How to Convert Text to Speech on Linux

Text-to-speech (TTS) is the process of transforming written text into spoken words by means of computer technology. Just imagine a computer that reads a book to you. That is, quite literally, the ultimate device from TTS. TTS, in short, is an electronic voice living in the shell of robots. We can compare it with the situation when it can read any text you provide to it. But it is totally different. The only exception is that companies are switching to automatic manufacturing which is an advantage for them.

Benefits of text-to-speech on Linux

• Accessibility: Text-to-speech (TTS) is the best friend for choice compared to proprietary software.

Common use cases for text-to-speech applications

• Accessibility Tools: TTS, in short, is an artificial intelligence feature that has a role in screen readers that is used, among other things, by people who cannot physically see.
• Audiobooks and Podcasts: Turn text articles into audio files and publish audiobooks or podcasts that contain information and entertainment as objectives
• Language Learning: This technology helps to master audio like pronunciation, listening skills, and other things well.
• Content Creation: Streamers, YouTubers, and other people in this community need their TTS settings for voice-overs and to a lesser extent other videos to which they add narration.
• Customer Service: Spoken responses to customer challenges such as via automated phone systems or chatbots are examples of when TTS is used.

Available TTS engines and tools

1. Installing eSpeak

eSpeak is straightforward to install and use:

• Open your terminal.
• Update your package list:

sudo apt-get update

• Install eSpeak:

sudo apt-get install espeak

2. Converting Text to Speech

• Open terminal and type :

espeak "Hello, this is a test of the eSpeak text-to-speech engine."

• To read text from a file:

espeak -f textfile.txt

3. Installing Festival

Festival offers more natural-sounding voices and supports multiple languages:

• Open your terminal.
• Update your package list:

sudo apt-get update

• Install Festival :

sudo apt-get install festival 

Converting Text to Speech

• Open terminal and type :

echo "Hello, this is a test of the Festival text-to-speech engine." | festival --tts

• To read text from a file:

festival --tts textfile.txt

Conclusion

With eSpeak and Festival, you can add a voice to your Linux computer! This is a valuable tool for accessibility and a fun way to interact with your machine. Both engines are free and open-source, so why not give them a try?