But how do these tools work, and how do they make for accessible PDF reading solutions? This guide tells you everything you need to know about these tools and the technology behind them. It also lists their benefits and the best PDF audio reader tools available in the market.
What is a PDF Audio Reader?
PDF audio readers are advanced text-to-speech tools that convert PDF text to speech to help improve accessibility. They primarily benefit those with visual impairments who cannot read written text.
Understanding Text-to-Speech Technology
Text-to-speech tools use a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). These technologies convert written text to spoken words. They use AI models that have been trained on large datasets of audio and text. This includes various languages and variations in pitch and volume to improve accuracy.
How PDF Audio Readers Work
PDF audio readers use text-to-speech technology. These rely on speech synthesis to convert written text to spoken words. They extract the text from a PDF file, be it professional documents or e-books. They read the text aloud using AI and a mix of natural voices.
Who Benefits From PDF Audio Readers?
PDF screen reader tools benefit a host of different stakeholders. They can help those with visual impairments or cognitive difficulties understand PDF content. With 72% of organizations already having a digital accessibility policy, there is already progress in improving the state of this aspect. They can also improve accessibility among professional teams with different linguistic backgrounds.
Benefits of Using PDF Audio Readers
PDF audio readers offer several different benefits. These are described in the sections below.
- Enhance Accessibility: Text-to-audio tools improve access for individuals with visual or cognitive impairments, making content usable in various contexts.
- Improve Productivity: These tools enable multitasking by allowing users to consume PDF content while performing other tasks.
- Simplify Long Documents: They simplify large texts into engaging, lifelike narration, improving understanding and retention.
- Support Language Learning: Text-to-speech helps users enhance linguistic skills by demonstrating proper sentence structure and pronunciation.
Enhance Accessibility
The first and primary benefit of using text-to-audio conversion tools is that they help improve accessibility. They benefit those who have visual or other cognitive impairments. They help ensure that these groups of individuals are not left without access to the contents of a PDF document.
Improve Productivity
With the busy lifestyles most people have today, these tools help improve productivity. They allow people to consume the contents of PDF documents while doing other tasks. This could include chores around the house while driving or working on other low-effort tasks at the workplace.
Simplify Long Documents
Document accessibility apps also help simplify large chunks of text in PDFs into easier-to-understand content. These tools offer lifelike and realistic narration that makes the content engaging to consume.
Support Language Learning
PDF reader apps also help those looking to improve their linguistic skills. Users understand how to structure sentences better and pronounce words correctly by converting text to speech.
Top PDF Audio Reader Tools
The top PDF audio reader tools are listed below.
- Speaktor: PDF audio reader with 50+ languages, lifelike voiceovers, and strong accessibility features for improving brand image.
- NaturalReaders: Offers natural voice narration and voice cloning but has limited voice options.
- Adobe Reader with Read Aloud Feature: This reader provides text-to-speech with customizable voice and pace.
- Kurzweil 3000: It is designed for education with assistive tools for non-native speakers and those with impairments.
- Voice Dream Reader: Ideal for mobile users with 200+ voices and offline access but does not have an Android application.
Speaktor: Best All-in-One PDF Audio Reader
Speaktor is one of the best PDF audio reader tools on the market today. It allows you to convert written text to lifelike speech in 50+ languages. You can also create voiceovers for all your marketing channels. You can choose the right voice based on the purpose of the content and your target audience.
Additionally, it allows you to use these voiceovers to make your website much more accessible. This is particularly important because accessibility is a key aspect of the brand image today. A report by WebAIM found that out of one million home pages examined, 56,791,260 of these had accessibility errors.
Given that websites’ home pages themselves lack accessibility features, PDFs and internal documents are often bound to be left out. This is why businesses must take steps to ensure greater accessibility across their websites.
Key Features
- Converts PDFs to High-Quality Speech: The first benefit is that it converts PDF files into high-quality, lifelike, and realistic speech. This makes it easier for audiences to engage with it.
- Supports Multiple Languages: Speaktor also supports over 50 languages, making it accessible to diverse audiences worldwide.
- Customizable Voice Settings: You can also customize the voice you want to convert text to. This helps you tailor your content to your audience in the best possible way.
Why It Stands Out: The website's user interface is extremely intuitive and easy for anyone to navigate. It also offers exceptional accessibility features.
NaturalReaders: Best for Natural Voice Narration
The next tool on this list is NaturalReaders. This text-to-speech tool can convert written text to spoken words in multiple different languages. The downside of this screen reader for PDFs is that it can sometimes make errors in pronunciation.
Key Features
- Realistic Voice Options: NaturalReaders offers multiple realistic voice options. These ensure that the speech it generates does not sound robotic and lifeless.
- Offline Functionality : Unlike many other tools, it also offers offline functionality. As a result, you do not have to be connected to the internet at all times to access the tool's features.
Why It Stands Out: This tool is ideal for those looking for a lifelike reading experience. It is great for converting books to spoken words.
Adobe Reader with Read Aloud Feature
The next tool on this list comes from the well-known company Adobe. Adobe Reader, with its Real Aloud Feature, offers a secure and intuitive way of converting text to spoken words. Unlike tools like Speaktor, Adobe Reader offers limited editing features, which can make collaboration tricker. This means users must rely on other tools in the tech stack to edit files.
