Forum: Author Hangout

Text to Voice

Mushroom 🚫

I am wondering if anybody else has played with trying to use Text 2 Voice software to narrate their stories.

One of the things I often do while taking long road trips is load up a story on my phone with Cool Reader, then listen as I drive. In fact, I also do it with my own stories, and it helps me catch things I had written but had never realized before.

So the other day I decided to try it and see what I could do with it. So I used a free program called Balabolka, and used taht to convert them to an MP3 file. I then decided to try taking it a step further, and used VSDC to convert it into a movie.

At this time, only about a 4 minute slideshow, nothing fancy, I just wanted to see if it would work. And what I ended up with was a 41 minute long narration, which is only chapter one of a so far 6 chapter story.

I was wondering if anybody else out here does this. If so, what software they use, and where they post them. I have only posted it to XHamster so far, once again mostly as a "Test in progress", to se how such would work.

Crumbly Writer 🚫

I've never used to narrate a story, as the error rate necessitates a LOT of editing of typos afterward, but I use the Mac's native text-to-speech filter to not only catch homonyms and homophones, but also to simplify sentences so the prose sounds more 'natural'.

Generally, once I've finished the revision process (and again after finishing the editing process), I'll listen to each chapter read aloud and dramatically simplify the phrasing, often drop otherwise promising segments that just don't sound 'correct'.

However, the problem with posting audiobooks is the cost. If you have a professional sounding voice, a sound studio and the necessary equipment, it's relatively each to crank them out, but if not, it'll cost you a LOT, while audiobooks charge less per copy than simple text versions, so it's generally losing proposition. Plus, if you want to get a 'natural' sounding character (i.e. the characters sound like the character's described) you'll also pay a premium for it.

But frankly, if you have the inclination and necessary equipment, I'm fairly certain that Lazeez would be willing to consider it (given the apparent volume, obviously), as it would make an attractive alternative site, similar to Bookapy. Plus, if we could scrounge together a few decent readers willing to record others' books, I think it would be immensely popular. But again, the volume of offerings is directly related to the level of interest.

Replies: Mushroom StarFleet Carl

Mushroom 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

However, the problem with posting audiobooks is the cost. If you have a professional sounding voice, a sound studio and the necessary equipment, it's relatively each to crank them out, but if not, it'll cost you a LOT, while audiobooks charge less per copy than simple text versions, so it's generally losing proposition.

Actually, that is something I have done in the past.

Among many things I have done over the years, voice work is actually one of them. And for 20 years, I have had things like a mixer board and boom mic hooked up to my computer for the times I did need to do some sound work.

I even used to mess around about 15 years ago, making short mechanime movies, and adding real voiceovers instead of the captions as most did with a game called "The Movies".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-zTwVDMJAk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L5hu9GqXvE

But that was literally just "playing around". A few years previously I had in fact narrated the first chapter or two of "Okinawa". I am well versed in Cool Edit (now Adobe Audition), and did it with professional equipment. But it really does take a long time to do. Valley Girl Chapter 1 is only 12 pages. That is 8,936 words, 42,930 characters. Which in Text2speech turns into a 41:26 audio file. Taking the normal time for flubs and do-overs, figure that would be an easy 10 hours of my trying to narrate it, then edit it down.

Something 20 years ago I shrugged and had no problem in doing. But even after a few chapters, I decided I did not want to continue doing it. Especially as I have a speech impediment, which made editing a real chore.

But offering audio books might be interesting. I have been considering taking my Night of Madness to that route once I finish the second book, and maybe an audio book format like that will have some interest. But one again T2S. No way am I ever going to narrate a 760k story myself.

Replies: Crumbly Writer

Crumbly Writer 🚫

@Mushroom

But offering audio books might be interesting. I have been considering taking my Night of Madness to that route once I finish the second book, and maybe an audio book format like that will have some interest. But one again T2S. No way am I ever going to narrate a 760k story myself.

Yeah, I'd steer clear of most SOL 760+ chapter 'stories' and stick with fairly straightforward short stories or novelettes (i.e more character and plot twists than stroke or out-and-out porn).

But, I have spoken with several authors who have narrated their own novels, and did fairly well with them, including one some writers who wrote original songs for each chapter of her book and sold the CD to accompany the novel.

Alas, in my case, I've always hated the sound of my own voice, so I could bring my self to even read one aloud. I don't mind speaking before crowds, but once I see a video being shared among friends, I shut down and shut up!

Replies: Mushroom

Mushroom 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

Alas, in my case, I've always hated the sound of my own voice, so I could bring my self to even read one aloud. I don't mind speaking before crowds, but once I see a video being shared among friends, I shut down and shut up!

That is common, most of us hate hearing our own voices.

I have a very eclectic background, including professional DJ, announcer, and other voice work. And I still hate hearing my own voice. WHen working the mic at a club, I still prefer using what I call my "1970's Cool Jazz" voice, the slow deep voice that was common on FM stations in that era. Not conducive to doing long voiceover clips (but good for short ones).

Maybe next year I will try again. I do have some short stories I could probably narrate. But I would not even attempt those that I wrote as a female, that would just be silly.

It would probably freak people out as much as a few years ago when I was playing D&D, and played a female bard. None in that group had ever really seen a male player really trying to roleplay a female character, and they could not stop laughing.

StarFleet Carl 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

I've never used to narrate a story, as the error rate necessitates a LOT of editing of typos afterward,

I realize the main topic is going the other way, but I found, during the month that I pretty much couldn't use my left arm, that Dragon does work, and if I wasn't writing fiction, it'd be an incredible piece of software. I'll give it a try on my next book, but for now, my very nice headphones are sitting on the desk being unused.

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Text to Voice

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