A small TTS that could read out text files in natural language?

Apps
1

Of late, Google has begun playing games. I used to utilise the TextAloud Add-on on Debian Chromium browser to read texts. I used the free voice Google Translate Hindi which, until recently, didn’t restrict me on the basis of the size of texts to be read. I liked the accent when it read English or other native Indian texts.
GoogleTranslateHindi_2024-11-16_13-56

But Google is gradually altering its policies. So that I can no longer use the earlier language set up to read texts. Google wants to entice me with advanced features at the cost procuring my card and other personal details to track me, and possibly money, whereas I am okay with minimalistic utilities.

So I have to gradually wean myself off the ReadAloud TTS.

The Firefox add-on ReadAloud clone by LSD Software is of paleolithic age. The TTS I had in 1997 for my Creative Sound Blaster sound card performed better.

I briefly thought of using Talkie by Joel Purra but firefox cautions that the add-on isn’t actively monitored. So I had to drop the idea.

I searched the F-Droid app repo for a TTS app, from both my laptop and smartphone.

The list of apps shown by search result “TTS” is far limited in my smartphone than my laptop.
While on the web-browser of my laptop I have many more:

TTS Util
Text-to-Speech Utility ApplicationApache-2.0
Poet Assistant
Dictionary and TTS tools for editing poemsGPL-3.0-only
ChineseTtsTflite
Chinese TTS Engine Based On Tensorflow TTSApache-2.0
Seeneva: smart comic reader
Fully open source smart comic book reader with the ability to use OCR and TTS.GPL-3.0-or-later
RHVoice - a free and open source speech synthesize
TTS engine with extended languages support (incl. Russian)GPL-3.0-or-later
Voice Notify
Spoken notificationsApache-2.0
SimplyTranslate Mobile
A privacy friendly frontend to Google TranslateGPL-3.0-or-later
10,000 sentences
Learn new words in foreign languagesApache-2.0
freeDictionaryApp
a simple app for Free Dictionary APIGPL-3.0-only
Librera Reader
Book and PDF readerGPL-3.0-or-later
Botifier
Send notifications via BluetoothBSD-2-Clause
Muse - Text to Speech
Convert text to natural-speaking audio with custom voices and pausesGPL-3.0-only
NetTTS
Text-to-Speech over networkGPL-3.0-only
A2DP Volume
Manage Bluetooth functionsGPL-3.0-only
ForgetMeNot
A flashcard app that won’t let you forget anything.GPL-3.0-only
Mumla
Voice chat on Mumble serversGPL-3.0-only
Automation
Automate stuff on your device by creating rules.GPL-3.0-or-later

On my smartphone F-Droid displays only a few of these:

Poet Assistant Dictionary and TTS tools for editing poems
RHVoice
RHVoice - a free and open source speech synthesize TTS engine with e…
Seeneva: smart comic reader Fully open source smart comi…
ChineseTts Tflite Chinese TTS Engine Based On Tensorflow TTS
Incompatible
TTS Util Text-to-Speech Utility Application
TTS Tool GUI for Android’s Text-To-Speech-Engines

This is only one of the issues.

The next issue is that:
(1) while one app (TTS Tool) is for older Android versions so won’t install;

(2) some others, such as:
(a) RHVoice - a free and open source speech synthesize
TTS engine with extended languages support (incl. Russian)GPL-3.0-or-later, and
(b) NetTTS: Text-to-Speech over networkGPL-3.0-only, have problem areas;

For example, RHVoice promotes non-free components, with caution notifications when I tried to install it:
ANTI-FEATURES

  • This app promotes non-free add-ons
  • This app promotes or depends entirely on a non-free network service

NetTTS is built for older versions, so won’t install.

(3) The one I thought of installing is a thorough app of around 60MB in size (Librera Reader: Book and PDF readerGPL-3.0-or-later), so dropped the idea of installing it;

(4) Another one that I liked to use doesn’t have the utility to read a plain text file (TTS Util: Text-to-Speech Utility ApplicationApache-2.0).

I need an app that is as minimal as TTS Util, but can read text files, not only limited to copied-pasted short texts. I liked the naturally sounding voice of TTS Util.

Any advice please?

