Voices and Pronunciations

When you opened the app for the first time, you selected one or two language/voice combinations. You can add, replace, or adjust voices any time.

Add or Replace a Voice

Select Menu > Settings and scroll to the Speech section.
Select the language/voice combination you want to change.
Select Voz to open a list of available voices in that language.
- The voice currently selected displays a checkmark.
- To hear how a voice sounds, select the play icon.
When you find the voice you want, select the download icon to download and install it.
Select the new voice to replace the original voice.

Adjust Voice Settings

Select Menu > Settings and scroll to the Speech section.
Select the language/voice combination you want to adjust.

Rate

Use the Rate slide bar to modify the rate of speech.

Voice Pitch

Select Voice Pitch and then choose Lowest, Lower, Low, Normal, High, Higher, or Highest. This option is not available for all voices.

Pause Between Words

To add a delay between individual words, select Pause Between Words and choose 1 Second, 2 Seconds, or 3 Seconds. If you don’t want a delay between words, select No Pause. This option is not available for all voices.

Testing Your Speech Settings

To hear how the voice sounds at the current settings, select your voice and then select the play icon to listen to it.

Create Your Voice with The Voice Keeper

To create the voice:

Download The Voice Keeper app or go to The Voice Keeper website at thevoicekeeper.com and follow the instructions to create a free account. As you record your voice, keep in mind the following tips:
- Ensure you are recording in a quiet, echoless room.
- Although you can create a custom voice with only 75 sentences, recording more than 150 sentences will increase voice quality. The more you record, the better your synthesized voice will be.
- Speak naturally. Don’t try to narrate or emphasize pronunciation. Be yourself when you read.
- Re-record a sentence if you make a mistake.
If you need help creating the voice, go to The Voice Keeper website, scroll to the bottom of the webpage, and select the Contact us link to reach The Voice Keeper support.
Try out your voice on The Voice Keeper app or website. If you are satisfied with the voice, follow the instructions below to connect the voice to your device.

To connect the voice:

Select Menu > Settings and scroll to the Speech section. Select your voice to open the voice settings.
From the voice settings, select the voice to open a list of available languages.
Select Choose Custom Voice to open a list of options.
Select The Voice Keeper.
Select Connect Your Voice and follow the instructions.

Set Up Your VocaliD™ Voice

Select Menu > Settings and scroll to the Speech section. Select your voice to open the voice settings.
From the voice settings, select the voice to open a list of available languages.
Select Choose Custom Voice to open a list of options.
Select VocaliD Voice.
Enter your VocaliD email address and VocaliD password.
Select Sign In in the upper right corner to display a Download Voice prompt.
Select Download Voice. A message “Downloading Voice” will be displayed.
When the download is complete, a message “New Voice Installed” will be displayed.
Select Okay.
Select Done.
Test the voice and adjust the rate and pitch as needed.

Create an Apple Personal Voice

You can create a Personal Voice on devices running iOS 17 or later: iPhone 12 or later; iPad Air (5th generation); iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation); or later; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) or later. This feature is currently available in English only.

Create a Personal Voice

This process will take 30 minutes or more of speaking to train the voice and then 12 to 24 hours to process on the iPad.

Note: Processing will pause if you use the iPad before it is complete. You may want to agree to share the voice on all devices connected to your account so that you don't need to recreate the voice in the future.

Open the Settings app on your device.
Go to Accessibility > Personal Voice > Create a Personal Voice.
Follow the on-screen instructions to create a Personal Voice. You will be asked to read 150 phrases to train machine learning.
While in Accessibility/Personal Voice, make sure that "Allow Apps to Request to Use" is turned on.

Authorize the App to use Apple Personal Voice

Go to Settings > Voice > Custom Voices > Apple Personal Voice. Then allow Personal Voice access in the popup. If you decline this voice access, it must be re-enabled in the iOS settings.

Verify the Personal Voice was Created Successfully

After authorizing your Personal Voice, it should appear at the top of the voice list. If it does not appear, restart the app. If it does appear but will not speak, restart the device.

Once enabled, your Personal Voice should have the same basic functionality as any other Apple voice.

Word Pronunciations

Before changing the pronunciation of a word, be sure that the voice you want to use is selected. Pronunciation lists are unique for each Voice Synthesizer. For example, Apple voices and Voice Keeper voices have separate pronunciation lists.

Edit Pronunciations

Select Menu and Edit Pronunciations.
Select the plus + at the top right to add a pronunciation.
Enter the word and then enter the word phonetically (the way it should be pronounced).
Select Pronounce to hear the pronunciation. Modify the pronunciation as often as necessary until the word is pronounced the way you want it.
Select Save and .

Tip: For information on changing a pronunciation for a specific button, see Edit a Pronunciation for a Button Message.

Delete a Pronunciation

Select Menu and select Edit Pronunciations.
Select Edit. A red icon will appear in front of each pronunciation.
Select the red icon in front of the word you want to delete.
Select Delete.
Select .

Delete All Phonetic Pronunciations

Important: This option will delete all phonetic pronunciations for the voice.

Select Menu and select Edit Pronunciations.
Select Clear.
Select Yes.

Restore Default Pronunciations

Important: This option will only restore the default (pre-set) phonetic pronunciations for the voice. It will not restore user-added phonetic pronunciations.

Select Menu and select Edit Pronunciations.
Select Restore Defaults.
Select Yes.