Text to speech with emotion is becoming more common. But how can you use it and which one is good for you?
You may be used to the type of text to speech that uses a generic computer voice reader to generate voice-overs in a bland way.
But if you’re searching for ways to add emotion to your virtual voice overs then you clearly want more.
Fortunately, it is becoming easier to do just this, but how? We can explain our way below.
Before we do that, let’s first look at where text talker technology has been and where it could go.
What is a text-to-speech voice simulator?
AI text-to-speech tools go by several names – they are sometimes referred to as a “text talker” or a “voice simulator.” You may have even heard them called “text-to-audio” converters or text-to-speech tools.
Whatever you call them, these tools use natural language processing technology to analyze text and generate lifelike-sounding voices.
Instead of using the traditional generic computer voice reader to create an emotionless robotic sound, they take text as input and generate realistic-sounding speech in any language.
Most of the time, these tools use simple but powerful techniques to convert your text into speech, which is why they are often used in applications such as voice-activated virtual assistants and chatbots for predetermined responses to frequently asked questions.
However, if you want to add emotion to your text-to-speech, you’ll need a more advanced solution.
The technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, meaning that the voice-overs generated by AI tools can almost perfectly mimic human speech patterns.
Different devices have different capabilities for generating emotion in the voice, but most fall short of the mark.
Most of these tools claim to allow you to input written text that is converted into a speech-like audio file. But, mainly they still sound robotic and stiff.
Although it doesn’t have to be that way, your content isn’t stuck using dry, lifeless voices. Fortunately, some tools can help you generate realistic-sounding voices with emotion.
Still, it’s essential to understand the technology to appreciate the research and the work it took to create the services you need.
Why does an AI text talker sound so robotic?
To understand and appreciate how far the text talker has come, let’s first look at why AI text-to-speech tools sound so mechanical in the first place. To do that, we must travel back in time to the early days of text-to-speech technology. Back then, most speech tools relied on a basic “synthesis” process.
This involved taking a text input, analyzing it, and generating an audio file based on the input’s words. This resulted in a robotic-sounding voice that was often difficult to understand and lacked emotion.
In addition, the technology was limited, but it served the purpose of those who wanted the tools.
Text-to-speech, a technology that has been available since it was first developed in Japan in 1968, was used by people to accomplish this task.
The IBM 704 computer used English as the base language to create the lyrics to the song “Daisy Bell” and sing it with the help of vocoder technology. Much of the older or less advanced technology was built on top of this technology.
Using the fundamentals of synthesis, simple phonemes were created to imitate the sound of human speech. Although this was a significant moment, text-to-speech technology has come a long way since then.
Despite synthetic voices being widely used in text-to-speech systems historically, they still sound robotic and lack a human touch. That’s not what people want today, especially when they want to create content for creative purposes.
Instead, they want more control and better results from their text-to-speech tools.
Because of that demand, modern text-to-speech systems aim to produce more lifelike artificial voices by focusing on delivering emotions through complex algorithms backed by artificial intelligence and natural language processing.
This allows for a more engaging and realistic listening experience resembling human speech.
TTS applications can bring tremendous benefits, especially when incorporating human emotions into their results. People who enjoy listening to podcasts or audiobooks can benefit significantly from this.
Additionally, businesses can increase user engagement by making their TTS voiceovers sound more natural.
What can a text talker voice simulator do?
Our current take on text-to-speech technology is quite advanced compared to the older technology, so much so that it borders science fiction.
But there’s nothing fictional about it: the average text talker is used in applications such as automated customer service, virtual assistants, and even video games.
A voice simulator comes in many forms with various capabilities, which gives them a range of use cases that grow every year the technology is available.
If you’re a content creator or just enjoy trying out new technology, you’ll be happy to know that most text-to-speech tools can do almost anything. In other words, these tools are only limited by your imagination. Do you want some ideas?
No problem, we’ve got your back. With a text talker tool, anyone can create:
- Natural voiceovers for videos and podcasts.
- Multilingual audio dialogue for video games.
- Accurate, automated customer service.
- Emotion-infused virtual assistant applications.
- Engaging eLearning courses with spoken elements.