1 Like
2

Dear Seniors and leaders, were you awaiting my next steps? :smile:

I have been studying the TTS Util app and its info page on the F-Droid website. I have tested it. It seems to be a nice app. The voice is good for my needs.

Following the app info page and the accompanying screenshots, from the top left hand side button of the app TTS Util, I found how to set up the app to read a text file. The screenshots are already given in the app info page, so I won’t add another screenshot of the app, unless required.

But the app halts as soon as the screensaver is turned on.

Is there an option to allow the app to run in the background so that it continues to read long text files with the screensaver on, i.e., the screen automatically turned off by the system to save battery power?

I have permitted the app to use battery unrestricted, i.e., the battery optimisation was set `off`` for the app.

There seems to be another problem: the app doesn’t continually read a text file. It is designed to store the read text as a .wav file. I however want the app to read continually long a text file without creating a .wav file.

Could these problems please be solved? Any suggestion please?

3

ask here: Issues · drmfinlay/tts-util-app · GitHub

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note that TTSUtil is NOT a voice engine, it uses the system installed one

5

Thank you for posting your suggestions. I have observed what you have stated. But I am not aware how to use the system-installed engine to read long files, like ebooks and articles.
I am also cautious if Google might track my reading particular books or articles.

6

then don’t use the Google one? Install eSpeak or RHVoice maybe? Then again… if the system has Google Services… they can track whatever they want

7

Thank you. I already sent an email to Mr. Dan Finlay. Ok. I will also post my problem on the aforesaid issues page.

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But for an Android smartphone I assume that there isn’t a way to stop Google Services when using the smartphone?!

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Thank you for your kind information.

eSpeak has the string Text-To-Speech instead of TTS. So it didn’t come up in my earlier search. Ok. So I will try this too. Thank you.

But regarding RHVoice I have already posted my observation in the first post itself.

Postscript: espeak is reported to be built for an older version, so can’t be updated automatically. Also it doesn’t work in my system.

10

If you run their version, it’s harder, yes

Maybe your device can run CalyxOS Features or Home - DivestOS Mobile

11

Yes, I have been considering this option for the last 5-6 years. I also considered using Graphene OS. But in Bharat some essential apps like Rapido, Ola, Uber, BhimUPI, etc., require Android OS. I am not sure if Graphene would allow these apps to run smoothly. I can’t take chances with another smartphone, investing money buying it, unless sure.

12

all these are Android, Calyx has microG and Divest can use it too

read Banking Applications Compatibility with GrapheneOS | PrivSec - A practical approach to Privacy and Security too as it pertains to all these Android distributions usually

1 Like
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update is not an issue, what is an issue is it can’t be installed on newer devices: Incompatible with Android 14 · Issue #1862 · espeak-ng/espeak-ng · GitHub

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Yes, forked. What I meant was that the apps that I mentioned needed Google services, I presumed.

I can’t buy a new phone on the basis of belief, unless users ascertain on a forum or open platform that they have been successful in using the said apps in forked Android OS.

15

microG might help, see the linked list for some apps

belief in an open device? belief in stopping the Google grip on your life? belief in FOSS apps? which one ? :slight_smile:

don’t say this… you either did or did not… if years have past, I guess you did not

16

The version for my Nokia C12 smartphone is 12.
I have used espeak in Debian. The voice is pathetic and robotic, as said earlier, of the paleolithic age.

Google engine is better. Even the older google svox engine was better than espeak.

17

Uber works w/o microg too iirc

BHIMUPI might work fine, see [LIST] Banking Apps on /e/OS - Lists - /e/OS community

etc, you just need to test :person_shrugging:

18

pay for convenience, with your freedom, compromises all the way

19

… including your other posts on this aspect:

I understand, but despite my suggestion to Debian forums to draw the attention of the programmers to at least use google’s older TTS engine nothing emerged.

We need a working alternative ecosystem to shift from an oppressive system to a new one.

Since I am not a programmer I need a complementary support system to have my objectives fulfilled.

Debian has utilities like python3-gtts, Wrapper and CLI utility for the Google TTS (Text-to-Speech) API (Python 3). But the program doesn’t read real time. It creates an mp3 file to record the output from a text.

But after a point the last mile bridge is never built.

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That is the Catch-22 situation: I have to buy a new smartphone just to test. :smile: