One feature that I wanted to implement for some time on Martech Zone was the ability to listen to the content rather than read it. I find that people are often multi-tasking and may have multiple windows open… working on one thing while listening to a podcast simultaneously.
I found a seamless solution that incorporates a beautiful player… Play.ht. If you click through to this article, you can see it in action!
Play.ht is an AI-powered text-to-voice generator that instantly converts text into natural-sounding speech. With the ability to export audio files in MP3 and WAV formats, Play.ht offers an extensive range of applications across various industries.
Ultra-Realistic Voice Playback
Play.ht offers a growing library of 907 natural-sounding AI-generated voices with human-like intonation in 142 languages and accents. Users can choose from a variety of speech styles and voice inflections to create engaging and natural audio. With Play.ht, businesses can incorporate natural voice playback with:
- Videos: Professional voices for marketing, explainer, product, and YouTube videos.
- E-learning: Narrative voices capable of pronouncing terminologies and acronyms in training materials.
- IVR Systems: Professional voice interactions for customers on IVR and telephony systems.
- Audio Articles: SEO-friendly audio widgets for websites to improve accessibility and engagement.
The platform also offers a robust API so that you can integrate any platform into it with audio playback. In the case of Martech Zone, I’m utilizing their robust WordPress plugin, which even offers some buttons, site-wide enhancements, and audio player customization.
The Accessibility Benefits of Audio Playback
Having a voice player on a text-based site can significantly improve accessibility for various users. By providing an audio version of the text content, a voice player caters to the needs of:
- Visually impaired users: People with visual impairments, such as blindness or low vision, can benefit from a voice player as it allows them to access the content aurally instead of relying on screen readers or Braille displays.
- Dyslexic users: Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects a person’s ability to read and comprehend written text. A voice player can help dyslexic users by enabling them to listen to the content, which might be easier for them to process and understand.
- Non-native speakers: For people who are not native speakers of the site’s language, listening to the content can help with comprehension and language acquisition.
- Users with reading difficulties: Some users may have other conditions or limitations that make reading challenging. A voice player can provide an alternative way for them to consume the content.
- Multitaskers: A voice player can also be helpful for users who want to consume the content while performing other tasks, such as driving or exercising, as it allows them to listen to the content without needing to read it visually.
Key Features of Audio Playback with Play.ht
- Multi-voice feature: Create conversation-like voiceovers using different voices for sentences in the same audio file.
- Custom pronunciations: Define how specific words are pronounced, and save and reuse them when synthesizing speech.
- Preview mode: Preview a single paragraph or full text before converting it to speech.
- Secure storage: Synthesized audio files are securely stored in the cloud.
- Team collaboration: Invite team members to collaborate, share, and create audio files together.
- Export options: Convert text to MP3 and WAV formats with different sample rates.
- Commercial & broadcast rights: Full rights to use generated speech files for commercial and personal use.
- Audio player widgets: Embed text-to-speech readers in articles, blogs, e-learning, and websites for increased accessibility.
- Podcasting solution: Turn text into podcasts to increase content reach and brand presence on platforms like iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Google Podcasts.
The editor for Play.ht enables you to modify the text-to-speech, voice, voice style, and more…
Play.ht’s AI-powered text-to-speech generator offers a comprehensive solution for creating realistic and engaging voiceovers. With its wide range of applications and features, Play.ht is revolutionizing the way we use voice technology.
Create a free account now and get up to 5,000 free words every month. Or upgrade your account and get access to every feature – including white-labeled audio players, a pronunciations library, audio previews, unlimited downloads, unlimited projects, and more.
