Click into a text area like a document or the address bar of your web browser. Double-press the Fn key. A microphone will appear on your screen and if it's receiving audio, you'll see activity inside of it. Speak the text you want to type. You can speak various punctuation and symbols, including brackets, percent signs, and more. Edit audio by editing text. Drag and drop to add music and sound effects. Use the Timeline Editor for fine-tuning with fades and volume editing. Live Collaboration: Real time multiuser editing and commenting. Search result Pricing Download Author Author Author Author Overdub true Mac Win Download. Convert your voice to words,bored of typing use mac dictation to convert you vocal in words. Audio Notetaker for Windows and Mac. Capture audio, text and slides in a single note-taking workspace. Organise and categorise note sets so you can easily return to them. Turn your notes into a variety of formats to suit your learning style. Improve audio quality and extract only what's useful.
Whether you prefer articles read to you while you do something else or trying to grasp a new foreign language or even for specially abled students, TTS (short for text-to-speech) has proved to be very useful.
In our previous articles we saw some of the best text to speech apps for Windows and Android. And today, we take a look at some of the best TTS options available for Macs.
Text To Speech For Mac
1. macOS TTS
Before we get too ahead of ourselves and start downloading third party apps, it is very trivial to know that macOS itself comes with a built-in TTS and you can use it anywhere on your computer from the Notes app to any browser.
To get started, highlight or select the text which you want to be read and then right click, go to Speech and then to Start Speaking; and your Mac should start reading the text to you. It also supports a lot of other languages other than English and there are a lot of voices to choose from in all the languages. To change the language option simply go to Accessibility > Speech. Although some voices are very robotic, there are a few which aren’t and sound more like a human.
But the TTS is far from perfect; it is very basic and barebones and lacks options like pause/play, picking up from a selected word instantly and a lot more.
Quick Tip: It blew my mind and might even blow yours to know that the native TTS on Mac also supports converting your text into audio files. Just select the required text, right click and go to Services > Add to iTunes as a spoken track. The text will be converted to an audio track and added to your iTunes library.
Pros:
– Built-in system wide
– Lots of voice options
– Converting text to iTunes track
– Built-in system wide
– Lots of voice options
– Converting text to iTunes track
Cons:
– No Pause/Play
– Have to select manually all the words to be read
– No instant pickup
– No Pause/Play
– Have to select manually all the words to be read
– No instant pickup
Verdict:
Overall, the TTS that comes with macOS is very barebones without all the bells and whistles and should be perfect for somebody looking for a basic TTS experience without even buying or installing any third party software.
Overall, the TTS that comes with macOS is very barebones without all the bells and whistles and should be perfect for somebody looking for a basic TTS experience without even buying or installing any third party software.
2. Invicta TTS
Invicta TTS is a very simple free Text To Speech app available on the Mac App Store.
Once you open up the app, it presents you with a text box where you can enter or paste any text which will be then converted to speech. The app is very lightweight and minimal in nature with everything being to the point.
Once you open up the app, it presents you with a text box where you can enter or paste any text which will be then converted to speech. The app is very lightweight and minimal in nature with everything being to the point.
Although the app is very basic, unlike the built in TTS of Mac OS, it does add the option of playing or pausing the audio which becomes crucial when listening to long texts or articles. The voice settings cannot be changed but the in built voice does the job pretty good enough.
Pros:
– Minimal and Light
– Play/Pause Option
– Minimal and Light
– Play/Pause Option
Cons:
– Cannot read documents automatically
– Supports only English
– Cannot read documents automatically
– Supports only English
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/1/8/5/118528225/254328630.jpg)
Verdict:
If you need a simple and light TTS app and might be listening to long articles, Invicta TTS does the job pretty well but do remember that it can only read English.
If you need a simple and light TTS app and might be listening to long articles, Invicta TTS does the job pretty well but do remember that it can only read English.
Link: Get Invicta TTS on the App Store
Price: Free
3. Natural Reader
The next app on our list is Natural Reader which is an extremely powerful TTS software available not only on Mac OS but also on Windows, iOS, Android and even has an online reader.
