos tts.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves and start downloading third party apps, it is very trivial to know that macOS itself comes with a built-in TTS and you can use it anywhere on your computer from the Notes app to any browser.

To get started, highlight or select the text which you want to be read and then right click, go to Speech and then to Start Speaking; and your Mac should start reading the text to you. It also supports a lot of other languages other than English and there are a lot of voices to choose from in all the languages. To change the language option simply go to  Accessibility > Speech . Although some voices are very robotic, there are a few which aren’t and sound more like a human.

But the TTS is far from perfect; it is very basic and barebones and lacks options like pause/play, picking up from a selected word instantly and a lot more.

Quick Tip: It blew my mind and might even blow yours to know that the native TTS on Mac also supports converting your text into audio files. Just select the required text, right click and go to Services > Add to iTunes as a spoken track . The text will be converted to an audio track and added to your iTunes library.

Pros: – Built-in system wide – Lots of voice options – Converting text to iTunes track

Cons: – No Pause/Play – Have to select manually all the words to be read – No instant pickup

Verdict: Overall, the TTS that comes with macOS is very barebones without all the bells and whistles and should be perfect for somebody looking for a basic TTS experience without even buying or installing any third party software.

2. Invicta TTS

Invicta TTS is a very simple free Text To Speech app available on the Mac App Store. Once you open up the app, it presents you with a text box where you can enter or paste any text which will be then converted to speech. The app is very lightweight and minimal in nature with everything being to the point.

Although the app is very basic, unlike the built in TTS of Mac OS, it does add the option of playing or pausing the audio which becomes crucial when listening to long texts or articles. The voice settings cannot be changed but the in built voice does the job pretty good enough.

Pros: – Minimal and Light – Play/Pause Option

Cons: – Cannot read documents automatically – Supports only English

Verdict: If you need a simple and light TTS app and might be listening to long articles, Invicta TTS does the job pretty well but do remember that it can only read English.

Link: Get Invicta TTS on the App Store

Price: Free

3. Natural Reader

The next app on our list is Natural Reader which is an extremely powerful TTS software available not only on Mac OS but also on Windows, iOS, Android and even has an online reader.

The app comes in many flavours, each with its fair share of features for the price. The free version comes with basic TTS features along with the ability to read directly from file formats such as Docx, PDF, ePub and Txt. It also has a floating bar which can be used to read text while you are in other applications. The next option or the Personal version, at a steep $100, allows you to read web pages directly, converting text to audio files and syncing everything between your phone apps. There are also Professional and Ultimate versions which add OCR support and a bunch of natural voices.

Pros: – Support for file formats – Convert to audio files – Cross Platform – OCR Support

Cons: – Pricey – No instant pickup

Verdict: All the features of Natural Reader definitely come at a price and you should be able to decide whether it is a suit for you with respect to your investment in TTS, but even for a casual user the free version works really well. Overall, Natural reader is not just best text to speech software with natural voices, but since it also support PDF, it’s also a good option for those who are looking for PDF Voice Reader for macOS.

Pricing Options: Pricing for Natural Reader

Link: Download Natural Reader from here

4. Read Aloud

Read Aloud is not exactly a stand alone Mac app but instead a Chrome extension which might appeal to some people. Considering how many posts and articles are read on the internet everyday, we had to include Read Aloud.

It is completely free and once you install it, its icon will appear in the extension bar which you can now use to read any webpage or any online article, just by a single click. When it is in work, you get a play/pause button along with a forward or rewind button which can be used to advance or backtrack paragraphs. Considering it is free, the voice options are really good and feel very natural and premium.

Pros: – Great natural voice – Forward or rewind by paragraphs – Listen to webpages

Cons: – Works only on Chrome

Verdict: Suggesting Read Aloud is very straight forward; if you are someone who reads a lot on the internet and are looking for a free TTS software for that, nothing beats Read Aloud.

Link: Download Read Aloud from the Chrome Store

5. Capti Voice

Capti Voice is probably the most polished and well rounded TTS software available for the Mac and the award are only there to justify that. Starting off, Capti Voice uses your browser for the app to function instead of a stand alone Mac application. Don’t worry, you can still use it while you are offline as it stores all its data locally and personally I have had no issues.

