How to Convert Text to Speech on a Mac

Convert text to speech on your Mac.

One of the unique features of a Mac is its ability to turn text into speech on the fly. The text-to-speech utility allows you set up and initiative text to speech within a minute or two. This is useful for those who have problems with their eyesight or those who are composing or editing a speech, among others.

Instructions

TextEdit

1. Find the text that you want to hear spoken.

2. Open a Finder window from the Dock. Click "Applications" on the left side of the window. Scroll through your applications and find "TextEdit."

3. Double click the "TextEdit" icon to launch the application.

4. Click "File" in the main menu bar, then choose "New."

5. Copy and paste the text that you found in Step 1 into the new TextEdit document.

6. Click "Edit" in the main menu bar. Scroll down and click on "Speech." Scroll over and click "Start Speaking."

Customize Text-to-Speech

1. Click on the small Apple icon in the top left-hand corner of the desktop.

2. Choose "System Preferences."

3. Click the "Speech" icon.

4. Put a check mark in the box next to "Speak selected text when the key is pressed."

5. Press a combination of keys that want to set to activate the text-to-speech utility in the small dialog box that appears. Click the "OK" button. When you press that combination of keys on your keyboard in the future, the text-to-speech utility will start.

6. Change the voice in the drop-down menu next to "System Voice" according to your preferences, as well as the speed at which the voice reads the text with the slider below the drop-down menu, if necessary.

References

• Apple: Make Your Mac Speak