.Net Framework 3.0 Text to Speech

The dot net framework 3.0 now has a managed provider for text to speech. I tested this app on a machine with windows xp service pack 2 and the Dot Net FrameWork 3.0 RC1. The link is to set up instructions for the .net framework 3.0

For this sample add a reference to system.speech, place a textbox named txtSay, a button named btnSay, and listbox named lstVoice. The application fills a list box with the installed voices on the system at startup. When you click on the button it says the text in the textbox with the selected voice.

VB Sample

Imports System.Speech.Synthesis

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub btnSay_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSay.Click
        Dim spk As New SpeechSynthesizer
        spk.SelectVoice(lstVoice.SelectedItem.ToString)
        spk.Speak(txtSay.Text)
    End Sub

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim spk As New SpeechSynthesizer
        For Each voice As InstalledVoice In spk.GetInstalledVoices
            lstVoice.Items.Add(voice.VoiceInfo.Name)
        Next
        lstVoice.SelectedIndex = 0
        txtSay.Text = "Hello World!"
    End Sub
End Class

C# Sample

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Speech.Synthesis;

namespace CS3._Speech
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            SpeechSynthesizer spk = new SpeechSynthesizer();
            foreach(InstalledVoice voice in spk.GetInstalledVoices())
            {
                lstVoice.Items.Add(voice.VoiceInfo.Name);
            }
            lstVoice.SelectedIndex = 0;
            txtSay.Text = "Hello World";
        }

        private void btnSay_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            SpeechSynthesizer spk = new SpeechSynthesizer();

            spk.SelectVoice(lstVoice.SelectedItem.ToString());
            spk.Speak(txtSay.Text);
        }
    }
}