Capti Voice has a subscription based model and even the free version has a lot to offer from various file format supports to text search while the premium versions add features like creating playlists, OCR Support and intelligent dictionary lookup. The voices offered across all the platforms are very high quality and commendable.

Quick Tip: Don’t forget to use the Chrome extension which allows you to save articles or webpages to be read later by Capti Voice.

Pros: – Cross platform with mobile apps – Create Playlists – Dictionary lookup – Shortcuts to get around

Cons: – No standalone app – Syncs only when you add to cloud storage

Verdict: Overall, Capti Voice is a really compelling app with features packed to the brim and is very similar to natural Reader but with a subscription based model. It is really the best TTS experience you can get on Mac OS.

Pricing Info: Pricing Options for Capti Voice

Link: Download Capti Voice from here

6. Honorable Mentions

CereProc has some of the most natural sounding computer speeches available on the market, which you can use to replace the default voice on your Mac (also available for other platforms). There are a lot of high quality voice packs to choose from and each costs around $35.

Zamzar is a free online service which you can use to convert your text to audio files or mp3s. Unlike the iTunes spoken track which you can use only on Apple devices, you can use it on any platform without any hassle.

Wrapping up: Best Text to Speech for Mac

So these were some of the TTS software available on the Mac and we hope we made your decision a little bit easier. If you are someone who reads mainly on the internet, Read Aloud is by far the best free option. Although a little limited, the built-in TTS feature seems to work just fine, but it can be a pain for long stretches of texts or long articles for which there is Invicta which is also free.

Natural Reader and Capti Voice both are spectacular TTS apps with a lot of plans to choose from, but I guess what it comes down to is the paying model. Natural reader is a one time purchase and should be better if you feel you will be invested in TTS for a long time whereas Capti Voice follows a subscription based model also with a one week free trial. Thanks for reading and do comment below which one is your favorite TTS app on Mac OS.

Read:  Make your Devices Read Out Text, With Text to Speech

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Text to Speech Mac: User Guide & Alternatives

Discover the power of Text to Speech Mac with our comprehensive user guide. Learn the steps to enable and use this feature efficiently.

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Updated on Jan 26, 2024

In the digital age, accessibility and convenience are our first priorities. For Mac users, the Text to Speech feature offers a valuable tool to transform written words into spoken language. Whether you're looking to give your eyes a break or improve comprehension, text-to-speech with emotion tools enhance accessibility.

This article helps you make the most of the Mac's built-in text-to-speech feature. You will discover the steps to enable and use Text-to-speech efficiently. Moreover, we'll introduce some fantastic alternatives that can further enhance your reading experience.

How to Activate Text to Speech on Mac

macOS offers multiple accessibility features to enhance the user experience. One such feature is Text to Speech, which allows your Mac to read text aloud. Whether you have visual impairments or prefer multitasking, SpongeBob Text to Speech can turn your Mac into an effective narrator. Here are the steps to activate Text to Speech on your Mac.

Step 1. Open " System Preferences. "

Step 2. Click on " Accessibility ."

Step 3. Select " System Voice ."

Step 4. Check the box next to " Speak selected text when the key is pressed ."

Step 5. Click the " Set Key " button, then choose a keyboard shortcut to trigger the speech.

Step 6. Adjust the speaking rate, voice, and other settings to customize your text-to-speech experience.

Step 7. Highlight text to read, then press your chosen keyboard shortcut to activate text to speech. Your Mac will start reading the selected content aloud.

How to Customize Text to Speech on Mac

macOS's Text to Speech feature isn't just about enabling your Mac to read text aloud; it's also about personalizing the experience. With multiple voices and speaking rates available, you can make TikTok text-to-speech sound exactly the way you want.

Steps to Customize Text to Speech on Your Mac:

Step 1. Open " System Preferences ."

Step 3. In the left sidebar, select " Spoken Content ."

Step 4. Open the " System Voice " menu and choose a voice.

Step 5. Adjust the " Speaking Rate " to set the speed of voice.

Step 6. Click " Play Sample " to hear a demonstration of the chosen voice and speaking rate.

Steps to Add a New Voice

Step 1. Open " System Voice " and select " Manage Voices ."

