Hi Veridico, Welcome to the forum. Microsoft only has a limited selection of tts voices, there are maybe 3 more you can add that are free, but they pretty much sound like more of the same thing. For the better quality you will have to buy them from 3rd party developers - but also be warned they charge an arm and a leg for public performance of their voices, it's been a big topic on the forum actually. If by chance you have access to a mac, they have some good tts voices that come default with the apple os software - but I don't know about adding more voices to mac.

For the most part the best voices in TTS cost money, first to purchase, 2nd on royalty, leaving the best (affordable ) option to simply record your own voice and alter it with software. I have been searching the forums on this topic for ages without success until now. The originator asked for specific instructions on how to add further voices but none appear in any of the comments to date. I only have MS Anna appearing in TTS box. I have other quality voices on my system but can find no way to link these voices to Crazy Talk A. Through Preferences or any other method.

Please don't worry about settings for any of these voices or the vendors name, just please tell me:- How do you create a link between the voices and CTA 2. Thanks for your help. I certainly hope somebody stumbles accross this post. Woodie50 (1/7/2015) I have been searching the forums on this topic for ages without success until now. The originator asked for specific instructions on how to add further voices but none appear in any of the comments to date.

How find and put TTS voices, such as for Balabolka (text-to-speech) - posted in Audio and Video: Computer with Windows Vista, Text-to-Speech voices are Anna and a.

I only have MS Anna appearing in TTS box. I have other quality voices on my system but can find no way to link these voices to Crazy Talk A. Through Preferences or any other method. Please don't worry about settings for any of these voices or the vendors name, just please tell me:- How do you create a link between the voices and CTA 2.

Thanks for your help. I certainly hope somebody stumbles accross this post. Have you looked at this? Personally I have no need for it, but for people who choose TTS or need it, it is an option. It also says it works for CTA2, so it is your choice I'd say. SKYPE ID: rc.650 ' If I had Alzheimer's (Old Timers), would I know it? Hi Woodie50, I also have been having the same issues as you.

Doing a Search, I came across these links that were created by Reallusion, but not sure why no one has mentioned these before: Some info on TTS for CT6 & CT7 Download link for the MSTTS file that seems hard to find on Reallusion's site Main Page: A Tutorial on how to load up TTS for CT5. I'm sure this is still somewhat valid, but with Microsoft changing things who know.

Converting Text to Speech Those are the links I could find regarding TTS on CTA. Here is one Free program I found from a reference on Reallusion called Balabolka.

Go to this link Good Luck.

8 Balabolka is a free text-to-speech engine that boasts quality and flexibility worthy of a paid app. What make this app stand out are its options. Generally produce speech that clocks in at around the same quality level – sometimes it’s fine and other times, it falls pretty far from the mark. What other apps don’t have, however, is Balabolka’s great speech configuration options and excellent selection of settings. Balabolka allows you to save text as WAV, MP3, MP4, OGG or WMA. It can also read the clipboard content and view text from documents saved as DOC, EPUB, FB2, HTML, ODT, PDF or RTF files.

It will automatically detect any TTS voices you have installed on your computer and, of course, you can download more voices, both free and paid, from the internet. It’s worth taking your time to check out all of Balabolka’s options. It’s really useful for file management, even allowing you to split and convert documents.

It also has a timer, so you can set it to read before bedtime, for example, and can completely be controlled by hotkeys. There are bunches more – the options that will interest you will surely depend on what you intend to use Balabolka for. The quality of the speech produced by Balabolka varies greatly, but you can have a major influence by picking the reading voice carefully and tweaking the settings so that you deal with pauses, speed and unusual words in the most efficient way. While Balabolka’s not perfect, it’s very good, and in many cases is just as good, if not better, than similar paid apps. Balabolka is a seriously flexible and entirely free text-to-speech engine.

Balabolka supports the following formats Text: TXT, DOC, DOCX, FB2, PDF, HTML, RTF Audio: MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG Author's review.

