Package: espeakui
espeakui - a text-to-speech interface with mplayer-like bindings, using espeakInstallationpip install espeakuiDependenciespython-espeak- The custom version that's here on Githubxclip - For clipboard mode only. Install for your system with something likesudo apt-get install xcliporpacman -S xclipor other.An untested Windows and OSX version is available usingpyperclip. ChangeXCLIP_MODE = TruetoFalseinespeakui.pyto activate. The reason for not using pyperclip by default is that pyperclip defaults to the wrong clipboard for xclip on Linux and doesn't have an option to change clipboards.guess_language(optional) - For automatically detecting the text language and picking the voice for that language. Install withpip install guess_language.UsageRunpython -m espeakui.espeakuiA contentless window opens. It accepts these keys.spacePause/resume[Slow down]Speed upUp arrowSeek forwardDown arrowSeek backwardLeft arrowSeek forward lessRight arrowSeek backward lesssZoom: speaks the text around the current cursor at a much slower pace and then resumes normal speech.lload a text file "text" and read it (replaces what is currently being read). Mainly for non-clipboard mode.Seeking is possible while paused and "preview" of the text surrounding the new cursor position is played.There are two modes of operation: "normal" and "clipboard". clipboard mode is the most used but needsxclipto be installed.There's an alternative curses interface with the same keybindings. It usesurwid.pip install urwid
python -m espeakui.espeak_urwidSuggestion:I've setup a keyboard shortcut to callpython espeakui.pyin my windows manager. Then just highlight text somewhere and hit the keyboard shortcut.UsesRead long articles and comment sections while you do other things. A bit like your own radio station.Proofread your own writing. Its possible to read the visual text along withespeakuito catch more errors in the same amount of time. (Yes, it was used to proofread this readme although there are probably still some errors.)Use as a library to make your own UI with the framework and keybindings of your choice. Some efforts was put into making the individual files modular.EarconAn end-of-line earcon can be enabled by uncommenting the line in theplay_wavefunction at the beginning ofespeaker.py. Requires theplaybinary from SoX (or substitute your own; it must be non-blocking).OtherThe rest of the features are a hodgepodge of personal preferences. Hopefully espeakui is small enough to be modified to your own liking.Text substitution. Some text like URL links are replaced before being spoken. (Its usually not very insightful to hear full URL links out loud.)An earcon for end of line. Useful for text with lots of short lines. Don't want too many earcons or we'll forget what they mean.Multilanguage support with language detection usingguess_languageUsage as a libraryespeakui.pydepends onespeaker.pywhich can be used independently as a library. It also provides some classes not used byespeakui.py.FileEspeakimport espeak
from espeakui.espeaker import FileEspeak
espeak.init(playback=False)
file_espeak = FileEspeak(open("test.wav", "w"))
file_espeak.say("Hello world")espeaker.FileEspeakwrites its output to a file instead of playing back.SubprocessEspeakespeaker.SubprocessEspeakpipes the wave content to a subprocess.import espeak
from espeakui.espeaker import SubprocessEspeak
espeak.init(playback=False)
subprocess_espeak = SubprocessEspeak(command="aplay")
subprocess_espeak.say("Hello world")will useaplayto playa the audio output.EspeakerEspeakerprovides an API that resembles audio file playback:play,pause,stop. Speaker parameter changes (rate, pitch, volume, etc) appear to take effect immediately when thisEspeakeris speaking.For example, run this in the interpreterimport espeak
from espeakui import espeaker
espeak.init()
espeaker = espeaker.Espeaker()
text = "\n".join("\n".join(["{} little bugs in the code.".format(i),
                            "{} bugs in the code.".format(i),
                            "Fix one bug. Compile it again.",
                            "{} little bugs in the code.".format(i+1)])
                 for i in range(99, 150))
espeaker.play(text)
# Wait a bit between each command
espeaker.rate = 300
espeaker.rate = 100
espeaker.pitch = 70
espeaker.pitch = 30
espeaker.punctuation = 'all'
# To make it stop
espeaker.pause()Why?Sending large amounts of text to espeak is too fragile. If you miss a bit you have to restart the entire thing. If some parts are uninteresting its not possible to skip through it. But large amounts of text is where espeak is really useful. An audio/video player's interface on the other handisvery good for playback. So I made this, a TTS with (some of) mplayer's playback interface.Another way would be to useespeak -wand then callmplayerbut this involves waiting while espeak writes the wav file and the file is created for nothing if only listened through halfway through. And even with-af scaletempo, there's some distortion, especially when sped up more than 2x.Future ideasIdeas that may be worth tryingRecognize more patterns in the text. Short audio for large numbers (such as pitch depending on its value).Paste from the html or other non-plain text clipboard and adjust speed depending on the text's visibility (size, contrast).Find the "skip to content" link for webpages and jump to it.