The quality of a synthetic voice depends largely on the quality of the text you give it to read. A well-written and well-formatted text can make the difference between a robotic narration and a fluid and natural one. Here are 5 tips to optimize your scripts and make your audio content more pleasant to listen to.
1. Use correct punctuation
Punctuation is the easiest and most effective way to guide a text-to-speech engine. Commas create short pauses, periods longer pauses, and question marks and exclamation points change the intonation of the sentence. Reread your text and make sure that the punctuation is used logically and naturally.
2. Write short and simple sentences
Long and complex sentences, with many subordinate clauses, can be difficult to follow orally. Prefer short and direct sentences. If a sentence seems too long, do not hesitate to divide it into two or three shorter sentences. Your message will be clearer and easier to understand.
3. Avoid ambiguous abbreviations and acronyms
TTS engines do not always know how to pronounce abbreviations and acronyms. For example, "St." could be pronounced "Saint" or "Street". To avoid confusion, write the words out in full. If you must use an acronym, you can write it with periods between the letters (for example, "U.S.A.") to indicate that it should be spelled out.
4. Read your text aloud
This is the best way to spot passages that sound unnatural. By reading your text aloud, you will put yourself in the listener's shoes and you will more easily identify awkward sentences, repetitions, and rhythm problems. If a passage is difficult to read, it will probably be difficult to listen to.
5. Use formatting tags (if possible)
Some advanced text-to-speech APIs support markup languages like SSML (Speech Synthesis Markup Language). SSML allows you to add tags to your text to control aspects such as pronunciation, volume, speed, and intonation. It is a powerful tool for refining the performance of the synthetic voice and obtaining a tailor-made result.
Conclusion
By following these few tips, you can significantly improve the quality of your text-to-speech narrations. A well-prepared text is the key to successful audio content. So, before clicking "Synthesize", take the time to polish your script. Your listeners will thank you for it!