Transforming Text to Speech: The Power of Custom Voices

Videos are undoubtedly the most consumed media format today. The common denominator driving their popularity is the attention-grabbing voiceovers accompanying them.

That said, here's a secret most of those voiceovers are created using AI voice technology. The technology in question is called text to speech, and it can convert text into ultra-realistic voices that are virtually indistinguishable from the way we speak.

Now, while creating AI voices is easy, you still need to customize the results to get them to a level that matches professional voiceovers.

With the need of voiceovers for content creation growing every day, let's learn how you can customize an ai voice using Text to Speech (TTS) technology to create human-like voices.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Customize Text to Speech Voice

To walk you through how to create customized AI voices, we are going to use Murf AI. Its speech synthesis technology makes creating a custom TTS voice a walk in the park.

You can refer to this video for a more in-depth tutorial. Alternatively, you can go through the step-by-step guide to understand why each customization aspect is essential in creating high-quality voice content.

Step 1: Log into Murf Studio and Create a New Project

Log into Murf's AI voice generator, a.k.a. Murf Studio. If you don't have an account with Murf already, creating one takes no time at all (and it is free). Once logged in, you will see a page like this:

Click "Create Project" -> Give it a name in the next pop-up that appears -> and Click "Create Project" once again.

Once you do, you can start typing in your script or importing an existing script from the "Upload Script" option on the left-hand side of the screen to begin the voice generation process.

Step 2: Choose a Customized Voice

The first step in creating your unique voice is to choose a customized voice that fits your audio projects. Now, why is this important, you may ask? The answer is that your choice of voice influences how your message is received.

For example, you would want a serious/narration voice if you were creating e-learning than a promo/peppy voice for product demos.

Murf AI offers 120+ of voices to choose from, making it easy to find one that aligns with your brand and message. You can choose all of Murf's customization options from these icons here.

To choose an AI voice, click on the Menu item highlighted in the image above.

Step 3: Select a Voice Style

Once you have selected the AI voice, it is time to create a unique voice profile to make it sound even more lifelike. Start by choosing a voice style to convey the right kind of emotion for your audio content.

Murf offers a range of voice styles for you to choose from like Angry, Cheerful, Hopeful, Sad, and more. This option will ensure that your voiceovers fit the context of your content.

Step 4: Adjust the Pitch

By now, your voiceover should already have a unique voice, but with Murf's AI tool, you can still take it up a few notches by adjusting the pitch of the voice. For example, if you are making a parody or a meme video, a higher pitch will give it that element of playfulness. On the other hand, a lower pitch will help you add some depth and a hint of seriousness to the script when needed.

You can alter the pitch of individual block of text by moving the slider that appears once you click on the "Pitch" option, as shown above.

Step 5: Adjust the Speed of the Voiceover

Ever noticed why narrators in documentaries tend to speak slowly while those in advertisements or promotional videos speak fast? Now, imagine them speaking at the same pace or the other way around; doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it?

With Murf AI, you can slow down or speed up (up to 50% either way) the delivery of the voiceovers via a simple slider. The feature allows you to achieve the perfect tempo that keeps your audience engaged.

What's more, Murf also offers the ability to use Custom Voice Models to match the speed and style you need.

Step 6: Add Pauses Where Needed

Well-timed pauses are often used in content creation to add that extra bit of suspense or to give your audience some time to absorb key points. Murf's built-in Speech Rate Control feature helps you do just that.

You can add pauses as small as 250 ms to as large as 1.25 seconds to make the delivery of your AI voice feel more conversational and natural.

Step 7: Emphasize Keywords

Emphasizing keywords along with pauses can greatly improve the impact of your comic timing or help draw extra attention to the key points on your podcasts or e-learning videos. You can access this feature on a sub-block level by clicking on the Emphasis icon shown in the image above. 

Doing so will open the Pitch Adjustment feature with which you can add a "Node" under each word and then adjust a slider to alter the emphasis for that specific word. This feature, called Intonation Modulation, allows you to alter the natural rise and fall of the text to speech voice to match the emotional tone of human-like voices.

Step 8: Fine-Tune the Pronunciation

You can further customize the voice by adjusting pronunciation. Murf AI lets you create custom pronunciations or use pre-existing ones to deliver specific terms accurately. You can access this feature by clicking on the icon highlighted in the above image.

Step 9: Adjust the Volume Levels

Finally, you’ll want to adjust the volume of your voiceover in relation to any background music or sound effects. Murf AI allows you to modify the volume separately for voice, video, and other audio elements, ensuring your voiceover is balanced and easy to hear.

Murf also integrates with text to speech API to give you further control over the audio output, allowing for seamless integration into any voiceover project.

And there you have it, a complete walkthrough of how to transform an AI-generated voice into one that can give professional voiceovers a run for their money.

What's New with Murf's Speech Gen 2?

Murf has introduced a new and more advanced speech model—the Gen 2, that takes advantage of the very best of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology to create human-like realism with exceptional levels of customization. Its key features and capabilities:

1. Voice Styles

With Gen 2, you can precisely control elements like pitch, pace, intonation, and emotional depth when you create content. This level of customization guarantees that the voice content you generate with Murf conveys the exact emotions you want.

2. Variability

This feature uses conceptual adaption and generates multiple versions of the same line based on the content or the context of the AI voice. In short, allows you to generate speech with layers of a dynamic range that sound natural and context-appropriate.

3. Say It My Way

The Say It My Way feature takes voice generation to a whole new level. It allows you to capture your own voice first and then direct Murf's speech software to replicate your intonation, pace, and pitch down to the tone. The result is an AI voice indistinguishable from your original voice.

Wrapping it Up

Be it e-learning modules, podcasts, or even marketing videos, customizing AI-generated voices in your content can significantly elevate your ability to capture your audience's attention.

Murf's advanced features allow you to alter voice styles, add pauses, and make pronunciation adjustments to do just that. 

The introduction of Murf's Gen 2 speech model takes customization to the next level. Simply put, the ability to fine-tune your AI voice can make all the difference between generic content and content that can grab eyeballs in an instant. 

So why wait? Start using Murf today!

FAQs

1. How can custom voices enhance my text to speech projects?

Custom voices add a degree of warmth to what can seem like lifeless robotic speech. They make your content more engaging, and customized audio elements create a more immersive and authentic learning experience.

2. How can I ensure that my customized text to speech output sounds natural?

You can play around with all of Murf's features to make your text to speech output sound natural. You can also try Murf's AI voice cloning feature to mimic your voice for a more natural-sounding output.

3. Can I adjust the speed of the speech in my customized AI voice?

Yes, you can easily adjust the speed of the speech in your customized text to speech projects using Murf's tools. Refer to Step 5 for instructions.

4. Are there different voice styles available in text to speech?

Yes, Murf offers a variety of voice styles, ranging from cheerful and enthusiastic to serious and authoritative.

5. Why should I use customized AI voices offered by Murf AI for my projects?

Murf AI offers a powerful and user-friendly platform for creating custom text to speech. With its extensive library of voices, advanced customization options, and high-quality audio, Murf can help you produce engaging and professional-sounding content. Additionally, Murf's support for multiple languages makes it a versatile tool for global projects.