Speech recognition software is advanced enough for computers and other devices to take instructions with a high degree of accuracy. Some of these software even allow you to perform complex tasks such as editing your documents by giving the computer verbal instructions, making them versatile tools for those who need to use them. In Speechnotes.co on a search engine, you will find an interface that will help.
Text to Speech is a handy feature which allows the user to listen to the text instead of reading it. Similar to iOS devices you don’t need any additional software to make MacBook read anything out loud. Is macOS Sierra text to speech not working for you? Never mind. The location of turning it on has changed a bit in Sierra when compared to OS X Mavericks. But whether you are using Sierra or OS X we have got you covered in this tutorial to convert text to speech on Mac.
It happens often that it is not possible to look at your Mac screen but you are all ears. In such situations, text to speech can turn out be a life saver. So, let us go ahead and learn how to make it work.
Text to Speech on Mac [macOS Sierra]
Text to Speech on Mac If you learn better when you can hear what you’re reading or writing, Text to Speech can help by adding an auditory component to books, websites, or homework assignments. Highlight any text and hear it read aloud in more than 70 voices across 42 languages.
Activate Speech To Text Word
The Phonexia Speech Platform software suite is SaaS, Mac, and Windows software. Phonexia Speech Platform is speech recognition software, and includes features such as automatic transcription, Multi-Languages, Speech-to-Text analysis, and voice recognition. Phonexia Speech Platform offers a free trial. Enjoys audio record, speech recognition, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, machine learning, software library, natural language processing, and Linux OS. Apart from the in-depth description of the best free and open-source speech recognition software, you can also try Braina Pro, Sonix, Winscribe Speech Recognition, Speechmatics.
If you are on the latest version of macOS then use the steps in this section otherwise you can skip to the next method in this article.
1. Click on Apple icon at the top left of the screen and select System Preferences…
2. In the window that opens click on Accessibility.
3. On the next window, select Speech from the left column.
4. Now, check the box that says “Speak selected text when the key is pressed“.
If you desire you can change the pace at which the text is spoken using the Speaking Rate slider above. You can change the key combination from the same window using Change Key button if desired.
That’s all there’s to it. Now, select the text you wish your MacBook to read out loud and press the key combination Option+Esc.
You can make Mac read Word documents, PDF, web pages and anything which is selected.
Best Free Speech Recognition Software For Mac
Also Read:How to Turn Off Autocorrect on iPhone or Mac
Make Mac Read on OS X Mavericks
1. Go to System Preferences… by clicking on the Apple Menu.
2. Next, click on Dictation & Speech and select Text to Speech tab.
3. Finally, check the”Speak selected text when the key is pressed” box.
Rest of the settings remain the same as macOS Sierra mentioned above.
You can always disable text to speech from the same locations whenever desired.
We hope that you were able to make your Mac read out loud without installing any software. If you think that this feature will help your friends then do share this article on social media.
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The Many Uses of Speech to Text
There are lots of reasons why you might need speech to text software, but did you know that it is likely already built-in to the device you are using? Apple, Microsoft and Google include this functionality in many of their devices as a form of assistive technology for users with physical disabilities. However, it is being used in many other ways too.
People are using it on mobile devices because it is faster than typing with the on-screen keyboard. On laptops and desktop computers, others are using it to augment their slow typing skills. Young children are using it at school to express their thoughts and ideas without worrying about the challenges of spelling words they have yet to learn. So, without further ado, here is a rundown of how to use speech to text for free on a variety of your favorite devices.
Windows Speech Recognition
Windows 7, 8 and 10 all have free speech to text software that is built-in to the operating system. You can find it by searching for 'Windows Speech Recognition' in the search menu of your version of Windows. It can be used with a headset, a USB mic or with the microphone that is built-in to your computer.
