Use Chromium OS text-to-speech voices with Chromium browser

...and he's at it again!
TL;DR chromium-ext-chromiumos-tts-git - all TTS voices from Chromium OS for use with Chromium desktop browser. Install as unpacked extension (no more auto-install, sorry, damn you Google!)
So you've heard about the text-to-speech capabilities of Chromium OS, and you would like to use them with your desktop browser?
Perhaps you have dyslexia, a visual disability, or just a desire to learn a new language, have Web pages read out to you, or you simply want to show off your digital-fu to your friends?
Then you may have noticed that the Chrome web store does have plenty speech synthesizers from third parties, but in most countries, the one from Google usually shows up with just one voice (US English).
For those who don't (want to) speak English, are bi-/multilingual, or who just are more open-minded with regards to the world's languages, here's my way to help make this happen: chromium-ext-chromiumos-tts-git on the AUR.
This extension packages the TTS engine and all the voices available from the Chromium OS project...as a Chromium extension.
To install it:
Download the taurball, build and install the package
In Chromium, browse to chrome://extensions
Enable Developer mode by ticking the box
Click the button named "Install unpacked extension..."
Navigate to /usr/share/chromium/extensions/chromium-ext-chromiumos-tts
Click on Open
That's it, you should now have a new extension named "Chromium OS Text-to-speech (by Google)" enabled and ready to use.
Note: Before rushing off to try out some HTML5 / TTS demos out there on the Web, please realize that not all of them work well (or at all), since text-to-speech on the Web is quite new and still in development.
The easiest way to get a quick glimpse (or rather soundbite) of what this thing can do, is to install the ChromeVox extension from the Google web store. After installation, click on its Options link, scroll down to Voices, and try out the different languages from the listbox.
Suggestions, questions, etc. are very welcome.
Enjoy :-)
Last edited by ackalker (2015-01-04 17:46:38)

To make it clear, this is not ripped, reverse-engineered, "warez" or anything like that. It uses publicly available material from the Chromium OS project, and modifies only BSD-licensed source files.

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Adobe implemented VTML in Captivate 4, which is a mark up language for Text to Speech.
It looks something like this (The color added for emphasis):
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The \pause, creates a half second pause and and a \pause. creates a full second pause
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Thte \pitch= changes the pitch of the speech. I made it very deep at the end.
Here's a more in depth explanation of some of these tage, taken from the Adobe Captivate blog:
The following commands allow the quality of the output voice to be controlled by modifying its rhythm, intonation, volume and timbre. The output speech is modified from the word following the command, up until the end of the prompt.
Speed Control: Allows the speaking rate to be modified, expressed in an abstract scale 0-100.
\speed=<num>
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\speed=60 (Scale 0-100)
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Pitch Control: allows the fundamental frequency (tone or pitch) to be modified, expressed in an abstract scale 0-100
\pitch=<num>
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\pitch=60 (Scale 0-100)
\pitch=60 This text is read at a 60Hz frequency rating.
Volume Control: allows the volume (loudness) to be modified, expressed in an abstract scale 0-100 or in decibels (dB).
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\volume=60 (Scale 0-100)
\volume=60 This text will be read at a 60 decibel rating.
Timbre Control: allows the voice timbre to be modified by a shift in frequency, expressed in an abstract scale 0-100.
\timbre =<num>
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\timbre=60 (Scale 0-100)
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If you haven't installed the improved voice to text voices, get them off of the "Extras" folder on the Captivate install CD or download them here:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=captivate
Look for the install links for windows and mac below the trial link.
/Benjamin

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Thanks.

Hi there,
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Thanks.

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There probably are other voices available; no doubt someone will tell us where to find them.
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Many thanks,
M.

Hi Tom,
thanks for responding.
It is unlikely. I have just opened the pdf and swiped with two fingers from the top of the iPad' rim and the "read all page" function has immediately started to read the content automatically.
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Nor if I try to select block of text. If I select just few words on both pages, the reading option appears, giving me option to choose language. Then it works correctly on both "sample" pages. But if I do the same and tap and select whole page as a block of text, then again the issue occures.
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Hi,
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Thanks,
hesfahani
import java.util.Locale;
import java.util.*;
import javax.speech.*;
import javax.speech.synthesis.*;
import javax.speech.recognition.*;
import javax.speech.AudioManager;
public static void main(String args[])
try {
Calendar calendar = new GregorianCalendar();
String sayTime = "Its " +
calendar.get(Calendar.HOUR) + " " +
calendar.get(Calendar.MINUTE) + " " +
(calendar.get(Calendar.AM_PM)== 0 ? "AM" : "PM");
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synth.resume();
synth.speakPlainText(sayTime,null);
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synth.deallocate();
} catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println("Voicey Caugth in Main");
e.printStackTrace();
}

Seems like you are missing a speech.properties file.
According to this ( [http://freetts.sourceforge.net/javadoc/com/sun/speech/freetts/jsapi/FreeTTSEngineCentral.html] ) it should contain the line:
FreeTTSSynthEngineCentral=com.sun.speech.freetts.jsapi.FreeTTSEngineCentral
And the file should, accordig to this ( [http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/speech/forDevelopers/jsapi-doc/javax/speech/Central.html] ) be placed in:
<user.home>/speech.properties
or
<java.home>/lib/speech.properties
- Roy