We have tested Voices from a number of vendors and all work properly as far as being listed in the TTS speech section of the Control Panel and selectable as a system default with Windows XT and Windows Server 2008. There is a work around that solves an issue with Vista. Windows 7 64 bit and Windows Server 2008 R2 require complex entries in the Speech Token section of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry. We have not found a single Voice installer that makes the correct entries in this registry nor have we located anyone who knows the details of what is required. There is an extensive description of the registry entries in an MSDN paper for SAPI 5.4 (but it doesn't cover all of the entries that are used by Microsoft Anna. All of the SAPI 5+ Voices that we tested work properly on Windows 7 except for not being listed in the Control Panel TTS Speech section. Unfortunately, there is no known means of setting the default system Voice without it being in the Control Panel TTS listing.

A second issue is that many of the TTS speech vendors require that one purchase their application program in addition to one or more compatible Voices. You can purchase the Voices separately, but they cannot be installed. 'stand alone'. There is an obvious business reason for this limitation, but it greatly increases the cost. We use Micosoft's SAPI 5.1 SDK to test the Voices and to link them with our application programs.

There is an interesting sample program called TTSAppVB that can be used to locate all the Voices that are installed on one's computer. You can select a Voice of interest, change a number of parameters, and read textbox data. You cannot use this program to set the system default Voice.

There is finally a solution to the problem of selecting the default TTS Voice on Windows 7 64 bit or Windows Server 2008 R2. This is thanks to Michael on the Windows Seven Forums/Seven Forums/Software forum at: www.sevenforums.com.

Executing Windows sysWOW64 speech SpeechUX SAPI.cpl brings up a Window that displays all of the 32 bit Voices and the current single 64 bit Voice 'Anna'. Unlike the 64 bit speech window, you can make any of the Voices the system default Voice. I checked this with Acapela's 'Heather' and it works properly.

There obviously must be a way to do this programatically via SAPI5. I can set the default for a given application program, but still don't see the correct command to set the system default. Setting the system default is, incidentally, only essential if you want to change the Voice for a program like MapPoint which uses only the default Voice. The problem of obtaining Voices is a frustrating one. Microsoft has Voices other than Anna in their telecommunications package and these should be available in 64 bit.

The only other known current source is Loquendo. Their 64 bit 'Kate' voice is probably the best available, but it is very expensive and is unavailable for small quantity licensing. There is a fascinating Loquendo Power Point presentation that describes their sophisticated methodology for producing very high quality, naturally sounding TTS. You can find this on the Internet by doing a Google search for: 'Loquendo Kate TTS Power Point Presentation'. It was given at a SpeechTek meeting. Acapela Group has the next best quality Voices (in my opinion).

They are current available in 64 bit for the Snow Leopard OS, but not for Windows. Finally, all of the known vendors of high quality Voices require that one purchase a base program in addition to one or more Voices.

You cannot install the Voices without the base program being resident. One installed, they can be accessed via any SAPI5 compliant program. Small quantity licensing is on a per machine basis. We obtained Heather by purchasing Acapela Group's InfoVox Desktop Pro base program with three voices for $190. Additional Voices are $35 each. This is the cost per computer for small volume licensing. It is possible that TextAloud ($29.95) could also be used at the base program, but I haven't tested this approach.Loquendo base plus Kate is reported to be about $600.

There is finally a solution to the problem of selecting the default TTS Voice on Windows 7 64 bit or Windows Server 2008 R2. This is thanks to Michael on the Windows Seven Forums/Seven Forums/Software forum at: www.sevenforums.com. Executing Windows sysWOW64 speech SpeechUX SAPI.cpl brings up a Window that displays all of the 32 bit Voices and the current single 64 bit Voice 'Anna'. Unlike the 64 bit speech window, you can make any of the Voices the system default Voice.

I checked this with Acapela's 'Heather' and it works properly. There obviously must be a way to do this programatically via SAPI5. I can set the default for a given application program, but still don't see the correct command to set the system default. Setting the system default is, incidentally, only essential if you want to change the Voice for a program like MapPoint which uses only the default Voice. The problem of obtaining Voices is a frustrating one. Microsoft has Voices other than Anna in their telecommunications package and these should be available in 64 bit. The only other known current source is Loquendo.