Step 2. Press the " Download " key next to the selected voice.

Step 3. Click the " Play " button to sample the voice.

Step 4. Find a voice for another language by clicking the name of the language in the sidebar.

Step 5. Once you've added the voices you want, click " OK ."

Steps to Delete a Downloaded Voice

Step 1. If you want to delete a voice that you downloaded, click " Manage Voices ."

Step 2. Uncheck the box for the voice you wish to remove.

Best Text-to-Speech Tools on Mac

While macOS offers a built-in Text-to-Speech feature, it doesn't provide a variety of customization options. If you're looking for improved TT features, there are several third-party text-to-speech websites and tools available for Mac that offer enhanced voices.

EaseUS VoiceOver

EaseUS VoiceOver is a versatile text-to-speech tool with multiple features to make your reading experience engaging. With the ability to set reading voice parameters for different parts of your text, users can ensure that the narration suits the content. This AI voiceover generator  supports 149 languages and 469 voices, making it accessible to a global audience.

Its option to adjust voice emotions allows users to infuse their text with emotions like anger, joy, fear, or sadness. The tool also lets you fine-tune speech speed from -50% to 50%, giving you complete control over the pacing. Additionally, you can preview and play each voice to find the perfect match for your text.

• Customizable Voice Parameters: It allows users to set reading voice parameters for different parts of their text.
• Extensive Language Support: With support for 149 languages and 469 voices, it is suitable for a diverse audience.
• Emotion-Infused Narration: It adds a unique and emotive dimension to the text.
• Adjustable Speech Speed: The tool offers a wide range of speech speed adjustments.
• Preview and Play: Users can freely preview and play each voice option, ensuring they find the perfect voice for their text.

Unlock the true potential of your audio files with EaseUS VoiceOver.

NaturalReader

Natural Reader is a powerful text-to-speech for YouTube tool offering multiple high-quality voices to turn text into human voice. Designed to meet all user's needs, Natural Reader is a valuable tool for students and individuals with visual impairments. It helps users to make their reading experience more efficient and enjoyable.

With support for multiple file formats and customizable settings, it provides a versatile solution for different users. Whether you're studying or need assistance with language learning, Natural Reader offers a smooth TTS experience.

• Multiple high-quality voices in different accents and languages
• Free for 20 minutes per day
• Adjust the reading speed and voice settings
• Seamlessly integrates with web browsers, e-book readers, and other applications
• Available for both Windows and Mac
• The free version has limitations
• Sometimes, less natural sound
• Limited voice control

Read Aloud is a prominent Joe Biden text-to-speech reading tool known for its accessibility and versatility. It offers a free version and compatibility with a wide range of text formats. Whether you require TTS to read web content aloud or assist students, Read Aloud simplifies the process.

It is particularly beneficial for learning languages, making learning materials easily accessible. Read Aloud works seamlessly with websites, various digital files, and custom-made e-books. It has an app and browser extension for Firefox and Google Chrome available.

• Support for a wide range of text formats
• In-app dictionary tool for unfamiliar words
• Color-coding and highlighting options for visual learners
• Customization options, including speech rate and loudness control
• Limited platform availability
• Some voice options may lack authenticity

Murf AI is a versatile text-to-speech tool that offers a unique and customizable reading experience. With Murf AI, users can transform text content into natural-sounding speech, making it an excellent choice for various applications. Whether you need assistance with reading digital documents or educational materials, Murf AI has you covered.

Its innovative features, including adding intonation, pauses, and emotions, create a more engaging experience. Additionally, Murf AI supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a global audience. Whether you're a student or professional, Murf AI offers a user-friendly and powerful solution for text-to-speech needs.

• Customizable speech with intonation and emotions
• Support multiple languages
• Suitable for various applications
• User-friendly interface
• Limited information available on user reviews
• May have a learning curve for advanced customization
• Lack of customization depth

To Conclude

Text-to-Speech tools are designed to enhance your convenience and accessibility. Whether you're a student or a professional, Mac's built-in Text-to-speech feature provides voice narration. With a proper understanding of features, you can use them to enhance your Mac experience.