This is only the tip of the iceberg; if you find the right voice simulator tool, you can accomplish just about anything. After all, text-to-speech is still an evolving technology, and the possibilities are endless.
What are some popular, creative uses for a text talker tool?
We could say this until we’re blue in the face, and it still wouldn’t be enough, but here it is: creativity has no limits with text-to-speech. Just take a look at your favorite YouTuber, game streamer, or podcast host. Chances are they have used text-to-speech in some creative way at some point.
You’ve undoubtedly seen many creators redo and put their own spin on popular memes by having them voiced over with text-to-speech tools.
No doubt you’re tired of hearing or seeing people doing funny pranks with a voice simulator (or maybe you’re not), but think of it this way, they’re all using these tools to create something unique and creative.
So if you need to get your creative juices flowing and discover new ways to put your mark on something with the help of text-to-speech, then you’re in luck.
Uses for voice simulator tools:
- Audiobooks with realistic voices can use an emotional narrator tool for a stronger reader connection to the plot.
- Voice acting for video game dialogues in multiple languages to incorporate inclusiveness and realistic world views.
- Vocal accompaniment for musical renditions adds life to the performance; think heavy screamo metal or an emotional rap ballad.
- Voice-driven tutorials provide in-depth instructions for complicated tasks like computer building or a DIY car repair.
- A TikTok video with a text-to-speech voiceover can make your content stand out. Use one to retell a story about you or your friends in an entertaining way or recreate a challenging game level with a voice simulator.
- Create a set of unique AI voices using a voice simulator to provide believable and interesting voice options for anyone looking to train their own voice model. While it may seem impossible, DIY technology creators have already succeeded. Some individuals have even been able to train an AI voice simulator on their voice sound.
Once again, this is just scratching the surface of what you can do with a text talker tool, but once you realize there are no limits, you could run into a different issue.
Still, as advanced as the technology seems, only some voice simulator tools can do what you want. Sure, they can read the text in various languages, but how can you ensure it reads with emotion and intonation?
That’s why it’s crucial to choose a tool that is not only reliable but also offers plenty of features to allow your creativity to run wild. So if you’re looking for a reliable and intuitive tool to generate a voice in any language and style and add raw emotion, then you should take Typecast for a spin.
Here’s where we start tooting our own horn and teaching you how a virtual voice actor works on our platform.
Find a virtual voice actor platform or service
Now you may have questions about what a virtual voice actor is, but don’t worry, it’s exactly what you think it is.
Put simply, a virtual voice actor will voice anything you want it to say, but the quality and realism will depend on the service’s text to speech voices.
So if you have a bunch of character voice over scripts that need voice actors then you’ve come to the right place.
Like we’ve done in our previous explainer blogs, we will use the voice emulator AI, Typecast, as an example since we’re extremely familiar with it.
If you’re already familiar with Typecast or have read previous articles that explain how to log in and use the service for the first time then you can skip to 4. Choose your emotion.
1. Visit typecast.ai and sign in or create an account
You’ll need to visit Typecast and sign in, or create an account if you haven’t already. Once you’ve done this you’ll be taken to the dashboard where you can start a new project and write what you want the virtual voice actor to say.
2. Create a new project
If you look in the middle you’ll see a My Projects tab. Click on + Create New under this, then Project and you’ll be directed to the editor.
3. Create your script
Once you’re at the editor, you can type whatever you want the virtual voice actor to say, or just paste in text from somewhere else.
To change/choose the virtual voice actor, click on the character icon above your text and you’ll be directed to the character casting menu.
You can either go through the entire list yourself and listen to their sample voice overs or select some of the options on the right to filter the voice actors. Selecting English under the Language tab is recommended at first.
When selecting a virtual voice actor it is important to look for the voice actors that have the purple Emotion icon located in the top left of their cards.
All virtual voice actors in Typecast have emotion, but the ones with the Emotion icon allow you to actually change their emotion from angry to sad for example. The rest have fixed emotions.
4. Choose the emotion
With your virtual voice actor selected you can start listening to the AI voice play by clicking on the play button on the play bar at the bottom of the editor. Congrats! You’ve got a natural voice with emotion.
However, if you’d like to change the emotion then you can do this by looking at the Style&Tone settings on the far right of the editor.