The app comes in many flavours, each with its fair share of features for the price. The free version comes with basic TTS features along with the ability to read directly from file formats such as Docx, PDF, ePub and Txt. It also has a floating bar which can be used to read text while you are in other applications. The next option or the Personal version, at a steep $100, allows you to read web pages directly, converting text to audio files and syncing everything between your phone apps. There are also Professional and Ultimate versions which add OCR support and a bunch of natural voices.
Pros:
– Support for file formats
– Convert to audio files
– Cross Platform
– OCR Support
– Support for file formats
– Convert to audio files
– Cross Platform
– OCR Support
Cons:
– Pricey
– No instant pickup
– Pricey
– No instant pickup
Verdict:
All the features of Natural Reader definitely come at a price and you should be able to decide whether it is a suit for you with respect to your investment in TTS, but even for a casual user the free version works really well. Overall, Natural reader is not just best text to speech software with natural voices, but since it also support PDF, it’s also a good option for those who are looking for PDF Voice Reader for macOS.
All the features of Natural Reader definitely come at a price and you should be able to decide whether it is a suit for you with respect to your investment in TTS, but even for a casual user the free version works really well. Overall, Natural reader is not just best text to speech software with natural voices, but since it also support PDF, it’s also a good option for those who are looking for PDF Voice Reader for macOS.
Pricing Options: Pricing for Natural Reader
Link: Download Natural Reader from here
Audio File To Text For Mac
4. Read Aloud
Read Aloud is not exactly a stand alone Mac app but instead a Chrome extension which might appeal to some people. Considering how many posts and articles are read on the internet everyday, we had to include Read Aloud.
It is completely free and once you install it, its icon will appear in the extension bar which you can now use to read any webpage or any online article, just by a single click. When it is in work, you get a play/pause button along with a forward or rewind button which can be used to advance or backtrack paragraphs. Considering it is free, the voice options are really good and feel very natural and premium.
Pros:
– Great natural voice
– Forward or rewind by paragraphs
– Listen to webpages
– Great natural voice
– Forward or rewind by paragraphs
– Listen to webpages
Cons:
– Works only on Chrome
– Works only on Chrome
Verdict:
Suggesting Read Aloud is very straight forward; if you are someone who reads a lot on the internet and are looking for a free TTS software for that, nothing beats Read Aloud.
Suggesting Read Aloud is very straight forward; if you are someone who reads a lot on the internet and are looking for a free TTS software for that, nothing beats Read Aloud.
Price: Free
Link: Download Read Aloud from the Chrome Store
5. Capti Voice
Capti Voice is probably the most polished and well rounded TTS software available for the Mac and the award are only there to justify that. Starting off, Capti Voice uses your browser for the app to function instead of a stand alone Mac application. Don’t worry, you can still use it while you are offline as it stores all its data locally and personally I have had no issues.
Capti Voice has a subscription based model and even the free version has a lot to offer from various file format supports to text search while the premium versions add features like creating playlists, OCR Support and intelligent dictionary lookup. The voices offered across all the platforms are very high quality and commendable.
Quick Tip: Don’t forget to use the Chrome extension which allows you to save articles or webpages to be read later by Capti Voice.
Pros:
– Cross platform with mobile apps
– Create Playlists
– Dictionary lookup
– Shortcuts to get around
– Cross platform with mobile apps
– Create Playlists
– Dictionary lookup
– Shortcuts to get around
Cons:
– No standalone app
– Syncs only when you add to cloud storage
– No standalone app
– Syncs only when you add to cloud storage
Verdict:
Overall, Capti Voice is a really compelling app with features packed to the brim and is very similar to natural Reader but with a subscription based model. It is really the best TTS experience you can get on Mac OS.
Overall, Capti Voice is a really compelling app with features packed to the brim and is very similar to natural Reader but with a subscription based model. It is really the best TTS experience you can get on Mac OS.
Pricing Info: Pricing Options for Capti Voice
Link: Download Capti Voice from here
6. Honorable Mentions
CereProc has some of the most natural sounding computer speeches available on the market, which you can use to replace the default voice on your Mac (also available for other platforms). There are a lot of high quality voice packs to choose from and each costs around $35.
Zamzar is a free online service which you can use to convert your text to audio files or mp3s. Unlike the iTunes spoken track which you can use only on Apple devices, you can use it on any platform without any hassle.
