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How to get cloud powered (Natural) tts voices

Anonymous
2020-11-12T14:47:16+00:00

I often use the read aloud/tts feature when I'm studying and going through my textbook and what not. Normally I am just on my desktop and use the default US/Can english voices, but recently I used the read aloud feature from my laptop and found a lot of other voices that sounded a lot better. When selecting them from the voice options, they usually have the word "natural" in brackets as well. I want to have these voices on my desktop but for the life of me cannot find out how to get them, or where to even find information about it. The most I've got is that I think they're called cloud powered voices or something. How do I get these voices to my desktop?

Microsoft Edge | Read PDFs | Windows 10

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-11-12T15:20:39+00:00

    Yeah, I've done this and read it over multiple times, but these voices don't seem to include the cloud powered voices? I am looking for the cloud powered/online voices, like the voice "Microsoft Guy Online (Natural) - English (United States)"

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-08-05T15:35:08+00:00

    Look guys

    I don't think anybody is able to explain the problem here

    so listen

    I am a normal windows user who want to use tts(text to speech) voices for reading pdf files/

    articles

    Now the problem is that the voice I prefer for reading the pdf files is only available on Microsoft edge browser

    and those voices have natural written in brackets like: (Natural) in the screenshot below:-

    These (Natural) voices aren't available when I am offline

    So I tried opening my setting page and saw these options, none of these voices had (Natural) written beside them

    So I tried clicking on blue "online" thing just above the search bar in the screenshot above:

    I'm taken to this page where I don't see any download button

    and no (Natural) voices

    either

    Before you tell me to reset the pc / update my pc / reinstall windows / reinstall Microsoft edge

    These things aren't going to help me download those natural voice packages!!

    So please come up with a good solution which actually works

    So that Cortana's voice sound more natural (This is another problem I'm facing Cortana's voice doesn't sound natural)

    I'm sorry if this reply offended you

    this reply was not intended to hurt any individual's feelings

    Just wanted to bring my problem up on the internet

    which might me a problem for more windows users!!

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2020-11-12T16:14:16+00:00

    This voice is available on Edge.

    Do you use Edge on your notebook to read aloud feature?

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-09-08T01:40:56+00:00

    I have some good news!  
    Two updates:  First, the latest MS Edge browser (not just the Developer) has the natural voices now, but don’t be surprised if yours doesn’t yet.  I tested it last week on my home laptop & was pleasantly surprised to hear the good voices, but when I tested it out on my work laptop, it was the same old robotic voices even after I updated it.  Today, however, it works.  I have the Natural voices!

    Second update:  if you are trying to read a Word doc or PDF, I’ve discovered something recently that may help.  While this solution does not get the natural voices on your desktop apps, it may help you read Word docs or PDF’s if you have a MS 365 account.

    I’ve been searching over a year for a solution, and then I ran across something on a support page that took me to this video by MS EDU:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEXcFrsWaVA
    You can also find it by searching youtube for “Accessible reading with Immersive Reader.”
    Immersive Reader in Word & OneNote Online in MS 365

    1. Sign into your MS 365 Onedrive online on Edge, Chrome, or Firefox.
    2. Open a Word doc.
    3. Select View > Immersive Reader > Read aloud 
      (note:  Immersive Reader also works inside OneNote)
    4. The gear icon at the bottom of the screen will allow you to switch between male and female voices.  They are the natural voices, and I believe they sound like Aria and Guy.

    I’ve been showing the voices off to the college students I work with, and they are really impressed, but most of the docs they receive are PDF’s so this is my suggested work around here:
    Three options for PDF’s:

      **Option 1**
    
    1. Browse your files for the PDF you wish to read
    2. Right click
    3. Choose Open with Edge 
      (Use the developer version if your standard Edge doesn’t have the voices yet.)
    4. Right click on the PDF that is now open inside Edge
    5. Select “Read Aloud” Option 2
    6. Convert the PDF to a Word doc
    7. Upload the Word doc to Onedrive Online in MS 365
    8. Read with Immersive Reader
      Note:  I have my students use Adobe Acrobat DC to convert the file, but if you do not have access to this software, you can convert it with MS Word itself.  Browse for the PDF file.  Right click it and Open with MS Word.  Word will then convert it, but it may lose some formatting. Option 3 – USE EDGE DEVELOPER VERSION
    9. Open MS 365 Onedrive
    10. Open the PDF File you wish to read
    11. Right click on the reading material and select Read Aloud Note:  I even had some success with Reading PDF’s that were embedded in D2L, which is what our university uses as its online learning platform  The reading is not perfectly smooth.  It might depend upon the quality of the formatting of the PDF, but it’s the first browser I’ve seen capable of this, and I believe the future holds some great innovations in the world of accessibility.

    P.S.  For reading the web, Chrome also has an unofficial MS Immersive Reader extension using these voices.  Search for MS Immersive Reader.  If it doesn’t sound like the natural voices.  Search the store again.  You might not have the right extension.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-02-11T23:45:08+00:00

    I really appreciate learning that I could find these Natural voices on the Developer version.  I knew I had heard them a few months and was greatly impressed.  I work with college students with learning challenges such as Dyslexia, and I'm looking forward to seeing these voices come out on the standard versions of Edge.  I've always steered my students over to Chrome reading extensions and to the Read and Write software by Texthelp for which our university has a campus license.  The voices in it are very good, but these natural voices are on another level, and I think our students would love it in combination with Immersive Reader.  I would really welcome seeing these voices added to the Windows language packs.  Our students receive a plethora of PDF reading material from instructors, and if the voices were available, I'd have them open the PDF's through MS Word and use Immersive Reader.  Word would then also provide additional mark-up tools that they need for annotation.  If anyone learns that these voices become available, please let us know.  Thanks!

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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