Balabolka is a feature-rich program to read text aloud from a variety of file types including DOC, RTF, PDF, ODT, FB2 and HTML. The program uses built-in Windows speech tools, but lets you fine tune voices, including rate and pitch, and a substitution list can also be applied to improve the quality of the voice's articulation. The program supports customized font and background color, skins, control reading from the system tray or by the global hotkeys.
The program can save to a variety of audio formats and quality levels, and can include synchronized text to external LRC files or in MP3 tags inside the audio files. When the audio file is played with players on a computer or on modern digital audio players, the text will be displayed synchronously (in the same way as lyrics for songs).
The program includes batch conversion tools from of a wide variety of document formats to audio or plain text and a file compare tool, file splitter and screen magnification window. Command-line functions also supported.
Category: | |
Runs on: | WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 / Win11 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Dependencies: | Microsoft Speech API (SAPI). This is included by default in Win2K and above. |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: |
Download the "Portable Version" ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch balabolka.exe. Optionally, delete unnecessary language and help files. |
Similar/alternative apps: | DSpeech |
What's new? | See: http://balabolka.site/changelog.txt |
Latest comments |
FireRabbit
on 2020-03-29 22:26
After years of using to use Balabolka I officaly gave up and bought textaloud a couple days ago.
FireRabbit
on 2021-10-07 15:38
Since it had been over a year since my last comment and the last time I used Balabolka, and since then I've seen several update notices for it, bought a brand new computer, and moved on to windows 10 I figured I'd give it another try since I really don't like being tied to preparatory software beyond my OS.
Midas
on 2021-10-08 07:38
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@FireRabbit: As Balabolka is somewhat of a niche application, your input is highly appreciated. Thank you. |
DSpeech is a text-to-speech program with the option of saving the output to a variety of formats, great for reviewing text or creating audio books. The program uses Microsoft's included speech engine SAPI5 but also supports dynamically changing the features of the voices using tags e.g. insert pauses, emphasize specific words, spell them out etc.
The program can do simple audio/voice recordings to save to WAV, and include some basic dictation / voice control tools ("ASR" for Automatic Speech Recognition). Text can be imported from a variety of formats TXT, DOC, DOCX, RTF, HTML, XML and PDF and outputs to MP3, OGG, AAC, WMA, OPUS and AMR.
Category: | |
Runs on: | WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Dependencies: | Microsoft speech engine SAPI5 |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: |
Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch DSpeech.exe. WinNT/2K users: need to install the speech engine separately. You will find links to plugins, speech engines and voice sets on the program website. Optionally, delete unnecessary language and manual files. |
Similar/alternative apps: | Balabolka |
What's new? | See: https://www.softpedia.com/progChangelog/DSpeech-Changelog-36935.html |
Latest comments |
Happy.Camper2
on 2017-06-10 17:28
DSpeech is now version 1.63.3 Released 2017 Mar 27 at Authors site.
webfork
on 2021-11-15 00:12
I've got to say that DSpeech has come a long way over the past few years. The last time I tested it the program felt like it was just a simple throwaway text reader with Microsoft voices front-end program. What I tested today had loads of features, usability, and a great interface. This contrasts a lot of other voice-to-text tools that I've been playing with, including LibreOffice and Firefox add-ons, which are fairly basic.
GorfianRobot
on 2022-11-14 21:54
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18›
I'm really impressed with this program. It handles changing voices midstream (so you can create conversations) better than Balabolka (and a lot of programs can't chance voices at all. |
Lingoes is an easy and intuitive dictionary and text translation software. It offers lookup dictionaries, full text translation, capture word on screen, translate selected text and pronunciation of words in over 80 languages including Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic, Portuguese, and more.
The application includes the Concise English Dictionary and additional dictionaries are available for download.
Category: | |
Runs on: | Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Dependencies: | IE6 or later |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | Free for personal use |
How to extract: | Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch Lingoes.exe. |
Similar/alternative apps: | QTranslate |
Latest comments |
smaragdus
on 2014-08-17 21:27
The latest version of Lingoes is 2.9.2- http://www.lingoes.net/en/translator/download.htm
kanu
on 2024-02-14 14:04
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8›
Is there any way to download dictionaries currently? All of them give 403-404 errors. |
TTSReader is a software program that allows the user to read any on-screen text aloud, using a variety of voices. Other features include outputting to WAV or MP3 audio files, pronunciation corrections, monitoring the clipboard, etc. TTSReader supports all SAPI4 and SAPI5 voices. Non-English language voices will work with TTSReader, however these are not officially supported.
NOTE: Homepage is gone, linking to Archive.org.
Category: | |
Runs on: | Win98 / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Dependencies: | Microsoft Speech API (SAPI). This is included by default in Win2K and above. |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: | Download the "standalone" ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch TTSReader.exe. |
Latest comments |
Mixture
on 2019-07-27 12:43
Add comment
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Download link is no longer working. Use Wayback Machine link instead. |