If you have never used it before, there is a short setup procedure that you need to follow in order to optimize performance with your voice and the hardware on your machine.If you want to, you can further fine-tune the accuracy of Speech Recognition by going to the Control Panel, clicking on Ease of Access, and then Speech Recognition. Here you will find an option to Train your computer to better understand you. Click this to optimize speech to text for your voice.
Linking mac computer to phone for text messaging. Once that is taken care of, you can start using speech to text to dictate your spoken words in Notepad, Word and other applications. However, you can also control your computer with commands like 'Open Microsoft Word,' 'Scroll Up/Down,' or 'Double-Click the Recycle Bin,' and so forth. Microsoft has a list of common speech recognition commands to help you navigate your PC with your voice.
How to Use Speech to Text Free in Windows
Dictation & Speech to Text on a Mac
If you use a Mac, you can also take advantage of the built-in speech to text software that Apple includes with all of its computers. You can enable it by going to System Preferences and clicking on Dictation. If your Mac has a built-in microphone, you can use that, otherwise, Dictation works well with USB microphones too. For a better experience, check the box next to Use Enhanced Dictation. This allows you to use speech to text on your Mac without an internet connection, and will ensure the text appears in real-time as you speak.
Once you have everything set the way you want it, open an app like Notes or Pages to test it out. Double tap the Function (Fn) key to begin and then start talking to your Mac. You should see a small microphone appear on the side of the screen. This signifies that the Dictation feature is active and listening to your voice. When you are done talking, click Done or press Enter on your keyboard.
The Mac Dictation feature does not allow you to open apps and control navigation in the same way that Speech Recognition does on Windows, but you can use commands like 'comma,' 'period,' and 'exclamation mark' to punctuate your sentences. If you are using OS X Yosemite, (a free upgrade for Mac users), you can enable advanced commands to take advantage of even more speech to text phrases.
Video: How to Use Dictation on a Mac
Free Speech to Text on iPads & iPhones
Speech to text is also available on iPhones and iPads and has been for some time. It was first introduced on the iPhone 4s, and later appeared on the iPad (3rd generation) and iPad Mini 2. Today, all new iPhones and iPads have this feature enabled by default. To use speech to text on your iOS device, open an app like Notes or Mail and tap on the screen to make the keyboard appear. Next, tap the microphone that is located to the left of the space bar and begin talking. You will notice the words appear on the screen as you talk. Phrases like 'new line,' or 'new paragraph' can be used, as can a variety of punctuation commands.
Tip: If you have an older iOS device that does not support dictation features, you can use the free PaperPort Notes app to get speech to text functionality on your device.
How to Use Speech to Text on the iPad
Try Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Speech to Text on Mac or PC
Speech To Text On Windows 10
Voice Typing in Google Docs
Recently, Google announced the addition of Voice Typing in Google Docs. This feature is available in the Chrome browser for Mac or PC, and on Chromebooks. To enable Voice Typing, open the Google Doc you want to use speech to text with and click Tools, and then Voice Typing. A microphone will appear in the top left-hand corner of your screen. Click the microphone start and stop dictation, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S on a PC, or Cmd + Shift + S on a Mac. As with other systems, some punctuation is supported along with commands like 'New line' and 'New paragraph.'
How To Turn On Speech To Text On Iphone
How to Use Speech to Text on Chromebooks
If you are using a Chromebook and need speech to text options outside of Google Docs, there are a number of free options in the Chrome Web Store that will work well for that. Each one operates in a slightly different way, but they all use the microphone that is built-in to your Chromebook to help recognize your speech and turn it in to text. Some of the better free options include:
As with everything else in the Chrome Web Store, these apps and extensions also work just fine in a Chrome browser. This is particularly useful if you are moving between a Chromebook and other devices.
Word Text To Speech Settings
Speechnotes for Chrome and Chomebooks
Summary
The technology used for tech to speech recognition has come a long way in recent years. It's still not 100% accurate, but the free options that are listed here can be a great addition for those that really need this kind of adaptation. With practice, and a decent microphone, these free text to speech apps are all you need to give your fingers a break from the keyboard.
