espeak-ng/espeak-ng

eSpeak NG is an open source speech synthesizer that supports more than hundred languages and accents.

What it solves

eSpeak NG is a compact, open-source text-to-speech (TTS) synthesizer that converts text into spoken audio. It provides a lightweight alternative to larger, recording-based synthesizers, supporting over 100 languages and accents across multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and Android.

How it works

Unlike many modern TTS systems that use human speech recordings, eSpeak NG uses "formant synthesis," a method that allows the software to be extremely small in size (a few megabytes) while remaining clear and capable of high-speed playback. It can operate as a command-line tool, a shared library for integration into other programs, or a SAPI5 version for Windows screen readers.

Who it’s for

Developers and users who need a lightweight, multi-language TTS engine that can run on resource-constrained devices or be integrated into other software applications.

Highlights

  • Extensive Language Support: Supports more than 100 languages and accents.
  • Compact Footprint: The program and its data total only a few megabytes.
  • Flexible Output: Can produce speech output as WAV files or direct audio output.
  • Integration Ready: Available as a command-line program, shared library, and SAPI5 interface.
  • Phoneme Translation: Can translate text into phoneme codes to serve as a front-end for other synthesis engines like MBROLA.

Related

  • Project
    supertone-inc/supertonic

    A lightning-fast, on-device multilingual text-to-speech system that provides high-quality audio synthesis locally without requiring cloud APIs or a GPU.

  • Project
    VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine

    An HTTP server engine for the VOICEVOX text-to-speech system that enables high-quality speech and singing synthesis via a REST API.

  • Project
    KittenML/KittenTTS

    A lightweight, ONNX-based text-to-speech library that provides high-quality voice synthesis on CPU with models as small as 25MB.

  • Project
    fishaudio/fish-speech

    A state-of-the-art multilingual text-to-speech system that uses a Dual-AR architecture to provide realistic voice cloning and fine-grained emotional control via natural language tags.

  • Project
    dectalk/dectalk

    A text-to-speech system that preserves and compiles the original source code of the classic DECtalk speech synthesis engine for modern platforms.