Microsoft has announced that its Azure AI Text-to-Speech service is now available in 41 languages, including a new male voice called Ryan Multilingual. The service also includes a new auto language prediction capability for the input text, eliminating the need for manual tagging as the voice can automatically recognize the input languages and adjust the speech output accordingly.
Microsoft Azure AI Text to Speech is a service that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to convert text inputs to lifelike speech. The service can be used for various applications, such as voice-powered smart assistants and devices, chatbots, online learning, and reading audiobooks or news.
In 2021, Microsoft announced Jenny Multilingual, a female voice that could speak naturally in a number of different languages. Today, Microsoft announced a new expansion of Azure AI Text to Speech, adding a male voice and more languages to the service.
The inclusion of a male voice and more languages is a significant boost for Azure AI Text-to-Speech, making it a more versatile and inclusive tool for developers. The service can now be used to create a wider range of applications, such as audiobooks, e-learning content, and customer service chatbots.
Azure AI Text to Speech general features
If you are unfamiliar with Azure AI Text-to-Speech, it comes with the following feature set:
- Natural-sounding speech: The service uses machine learning to create speech that is indistinguishable from human speech.
- Highly customizable: AI Text-to-Speech allows developers to customize the speech output in a number of ways, such as changing the speed, pitch, and volume.
- Robust error handling: The service is designed to handle a wide range of input text, including text with errors.
Expanding the Service to Provide Access to More Users
Microsoft says this latest update means that AI Text to Speech is now available to more people and is more accessible. Specifically discussing Ryan Multilingual, the company points out that the service now works better in different contexts:
“This addition not only provides users with more options but also enables them to create inclusive and diverse user experiences. By introducing a male voice, Azure Text to Speech ensures that the technology remains adaptable to different contexts and user preferences, empowering developers to design solutions that resonate with a broader range of end-users. Moreover, both new voices come with the auto language prediction capability for the input text, eliminating the need for manual tagging as the voice can automatically recognize the input languages and adjust the speech output accordingly.”
Current text-to-speech languages
- ar-EG
- ar-SA
- ca-ES
- cs-CZ
- da-DK
- de-AT
- de-CH
- de-DE
- en-AU
- en-CA
- en-GB
- en-HK
- en-IE
- en-IN
- en-US
- es-ES
- es-MX
- fi-FI
- fr-BE
- fr-CA
- fr-CH
- fr-FR,
- hi-IN
- hu-HU
- id-ID
- it-IT
- ja-JP
- ko-KR
- nb-NO
- nl-BE
- nl-NL
- pl-PL
- pt-BR
- pt-PT
- ru-RU
- sv-SE
- th-TH
- tr-TR
- zh-CN
- zh-HK
- zh-TW
Last Updated on August 11, 2023 5:12 pm CEST by Luke Jones
