Using the free tool ElevenLabs, this blog post was converted from text into audio

Text To Speech AI

Text to speech AI tools (TTS) fit right into the fast-paced world we are now living in.  They allow us to multitask and do chores or even wait in our doctors’ offices at an appointment all while consuming content!

Long car rides, long train rides or long commutes are either loved or hated. I’m somewhere in the middle but it’s always a great time for me to listen to content on the go versus listening to music. 

Audiobooks and podcasts are increasing in popularity. This shift towards audio consumption presents a unique opportunity for us bloggers and authors to convert our written material into engaging audio content.

A Guide To Audible Blogs & Books

Audiobooks are great

aren’t they?  

What Are Audiobooks?

An audiobook is simply a digital recording of a book that’s being read out loud so all you have to do is just listen to it. 

They can easily be downloaded to many different types of devices such as tablets or smartphones. 

It’s great for folks who are visually impaired or those who have trouble reading.

This article dives into the world of text-to-speech (TTS) and audio creation, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to transform your blog posts and books into captivating audio. We’ll explore popular software options and the many benefits of offering your content in a different format.

Why Convert Text to Audio?

There are numerous advantages to offering an audio version of your content:

• Increased Accessibility: Audio caters to audiences with visual impairments or those who prefer to consume content while multitasking (house cleaning, exercising, etc.)
• Expanded Reach: Attract new audiences who prefer audio over written content.
• Improved Engagement: A well-produced narration can enhance the emotional impact of your writing and create a more immersive experience for listeners.
• Content Repurposing: Extend the reach of your existing content by offering it in a new format.
• SEO Benefits: Audio transcripts can be indexed by search engines, potentially boosting your overall SEO performance.

Text To Speech Software

Text to speech AI software has numerous options available. Selecting the best ones to convert your text to speech depends on your specific needs. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Content Length: Are you converting short blog posts or full-length books? Platforms like ACX cater to audiobooks, while Murf may be better suited for shorter content.
• Budget: Explore free trials and compare paid plan features before committing.
• Voice Quality: Listen to samples of the available voices to find one that complements your content’s tone and style.
• Features: Consider additional features like voice editing tools, background music options, and integration with other platforms.
• Ease of Use: Evaluate the user interface and learning curve associated with each platform.

Top Software Options

Now that you understand the merits of audio conversion, let’s explore software that can streamline the process. Here are some popular choices to consider. 

Audiobook Creation Software: Dedicated tools like ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) and Findaway Voices cater specifically to audiobook production. They offer features like chapter creation, audio editing tools, and distribution options for various audiobook platforms. However, these services often have a steeper learning curve and may involve additional costs for professional narration. 

Why not turn your blog posts or eBooks into spoken content so your visitors can listen instead of reading?

Create Audible Content

• ElevenLabs

With ElevenLabs, you can sign up, paste in your content or blog post and wait a few seconds while your content is converted to audio. A voice will be chosen and an audio player will be added.

It’s that simple

This can be done very quickly without prior training. In fact, at the beginning of this blog post, I have added the recording ElevenLabs created for this post! They even chose the voice. I then downloaded it and added it to this post. ElevenLabs boasts state-of-the-art AI voices that offer natural and engaging listening. It offers a variety of paid plans as well with different voice options and character limits. While not specifically designed for audiobooks, its high-quality voices can elevate blog post conversions. 

• Murf

Get started for free with Murf and experiment with their 200 + human like voices and over 20 languages for spoken content. Enjoy 10 minutes of voice generation on the free plan. Murf stands out for its user-friendly interface.  Its free plan has limited features. More voices, features and longer durations are available on the paid plan. Murf is a good option for converting shorter blog posts or chapters into audio excerpts for marketing purposes. 

Otter AI

This AI-powered platform allows you to convert text to speech and edit the audio within the same interface. It has a free trial and paid plans with varying voice options and character limits. Otter AI is a versatile tool for both short and long-form content conversion. 

More AI Voice Generators

● WellSaid – Free 7-day trial

● Respeecher – Free 3-day trial

● Speechify – Free 3-day trial

Get a free forever plan with limited features or a free 3-day trial with all features.

Beyond Big Names

Text-to-Speech Options

While the above options cater specifically to audio creation for content creators, here are some additional tools offering text-to-speech functionality:

• Natural Reader: This free software is a good starting point for basic text-to-speech conversion. These voice options may sound less natural compared to AI-powered platforms. 

• Chrome Extensions: Several chrome extensions like “Read Aloud” and “Natural Reader Text-to-Speech” allow you to convert website text to audio on-the-fly. These are convenient options for quickly listening to short articles you encounter online.

Additional Tips

While software plays a crucial role, achieving top-notch audio involves more than just text-to-speech conversion. 

Here are additional tips to ensure a polished final product

Proofread Your Content:

Grammatical errors and typos will be glaringly obvious in audio format. Sentences might not make sense and pronunciation will be awkward.  You must make sure your text is error-free before conversion.

Formatting Matters:

Use proper formatting to differentiate between paragraphs, headings, and dialogue in your text. This improves the quality of the narration.

Let’s Do The Reverse

Do you need to transcribe your recorded audio notes or spoken content into text?

Speech To Text Transcription 

• Otter.ai
• Descript
• ElevenLabs
• TurboScribe
• MacWhisper
• App.empwr.ai
• Amazon Transcribe
• Google Doc Voice Typing

A Look At Otter AI

This cutting-edge technology is for you if you’re a student, an employer or even a content creator wanting to transcribe zoom meetings, interviews or lectures from SPEECH / AUDIO or VIDEO TO TEXT. When it comes to real-time transcribing services, Otter has become the go-to option for many.

Not only will Otter transcribe your audio files to text or text files to audio, but it will also transcribe your video files as well. 

Otter may be the answer for anyone looking for a dependable means to convert speech to text. You’ll love Otter whether you are a professional trying to transcribe meetings and interviews, a student hoping to record lectures and later transcribe them into notes, or anyone else. Take a look at its features, applications, and underlying technology and see if this powerful tool could be of assistance to you.

On the basic free plan, you’ll be able to import and transcribe up to three audio or video files, but each one must not exceed 30 minutes.

Text To Audio Wrap Up 

Text to speech (TTS) is very popular in today’s multitasking society.  Converting your books, notes or blog posts into an audible format won’t break the bank because there are many free options. It will give your users an opportunity to listen to your content as opposed to reading it. 

As you can see sometimes the same tool that converted text to audio can do the reverse, convert audio or speech to text (STT) such as ElevenLabs and Otter. 

Before making a decision on which tool if any, to invest in, first take advantage of several free trials or free forever plans. You have many options to choose from. 

Have fun with your selections and if you found this blog post informative, please like and share.

Follow us for more tips. 

Cheers to you as you create awesome content in multiple formats!

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