Let your Windows XP system speak

        Text-to-speech Overview Text-to-speech (TTS) is an ability for the operating system to print text for spoken language. An internal driver (called the TTS engine) recognizes the text and broadcasts the written text using a synthesized sound selected from several pre-generated sounds. The TTS engine is installed with the operating system. Other engines from third-party vendors can be used. These engines often use some fixed terminology and vocabulary. For example, professional medical or legal terms. They can also use different sounds with regional accents (such as British English) or different languages ​​(such as German, French or Russian).

The options for each TTS engine are given in the Text to Speech tab on the Voice properties in the Windows XP Control Panel. In addition to the regular options, each engine has a different set of specific features. Therefore, the resulting dialog box may look different. It is likely that some special features are not included, and some property buttons do not have associated dialogs.

The following is a brief introduction to the setting and use of voice to text in Windows XP:

First, determine the sound of selected text to voice

1. In the "Control Panel" "Open" "Voice".
2. In the “Text to Speech” tab, the name displayed in the “Sound Selection” drop-down list box is the currently activated sound.
3. Click “Preview Sound” to listen to the active sound. The text will be broadcast and will be highlighted when spoken verbatim. It should be noted here that text-to-speech sounds are closely related to specific engines. It may not be possible to clear the association from the name of the language in which the displayed sound is being used. After selecting the engine or sound, click Preview Sound to test the sound and language. The display name of the engine may not clearly show the language or sound supported by the engine. This includes not only the languages ​​that are supported, but also the dictionary features. The dictionary function indicates whether regular grammar or technical terms (such as law or medicine) are used.

Second, preview the text to voice sound

1. Open "Voice" in the "Control Panel".
2, on the "Text to Speech" tab, the name displayed in the "Voice Selection" drop-down list box is the activated sound.
3. Click “Preview Sound” to listen to the currently selected sound. The texts that will be broadcast will be highlighted when they are spoken verbatim. During playback, the Preview Sound will change to Stop. Click "Stop" to interrupt the sound playback.

You can change the text you want to read with Preview Sound by highlighting the text and typing new text. These changes are not permanent and will be reset to the default when you reopen the Voice property or select a different sound.

Third, change the text to voice sound or engine

1. Open "Voice" in the "Control Panel".
2. On the Text to Speech tab, the name displayed in the Voice Selection drop-down list box is the active sound.
3. Click on the sound activated in the drop-down list or use the arrows to display a list of available sounds.
4, click on the new sound to select this sound.
5, the newly selected sound will read the text in the "Preview Sound" box.
6. Click "OK" or "Apply" to accept the new sound.

4. Change the sound speed of text to speech

1. In the “Control Panel”, type “Voice”.
2. Select the "Text to Speech" tab.
3, move the "speech speed" slider to change the rate of text to speech sound. By default, it is set to normal.
4, click "Preview Sound" to listen to the currently selected sound at the new rate. The text will be broadcast and highlighted when spoken verbatim.

V. Selecting the audio output device

1. Open “Voice” in the “Control Panel”.
2. On the Text to Speech tab, click Audio Output.
3, you can choose to "use the preferred audio output device" or "use this audio output device." Use the preferred audio output device to set the output device to the system's default device. Select this option if you want the output device of the voice to match the output device of all other sounds of the system. It is also the "default option for voice properties." Typically, a computer has only one output device, such as a pair of speakers. The default device is assigned to various operating systems via the corresponding sound or multimedia properties in the Control Panel.

"Using this audio output device" only allows you to use another voice application device. A drop-down list box is available if other devices are available. From the drop-down list, select the device you want. This does not change the default device for other audio applications. For example, it may be necessary for all speech output to pass through a headset rather than a speaker.

VI. Changing the text to voice volume

To adjust the voice output level, follow the steps below. However, not all devices support this option in the same way. Some devices do not support volume control and the Volume button will not be available. Other devices may use their own display methods. In this case, follow the on-screen prompts or engine-specific documentation.

1. Open "Voice" in the "Control Panel".
2. On the Text to Speech tab, click Audio Output, and then click Volume.
3. The volume control mixer will be displayed to adjust the corresponding device to the desired level.

VII. Turn off or open the text service

1. Open the "Regional and Language Options" in the "Control Panel" (To open the "Regional and Language Options", click "Start" , "Control Panel", point to "Settings", click "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options", then click "Regional and Language Options").
2. On the Language tab, in Word Services and Input Language, click Details.
3. In Preferences, click Language Bar.
4, to close the text service, select the "close the advanced text services" check box; to open the text service, clear the check box.
5. If prompted, click "Yes" to confirm the selection.

It is important to note that you can use this procedure to temporarily turn off handwriting recognition, speech recognition, and some additional features. These services can affect computer performance and temporarily shut down these services if they are not used in the current program. If you do not use text services at all, you should delete them. Turning off the text service does not affect multiple languages ​​or keyboards added in the "Installed Services" on the "Text Services and Input Languages" dialog box.