How to use the command 'flite' (with examples)
Flite is a speech synthesis engine that allows users to convert text strings or the contents of a file into speech. It also provides the ability to specify different voices and save the audio output as a WAV file. This article will illustrate each of the use cases of the ‘flite’ command.
Use case 1: List all available voices
Code:
flite -lv
Motivation:
The motivation behind using this example is to see a complete list of all the available voices that can be used with the flite command. This can be useful when selecting the desired voice for converting text to speech.
Explanation:
-lv: This argument is used to list all available voices.
Example output:
The output would display a list of available voices, each with a number and the associated voice name.
Use case 2: Convert a text string to speech
Code:
flite -t "string"
Motivation:
This example allows users to convert a specific text string into speech. It can be useful for generating voice prompts or testing the speech synthesis capabilities of the flite engine.
Explanation:
-t "string": This argument is used to pass the text string that needs to be converted to speech.
Example output:
The output would audibly play the speech representation of the provided text string.
Use case 3: Convert contents of a file to speech
Code:
flite -f path/to/file.txt
Motivation:
This example is useful when there is a need to convert the contents of a file to speech. It can simplify tasks such as reading out the contents of a document or generating voiceovers for specific text files.
Explanation:
-f path/to/file.txt: This argument is used to specify the path to the file that needs to be converted to speech.
Example output:
The output would audibly play the speech representation of the contents of the specified file.
Use case 4: Specify which voice to use
Code:
flite -voice file://path/to/filename.flitevox|url
Motivation:
In situations where multiple voices are available, this example allows users to specify which voice should be used for the speech synthesis. This can be helpful when there is a need for a particular voice or when testing different voice options.
Explanation:
-voice file://path/to/filename.flitevox|url: This argument is used to specify the voice to be used. It can be a local file path or a URL pointing to the voice file.
Example output:
The output would audibly play the speech representation using the specified voice.
Use case 5: Store output into a WAV file
Code:
flite -voice file://path/to/filename.flitevox|url -f path/to/file.txt -o output.wav
Motivation:
This example allows users to save the generated speech as a WAV file. Saving the output can be useful for future reference or for integrating the speech synthesis into other applications.
Explanation:
-voice file://path/to/filename.flitevox|url: This argument is used to specify the voice to be used.-f path/to/file.txt: This argument is used to specify the file that contains the text to be converted to speech.-o output.wav: This argument is used to specify the path and filename for the output WAV file.
Example output:
The output would save the speech representation of the text file, using the specified voice, into the ‘output.wav’ file.
Use case 6: Display version
Code:
flite --version
Motivation:
This example allows users to quickly check the version of the ‘flite’ command. It can be useful for identifying which version is being used or when troubleshooting potential compatibility issues.
Explanation:
--version: This argument is used to display the current version of the ‘flite’ command.
Example output:
The output would display the version number of the ‘flite’ command.
Conclusion
The ‘flite’ command is a versatile speech synthesis engine that provides various use cases for converting text to speech. From listing available voices to saving speech output, this command offers flexibility and control when it comes to generating speech from text.
