# Windows XP Text-to-Speech - How do I get more voices? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872 "2003-03-03T23:24:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872/1 "2003-03-03T23:24:51Z")
Under the Sound and Speech options in Control panel, theres a Text-To-Speech generator. The pulldown “voice” menu lists “Microsoft Sam” as the only voice - and he sounds like a robot. I’m thinking that there is a way to get more voices. I went online and tried to find some more voices, but I’m unsure as to what exactly I need to download. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872/2 "2003-03-04T00:05:33Z")
I also have LH Michael and LH Michelle. I never did anything special to add them, they are just there. I don’t even know what LH stands for. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872/3 "2003-03-04T00:17:44Z")
[This page at Microsoft](http://www.microsoft.com/speech/download/old/sapi5.asp) has another two, Mike and Mary. The link is in the right hand column. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872/4 "2003-03-04T01:37:56Z")
So, how would I convert text to speech, i.e. having it read this message board, for example? ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872/5 "2003-03-04T22:13:14Z")
Thanks, **SmackFu**! Joe, You just have to type it into the little box in the text-to-speech thing. You can’t, for example, have it read an entire page. Not with the program I’m talking about anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872/6 "2004-04-05T17:06:43Z")
> [@raz](#): > > Thanks, **SmackFu**! > > Joe, You just have to type it into the little box in the text-to-speech thing. You can’t, for example, have it read an entire page. Not with the program I’m talking about anyway. I’ve looked in Windows XP help and in MS Word help, but they don’t tell you how to get Word to read a document to you. Surely you can use this (Text-to-Speech" without just using the “Use the following text to preview the voice:” field. Does anybody know how to do this? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-text-to-speech-how-do-i-get-more-voices/158872/7 "2004-04-05T21:31:10Z")
I installed a program called [Speakonia](http://www.cfs-technologies.com/home/?id=1.4) (a freeware text\>speech\>WAV utility) and it (unexpectedly from my POV) installed a few new voices that the Windows XP text\>Speech gizmo was also able to use.