Introduction
Do you struggle with reading on your Mac computer? Whether it’s due to visual impairment, a learning disability, or simply wanting a more convenient way to consume text, you’ll be pleased to know that your Mac has built-in accessibility features that can read text aloud to you. This handy functionality allows you to listen to articles, emails, documents, and more, making it easier than ever to stay productive and informed.
Step 1: Enable the Text to Speech Feature
To make your computer read to you on your Mac, you need to enable the Text to Speech feature. Here’s how:
1. Go to the Apple menu at the top left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
2. In the System Preferences window, click on the “Accessibility” icon.
3. On the left-hand side of the Accessibility menu, you’ll find various options. Click on “Speech” under the “Vision” category.
4. In the Speech menu, check the box next to “Speak selected text when the key is pressed.”
5. You can also choose the voice and speed of the speech by clicking on the “System Voice” dropdown menu and selecting your preferred options.
6. Close the Accessibility menu.
Now that you have enabled the Text to Speech feature on your Mac, you can proceed to the next step to learn how to use it.
Step 2: Using the Text to Speech Feature
Once you have enabled the Text to Speech feature on your Mac, you can easily make your computer read text aloud. Here’s how:
1. Highlight the text you want your computer to read aloud. You can do this in any application or document.
2. With the text selected, press the assigned key to speak selected text (by default, it is set to Option + Esc). Alternatively, you can right-click on the selected text and choose “Speech” from the contextual menu.
3. Your Mac will immediately start reading the selected text using the voice and speed settings you chose earlier.
The Text to Speech feature is especially useful for individuals with visual impairments, learning disabilities, or those who simply prefer to have text read aloud to them. It can also be helpful for proofreading documents or multitasking while listening to articles or eBooks.
If you want to adjust the speech options while the text is being read aloud, you can do so by opening the Speech menu within the Accessibility settings or by using the Control Strip available on newer Mac models.
Remember that the Text to Speech feature on your Mac can be used in multiple applications, such as Safari, Pages, Microsoft Word, and even eBooks. It gives you the flexibility to listen to any text-based content conveniently.
By following these simple steps, you can make your computer read to you on your Mac using the Text to Speech feature. Enjoy the convenience and accessibility it provides!
Step 2: Customize the Voice and Speed
After enabling the Text to Speech feature on your Mac, you can further customize the voice and speed settings to suit your preferences. This allows you to have a more personalized and comfortable listening experience as your computer reads the text aloud for you.
To access the voice and speed settings, follow the simple steps outlined below:
1. Open the Apple menu by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select “System Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
3. In the System Preferences window, locate and click on the “Accessibility” icon.
4. From the left sidebar, choose “Speech” under the “Vision” category.
5. The Speech settings window will open, providing you with various options to customize the voice and speed.
Within the Speech settings, you’ll find three main sections: “System Voice,” “Speaking Rate,” and “Play recent clip.” Let’s explore each section in detail.
System Voice:
In the “System Voice” section, you can choose from a wide range of voices available in different languages and accents. Click on the drop-down menu next to “System Voice” to view the available options. Select the voice that you find most pleasant or easy to understand.
Mac offers a collection of high-quality voices, including both male and female options. Experiment with different voices until you find the one that suits your preferences.
Speaking Rate:
The “Speaking Rate” slider allows you to adjust the speed at which your computer reads the text aloud. Drag the slider towards the turtle icon to slow down the speed, or towards the rabbit icon to speed it up. Find the rate that is comfortable for you to follow along with.
Some people may prefer a slower speaking rate to better comprehend the information being read. Others may find a faster speaking rate more suitable for their needs. Adjust the speaking rate until you achieve the desired pace.
Play recent clip:
The “Play recent clip” checkbox, located at the bottom of the Speech settings window, allows you to hear a short preview of the selected speech settings. This feature helps you quickly evaluate how your chosen voice and speaking rate sound without needing to navigate back to the main text in which you wish to use the Text to Speech functionality.
Simply enter a text sample into the text field at the top of the Speech settings window, then check the “Play recent clip” box. Your Mac will play a short clip using the selected voice and speaking rate combination, allowing you to assess if it meets your expectations.
If you wish to make any changes to the voice or speed after hearing the recent clip, you can easily adjust the settings using the provided options.
Once you have set your preferred voice and adjusted the speaking rate to your liking, you can confidently use the Text to Speech feature on your Mac. Whether you need assistance with reading long articles, proofreading written content, or simply want to give your eyes a break, your computer can now read aloud to you in the chosen voice and pace.
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Step 4: Customize the Reading Voice and Speed
Once you have selected the text you want your Mac to read aloud, it’s time to customize the reading voice and speed according to your preferences. Mac offers a range of options to personalize the voice that reads the text and adjust the speed at which it is spoken.
To access the speech customization settings, follow these simple steps:
- Go to the Apple menu on the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
- In the System Preferences window, click on “Accessibility.”
- From the left sidebar, select “Speech.”
