Themba: Text to Speech

Themba voice

The voice Themba is available in the Azure Text-to-Speech service for the Zulu language.

How to use Themba voice in your videos

To use Themba voice in your videos, you can use the following JSON2Video code:

{
    "type": "voice",
    "model": "azure",
    "voice": "zu-ZA-ThembaNeural",
    "text": "Ngekhanda, ixoxo liyaluvena nezithunzi ezinhle nezinyoni ezinceku. Umsimboti odlulayo uphinde wathula abalinganisi, uma izinhlanzi ziyaphinda phinda phakathi kwamahipsi. Inkambo enesibani enecula ezimnandi, ekwenza lokhu kukhona into ekhululekile ukuyekela nokuthokoza ubuhle bomhlaba."
}

$scene->addElement([
'voice',
'azure',
'zu-ZA-ThembaNeural',
'Ngekhanda, ixoxo liyaluvena nezithunzi ezinhle nezinyoni ezinceku. Umsimboti odlulayo uphinde wathula abalinganisi, uma izinhlanzi ziyaphinda phinda phakathi kwamahipsi. Inkambo enesibani enecula ezimnandi, ekwenza lokhu kukhona into ekhululekile ukuyekela nokuthokoza ubuhle bomhlaba.'
]);

scene.addElement([
"voice",
"azure",
"zu-ZA-ThembaNeural",
"Ngekhanda, ixoxo liyaluvena nezithunzi ezinhle nezinyoni ezinceku. Umsimboti odlulayo uphinde wathula abalinganisi, uma izinhlanzi ziyaphinda phinda phakathi kwamahipsi. Inkambo enesibani enecula ezimnandi, ekwenza lokhu kukhona into ekhululekile ukuyekela nokuthokoza ubuhle bomhlaba."
]);

Themba supports SSML

SSML stands for Speech Synthesis Markup Language. It's a way to add instructions to your text so that a Text-To-Speech (TTS) system knows how to read it aloud.

You use SSML like HTML, but for controlling speech. It helps you adjust things like: Pronunciation, Pauses, Pitch and Volume, Emphasis, Speaking Rate.

{
    "type": "voice",
    "voice": "zu-ZA-ThembaNeural",
    "text": "<speak>Hello, <break time="500ms"/> how are you today? <emphasis level="strong">This is important!</emphasis></speak>"
}

$scene->addElement([
'voice',
'zu-ZA-ThembaNeural',
'<speak>Hello, <break time="500ms"/> how are you today? <emphasis level="strong">This is important!</emphasis></speak>'
]);

scene.addElement([
"voice",
"zu-ZA-ThembaNeural",
"<speak>Hello, <break time="500ms"/> how are you today? <emphasis level="strong">This is important!</emphasis></speak>"
]);

Themba is a neural voice

In Azure Cognitive Services, a Neural voice refers to a voice generated using neural network technology. This means the Text-To-Speech system uses advanced machine learning models to create more natural, human-like speech compared to traditional methods.

Key characteristics of Neural voices:

• More expressive and realistic
• Better at handling pitch, tone, and rhythm variations
• Sounds closer to how humans naturally speak