Key Features
- Built-in Text-to-Speech for PDFs: Adobe Reader is a PDF viewer with built-in text-to-speech functionality. This allows the tool to read your PDFs aloud.
- Wide Compatibility: Adobe Reader is compatible with a wide range of devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.
Why It Stands Out: Adobe Reader is easily available worldwide and is also free of cost.
Kurzweil 3000: Best for Education
Kurzweil 3000 is a text-to-speech tool designed to emphasize the education sector. This assistive technology platform offers various functions that help streamline processes in educational spaces. On the other hand, navigating the tool can be challenging at times. Accessing the interface training can be tricky for some.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Learning Tools: It offers a suite of comprehensive learning tools. These help improve comprehension, assist with assignments and writing, and also help with test-taking.
- Dictionary Integration: It seamlessly integrates a dictionary that helps users find the meanings of new words.
Why It Stands Out: Kurzweil 3000 is designed to help students with learning disabilities or other special needs.
Voice Dream Reader: Best for Mobile Users
Voice Dream is another good tool for voice narration for PDF documents. With 200+ voices to choose from and a dedicated app for Mac and iOS, it is easy for anyone to access. However, the lack of an Android app leaves out a huge segment of the target audience of text-to-speech tools.
Key Features
- Advanced Mobile Reading Features: Voice Dream has an app for iOS devices, making mobile reading convenient on the go.
- Multimedia Support: It also offers multimedia support and lets you upload files in a bunch of different languages.
Why It Stands Out: With a mobile app, this tool makes document accessibility a breeze.
Why Speaktor Is the Best PDF Audio Reader
Here are some of Speaktor’s key USPs that make it worth considering over its key competitors.
- Exceptional Accuracy and Natural Voice Options : Speaktor uses advanced AI to precisely recognize words with natural voice options.
- Supports Multiple Languages and Accents: It supports over 50 languages and accents, improving accessibility for global remote teams.
- Easy-to-Use Interface: An intuitive dashboard and easy customization options make it accessible even for first-time or non-tech-savvy users.
- Affordable and Accessible: With plans starting at $4.99/month, Speaktor is affordable and accessible to individuals and organizations of all sizes.
- Perfect for Accessibility and Productivity: Improves website accessibility and improves team efficiency with its accurate and easy-to-use features.
Exceptional Accuracy and Natural Voice Options
Unlike many other tools on the market, Speaktor offers exceptional accuracy. It uses advanced AI models that identify words in different accents, pitches, and paces. This helps improve comprehension and maximizes efficiency, especially in collaborative environments.
It also offers several natural voice options that offer a lifelike listening experience. These are perfect if you simply want to have a PDF read aloud or if you want to create a brand-new voiceover.
Supports Multiple Languages and Accents
Besides producing spoken words in different accents, it also supports over 50 languages. This helps improve accessibility, particularly among linguistically diverse groups. Remote teams spread across the world can greatly benefit from this.
Additionally, those whose first language is not English can translate the verbal output into any number of languages.
Easy-to-Use Interface
Another key highlight of Speaktor is its intuitive interface. It is easy to navigate, even for someone who is not tech-savvy or is using the tool for the first time. All its features are neatly laid out on the dashboard, and you can choose multiple ways of uploading files. The voice customization options are also easy to access. This allows you to tailor the reading experience based on your preferences.
Affordable and Accessible
Speaktor also comes with adorable pricing plans. While it works well for larger organizations, smaller, bootstrapped startups can also benefit from it. Additionally, with an app for iOS and Android devices, it is easy to access.
Perfect for Accessibility and Productivity
Its accuracy and intuitive interface also make this perfect for those looking to make their websites more accessible. Additionally, the ease of navigation also helps improve productivity. This ensures teams do not struggle to find the required features or settings.
How to Use Speaktor as a PDF Audio Reader
The steps are listed below.
Step 1: Upload Your PDF Document
Open the Speaktor website and create an account using your email address or Google account. Once you have created an account, you will be able to access the tool's dashboard. Here, click on the option that reads “Upload File.” Then, upload the desired PDF file.
Step 2: Convert Text to Speech
Once you have selected a PDF file from your device, you can choose between two options: Reader and Voiceover. Reader mode allows you to select a speaker and listen to your content, while Voiceover enables you to create a brand-new voiceover. Click the “Upload” button to generate audio from the PDF content.
Step 3: Select Your Language and Voice Preferences
Once the file has been processed and all the text is uploaded to the tool, you can click on the “Reading Language” option to select a language you would like the text to be converted to speech.
Step 4: Listen and Adjust Settings
You can also select the reader. Speaktor offers various speakers who work in different roles. Once you have selected the desired reader, play the audio and adjust speed or voice tone as needed.
Step 5: Download or Share the Audio File
While reviewing the draft, you can also set it to auto-scroll and highlight any sections you would like to. Once you are done, you can save the audio file for offline listening or share it directly with others to collaborate on.
Conclusion
Voice narration tools or PDF audio readers are key to making web content and PDF files more accessible. This guide has described the many benefits of using these tools and the five best options available in the market. It has also given you a step-wise guide on how to use Speaktor to convert text to speech.
