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Digital Future
TextSpeech Pro is a professional text-to-speech software product, featuring high-quality voices. On OS X, it uses the Apple voices and all voices built by Cepstral.
List of all features of TextSpeech Pro for OS X:
List of all features of TextSpeech Pro for OS X:
- Synthesizes speech from text and enables the high-quality voices (Deluxe version) in all OS X applications;
- Includes proprietary high-quality voices for OS X (as an included or optional component to the software);
- Can export text to a variety of audio file formats (Deluxe version);
- Uses a text editor to convert
What's New
Version 3.6.6:
Note: Although Finder indicates that this is version 3.7, the developer refers to it as version 3.6.6.
- OS X 10.9 Mavericks support for audio export and opening of documents
Requirements
Intel/PPC, OS X 10.4 or later
Intel/PPC, OS X 10.4 or later
TextSpeech Pro User Discussion (Write a Review)
Overall:
(2)
(2)
| Downloads:13,200 |
| Version Downloads:611 |
| Type:Multimedia Design : Audio |
| License:Demo |
| Date:09 Dec 2013 |
| Platform:PPC 32 / Intel 32 / OS X |
| Price: $24.95 |
Overall (Version 3.x):  |
| Features: |
Ease of Use: |
| Value: |
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TextSpeech Pro is a professional text-to-speech software product, featuring high-quality voices. On OS X, it uses the Apple voices and all voices built by Cepstral.
List of all features of TextSpeech Pro for OS X:
List of all features of TextSpeech Pro for OS X:
- Synthesizes speech from text and enables the high-quality voices (Deluxe version) in all OS X applications;
- Includes proprietary high-quality voices for OS X (as an included or optional component to the software);
- Can export text to a variety of audio file formats (Deluxe version);
- Uses a text editor to convert typed text to speech and then can save the created documents and the selected voice settings (voice type, pitch, speed, volume) for future use;
- Can modify and save voice properties like voice type, pitch, speed, volume, word highlighting, XML support (Deluxe only);
- Can further tune the speech output using standard XML tags (Deluxe version with high-quality voices).
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Psychiatry reviewed on 23 Feb 2012
I tried GhostReader, TextSpeech Pro, Narrator, and numerous other applications.
Two key points are:
1. Is the audio output easily understandable like a real voice recording rather than a computerized voice? This means the sound has to be smooth and have prosody like real human speech.
2. Can the audio output be customized by speed, prosody, pronunciation, etc.
GhostReader is the best of the text to speech products because its output is much closer to real human speech than the others. The output can't be customized as much as with TextSpeech pro, however. But it wins out based on how smooth and understandable the speech is.
TextSpeech Pro is a very close second. It has the advantage of being able to customize pronunciation - thus making it more understandable (e.g. "read" can be pronounced "reed" or "red" depending on the context and you can choose which one is best for the output. The main problem with TextSpeech Pro that the output sounds harsher, more tinny, and is not as smooth as with GhostReader. The difference is very small. But I would regard the output from TextSpeech Pro as a B- grade and GhostReader as a solid B grade. Neither one is a B+ or A grade.
In regard to Cepstral voices and other additional voices versus the high quality built-in voices of Mac OS X Lion, I say the best for audiobook conversion are the built-in Alex and the Cepstral David. Alex is A+. Cepstral David is a solid B. The other voices are simply not worthwhile since the quality is too low - Cs and Ds for audiobook conversion.
TextSpeech Pro does have a complicated interface. I wish they would make it simpler. GhostReader's interface is ugly and old. But its output sounds smoother and clearer - just a little bit better than TextSpeech Pro. And its the output that ultimately counts.
TextSpeech Pro seems to be much more actively developed than GhostReader. I wish it's developer continued best wishes to improve the output. When it exceeds GhostREader, I will switch to it as my go-to tool.
I wish the Mac App store is soon update to match the version you can buy directly from the developer. The Mac App store version - which I have - is still stuck at version 3.5.x
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Monty reviewed on 10 Feb 2010
Several tests on my MacBook Pro resulted in the program hanging. I had to force quit every time. I rebooted, repaired permissions, and other general maintenance tasks but nothing seemed to get it to run reliably. I ran Activity Monitor and watched the program take more and more CPU time until it "hung" and had to be forced to quit.
The demo does NOT let you export an audio file, so no way to test that.
I wanted to know how much to buy, so I went to their web site (http://www.digitalfuturesoft.com/). Ha! Try and find out the price or try to buy. It's impossible. No link, no store, nothing. Talk about making it difficult. I finally gave up.
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1) ALL of the voices they feature are sourced from Cepstral, presumably used by TexSpeech Pro via a license from Cepstral. I am very familiar with Cepstral voices as I own and use several of them. And anyone can buy those same voices direct from Cepstral. (BTW, the best ones are David, William, Callie and Diane. Or, for a British accent, go with Lawrence and Millie.) (I LOVE Millie!)
2) Mac OS X has excellent text-to-speech capabilities already built in, and it works seamlessly with the Cepstral voices. No other software required, just the Cepstral voices.
So...uh...why would I buy THIS product? I'm not saying I wouldn't or that you shouldn't, it just is not AT ALL clear to my what added value they bring to the table.
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Here are some clarifications:
1) The best way to learn how to work with the program is to follow the Tutorial in the Help provided with the software (from TextSpeech Pro access the Help menu).
2) TextSpeech Pro is a cross-platform program for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. We also provide a Windows Mobile version and cross-platform TTS SDK and server products. We use Cepstral and the Mac OS X system voices on Mac OS X. The software is specifically designed for advanced text-to-speech use but can also be used for performing trivial TTS tasks (please read the feature list on the description page or see http://www.digitalfuturesoft.com/texttospeechproductsformacosx.php).
3) The demo version does not include any of the Cepstral voices, it only uses the Apple standard voices. Hence, the installation file size is about 100 MB. We cannot allow audio creation due to licensing limitations. 150 characters is enough to demo the software. If we allow more characters, we again will let users violate the license.
4) When having trouble unzipping the installation file, simply re-download the package and try again.
5) The full version can be purchased by going to http://www.digitalfuturesoft.com/ >"Text to Speech for Mac OS X">Download button. There is an online store from then on.
Here is the direct link: http://www.digitalfuturesoft.com/texttospeechproductsformacosxcheckout.php
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