Kokoro TTS

Kokoro TTS is a CLI tool that can help you transform any text document, PDF file, or book in EPUB format into high-quality audio from your PC's command line. Unlike other heavier programs, this tool offers a complete voiceover studio at your fingertips. By entering simple commands, you can adjust the reading speed, choose from multiple languages and voices, or process real-time text inputs.

Create voice actors with unique voices

One of Kokoro TTS's most useful tools is its voice blending functionality. Thanks to this option, you can create unique voice talents by assigning custom weights to various default voices. If you have ever played around with generative speech synthesis solutions like ElevenLabs, here you can enjoy the vocal naturalness of modern AI fused with the speed, total control, and local execution of an open-source tool. Ingesting text via the stdin allows you to easily integrate everything with other programs and workflows that you likely already use in your day-to-day work.

Simple commands for instant use

With a simple instruction like kokoro-tts input.txt output.wav --lang en-us --voice af_sarah, you can generate a basic audio file in seconds. For more advanced results, the --voice parameter makes it easier for you to mix speakers by introducing exact percentages. For long formats, simply add --split-output ./chunks/ when processing an EPUB or PDF, and the tool will automatically fragment and organize the audio by chapters.

What I liked most about Kokoro TTS and what could be improved

• What I liked most: I appreciated being able to mix voices with custom percentages, the native support for processing EPUB books while respecting their chapter structure, and the fluidity of the streaming mode to listen to the results instantly.

• What could be improved: Downloading and locating the voices-v1.0.bin base models and the ONNX file manually is an extra step that could be automated. Similarly, the tool can be somewhat difficult to use for those who are not accustomed to navigating the terminal.

Install the Kokoro TTS binaries directly into your desktop environment and prepare your command line to experiment with voice mixing. Bring your PDFs and favorite e-books to life with astonishing precision thanks to very natural-sounding AI voices.