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Does Leopard other any changes in the text to speech implementation?
Thanks

Archie Robertson wrote:
Steven Whatley wrote:
Or do you get multiple voices in each Info-Vox language pack? That wasn't clear to me on their web site.
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British English gives you Heather, of course, along with Graham, Lucy, Peter and Roger. 5 voices for $99, or $20 apiece.
French gives you Heather again, plus Alice, Julie, Claire, Bruno and Pierre.
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OK, so one does get more voices with Infovox. However, after listening to the American English voices, I would probably only use Heather, Laura, and Ryan.
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Hi there
I've noticed more than few posts about this since Captivate 4
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Are you by chance using Windows Vista 64 bit? Seems most that
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Click
here to view the WishForm/Bug Reporting Form
Cheers... Rick

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Hi all,
I work for a small web development company and we're curently in the process
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incorporating the technology developed by Apple into our app, but
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Basically, here's what we want to do: we have a simple application
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We could then generate audio files from these sentences using
"say" command (which is built into the Mac OS) and put
them on our website.
If you're familiar with Apple's policy on such uses of their text-to-speech
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Thanks.
PS: it's my first post here, so if I chose the wrong forum, please let me know where
I should post it.

Hi there
I've noticed more than few posts about this since Captivate 4
was released.
Are you by chance using Windows Vista 64 bit? Seems most that
have reported this issue have been using that version.
Please report it to Adobe as a bug.
Click
here to view the WishForm/Bug Reporting Form
Cheers... Rick

Any third party apps to highlight words on Mac as they're read by the built in Text-to-Speech?

Hello everyone,
I want to use my Mac to it's full potential! And I believe this is the community that can help. Is there a way for my mac to highlight the words which are read by the built in text-to-speech voices?
I really love the VoiceDream application for the iPad, and I'm looking for an equivalent or isotope of similar features on the Mac.
The answers to this question can benefit:
1.) People who have trouble reading without voice-over.
2.) Foreign language learners who want to follow along as the text is being read.
3.) People who have difficulty focusing while they read.
If you know of any amalgamation of solutions to this problem, I will really appreciate it! I am currently experimenting with using text-to speech as a way to read my textbooks for better comprehension and to remember more information. I really don't want to move to the VoiceDream app because everything is centralized on my Mac, and I like the variety of voices already available for free on the Mac.
I recently got my MacBook Air mid-2014 Model with OSX 10.9.4 installed, so this is what I'm working with.
As a last resort, if there is a solution that will work on a Windows computer, I can install Parallel Desktop to take advantage of an application if it has a comprehensive solution that would make it worth it to install that platform.
The perfect solution would really be if there was a Mac version of VoiceDream Reader, but seeing as there isn't, I would love to find out how I can make due with what is out there, or maybe even petition some software developers to create a solution to this problem that would enhance the study-toolbox of students and life-long learners.
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Did you have a look at GhostReader. It works in demo mode for 14 days to test it.
http://www.convenienceware.com/product/ghostreade
I have used it a lot but some functionalities are not yet working in Yosemite beta.

Text to speech problems

I have my Mac announce the time every 1/4 hour in Japanese. The first problem is that it's saying "it's" before the time... for example "it's go ji ju go fun" but with the Japanese accent, it sounds (oddly enough) like the Japanese word for "when." The second problem is that it is saying "o'clock" in a Japanese accent (sounds like "oku roku" after the hour-number).
In order to provide replicateable examples of what I'm talking about: Using OS 10.7.1, grab the "Kyoko" text to speech voice and set the Date & Time system preference to announce the time every 1/4 hour with the custom voice set to Kyoko. If you don't have the rest of your Mac language settings as Japanese, it should ask you if you are sure you want to use a voice that dosen't speak the current system language. Now wait for the next quarter-hour announcement.
I'm also attaching a clip of two examples:
The first clip you will hear is "it's 10:45" which sounds like Itsu Jyu Ji Yon Jyu Go Fun
I want to change into "now is 10:45" (今は10:45) which should sound likeIma wa Jyu Ji Yon Jyu Go Fun
The second clip is "it's 4:00" which sounds like Itsu Yon Oku Roku
This would, ideally, be "now is 4:00 - period" (今は4:00です。) which should sound like Ima wa Yo Ji Des
I know there must be some way to add an exception the "o'clock" modifier, otherwise the English TTS voices would say something like "it's nine zero zero" I just don't know where to look yet.. and I'm still learning the ins-and-outs of xcode.
audio clip here:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B1g5V_0sdSyzYjgzMjliOWUtZTM4MC00ZDU0LTgyMDUtZTF kYTU4MjgxYzQ0&hl=en_US
Thanks in advance for any help.
-Ezra