Their 64 bit 'Kate' voice is probably the best available, but it is very expensive and is unavailable for small quantity licensing. There is a fascinating Loquendo Power Point presentation that describes their sophisticated methodology for producing very high quality, naturally sounding TTS. You can find this on the Internet by doing a Google search for: 'Loquendo Kate TTS Power Point Presentation'. It was given at a SpeechTek meeting. Acapela Group has the next best quality Voices (in my opinion). They are current available in 64 bit for the Snow Leopard OS, but not for Windows.

Finally, all of the known vendors of high quality Voices require that one purchase a base program in addition to one or more Voices. You cannot install the Voices without the base program being resident. One installed, they can be accessed via any SAPI5 compliant program.

Small quantity licensing is on a per machine basis. We obtained Heather by purchasing Acapela Group's InfoVox Desktop Pro base program with three voices for $190. Additional Voices are $35 each. This is the cost per computer for small volume licensing. It is possible that TextAloud ($29.95) could also be used at the base program, but I haven't tested this approach.Loquendo base plus Kate is reported to be about $600.

This is an update. As noted previously, purchasing individual voices in small quantities from Acapela Group or Loquendo is difficult and very expensive. An interesting new alternative is IVONA. The British voice Amy is a 22kHz voice that has excellent speech quality and is SAPI 5 compatible. It can be used with the SAPI 5 SDK without the need of a 'core' program.

The voice works properly with Microsoft's sample program TTSApp and with our own VB code. You can download a 30 day free trial from IVONA. Individual Voices can be purchased for about $45 each.

By trying the method outlined above, I was able to change the default voice. Until I went back to the Control Panel>Speech Recognition applet afterwards. I have been searching for a solution at this problem for a long time now. And i found a solution! Well i hardly can take it as a fix since its WAY too easy but it surly have worked for me!! I use windows 8 (maybe thats why its easy??) 64 bit and had the exact same probs as in windows 7.

But then i tried installing the voice at once in that folder: C: Windows Speech Engines TTS en-GB since the language is UK. (At en-US if american). Voices show up perfectly good at Controll panels options, and can also use them by external programs wich dont use only the defult voice. I have done this using two of INOVAS vocies, but i think it will work the same way with any other!!

Can some one try it and say if it works for them also?? By trying the method outlined above, I was able to change the default voice. Until I went back to the Control Panel>Speech Recognition applet afterwards.

Note that this opens the 32-bit version of the SAPI control panel. The 64-bit version is the one you normally see, and it only shows 64-bit voices, of which Anna seems to be the only one. When you open the 32-bit version using this trick, you are able to select any 32-bit voices you may have installed as well as 64-bit (e.g. Yes, this is something like magic, but not that hard to understand.

Doing the tweaks in the registry might or might not give you what you want, but it isn't really solving the problem of listing 32-bit voices in the 64-bit applet, which Microsoft evidently doesn't think you need to do. It also doesn't solve the problem of finding high-quality voices that can be used this way in Windows 7 x64, let alone licensed affordably or without buying a bunch of other products you don't want.

Hello, I have just begun to foray into the world of text-to-speech with Windows 7 (32bit). Has any solution been found which will allow me to change the default voice in Windows 7 32bit? Is there a common file folder location where all of the installed voices are stored for access by the system? Australia Map For Igo8 Skin on this page.

If so, what is that specific directory? Can I simply copy voice files (SAPI5) into this directory, or must they be 'installed' by Windows somehow? How can I use voices that I have purchased from a vendor from being deleted when I uninstall that vendor's software, so that I can continue using voices that I purchased?

I appreciate your kind consideration of my questions, and appreciate any help that you can offer. After installing this on Windows 7 x64, I tried the '%windir% SysWOW64 speech SpeechUX sapi.cpl' trick but the list is empty, not even Anna shows up.

