Neural text to speech has UPENDED the SaaS how-to video game

That annoying TikTok text to speech voice is out. Neural text to speech is IN.

Unlike traditional text to speech (TTS), neural text to speech (NTTS, aka. "AI voices", aka. what we're all now referring to, generally, as "text to speech") uses deep learning to create voices that sound incredibly human-like. 

Neural text to speech is changing the game for SaaS companies by revolutionizing how they create how-to videos. Unlike traditional TTS, which often sounds robotic and unnatural, NTTS produces voices that are much more likely to pass the Turing Test.

You know, the thing that's supposed to measure when robotic intelligence is indistinguishable from human intelligence.

Pretty soon that TikTok feed is gonna be full of robots talking about flat earth theories in voices that sound completely human.

On the plus, side, though, the ability to produce quality videos without needing to manually record voiceover completely changes the game for SaaS companies using how-to videos to improve customer experience.

The difference between neural text to speech and "regular" text to speech

Neural text-to-speech (NTTS) is a specific subset of AI-driven text-to-speech (TTS) technology. Traditional TTS systems use concatenative synthesis, where small units of pre-recorded human speech (like phonemes or diphones) are combined to generate speech. These systems often require extensive manual tuning and can sound robotic or unnatural.

On the other hand, NTTS, also known as neural TTS, employs deep learning techniques to generate speech. It uses neural networks to model the complex patterns of human speech, resulting in more natural and human-like voices. NTTS systems can learn from data and adapt to different contexts, producing more expressive and lifelike speech compared to traditional TTS.

While both traditional TTS and NTTS are forms of AI-driven text-to-speech technology, neural text to speech specifically refers to systems that use neural networks to generate speech, leading to more natural and high-quality output.

Why neural text to speech is a game-changer for SaaS 

Say goodbye to spending hours trying to get a perfect voiceover take or removing dogs barking in the background. Neural text to speech does the heavy lifting for you, saving you time and resources.

Improved voice quality enhances the overall user experience. It no longer feels like (metal robot) fingernails dragging down a chalkboard. This means it's easier for SaaS companies to educate and engage their audience.

Additionally, NTTS saves time and resources by streamlining the video production process, allowing SaaS companies to create high-quality content more efficiently. Overall, NTTS is helping SaaS companies create more effective and professional how-to videos that resonate with their audience.

Major players in neural text to speech

IBM Watson, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Polly are leading the NTTS revolution. With a wide range of voices and languages to choose from, these platforms are making voice translation easier and more accessible than ever.

Read more about the top neural text to speech providers here.

Customized neural text to speech voices are the next stage of brand identity

Custom neural voices offer SaaS companies a powerful tool to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. By creating a unique brand voice, companies can establish a stronger and more memorable presence among their audience. 

The ability to create custom neural voices also opens up new opportunities for creativity and innovation in how-to videos. Companies can tailor their voices to match the tone and style of their content, creating a more cohesive and immersive experience for viewers.

For example, Duolingo uses custom neural voices to deliver language lessons in a natural and conversational manner, enhancing the learning experience for users. 

And even more impactful, custom neural text to speech voices enable SaaS companies to adapt their brand voice to different markets and languages. With the ability to create custom voices in multiple languages, companies can scale their tutorial video libraries for a global audience.

This level of customization and localization is essential for SaaS companies looking to expand their reach and connect with users around the world.

The future of neural text to speech

As NTTS technology keeps pushing boundaries, the future is looking pretty exciting. We're quickly going to see even more realism and expressiveness in AI voice generation.

As technology continues to evolve, expect videos with neural text to speech voiceover to become the norm as they get increasingly lifelike and engaging. 

With each new development in NTTS, SaaS companies have more opportunities to innovate and connect with their audience in meaningful ways. We can anticipate a future where the lines between human and machine-generated speech become increasingly blurred. 

People already can't really tell a significant difference in some human voiceover versus TTS voiceover. And even when they can, it doesn't impact their learning.

With neural text to speech, SaaS companies can create how-to videos at scale across the globe that are high quality and engaging. 

Harness neural text to speech technology. Produce how-to videos at scale.

Want to learn how Videate uses this technology to automatically generate how-to videos from your software? Get a demo and see how Videate can help you expand your customer success and customer education efforts globally.