Text-to-Speech
Text-to-speech (TTS) lets NoteTalker speak its responses out loud. Instead of reading each reply, you can listen — useful when you’re away from the screen, doing something else with your hands, or just prefer an audio experience.
Enabling Text-to-Speech
Section titled “Enabling Text-to-Speech”Go to Settings > Voice and toggle Text-to-Speech on. Once enabled, NoteTalker will automatically read each response aloud after it arrives.
You can turn TTS off at any time from the same settings panel, or quickly mute it from the chat panel without going into settings.
How NoteTalker Generates Speech
Section titled “How NoteTalker Generates Speech”NoteTalker synthesizes speech on your own device using Kokoro, a compact local text-to-speech model it downloads on first launch. Your text is never sent anywhere to be read aloud — playback works fully offline, with networking disabled.
NoteTalker speaks with a single natural-sounding voice. For the clearest pronunciation of unusual words, names, and abbreviations, install the optional espeak-ng system package — NoteTalker uses it to work out how words should sound. You can add it from Settings > Voice (guided install) or with your system’s package manager. Without it, NoteTalker falls back to a built-in pronunciation dictionary.
Adjusting Playback Speed
Section titled “Adjusting Playback Speed”You can control how fast NoteTalker speaks using the Speed slider in Settings > Voice:
| Speed | Effect |
|---|---|
| 0.5x | Slow — good for careful listening or working in a non-native language |
| 1.0x | Default — natural conversational pace |
| 1.5x | Faster — comfortable for most people after a short adjustment period |
| 2.0x | Fast — great for power users who want information quickly |
Speed changes apply to the next response. You can adjust it at any time and it takes effect immediately.
Streaming Playback
Section titled “Streaming Playback”TTS uses streaming playback — meaning the audio starts playing before the full response has been generated. You’ll hear the beginning of NoteTalker’s reply within a second or two, and the rest follows as it’s synthesized. This makes the experience feel much more natural and responsive compared to waiting for the entire response before playback begins.
Stopping Playback
Section titled “Stopping Playback”If you want to stop NoteTalker mid-sentence, click the stop button in the chat panel or press the push-to-talk button. NoteTalker will stop speaking and you can respond immediately.
TTS and Voice Mode Together
Section titled “TTS and Voice Mode Together”TTS works well alongside push-to-talk and wake word for a fully hands-free experience:
- Say “Hey Jarvis” (or click the mic button)
- Speak your message
- NoteTalker responds in text and speaks the reply aloud
- Use the wake word again for your next message
This creates a back-and-forth voice conversation without touching the keyboard at all.