If I open the normal Speech Recognition ->Text to Speach ->Speech Properties in the Control Panel then only Anna is loaded. Those voices aren't even listed on Babylon Translator (the main reason why I'm digging about this issue). Current: Nokia Lumia 920 [WP8], Nokia Lumia 820 [WP8], HTC 7 Surround T8788 [WP7.5] & Vodafone 858 Smart [Android SmartLucky2.3] Previous: Nokia Lumia 800, E7-00, X7-00, N8-00, N97, N96, etc. Official Nokia Suite Beta Tester Nokia Beta Labs Contributor of the month (June, 2011) ElGourmetUrbano.net, Nokia-news.com & LoveMyNokia.com writer.

By trying the method outlined above, I was able to change the default voice. Until I went back to the Control Panel>Speech Recognition applet afterwards. By trying the method outlined above, I was able to change the default voice. Until I went back to the Control Panel>Speech Recognition applet afterwards.

By trying the method outlined above, I was able to change the default voice. Until I went back to the Control Panel>Speech Recognition applet afterwards. I need some help. I've been struggling for days trying to download a voice and make it show up on the popup of balabolka /%windir% SysWOW64 speech SpeechUX sapi.cpl but can't figure out how.

So I saw your comment, Settras. The problem is, though, I can't decide where I want to save the voice-download to. I tried to move the installer for the voice in folder C: Windows Speech Engines TTS en-US, and try to install the voice from there. I've come no further. Please help me! I'm such a noob, probably just a minor change I have to do. Thank you -sincerely Poop12354.

I have added: Microsoft Speech Platform - Runtime Version (11) x64 Microsoft Speech Platform - Software Development Kit (SDK) V11 and voices from x64 Microsoft Speech Platform - Runtime Languages (v11) I modified the registry for the runtime languages to place in /speech/ rather than /speech server/v11/ I added voice in Control Panel and was able to change the default voice. The new voice speaks there, but it won't work in Excel (Office 365 Home). If I try use TTS in Excel I get Runtime Error 429 - ActiveX Component can't create object. I tried copying the LEX Keys over from Anna but that didn't help. I am running Windows 7 Pro 64bit. I am running Office on 32 bit. I appreciate your help.

I have been working on this for a couple of weeks. Any suggestions on how I can get Office - Excel to work with the new voices? Nov 3/16 I have found the answer by some clues on various sites.

First of all I am running Office on 32 bits. This means the speech platform must also be 32 bits. When I tried to use the 32 bit version of the Speech Platform I couldn't select the voice in the Control Panel - Voice Selection of the Speech Properties. I got the error - Voice cannot be played. And it wouldn't select the voice. I discovered another way to select the default voice where the platform is 32 bits.

Enter 'C: Windows SysWOW64 Speech SpeechUX sapi.cpl' in the search box under the Start button. This brings up the Speech Properties for the 32 bit platform. I was able to select the Us ZiroPro voice in this box and it now works in Excel. I put this here in case it may help someone else.

Did you try the solution that worked for me above: Nov 3/16 I have found the answer by some clues on various sites. First of all I am running Office on 32 bits. This means the speech platform must also be 32 bits. When I tried to use the 32 bit version of the Speech Platform I couldn't select the voice in the Control Panel - Voice Selection of the Speech Properties. I got the error - Voice cannot be played. And it wouldn't select the voice. I discovered another way to select the default voice where the platform is 32 bits.

Enter 'C: Windows SysWOW64 Speech SpeechUX sapi.cpl' in the search box under the Start button. This brings up the Speech Properties for the 32 bit platform. I was able to select the Us ZiroPro voice in this box and it now works in Excel.

I put this here in case it may help someone else. In addition to the above registry fix solutions, for those using a x64 version of the OS (in my case Win7), do not forget to install BOTH x86 and x64 versions of Speech Platform v11 from: Since you are likely using also 32bits apps on that 64bits OS of yours this is likely going to fix problems in all the 3rd party apps (Error likes 'This voice cannot be played.'

I also want to mention I did not have to use Anna LEX key fix mentionned by some participants.