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Narration (text to speech software)

Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:20 pm

I would like to add a narrator voice in a proshow slideshow, by the use of a text-to-speech software. Thus, I do NOT want to record my own voice and add this mp3-file to a slideshow. I want to write a text and use a electronic speaker voice that is added to my slideshow. (English or Swedish voices are preferrable to me)

I guess there are no add-ons for proshow, so I need some text-to-speech software (e.g. textalound) for this purpose. Is there anyone who have used this and can give me some advise on what software that is best?

On top of this it would be nice if I could add a subtitle on the same time (but this is not necessary).

I would really appreciate some help!
/Pär

Re: Narration (text to speech software)

Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:18 pm

Balabolka is a Text-To-Speech (TTS) program worth looking at.

Balabolka can save the synchronized text in external LRC files or in MP3 tags inside the audio files. When an audio file is played with players on a computer or on modern digital audio players, the text is displayed synchronously (at the same way, as lyrics for songs).

All computer voices installed on your system are available to Balabolka. The on-screen text can be saved as a WAV, MP3, MP4, OGG or WMA file. The program can read the clipboard content, view the text from DOC, EPUB, FB2, HTML, ODT, PDF and RTF files, customize font and background colour, control reading from the system tray or by the global hotkeys. Balabolka uses various versions of Microsoft Speech API (SAPI); it allows to alter a voice's parameters, including rate and pitch.

The user can apply a special substitution list to improve the quality of the voice's articulation. This feature is useful when you want to change the spelling of words. The rules for the pronunciation correction use the syntax of regular expressions.

Balabolka can save the synchronized text in external LRC files or in MP3 tags inside the audio files. When an audio file is played with players on a computer or on modern digital audio players, the text is displayed synchronously (at the same way, as lyrics for songs).

http://www.cross-plus-a.com/balabolka.htm

Re: Narration (text to speech software)

Sun Oct 24, 2010 5:02 pm

Caganaudie, first of all, thanks for your kind help!

I have now tried this software. It is actually a very good text-to-speech software, however, I still do not understand how I could add subtitles to the mp3 speaker voice that I have added in proshow. Then I would have to listen to the texts and manually add subtitles. Is there a way to add this speaker voice (by text-to-speech) and simultaneously get subtitles.

I really appreciate your help!!!

/Pär

Re: Narration (text to speech software)

Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:27 pm

I have not used Balabolka before but their web site indicates that text can be saved and the display will play on the screen in synchronization to the audio as earlier noted (see below):

http://www.cross-plus-a.com/balabolka.htm

"Balabolka can save the synchronized text in external LRC files or in MP3 tags inside the audio files. When an audio file is played with players on a computer or on modern digital audio players, the text is displayed synchronously (at the same way, as lyrics for songs)".

Have you clicked the "options" and the "tools" buttons to see what adjustments are available?

Dan
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