Once you are in the Speech settings, you can make the following adjustments:
Choose a Voice
Mac provides a variety of voices for you to choose from. These voices can be of different accents and languages, including English, Australian English, British English, and more. To select a voice, click on the drop-down menu next to the “System Voice” option and choose your preferred voice.
Speaking Rate
The speaking rate determines how fast or slow the selected text will be read aloud by your Mac. You can adjust the speaking rate using the slider provided under the “Speaking Rate” section. Moving the slider to the left will decrease the speed, while moving it to the right will increase the speed.
Text to Speech Shortcuts
If you frequently use the text-to-speech feature on your Mac, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to activate it quickly. Simply click on the “Set Key” button next to the “Play” option and press the desired key combination.
Speak Selected Text When the Key is Pressed
Enabling this option allows you to have your Mac read the selected text whenever you press a specific key combination. To activate this feature, click on the checkbox next to “Speak selected text when the key is pressed.” Then, click on the “Change Key” button to set the key combination you want to use.
By customizing these settings, you can personalize the text-to-speech feature on your Mac to match your preferences, making the reading experience more enjoyable and convenient.
Step 4: Control Reading Aloud
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience while having your computer read to you on a Mac, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the playback controls provided by the system. These controls allow you to start, pause, or stop the reading aloud function at your convenience.
When using the built-in text-to-speech feature on your Mac, you can leverage various ways to control the playback. Here’s how:
1. Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Mac offers convenient keyboard shortcuts to control the reading aloud function without having to navigate through menus or interface elements. The most commonly used shortcuts are:
- Play/Pause: Press the Option + Esc keys simultaneously.
- Stop: Press the Command + Period (.) keys simultaneously.
These keyboard shortcuts allow you to have quick control over the reading function, enabling you to play or pause the reading without the need to switch windows or interrupt your workflow.
2. Using System Menu Bar Controls
Another efficient way to control the reading aloud function on your Mac is by accessing the playback controls from the system menu bar. Follow these steps:
- Click on the Apple menu () located at the top left corner of the screen.
- Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
- In the System Preferences window, click on Accessibility.
- Choose the Speech option from the sidebar.
- Under the “Text to Speech” tab, tick the box next to Show Accessibility Controls.
- A small new icon resembling a head with sound waves will appear in the menu bar.
- Click on this icon to access the available playback controls, including play, pause, and stop.
Using the system menu bar controls allows for easy access to the playback options whenever you require them, without the need to navigate through various settings or windows.
3. Customizing the Controls
In addition to the default controls, you can also customize the playback controls to suit your preferences. You can adjust various aspects, such as the playback speed and the voice used for reading. Here’s how:
- Follow the steps mentioned above to open the “Speech” preferences pane under “Accessibility”.
- In the “Text to Speech” tab, you will find options to customize the voice and speaking rate.
- To change the voice, click on the System Voice dropdown menu and choose the desired voice. You can preview each voice by clicking on the “Play” button.
- To adjust the speaking rate, move the Speaking Rate slider to the left or right to increase or decrease the speed of the reading.
By customizing these controls, you can personalize the reading experience according to your preferences and make it more comfortable for understanding and enjoyment.
Remember, being familiar with these playback controls allows you to have better control over the reading aloud feature on your Mac. Whether you need to pause temporarily, stop altogether, or customize the voice and speed, these controls provide the flexibility you need to tailor the experience to your liking. Enjoy the convenience of having your computer read to you and make the most out of this useful feature!
6. Enabling Speak Selected Text option
Another useful feature on a Mac is the “Speak Selected Text” option, which allows you to have any specific text read out loud. This is particularly handy when you want to listen to a portion of a webpage, document, or email without having to listen to the entire content.
To enable the “Speak Selected Text” option, follow these steps:
- Go to the Apple menu located on the top left corner of your screen and click on it.
- From the drop-down menu, select “System Preferences.”
- In the System Preferences window, click on “Accessibility.”
- On the left-hand side of the Accessibility window, find and click on “Speech.”
- In the Speech tab, check the box next to “Speak selected text when the key is pressed.”
- Click on the “Change Key…” button to set a keyboard shortcut for the feature. This will open a small window.
- Press the desired key combination on your keyboard that you want to use as a shortcut for the “Speak Selected Text” option. You can choose any combination that is convenient for you.
- Once you’ve set the shortcut key, click on “OK” to save the changes.
Now, whenever you have a particular portion of text selected, all you need to do is press the designated keyboard shortcut you just set, and your Mac will start reading the selected text aloud.
This “Speak Selected Text” option provides a flexible way to have specific content read out to you without the need for activating the entire readout option. It can save you time and make it easier to consume the information you need.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having your Mac computer read text to you enhances accessibility and convenience. By enabling the built-in text-to-speech feature, adjusting voice preferences, and utilizing the “Speak Selected Text” option, you can customize and optimize your reading experience on a Mac. Whether you have visual impairments, prefer multitasking while listening to content, or simply want to give your eyes a break, these methods allow you to listen to text effortlessly. Take advantage of these features to make your Mac computer a helpful reading companion.