Speech To Text On Ipad
I have been using Win7 for several years now, and never knew it had Windows Speech Recognition built in. In my ignorance I purchased Dragon NaturallySpeaking without giving the Win7 product a try. I will now. Thanks for some very useful info.
Though human beings often face problems in transcribing interviews or lectures or other speech of great importance, this job is effectively executed by some of the best voice transcription software. If you are a student or a professional dealing with such issues then you can look for these useful software in Google by typing “Google voice transcription software”, “voice transcription software free”, “voice recognition software”, “voice to text software”, “voice translation software”, “audio to text software”, “best transcription software”, and “Dragon transcription”.
Dictation Software For Mac
Related:
Transcribe
This Google voice transcription software helps professionals and students to save time as it can handle real-time audio files that have multiple speakers with background noise. This software speeds up the process of transcription by 2 to 3 times and as it is integrated with the text editor on the same screen, there is no need to move back and forth.
Dictation Pro
If you have difficulty in typing the voiceover or when you are just not interested in typing all that’s included in the speech, Deskshare can help in the voice recognition with cent percent accuracy irrespective of the voice modulations that’s present in the speech. This voice to text software can type the documents with minimum clicks and keystrokes.
Express Scribe Transcription
This voice transcription freeware has loads of practical features that allows variable speed playback in video and audio formats and supports professional USB foot pedals for controlling the playback. You can dock both the analog and digital voice recorders for the purpose of transcriptions.
The Top-Rated Voice Transcription Software for other Platforms
The voice transcription software are designed to save time and offer a high level of accuracy in transcription. There is no need to involve in the boring typing and your texts would be documented with ease. Some of the best voice transcription tools devised for varying platforms of desktops and smartphones include:
Best Voice Transcription Software for Windows – Transcription Buddy
Best Voice Recognition Software For Mac
This voice recognition software allows you to record the streaming audio or mic input from external applications or tools. The files that are fetched hereafter are saved on the hard disk of the computer and you are also free to schedule as many numbers of future recordings as you want with the aid of the useful add-ons.
Best Voice Transcription Software for Android – TranscribeMe
When you are looking for a fast, accurate and affordable means of transcribing voice into text, this voice recognition software can be of great help. You will just have to record the audio right into the app and select the transcription parameters that you prefer, just enter your billing information and confirm your order to get it transcribed soon.
Best Voice Transcription for Mac – Dragon Dictation
You can receive 98-100 percent accuracy with the combined efforts of real human transcribers and speech recognition technology of this voice transcription software designed for Mac users. You can get the voiceover document in a wide range of formats like PDF, DOCX, HTML and several others which will be saved on the hard disk of the device.
Most Popular Voice Transcription Software – GearPlayer 4
This is by far the most useful and best-rated voice transcription software you can afford. It has several features like GearPlayer that can be attached to the e-mail, FTP and a wide range of networks. You can access a wide range of tools including Foot Pedal, Hot Keys, On-screen controls, pitch corrected speed control to ensure the accuracy of the voice recognition. You can also see Voice Chat Recorder Software
What is Voice Transcription Software?
Speech Recognition Software For Mac
Students, reporters, and various other professionals are in constant need of software that can effectively help in transcribing voice into text. Such software are very helpful and works well when the voice over is very clearly audible. Some of them work offline and take a very short span for the completion of the process. You can also see Audio Dubbing Software
Speech Recognition Software Mac Reviews
If your system is trained for a specific voice, and the voiceover is a simple and comprehensible accent with short sentences that are easy to analyze, then it becomes easier for the software to work. However, the tools devised in recent times are able to interpret voices with disturbances in the background as well.
Therefore, it goes without saying that each of these voice transcription software are a very reasonable way of interpreting the important speech that is incomprehensible to human ears and intelligence. These software are a great aid in researches, studies, news reporting, legal prosecution and various other works that require speeches to be deciphered and changed into text format.