edit: I’ve outlined 5 different ways to do this, all with differing pros and cons
special thanks to this [post](https://old.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/l1f45i/article_on_how_to_use_microsoft_edge_read_aloud/) by /u/jiayounokim
**Method 01:**
* Link to download APK is here [v0.5](https://wwa.lanzouj.com/iX13jkyi9ub), link is in chinese: here’s a [screenshot of the english translation](https://i.imgur.com/JDmk7tP.png)
* After downloading and installing, select this option shown in the image [here](https://i.imgur.com/bMDOYd6.jpg)
* This will open the Preferred engine settings, select the engine shown in the image [here](https://i.imgur.com/BEtUgwq.jpg)
* Change the language by clicking this [setting](https://i.imgur.com/k90GGhn.png)
* Input this code block to change the language into en-US-ChristopherNeural:
​
<speak version=”1.0″ xml:lang=”en-US”><voice name=”en-US-ChristopherNeural”><prosody rate=”${(rate-100)?c}%” pitch=”${(pitch-100)?c}%”><mstts:express-as style=”serious”>${text}</mstts:express-as></prosody></voice></speak>
​
* Use an epub reader with TTS feature (like Google Play Books), then open TTS feature and enjoy!
* If you want to change it to a different language/voice, try out other voices [here](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/cognitive-services/text-to-speech/#features) and then get the id of the name in [here](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/speech-service/language-support?tabs=stt-tts).
* e.g. I tried and want to use the voice package, Monica (Neural) in English (United States)
* I will look for the id of Monica (Neural) [here](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/speech-service/language-support?tabs=stt-tts)
* The language is “en-US”, and the id is “en-US-MonicaNeural”.
* I will now substitute these two information to the code block below.
​
<speak version=”1.0″ xml:lang=”language here”><voice name=”id here”><prosody rate=”${(rate-100)?c}%” pitch=”${(pitch-100)?c}%”><mstts:express-as style=”serious”>${text}</mstts:express-as></prosody></voice></speak>
which will make it:
<speak version=”1.0″ xml:lang=”en-US”><voice name=”en-US-MonicaNeural”><prosody rate=”${(rate-100)?c}%” pitch=”${(pitch-100)?c}%”><mstts:express-as style=”serious”>${text}</mstts:express-as></prosody></voice></speak>
If the TTS is too slow for you, you can change it in Android Settings > Accessiblity > Text-To-Speech > Speech Rate. Or maybe your epub reader has a built-in speech rate and pitch setting (like Moon Reader+).
[found a chinese thread which is the origin of the app](https://www.52pojie.cn/thread-1346893-1-1.html)
—
**Why use Microsoft Azure’s TTS?**
* It’s much better and sounds more natural than the default TTS engine (Google TTS)
* Has a variety of voices which you can choose from based on your preferences.
**Why use TTS at all?**
* If you love reading books, this TTS engine is so good that it’s practically turns all your books into a decent audiobooks. Official audiobook are still better but the voices sound natural enough that it gets the job done.
—
Edit:
I found out **Android’s Microsoft Edge** also has this feature, it has less voices but it’s still has a variety of good ones.
**Method 02: Using Android’s Microsoft Edge**
* Just open your novel in Microsoft Edge (maybe via Royal Road, WuxiaWorld, Google Play Books, etc.),
* open the options (three dots in bottom middle of the screen)
* then click Read Aloud.
* You can choose from a variety of voices by clicking voice options on the top right.
* (e.g. Microsoft Christopher Online (Natural) – English (US), which is my favourite voice among the ones available).
—
Edit: I saw that the system-wide TTS isn’t working for some of you, here’s an alternative I found.
**Method 03: System wide TTS engine using TTS Server app**
* Download the zip file: TTS-Server_0.2_202212312219 in this [github link](https://github.com/jing332/tts-server-android/actions/runs/3812485613)
* Extract the zip file
* Install the apk
* The app is in broken English so it’s a bit easier to navigate.
* Click the “+” on the top right
* Change the language in to your desired choice (e.g. English US)
* Choose your chosen voice
* You can get a preview of the voice by putting words in the preview form and then hit play.
* Exit out of the app and go to Android Settings
* Search for Text to Speech or go to System > Language & Keyboard > Text-to-Speech Output (it will vary
on your phone but this is the general idea).
* Change the engine to TTS Server
* Use an epub reader with TTS feature (like Google Play Books), then open TTS feature and enjoy!
* **Too slow?** try this: Hamburger Menu (Top Right) > Settings > Turn on User DNS to resolve API IP
—
**”This is a lot of work, is there an easier way?”**
Well you can change the voice of the default TTS Engine on your phone (mostly Google TTS or Samsung TTS). I noticed that the default voice is bad, but some of the other voices is a slight upgrade.
**Method 04: Adjusting Google Speech Services/Samsung TTS Engine**
* go to Android Settings
* Search for Text to Speech or go to System > Language & Keyboard > Text-to-Speech Output (it will vary
on your phone but this is the general idea).
* Click on the setting icon near the TTS Engine
* Find Install Voice Data
* Find your language of choice (English US, English UK, etc.)
* Download/Choose among the various voices in there
* Go back and then you can preview the voice. You can also change the speed and pitch of the voice.
* Use an epub reader with TTS feature (like Google Play Books), then open TTS feature and enjoy!
Bonus: If you’re using Google Play Books for book reading and using Google TTS, you can go to Google Play books setting and turn on “High Quality Voice” (Idk how much of a difference this makes but it should be better).
—
**Method 05: another TTS app**
* Download the TTS Apk in this [github link](https://github.com/ag2s20150909/TTS)
* Install the TTS
* In your Android Settings, find Text-To-Speech settings.
* Change engine from the previously installed Text-To-Speech to this new one.
* Use an epub reader with TTS feature (like Google Play Books), then open TTS feature and enjoy!
* If you want to change the default voice (Jenny+) to another,
* Open the installed TTS (it’s in Chinese so it’s a bit hard to navigate).
* Next Click this to enable customization.
* Double click the name of your choice to choose and hear an example of said voice (i.e. Christopher, Sonia, etc.)
* There are other settings in there, here’s a link to an album of screenshots and their corresponding translation.
(I’ll update the links to the pictures later.)