Upgrade your narrator with new natural voices

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Upgrading to Windows 11 for Natural Voices
3. Installing Natural Voices
4. Choosing a Natural Voice
5. Previewing the Natural Voices
6. Assessing Voice Quality
7. Comparison with Microsoft Neural Voices
8. Voice Size and Storage Considerations
9. Compatibility with Third-Party Screen Readers
10. Future Developments and Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to VI Tech Ability, the YouTube Channel for Microsoft enthusiasts. In this video, we will be discussing the recent update from Microsoft that introduces natural voices for the Native screen reader. We will explore how to use these voices even without a screen reader and share an opinion on the quality of these voices.

Upgrading to Windows 11 for Natural Voices

With the release of Windows 11 H2 update, Microsoft has introduced three natural voices for Windows 11 users. Unfortunately, Windows 10 users will not have access to these voices unless they upgrade to Windows 11. Specifically, Windows 11 H2 update, which is the latest update, is required to use these voices. If You are already on Windows 11, no need to worry as you will receive the update soon.

Installing Natural Voices

To install the natural voices, launch the Narrator screen reader. When launching for the first time, a dialog box will prompt you to install the natural voices. Simply click the "Install Now" button to proceed with the installation. If you have disabled the dialog box or cannot access it, there is an alternative method to install the voices.

Go to Settings by pressing the Windows key + I shortcut. In the Settings window, use the search box to find the "Narrator" option. Once in the Narrator settings, navigate to the "Choose a Voice" section and select the voice you wish to install. If you haven't installed any voices yet, click the "Add" button to install a natural voice. From the dropdown list, select the voice you want to install and click the "Install" button.

Choosing a Natural Voice

Microsoft provides three natural voices for the English (United States) language. These voices include Microsoft Aria, Microsoft David, and Microsoft Jenny. When selecting a voice, consider the gender and the specific voice characteristics. Microsoft Aria and Microsoft Jenny are female voices, whereas Microsoft David is a male voice. Choose a voice that suits your preferences and needs.

Previewing the Natural Voices

To ensure the voice quality meets your expectations, it is recommended to preview the voices before making a final selection. Navigate to the voice settings and click on the "Preview" button next to the voice you want to hear. This will allow you to listen to a sample of the selected voice and assess its quality.

Assessing Voice Quality

While Microsoft claims these voices to be natural, it is important to note that they may not match the quality of Microsoft's neural voices. Compared to the previous standard voices available in the Narrator, these natural voices are an improvement. However, when compared to the Microsoft neural voices, the quality may not be on par. It is advisable to listen to sample recordings and compare the natural voices with the neural voices to decide if they meet your requirements.

Comparison with Microsoft Neural Voices

If you are familiar with the Microsoft neural voices, you may Notice a difference in quality when comparing them to the natural voices. The natural voices provided by Microsoft may sound compact and might lack the same level of naturalness found in the neural voices. It is advisable to refer to a previous video that demonstrates the use of natural voices to Read various documents for a thorough comparison of voice quality.

Voice Size and Storage Considerations

One aspect to consider is the size of the natural voices. These voices have a relatively small size, ranging from 11MB to 12MB. It appears that Microsoft has prioritized storage efficiency. While it is understandable that storage space is a concern for some users, it is worth noting that modern hard drives or solid-state drives often have capacities of several hundred gigabytes. Increasing the voice size to improve quality, even up to a few hundred megabytes or a gigabyte, would not significantly impact storage requirements.

Compatibility with Third-Party Screen Readers

Currently, the natural voices provided by Microsoft are only compatible with the Narrator screen reader built into Windows. They are not accessible through other screen readers such as NVDA or JAWS. It is important to keep this limitation in mind if you rely on third-party screen readers for your accessibility needs.

Future Developments and Conclusion

While the natural voices are currently limited to the Narrator screen reader, it is possible that Microsoft may introduce them as SAPI 5 voices for Windows or make them available for use with the Windows Core voices in the future. It remains to be seen if Microsoft will address user feedback and enhance the quality and availability of these voices. In conclusion, the natural voices provided by Microsoft can be a valuable addition for Narrator users, albeit with some limitations in comparison to the neural voices.

Highlights

• Microsoft introduces natural voices for the Native screen reader with the Windows 11 H2 update.
• Windows 10 users will need to upgrade to Windows 11 to access these natural voices.
• Installation of natural voices can be done through the Narrator screen reader or the Settings menu.
• Choose from three available voices: Microsoft Aria, Microsoft David, and Microsoft Jenny.
• Preview the natural voices to assess their quality before making a selection.

FAQ

Q: Can I use the natural voices with third-party screen readers like NVDA? A: No, the natural voices provided by Microsoft are currently limited to the Narrator screen reader and cannot be used with third-party screen readers.

Q: Are the natural voices as good as the Microsoft neural voices? A: While the natural voices in the Narrator are an improvement over the previous standard voices, they may not match the quality of the Microsoft neural voices.

Q: Can I choose a natural voice for a specific language other than English (United States)? A: Currently, the natural voices are only available in English (United States). It is unclear if Microsoft will provide natural voices for other languages in the future.