How to change the Mac’s system voice

Thanks toSirion the iPhone 4S , the great unwashed are chop-chop getting used to hearing gadgets talk . Your Mac can talk , too . For using your Mac everyday , there’sVoiceOver , which is designed for the great unwashed who are blind or have gloomy vision . If that ’s more peach from your Mac than you need , you may use the Mac ’s Text to Speech feature article , where the Mac reads selected text . It can be handy to use in a presentation , or , if you use an app to record your Mac ’s audio , you could create sound clips to use in videos or audio transcription .

The nonremittal voice that your Mac use for text edition to Speech in reality has a name : Alex . He has a pleasing tone and a certain warmth , but you have other choices if you ’re looking for something else . There ’s Victoria , who ’s the female equivalent of Alex ; and Bruce and Katy , who are more robotic . Lion and Snow Leopard show a total of six interpreter uncommitted , but there are plenty more to choose from . In this how - to , you will learn how to modify the organization voice , as well as bestow young voices .

Step 1: Activate Text to Speech

To have your Mac understand selected schoolbook out loudly , go to System Preferences and candid Speech ; then under the text edition to Speech tab , discipline the box seat for Speak Selected Text When the Key is press . The default key combination in Lion is Option+Esc , but you may change it by clicking the Change Key button . In Snow Leopard , you have to define a cardinal combination .

Now whenever you want the Mac to understand something out loudly , you just select the text and press the central combo . you’re able to , for example , have your Mac read an e-mail as you settle in after arrive to work .

Step 2: Change the voice

Sure , Alex sounds like a squeamish guy , but he wo n’t be offended if you want a change . Still in the Text to Speech tab key of the Speech system predilection , clack on the System Voice pop up - up carte du jour . You ’ll see the voices , divide by grammatical gender . ( In Lion , the female voices are heel first . In Snow Leopard , the manly vocalization are first . ) To see what each one vocalize like , choose it , and then flick the romp button . you could use the skidder bar to adjust the Speaking Rate .

If you wish one of the six representative , take it , align the Speaking Rate ( if you want ) , conclude the windowpane , and you ’re done . If you are n’t satisfied with one of the six , you may supply more voices .

Step 3: Add new voices

In the System Voice pop - up card used in footstep 2 , select Customize ( or Show More Voices if you ’re using Snow Leopard ) at the bottom of the bill of fare . In Lion , a new window will appear , with a tilt of different voice . Many are plan for exercise with a particular language , such as German , Japanese , Arabic , Korean , or even South African English , and those voice will register American English with the inflections of the spoken communication it is designed for . To sample a phonation , break its box and come home on the Play button . Check the boxes of the voice you want , and then clack OK . The OS will need to download the representative , so you ’ll be asked to substantiate that you want to install it . If you snap Install in the verification windowpane , the Apple Licensing Agreement will look . You ’ll need to fit in to it to proceed .

In Snow Leopard , after you select Show More Voices , you need to open up the System Voice pop - up card again . You ’ll notice that the tilt has blow up . To try out a voice , you need to choose it , and then clack on the gambling button in the school text to Speech tab of the Speech penchant . Unfortunately , you do n’t get the speech communication choices that are available in Lion .

Leo users : If you want a Siri - same vox on your Mac , set up Samantha , located in the English ( United States ) Female section . Samantha does n’t sound just like Siri , but it ’s close . If you aline the oral presentation rate , you could get closemouthed to a Siri sound - alike . Snow Leopard does n’t have Samantha or another Siri - same spokesperson .

Activating the Text to Speech key combination in Lion.

Step 4: Talk talk

Once you ’re done adding new voice and you ’ve discover one you like , select it , adjust the Speaking Rate if you want , and then exit the Speech preference windowpane . You ’re done .

When you desire to practice school text to Speech , select the text and iron the key jazz group you fix in step 1 . Some apps , such as TextEdit , have text - to - speech built in , so you’re able to use the app ’s menu statement instead . ( It ’s Edit - > Speech - > starting signal Speaking in TextEdit . )

[ Samantha was a key contributor to Macworld senior editor program Roman Loyola ’s performance in theMacworld Pundit Showdown XIII . ]