Here, depending on which virtual voice actor you chose, you can change from sad to happy or angry to normal etc.
There are also different types of certain emotions like sad-A or sad-B. This is mainly just different intonation and tone so that you can get the exact emotion you need for the right situation.
Why is emotion in text-to-speech content important?
Including emotions in a conversation makes it more meaningful. Specifically for TTS applications, emotions are crucial in facilitating a connection between businesses and their target audience.
This is achieved by conveying a message with a sentiment that resonates with the receiver. Text-to-speech applications incorporating emotions offer a more human experience than standard robotic voices.
Emotions also help with understanding the context of the conversation and making the right decisions on time. Humans are emotional creatures, and being able to provide a personalized experience will be invaluable soon.
In short, including emotions in text-to-speech content is a requirement (or should be), but to really ram that point home, here are more examples of why emotion is necessary:
Using emotion with voice simulator technology in marketing and advertising content
Marketing and advertising industries are leading in the use of TTS technology. Businesses can form a stronger connection with their intended audience by incorporating text talker emotion in their content. Previously, companies focused on automating their systems, but they are currently interested in humanizing their automated customer interfaces.
To establish a distinct brand voice, they use TTS software to create human-like voiceovers in advertisements without voice actors. The technology enables them to convey their intended message effectively.
Using emotive text talker technology in eLearning content
Having eLearning voiceovers is crucial as they make learning more flexible and diverse. Using TTS technology to add appropriate emotion to AI voices is essential for creating realistic diction. This is necessary for improving the impact of course material and enhancing retention and recall.
When eLearning voiceovers are recorded to include the appropriate tone and inflection of human emotional speech, it creates a similar atmosphere to a traditional classroom lecture. This can result in a more engaging and attentive listening experience for students or those who have learning disabilities like dyslexia.
Tips for creating better emotional content with a text talker
Many content creators, businesses, and brands are utilizing text-to-speech technology to expand the reach of their storytelling.
In addition, an effective text-to-speech app can decrease production expenses, make the voice-over and video editing procedures more efficient, and provide tools to create content for various social media and video platforms. As a result, it’s hard to argue against the merits of these technologies.
If you need help to break the mold of content creation and do something special with your virtual voice-overs, here are a few tips to help you get started. Some of these tips are common sense, but you wouldn’t think they mattered as much when it comes to virtual voice-overs:
- When selecting an AI text-to-speech voice, use punctuation to control the context and how the script is read.
- To increase clarity, you can use your tool’s audio settings to modify the speech speed for voice-overs.
- Select the most appropriate emotional tone for AI voice generators to distinguish themselves.
- Ensure that the voice used in your text-to-speech system can be heard clearly and that the audio files are either of high quality or compatible with the platform where you will upload them.
Typecast-specific tips
- If you believe your script is the problem, try our AI-based scripting tools. We incorporated ChatGPT into our system’s tools to simplify content creation. Utilize the power of ChatGPT’s human-like characteristics to write scripts with personality and emotion.
- If you’re looking for an angry text-to-speech voice character from our nearly 400-character library, just search for Wildflame, and create your own emotional screamo metal music.
- If you want more control over the audio of the voice content, then try adjusting the Emotion presets (using A through D) or add in custom emotions like “serious” or “like a whisper.”
- Manipulate Wildflame’s voice and many others using pacing, and intonation for proper inflections, introduce pauses for dramatic effect, and more.
Play and replay your text-to-speech with emotion until you achieve the desired effect. With these tips, you can create unique virtual voice-overs that sound like real people have spoken to them. You’ll also be able to establish a distinct brand voice that adds emotion and depth to your content.
The Typecast emotional text-to-speech tool covers all the bases for engaging content creation
Text-to-speech with emotion is rapidly becoming a necessity and expectation for businesses and platforms that rely heavily on AI technology. It allows them to create more personalized content that can be adapted for multiple purposes, such as marketing campaigns.
Typecast is a revolutionary text-to-speech tool that has the tools to help you achieve just this. With our evolving toolbox of text talker tools, you bring your next YouTube channel ideas to life.
So keep your content sound like it came from the 1960s. Instead, try Typecast now and see how easy it is to create engaging content that will capture your audience’s attention.
