How Kitaboo Reader – Text-to-Speech (TTS) Works

Kitaboo Reader includes a Text-to-Speech (TTS) feature that allows users to listen to their digital books. Below is a guide to help you understand how the feature works and how to get the best reading experience.

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1. Uses Your Device’s System Voices

Kitaboo’s TTS does not use its own voice engine.
Instead, it uses the default system voices (audio actors) available on your Windows or Mac device.

• The available voice names in Kitaboo will vary based on the voices installed on your system.
• Additional voices can be added through your OS settings (details below).

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2. Language Depends on Your PDF Input

TTS reads the content based on the language assigned during the content conversion process.

When converting your PDF in Kitaboo Studio:

• Go to Advanced Settings
• Select the correct language for your PDF
• This ensures the TTS engine chooses the right pronunciation and voice accents.

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3. Follows the PDF’s Reading Order

Kitaboo reads text in the same logical order defined inside your PDF.

You can verify this order using:

Adobe Acrobat → View → Reading Order

If the reading order inside the PDF is incorrect, TTS will also read the content in the wrong sequence.

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4. Fixing Incorrect Reading Order

If your PDF does not have a proper reading order, you have two options:

Option 1 (Recommended): Fix in Adobe Acrobat

• Use “Reading Order” or “Tags” panel
• Correct the tagging and text flow
• This ensures reliable TTS performance

Option 2: Fix Inside Kitaboo (Page-Wise)

• Use Kitaboo Enrichment Module → Reading Order Tool
• Rearrange text blocks manually for each page

Note:
This may not work if your PDF tags are incorrectly grouped or merged. In such cases, Adobe Acrobat fixing is required.

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5. Changing Narrator Voice in Kitaboo Reader

Inside Kitaboo Reader:

• Open Text-to-Speech
• Select a voice from the Actor / Voice dropdown

Because Kitaboo uses system voices, these options will differ from one device to another.

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6. Adding More System Voices

If you want additional voices:

Windows

Go to:
Settings → Time & Language → Speech → Manage Voices

Mac

Go to:
System Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices

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7. Voice Quality and Future Improvements

Current system voices may sound robotic because they depend on your OS capabilities.

However:

• Windows, Mac, and mobile OS providers are rapidly improving TTS using AI-powered natural voices
• Future enhancements may allow more human-like voices with optional paid voice packs or third-party TTS providers

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8. Math Equations

Math equation reading (MathML / math expressions) is not supported yet by Kitaboo TTS.