This article mentioned the steps to enable and customize the Mac's built-in text-to-speech feature. If you want advanced control and customization, EaseUS VoiceOver presents an excellent alternative. Its extensive features and capabilities help you personalize text-to-speech experiences.

FAQs on Text to Speech Mac

Text to Speech on Mac offers accessibility and convenience, allowing your device to read text aloud. Here are more insights to help you understand the process:

1. How do I get my Mac to read my text aloud?

Follow the steps to enable Text to Speech on Mac:

Step 1. Go to " System Settings ."

Step 3. In the left sidebar, choose " Spoken Content ."

Step 4. Check the box for Speak selected text when the key is pressed .

2. What is the shortcut for a screen reader on a Mac?

After selecting the text, you can press the key combinatiom to have your Mac read the text aloud. The default keys are Option + Esc. To activate the screen reader on your Mac, press "Control + Option + F4."

3. How do I turn on text-to-speech on my computer?

To turn on text to speech, you can use EaseUS VoiceOver:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS VoiceOver.

Step 2. Paste or type the text you want to be read aloud.

Step 3. Select your preferred voice and adjust parameters like speech speed and emotion.

Step 4. Tap play to start text voiceover.

Step 5. You can also export the text as a subtitle file to use later.

Share this article to help others discover text-to-speech on Mac and make their digital content more accessible.

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How to convert typed sentences into speech with Live Speech on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch

In this tutorial, we will tell you everything you need to know about using the new Live Speech feature on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch running iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and watchOS 10.

New in iOS 17: How to use Assistive Access on iPhone and iPad

What is Live Speech?

Live Speech is a new accessibility feature letting you type anything you want to say on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch and have the device speak whatever you typed.

Who is it for

People who cannot speak at all or have difficulty speaking can use Live Speech:

• To talk during FaceTime calls, standard phone calls, or calls made by other apps like WhatsApp.
• Use it for in-person communication by typing their thoughts and having their phone or computer speak those typed words.

And on top of everything, Live Speech, in conjunction with Personal Voice , can even convert typed words into speech that sounds as if the person himself is speaking!

Note: Currently, new versions of iOS, macOS, and watchOS are in the beta stage, and you can get them using our easy tutorials:

• How to install iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 public beta on iPhone or iPad
• How to install macOS Sonoma on a different partition of your Mac
• How to update your Apple Watch to watchOS 10 Developer Beta for free

Turn on Live Speech

You have to turn it on individually on each device where you want to convert typed words into speech.

On iPhone and iPad

• Open the Settings app on iOS 17 or iPadOS 17.
• Tap Accessibility .
• Scroll down and tap Live Speech .
• Turn on the switch for Live Speech .
• Next, tap the Voices tile and select the desired English voice.

• Open System Setting on your computer running macOS Sonoma.
• Select Accessibility from the left sidebar.
• Scroll down to the Speech section and click Live Speech .
• Turn on the switch for Live Speech . You will see the Type to Speak box on the screen. You can click the Live Speech icon in the menu bar to hide it.
• Next, select your Preferred language and its Voice .
• You can also increase or decrease the Font Size so it becomes easier to see what you type in the Live Speech Type to Speak box.

How to use Live Speech to convert text to voice

You can use it on your mobile devices or your computer.

On iPhone or iPad

• Triple-press the iPhone side button or iPad top button to activate Live Speech
• Once Live Speech is active, you will see the Type to Speak box on the screen. Type what you want to say and hit the send button on the keyboard. Your iPhone or iPad will speak what you’ve just typed.

On Apple Watch

You can also use Live Speech on your Apple Watch and have your wearable speak out the typed words or sentences. Here are the steps for that:

• Open the Settings app and go to Accessibility .
• Scroll down almost to the bottom and tap Live Speech .
• You won’t see a toggle to turn it on or off. Tap Voice and make sure the right language and voice are selected.
• Go back to the main Accessibility screen, tap Accessibility Shortcut , and select Live Speech .
• From now, when you triple-press the Digital Crown , it will bring up the ‘Enter text to speak’ box. Type what you want to say and tap the Speak button. Your Apple Watch will speak what you just typed.

• After you turn on Live Speech, you will see its typing box on the screen. In case you don’t, click the Live Speech icon from the menu bar to bring it to the screen.
• Type what you want to say and hit the return/enter key on the keyboard, or click the play button in the typing box itself. Your computer will speak what you just typed.

