Mike Gold

Toucan TTS Multilingual Open-Source Text to Speech

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Posted on X by Vaibhav (VB) Srivastav Toucan TTS: MIT licensed Text to Speech in 7000 languages!
The most multilingual open-source TTS model out there

Step 1: They built a text frontend that can turn text in any language from the ISO-639-3 list into language-agnostic articulatory features.

Step 2: Then,

Toucan TTS: MIT Licensed Text-to-Speech in 7000 Languages

Overview

Toucan TTS is a groundbreaking open-source text-to-speech (TTS) model that supports over 7,000 languages, making it the most multilingual TTS solution available. Developed under an MIT license, it offers state-of-the-art speech synthesis and voice cloning capabilities. The project emphasizes flexibility, accessibility, and innovation in handling diverse linguistic data.

Technical Analysis

Toucan TTS operates through a two-step process:

  1. Text Frontend: It converts text from any language (based on the ISO-639-3 standard) into language-agnostic articulatory features ([Result 1]). This step ensures that the system can handle text input in any supported language uniformly.
  2. Acoustic Modeling: The second stage involves mapping these articulatory features to audio waveforms using advanced acoustic models, enabling speech generation in the target language.

The system is designed to be highly adaptable, allowing users to train models on custom datasets and integrate with various applications ([Result 5]). Its support for over 7,000 languages makes it a versatile tool for global use cases, from education to accessibility.

Implementation Details

  • Text Frontend: Built using Python or similar tools, this component processes text into features suitable for speech synthesis.
  • Acoustic Models: Deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch are likely used for training and inference ([Result 2]).
  • Distribution Platforms: The project is hosted on GitHub ([Result 1]), SourceForge ([Result 4]), and other platforms for easy access and deployment.

Toucan TTS integrates with various technologies, including:

  • Language Processing: It leverages insights from linguistic research to handle multilingual data effectively.
  • Neural Networks: The acoustic modeling process likely relies on neural networks for high-quality speech synthesis ([Result 2]).
  • Accessibility Tools: Its multilingual capabilities make it a valuable asset for global accessibility projects, such as screen readers and language learning apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Toucan TTS supports over 7,000 languages, making it the most multilingual open-source TTS model available ([Result 1]).
  • The system uses a two-step process to convert text into speech: first processing text into articulatory features and then generating audio ([Result 3]).
  • It offers voice cloning capabilities, enabling users to replicate voices for various applications ([Result 3]).

Further Research

Here’s a 'Further Reading' section based solely on the verified search results provided:

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