Did you know that Microsoft Word has a built-in text-to-speech function? This TTS function, which is called the Speak function, allows you to highlight words and have them read out loud to you with the default voice that Microsoft has set up.
Microsoft has one or two default voices that come along with your computer. But did you know that you don’t have to stick with Microsoft’s bland voices? Instead, you can install any of our natural sounding NeoSpeech SAPI voices onto your computer to use in Microsoft Word!
In this blog we will teach you how to:
- Enable the Speak function in Microsoft Word
- Install the NeoSpeech SAPI voices
- Enable the NeoSpeech SAPI voices as the default voice on your Windows computer.
Before we begin please note that these instructions are for Windows operating systems only and are only for Microsoft Word versions 2010 or later.
Section 1: Enable the Speak function in Microsoft Word
Step 1: Open up your Microsoft Word program and go to the top task bar menu. Click the drop down arrow on the right hand side of the task bar.
Step 2: After opening the drop down menu click on the “More Commands” option.
Step 3: Then, under the “Choose commands from” menu, click on “All Commands”.
Step 4: From “All Commands” scroll down till you reach the Speak option click Add and then OK.
Step 5: This will enable the Speak function on your task bar.
Now you should be able to use the Microsoft Speak function on your Word program. Just highlight any words that you want spoken and click the Speak button.
Section 2: Install the NeoSpeech SAPI voices
NeoSpeech SAPI voices will work with any Microsoft Office suite program. Purchasing our NeoSpeech SAPI voices is as simple as filling out a Sales Inquiry form and letting us know which voices you want. Our Sales Team will then send you the download files and instructions on how to install NeoSpeech’s SAPI text-to-speech voices onto your Windows computer.
I want NeoSpeech’s SAPI voices!
If you already have our SAPI voices installed, you can move on to Section 3. If not, you will need to install our SAPI voices first before you can move on.
Section 3: Applying NeoSpeech SAPI voice as the default voice for your Windows computer.
To make sure the Speak function in Microsoft Word uses your new NeoSpeech text-to-speech voice, you need to set it as the default voice for your computer. Here is how you can do that:
Step 1: Open Windows Control Panel and type “text to speech” in the search menu. Under the Speech Recognition section, click “Change text to speech settings”.
Step 2: From the “Voice selection” menu choose the NeoSpeech SAPI voice you have installed. Click Apply and then OK. Now, anytime you use a Microsoft program with the Speak function active it will use the NeoSpeech SAPI voice that you have set as the default voice. Note: All NeoSpeech SAPI voices have VW followed by the name of the voice you purchased.
There you have it, you can now use text-to-speech in Microsoft Word with NeoSpeech’s voices.
But wait, there’s more! The Speak function is available on all Microsoft Office applications as well! So that means you will be able to use text to-speech on your Excel and PowerPoint documents as well. Just make sure you are using a 2010 or later version of the Microsoft Office.
To enable the Speak function on these other Microsoft Office applications, just open the programs and follow the steps in Section 1. And yes, if you set one of NeoSpeech’s voices as your computer’s default voice, it’ll work in those programs as well.
What do you think?
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Learn More about NeoSpeech’s Text-to-Speech
Want to learn more about all the ways Text-to-Speech can be used? Visit our Text-to-Speech Areas of Application page. And check out our Text-to-Speech Products page to find the right package for any device or application.
If you’re interested in integrating Text-to-Speech technology into your product, please fill out our short Sales Inquiry form and we’ll get you all the information and tools you need.
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