• You can drag the Type to Speak box anywhere you like on the desktop.
• It remains visible on top of all other app windows.

Using Live Speech during a FaceTime call or phone call

Now that you know how to use Live Speech to turn text into voice, doing this during phone calls couldn’t be any easier.

You can use Live Speech with FaceTime , phone calls , and other communication apps . I called my wife via WhatsApp from my iPhone and used Live Speech on my end. It worked; however, she said the audio quality was a bit unclear.

Here’s how to use Live Speech during phone calls on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch:

• Make a FaceTime audio or video call, phone call, or use other VoIP calling apps.
• Once you’re on the call screen, activate Live Speech . As mentioned, you can do it by triple pressing the iPhone side button, iPad top button, or Apple Watch Digital Crown. On Mac, click the Live Speech icon from the menu bar.
• Type what you want to say to the person on the other side of the call and hit the send / Speak / enter key . Your phone, watch, or computer will turn your text into audio and transmit it over the phone call. The person you’re talking to will hear what you typed on your screen.

New in iOS 17: How to set full-screen contact posters on iPhone

Save favorite phrases to Live Speech

If you type specific words or sentences frequently, you can add them to your favorites and use them quickly with a tap – without the need to type that word or sentence again.

Favorite phrases you add to Live Speech sync via iCloud to all your other devices. So, you only need to save a particular sentence once on one of your devices.

Here’s how to add a sentence to Live Speech favorite and use it.

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Live Speech > Favorite Phrases .
• Tap the plus button (+) .
• Type the text you want to add as a favorite and tap Save .

• Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Live Speech > Favorite Phrases .
• Tap Add a phrase > Create a phrase .
• Enter the text and tap the checkmark button.

• Open System Settings and go to Accessibility > Live Speech .
• Hit the plus button (+) under the Saved Phrases section.
• Type the sentence or phrase and hit the return/enter key.

Use a saved phrase

• Triple-click the side or top button to activate Live Speech .
• Once the Type to Speak box is on the screen, you will see your saved phrases here. Tap one, and your device will speak that.
• If you don’t see the saved sentences on the screen, tap the Phrases button to see them.

• Triple-press the Digital Crown.
• Pick a saved phrase under the Favorites section.

• Click the Live Speech icon from the top menu bar if the Type to Speak box is not already on the screen.
• When you’re on the Live Speech Type to Speak box, click the ribbon / saved phrase icon and choose a saved phrase.

Important: Using Personal Voice with Live Speech

While following the steps to turn on Live Speech, I asked you to pick one of the various pre-built voice options for Live Speech. These Apple voices work well, but that voice is not yours, and it doesn’t sound like you’re the one speaking.

To address this, you can train your iPhone or iPad to create a replica of your actual voice . After that’s done, you can select your Personal Voice as the Live Speech voice. And from now on, anything you type in the Live Speech box will be spoken in your voice! You can learn more about it in our dedicated Personal Voice post.

Here’s how to select your voice as the Live Speech voice:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Live Speech .
• From here, tap the Voices field and select Personal Voice .
• Tap your Personal Voice name .

You can’t create Personal Voice on Mac, but once it’s created on your iPhone or iPad, it can sync to your Mac, and you can select it for use.

• Open System Settings and go to Accessibility > Live Speech > Voice .
• Select Personal Voice .

What are your thoughts on the Live Speech feature?

• How to turn a PDF into an audiobook or have your computer read it out (6 ways)
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How to Activate Text to Speech in Mac OS X

Last Updated: July 6, 2021

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 251,332 times. Learn more...

So you want your Mac to read something to you? Read more to find out how.

Setting The Voice

The Shortcut Way

• A box will appear.

The Right-Click Way

Community Q&A

• You can right click on the text and click Stop Speaking. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You can press the key combination again to stop speaking. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• In the System Preferences window where you set the Voice and Key Combination you can also make the computer announce the time and warn you when a pop-up window appears. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Some people absolutely hate it when the Computer announces the time. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't do this to someone else's computer, as it can be annoying. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Do not set the key combination to anything that you already use, because it will be over written. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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