Wrapping up: Best Text to Speech for Mac
So these were some of the TTS software available on the Mac and we hope we made your decision a little bit easier. If you are someone who reads mainly on the internet, Read Aloud is by far the best free option. Although a little limited, the built-in TTS feature seems to work just fine, but it can be a pain for long stretches of texts or long articles for which there is Invicta which is also free.
Natural Reader and Capti Voice both are spectacular TTS apps with a lot of plans to choose from, but I guess what it comes down to is the paying model. Natural reader is a one time purchase and should be better if you feel you will be invested in TTS for a long time whereas Capti Voice follows a subscription based model also with a one week free trial. Thanks for reading and do comment below which one is your favorite TTS app on Mac OS.
Read: Make your Devices Read Out Text, With Text to Speech
In our previous article, we showed you, how you can automatically transcribe YouTube videos using Google Docs. And in recent years, we have seen a rise in transcription software that uses artificial intelligence to speed up the process. I tested quite a few of them and while only a few of them also support automated transcription, but all of them are meant to make the transcription process easier for you.
Just to make things sure, a transcription software is way different from a dictation software. It’s designed to help you in the process of medical, legal transcription. Be it interviews or medical appointments, accuracy is something you cannot compromise. So, you need a transcription software for Mac that doesn’t let you down at any point. Let’s check out a few of them. Shall we?
Quick Tip: Upload video on YouTube, set as private, and use the auto-transcribe feature to download a text transcription. This is not only cheap and unlimited but also quite accurate for native English speaker.
Best Transcription Software for Mac
1. Express Scribe
Express Scribe is one of the most popular choices when it comes to transcription in Mac. You can name it an awesome audio player software too. Express Scribe helps you play audio and video content so that you can optimize the transcription process. Compared to a normal media player, you have more control over not just the speed but also how the transcribed content is made.
There are a few professional features one might love. For instance, Express Scribe offers extensive support for foot-pedals. You can purchase one of these pedals and use it for controlling audio playback. Similarly, it allows you to load audio content from a variety of sources, including portable voice recorders out there. The wonderful collection of hotkeys also makes it easy to manage voice/video.
Express Scribe also offers a bunch of customization options. For instance, you can easily control the sources and destinations of the audio. In addition to this, an in-built task manager and syncing options make it really easy for users to deal with multiple transcription projects. However, we’re not sure of the feature for sending transcribed audios automatically.
![Audio to text for mac Audio to text for mac](/uploads/1/1/8/5/118528225/322083848.jpg)
Pros
- Professional interface
- Customizable features
- Extensive support
- Hotkey support
Cons
- Not suitable for Beginners
Who Is It For
Express Scribe is the best macOS transcription software for intermediates and professionals. It offers enough control and customization over the transcription process. You can also connect external accessories to grab the best results. Considering the features in the offer, the price-tag of $29 doesn’t seem that high, either. You’d also be able to use the limited free version.
2. Transcriva
Transcriva is one of the transcription software that prioritizes User Interface. It has been designed in a way that the transcription process is put first. Of course, there are professional features like food-pedal support, but Transcriva focuses on how easily you can transcribe. It’s a popular choice when it comes to transcribing interviews and related content.
If you ask us, we’d say Transcriva is one of the simplest ways to transcribe video or audio. In both cases, you have easy ways to track your progress and customize the process. For instance, Transcriva has a mini-player for video playback. On the other hand, you can control the sound and speed when you are using an audio player as the source.
In addition to the standard fulfilling, Transcriva offers some cool features. Follow-Along, for instance, allows you to check the transcribed content for accuracy. Similarly, support for multiple audio sources and complete support for keyboard shortcut make the transcription process a lot smoother. Compared to Express Scribe, Transcriva offers better transcript management as well.
Pros
- An intuitive UI
- Professional features
- Extra features like Follow-Along
Cons
- Audio playback could be better
Who Is It For
Transcriva is suitable for all types of transcribers — casual, hobbyists and professionals. If you’re looking for a professional tool with a simple interface, Transcriva is the best choice out there. It offers the best compatibility as well as recording options as well. You can try Transcriva free of cost for a limited amount of time, but the license costs $29.99.
