This section describes functions which support speech output on Windows (provided that the Speech system software is installed) and Mac.
Speak a string.
speak(str) speak(str, opt)
speak(str) speaks string str, using the default system settings.
speak(str,opt) uses the speech options in opt. Speech options are set with speakset.
speak('Hello, L M E !')
Options for speech synthesis.
options = speakset options = speakset(name1, value1, ...) options = speakset(options0, name1, value1, ...)
speakset(name1,value1,...) creates the option argument used by speak. Options are specified with name/value pairs, where the name is a string which must match exactly the names in the table below. Case is significant. Options which are not specified have a default value. The result is a structure whose fields correspond to each option. Without any input argument, speakset creates a structure with all the default options. Note that speak also interprets the lack of an option argument, or the empty array [], as a request to use the default values.
When its first input argument is a structure, speakset adds or changes fields which correspond to the name/value pairs which follow.
Here is the list of options. Some of them are not available on all platforms; type speakset without argument to verify. Experimenting is the best way to find the values you prefer.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pitch | voice pitch (frequency) |
| Rate | voice rate (words per minute) |
| Voice | name of the voice (empty string=default) |
The list of voices available on your computer can be obtained with speakvoices.
Default options:
speakset Pitch: 5.8763 Rate: 201 Voice: ''
List of voices for speech synthesis.
list = speakvoices
speakvoices gives the list of all voices installed on the computer which can be used for speech synthesis. One of them can be used with the option 'Voice' of speackset.
speakvoices
{'Agnes','Albert','Bad News','Bahh','Bells',
(more voices here)}