# Text to Speech

> Convert text to spoken audio using browser speech synthesis with voice, speed, and pitch controls

**Category:** Utility
**Keywords:** text to speech, tts, speech, voice, read aloud, synthesis, accessibility, audio, narrate
**URL:** https://complete.tools/text-to-speech

## How it works

The tool uses the **Web Speech Synthesis API**, a standard feature built into modern browsers. When you press Speak, your browser converts the text into audio using a speech synthesis engine on your device.

**Estimated duration** is calculated using:
```
Duration = (Word Count / Words Per Minute) x 60 seconds
```
The base rate is approximately 150 words per minute at 1.0x speed. Adjusting the rate slider scales this proportionally.

## Voice options

Available voices depend on your operating system and browser:

- **Windows**: Typically includes Microsoft voices in multiple languages
- **macOS / iOS**: Offers a wide selection of high-quality voices through the system
- **Chrome**: May provide additional Google voices alongside system voices
- **Android**: Uses Google TTS voices when available

Voices marked **[Remote]** are processed through your browser's cloud services rather than locally. Local voices work offline.

## Controls explained

- **Rate** (0.5x to 2.0x): Controls speaking speed. 1.0x is normal conversational pace. Lower values slow the speech down; higher values speed it up.
- **Pitch** (0.5 to 2.0): Adjusts the vocal tone. 1.0 is the voice's natural pitch. Lower values produce a deeper sound; higher values make it higher.
- **Speak**: Begins reading the text from the start.
- **Pause / Resume**: Temporarily halts and continues playback.
- **Stop**: Ends playback entirely and resets to the beginning.

## Who should use this

- **Proofreaders and writers**: Hearing text read aloud helps catch awkward phrasing, typos, and rhythm issues that are easy to miss when reading silently.
- **Language learners**: Listen to pronunciation in different voices and languages while following along with the text.
- **Accessibility needs**: Anyone who benefits from audio versions of text content, whether due to visual impairment, reading difficulties, or personal preference.
- **Content creators**: Preview how scripts, presentations, or social media posts sound before recording or publishing.
- **Multitaskers**: Listen to articles or notes while doing other tasks.

## Tips for best results

1. **Break long text into sections** for easier listening and more reliable playback.
2. **Try different voices** to find one that sounds clear and natural for your content.
3. **Slow the rate to 0.7x or 0.8x** when listening to dense or technical material.
4. **Add punctuation** for more natural pauses. Commas create short pauses; periods create longer ones.
5. **Use line breaks** between paragraphs to add natural breathing room to the speech.

## Browser compatibility

The Web Speech Synthesis API is supported in all major modern browsers:

- Chrome (desktop and Android)
- Safari (macOS and iOS)
- Edge
- Firefox

Note: The number and quality of available voices varies by browser and operating system. Chrome on desktop typically offers the largest selection.

## FAQs

**
**Q:** Is my text sent to a server?**


**A:** No. All speech synthesis happens locally in your browser. Your text never leaves your device (unless you select a remote voice, which is handled by your browser, not this tool).

**
**Q:** Why do I see different voices on different devices?**


**A:** Voices are provided by your operating system and browser. macOS has Apple voices, Windows has Microsoft voices, and Chrome may add Google voices on top of those.

**
**Q:** Can I save the audio as a file?**


**A:** The Web Speech API does not support audio export. For saving speech as audio files, you would need a dedicated text-to-speech service.

**
**Q:** Why does playback stop mid-sentence on long text?**


**A:** Some browsers have a timeout on speech synthesis for long passages. If this happens, try breaking your text into shorter sections.

**
**Q:** Does this work offline?**


**A:** Yes, as long as you use a local voice (not marked [Remote]). Local voices are processed entirely on your device.

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*Generated from [complete.tools/text-to-speech](https://complete.tools/text-to-speech)*