Well, at 50 views and no replies to this ticket, I thought it would be helpful to include a sound clip of the problems...
The first clip you will hear is "it's 10:45" which sounds like Itsu Jyu Ji Yon Jyu G o Fun
I want to change into "now is 10:45" (今は10:45) which should sound like Ima wa Jyu Ji Yon Jyu G o Fun
The second clip is "it's 4:00" which sounds like Itsu Yon Oku Roku
This would, ideally, be "now is 4:00 - period" (今は4:00です。) which should sound like Ima wa Yo Ji Des.
I know there must be some way to add an exception the "o'clock" modifier, otherwise the English TTS voices would say something like "it's nine zero zero" I just don't know where to look yet..
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B1g5V_0sdSyzYjgzMjliOWUtZTM4MC00ZDU0LTgyMDUtZTF kYTU4MjgxYzQ0&hl=en_US

Text to Speech(mp3) conversion in flash

Hi ,
I want to convert text to Speech without using Google api.So that I can run the application offline.
So is there a way to convert text to Speech (mp3) and upload the converted mp3 file in a folder in flash as3.
Thanks.

I have found that Text-to-Speech works just fine in Yosemite's Preview application — without changing any standard settings. I added additional voices, and it works equally well with these too. You should not expect Text-to-Speech functionality with text that is incorporated into a graphic though.
Both Edit > Speech > Start Speaking, and after enabling in Text-to-Speech Preferences, Speak selected text when the key is pressed (option+Esc).

Text to Speech errors unwanted extra text added to slides

Dear all,
I've been using the new "text to speech" engine and I have to say it's pretty good. BTW, I prefer Paul's voice rather than Kate's.
There is an annoying bug when you're typing text in the relevant boxes . Captivate appears to get confused and holds random lines of text in memory and inserts them into the slide. It's taken me ages to figure out a fix but this seems to work :
Delete the text from the offending slide in the timeline
Clean your library for any unwanted files
Save the file
Click on a DIFFERENT slide to the one where you want to write the text
Go to Audio > Speech Management and insert the text in the proper slide
Click Apply changes
This should work and stop these random text entries being inserted and spoiling your project. Let me know if you've encountered this before and/or can find a better fix.
Regards
Mark

I'm having this same problem. This is the message I received from adobe tech support:
[Hi,
I am Mukul from Adobe Captivate Quality Team and this is regarding the text to speech issue you are facing. We are really sorry to know that you are facing problems with this feature.
Can you please try to delete/rename the Captivate_v40.dat file available at the following location -
Win XP - <home-dir>\Documents and Settings\<username>\
Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Captivate\
Win Vista - <home-dir>\users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Captivate\
Please note that deleting / renaming this file, you will lose any project preferences if you have set in Captivate. Hence please rename the file and check if it resolves your issue.]
I've renamed it. Didn't work. I deleted it. Still didn't work. I am at my wits end about this. If anyone has ANY ideas about this persistant glitch, PLEASE! I am desperate!
Thanks,
Jess

HT1338 text-to-speech function on 10.8.2 hotkeys rarely work for me

I love the text-to-speech function with the clearer voices. BUT... it's inconsistent!
Sometimes the hotkeys work, sometimes they don't. And the dysfunction seems to be increasing in frequency and duration.
I have tried setting all different combinations of hotkey combos to make it work.
I gave uninstalled doublecommand just in case = no change.
I have a MacBook Air with OS X 10.8.2
* A weird detail: If I start the text-to-speech successfully with the mouse, the HOTKEYS ALWAYS work to STOP the speech. But rarely work to start it.....
Yes I can use the mouse menu but that takes too long and sometimes that is not even available in MS Word.
It's such an awesome feature but so flakey on reliability.
Any suggestions on ironing this out?

Hello Creative Smith,
After $20 for Apple Support and a total of ~ 3 hours working with them, we found a solution.
Here it is:
WARNING: Make sure you type or better yet copy and past the command line within the Terminal for Step 1 EXACTLY as it is. No typos. Apple Support told me if you don't, you could screw some things up.
STEP 1:
In Terminal type:
sudo sample SpeechSynthesisServer -file ~/Desktop/sample.txt
Step 2:
In Monitor Force Quit SpeechsynthesisServer
Step 3:
In Finder, go to the folder
/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/S peechSynthesis.framework/Versions
Step 4:
Drag SpeechSynthesisServer.app to dock
Step 5
run SpeechSynthesisServer.app
Test it out. That should fix it. It did for me.
I really hope this helps you. It's been driving me crazy!
- Scott

Text-to-speech engine is not working

when I want to use 'read out loud' in adobe reader and foxit , I'm get no sound, I have similar problem in babylon that using TTS engine of OS.
I'm using windows 8.1 64 bit.
Do not get any error, but when play would have no sound.
I previously didn't have any problem with these softwares.
really need this functionality, please help me.
Babylon support
told me::
Babylon uses a free text-to-speech engine that was developed by Microsoft and is part of Windows OS. please check with Microsoft support , why your text-to-speech engine is not working.

Hi,
If you go to the Start Screen, search for "Narrator" within All Apps and click it, what happens?
In addition, please follow the steps below to check Speech Properties if there is anything wrong with it.
Control Panel\Ease of Access\Speech Recognition\Advanced speech options
Roger Lu
TechNet Community Support

Use Chromium OS text-to-speech voices with Chromium browser

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