Is there, or will there be any more realistic options or upgrades for the text-to-speech voices in Storyline360?

Hi, everyone! I have some great news to share. We just released another update for Storyline 360. In Update 83, we’ve included important fixes and new features! One enhanced feature we’ve included: Unlock new possibilities for text-to-speech audio. Use speech synthesis markup language (SSML) to adjust the speaking rate, modify pronunciation, emphasize words, add pauses, and more. To take advantage of this update, launch the Articulate 360 desktop app on your computer, and click the Update button next to Storyline 360. You'll find our step-by-step instructions here!

Text-to-speech. Options or updates for more realistic voices?

ShannonDearman-
Community Member
3 years ago
Checking to see if there are additional voices available for speech-to-text? Definitely in need of more natural, less robotic voices and I would prefer to not have to import other .mp3 voiceover files for the sake of future editing. Also, is there a way within Storyline to generate transcription for imported .mp3 audio files?
KellyAuner
Staff
10 months ago
Hi, everyone!

I have some great news to share. We just released another update for Storyline 360. In Update 83, we’ve included important fixes and new features!

One enhanced feature we’ve included:

Unlock new possibilities for text-to-speech audio. Use speech synthesis markup language (SSML) to adjust the speaking rate, modify pronunciation, emphasize words, add pauses, and more.

To take advantage of this update, launch the Articulate 360 desktop app on your computer, and click the Update button next to Storyline 360. You'll find our step-by-step instructions here!
KatieRiggio
Staff
4 years ago
Hi Gerald,

I appreciate you sharing what you'd like to see!

We're monitoring requests for more editing options with the text-to-speech feature, including humanizing the voices, so I'll share your voice with my team. Here's a look into our process:

How We Manage Feature Requests

Let me know if there's anything else I can do!
DonSaunders
Community Member
4 years ago
I have an immediate need for the Text to Speech functionality in Storyline 360. Do you have plans to add more voices and/or enhance the voice capabilities to be more human-like?
- BeccaLevan
  Community Member
  4 years ago
  Thanks for following up, Don!
  
  I'm sorry, but I don't have any updates to share about this feature request at this moment.
  
  Now that you're subscribed to this thread, you'll get notified once there's any new news to spread.
  - DonSaunders
    Community Member
    4 years ago
    Hi Becca,
    
    Text to Speech would really come in handy during these times.
    
    My company is growing like crazy. We have rapidly switched over to doing a lot of remote training and testing. We don't have the time or resources to do every course or project with a professional voice-over.
    
    The voices that you guys have in your app are very basic and actually detract from the presentation. I cannot use the text to speech capability you offer because it sounds obviously fake/contrived.
    
    You folks at Articulate should do yourselves a favor and get text to speech fixed in your applications. I believe doing so would significantly differentiate your applications. I am certain I am not the only person/company out there needed this capability.
    
    Don Saunders
    Lead, Systems Engineer
    SpE Staff
    L3HARRIS CORP
    Cell: 321-480-3932
    
    [cid:image001.jpg@01D78872.68BF3650]
    PO Box 37 / Melbourne, FL 32902 / USA.
    Make data-driven decisions
    
    CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain material that is proprietary, confidential, privileged or otherwise legally protected or restricted under applicable government laws. Any review, disclosure, distributing or other use without expressed permission of the sender is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies without reading, printing, or saving.
LeslieMcKerchie
Staff
4 years ago
I appreciate you sharing your additional thoughts, Don. I've added this to our report.

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LucianaPiazza
Staff
3 years ago
Hi Shannon!

Thank you for your interest, we appreciate you sharing your perspective.

The ability to import transcripts for imported .mp3 audio files is not yet available. We'd love for you to share your voice by submitting a feature request.

As a workaround, we’d recommend either using the narration feature to record your own narration or import audio from narration created outside Storyline 360.

Have a great afternoon!
Lindaflynn
Community Member
2 years ago
Checking to see if there is anything on the roadmap for more realistic text-to-speech voices. I love using Storyline, but find myself using other software because the voices are two robotic. Hoping with new AI technology that Storyline finds a way to integrate better options.
- StevenBenassi
  Staff
  2 years ago
  Hi Linda!
  
  Thanks for the feedback!
  
  I'm happy to share that we currently have more realistic text-to-speech voices logged as a feature request! I've included your voice in the report!
  
  I don't have a timeline to share, but when this makes it on our feature roadmap, I'll be sure to update this discussion.
  
  Have a great rest of your week!
DonSaunders
Community Member
2 years ago
There are so many reasons to use Text-to-Speech. T-2-S has made significant improvements over the last year or so. Many applications are so good now the synthesized voice can go undetected. Recently I presented to a very large group using T-2-S. Afterwards one of my senior co-workers asked me who in our department did the voice-over. I responded that the "voice-over" was T-2-S. They laughed and responded, "Sure.... Who was it?"

If properly constructed and deployed, voice tracks can be easily updated by changing the text and re-running the synthesis, then pasteing in the new voice track as required. IMHO, if you are not already onboard with T-2-S you are behind the curve. Come on. I love Storyline. I would love to see this feature get some of the Articulate developer's attention. ☺
JoseTansengco
Staff
2 years ago
Hello, Everyone!

I'm happy to share that we have released a new update for Storyline 360 (v3.80.30988.0.).

In this update, we included an enhancement for:

Support for NTTS or Neural Voices

Please update to the latest version of Storyline 360 to see this improvement. Here's how:

Update Authoring Apps

If you have any questions, please let us know in this thread or privately in a support case.

Have a great day!
- DonSaunders
  Community Member
  2 years ago
  Good morning,
  
  I have reviewed the TTS update. The quality of the available voices has improved somewhat. "Mathew" seems to be the best selection currently.
  
  Still, to consider using this as part of my production work I feel the audio/voice editor falls short by not providing the ability to control the speed of the speech execution. This is not a minor shortcoming but a necessity.
  
  Thanks for listening.
  
  Don Saunders
  SpE Staff
  Lead, Systems Engineer
  L3HARRIS CORP
  Cell: 321-480-3932
  [cid:image001.jpg@01D9EAE8.AE00A390]
  PO Box 37 / Melbourne, FL 32902 / USA.
  
  CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain material that is proprietary, confidential, privileged or otherwise legally protected or restricted under applicable government laws. Any review, disclosure, distributing or other use without expressed permission of the sender is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies without reading, printing, or saving.
  - EricSantos
    Staff
    2 years ago
    Hi Don,
    
    Thanks for your feedback and for sharing the additional features you'd like to see in Storyline! We have this logged as a feature request; I see that you're already added to the list for the ability to slow down or speed up the pace of text-to-speech voices. Here's a peek into our process for managing feature requests.
    
    Also, just a quick note that replying via email includes your signature here, so you are welcome to edit the post and remove that information if you wish!