3. Descript
Audio To Text Transcription Software For Mac
Compared to the other transcription software we’ve covered, Descript is a bit different. First of all, it has one of the most modern UIs we’ve ever seen. Descript is at the same time a professional transcription software as well as an intelligent audio editor. You can also use this program to automatically transcribe audio content and use some smart features.
Audio File To Text Converter For Mac
Talking about features, Descript has many to offer. Drag-and-drop functionality helps you get the transcription done in a few minutes. Powered by Google Speech, this tool offers an impressive level of accuracy when it comes to automated transcription. Leave that aside, Descript still can be used as a great way to deal with a different variety of manual transcription.
We love it how arranged Descript is when it comes to content. You have complete control over how an audio file is played and synced with the transcribed data. This would be useful in the long run, when you have to make edits. Descript also features some of the best collaboration and feedback options we’ve seen. When you work with a team, these features make sense.
Pros
- An Impressive UI
- Collaboration & Feedback options
- Support for Automatic Transcription
- Audio editing support & compatibility
Cons
- Lacks playback control
- Doesn’t support Foot-pedals
Who Is It For
Descript is the best option if you need a combination of manual and automated transcription on Mac. While the tool offers better options for transcription and audio editing, the pricing isn’t that great. You would have to spend 7 Cents per minute to get the full features — every second counts. But, that aside, Descript works great when it comes to transcript creation and management.
4. InqScribe
InqScribe actually brings the best of both worlds when it comes to transcription in Mac. It doesn’t have such a big, professional interface like Express Scribe, but it does not go as minimal as Descript either. The point is that you can do transcription in a seamless environment, without worrying about additional customization needs.
Easy controls are one of the best things we found in InqScribe, at any point of time. You can add a source of the audio and start the playback. On the right side of the window, there is an option for doing transcription as well. As said earlier, InqScribe does not boast any fancy features in here. On the other hand, it offers an environment for peaceful transcription.
Expert transcribers use InqScribe for transcribing movies. It allows you to add timestamps during the play-back so that you can reverse-navigate thereafter. It’s really easy to control the transcription process using custom-made keyboards. And, when you are done, InqScribe lets you export the transcription to a properly usable format as well.
Pros
- Simple UI
- Easy Playback and Control
Cons
- None
Who Is It For
We believe InqScribe is the best option for beginners and regulars alike. It works best when you want to get a distraction-free environment for transcription. Similarly, if you are looking for a simple transcription tool that doesn’t scare you with fancy features, InqScribe stays as a potential choice. You can download the free version but the full license costs $99.
5. Transcribe
Audio To Text Software For Mac
Transcribe is not a dedicated transcription software for Mac. It’s rather an online transcription tool that does work with Mac very well. You can use the tool for transcribing audio as well as video, but it also supports an excellent feature of automated transcription and dictation. If you are too lazy to type, you can just say and Transcribe does its job very well.
It also lets you control the audio like – start, stop, slow down, fast forward etc, using the keyboard while you are typing.
Coming to manual transcription, however, Transcribe is perfect. The audio player and the text fields are so integrated that you will find maximum productivity. On the other hand, automated transcription ensures an impressive amount of accuracy in different languages as well. You can even connect your foot pedal to take control of the audio playback.
This would be the best choice if you don’t want to install anything on your computer. That having said, you will have to upload the video or audio that you have to transcribe. We would not recommend this if you’re someone who prefers working locally. On the bright side, though, Transcribe lets you load a YouTube video and get the job done.
Pros
- Simple Interface
- Manual and Automated Transcription methods
- Intuitive editor
Cons
- You have to upload the content every time
Who Is It For
We believe, Transcribe is the best option for the on-the-go transcribers. Once you purchase the license, you can do the transcription at any point in time. It offers all the features we’ve seen in dedicated tools out there and we’d recommend it for almost anyone. The only downside is that you need to be connected to the Internet. The self-subscribe license of Transcribe costs $20.
Which is the Best Transcription Software for Mac?
Well, these are some of the best transcription software for Mac. As you have seen, all of these tools are paid; we tried some of the free tools but most of them were not effective per se. Now, coming to the options, we would recommend InqScribe or Descript if you are just getting started. On the other hand, for professional transcribers, it makes sense to spend some money and purchase something like Express Scribe or Transcribe. We would say Transcribe is the option if you need better mobility and on-the-go support. So, which do you think is the best one out on the list?