How to use the command espeak (with examples)
The espeak command is a text-to-speech (TTS) engine that converts text into spoken words. It can be used to speak a phrase or a text file aloud, save the output to an audio file, or use a different voice.
Use case 1: Speak a phrase aloud
Code:
espeak "I like to ride my bike."
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to hear the text spoken aloud. It can be useful for visually impaired individuals or for proofreading purposes.
Explanation: The command espeak is followed by the phrase or text inside double quotes (" “). When executed, it will speak the given phrase through the default sound device.
Example output: The phrase “I like to ride my bike.” will be spoken aloud through the default sound device.
Use case 2: Speak a file aloud
Code:
espeak -f path/to/file
Motivation: This use case allows you to convert the content of a text file into speech. It can be used when you have a long document that you prefer to hear rather than read.
Explanation: The command espeak is followed by the -f flag, which specifies that the text to be spoken is in a file rather than given as a phrase directly. path/to/file should be replaced with the actual path to the text file.
Example output: The content of the text file will be spoken aloud through the default sound device.
Use case 3: Save output to a WAV audio file
Code:
espeak -w filename.wav "It's GNU plus Linux"
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to save the spoken output as an audio file, rather than hearing it directly. It can be used for various purposes, such as creating voiceovers or audio books.
Explanation: The command espeak is followed by the -w flag, which specifies that the output should be saved to a file rather than spoken directly. filename.wav should be replaced with the desired name of the WAV audio file. The phrase or text to be spoken is included in double quotes (” “).
Example output: The spoken output “It’s GNU plus Linux” will be saved as a WAV audio file with the name specified.
Use case 4: Use a different voice
Code:
espeak -v voice
Motivation: This use case allows you to choose a specific voice for the text-to-speech conversion. It can be useful when you want to personalize the voice or experiment with different voices.
Explanation: The command espeak is followed by the -v flag, which specifies the voice to be used for the speech. voice should be replaced with the desired voice code or name. More information on available voices can be found on the official espeak website.
Example output: The given phrase or text will be spoken using the voice specified.
Conclusion:
The espeak command is a versatile tool for converting text into speech. Whether you want to simply hear a phrase spoken aloud, convert a text file into speech, save the output as an audio file, or experiment with different voices, espeak provides a range of options to meet your needs.
