AudioBookMaker is a free program that converts any digital book into an audiobook. The application supports text files, audio engines, and even a dictionary to customize the pronunciation of words, abbreviations, and phrases.
When Are Audiobooks Useful?
There are situations where audiobooks can be quite useful. Whether for when you want to go for a walk or run, lie down, or when you are in a situation where you cannot read comfortably or at all, or you do not want to read directly. For those cases you have AudioBookMaker, a free program that converts any digital book into an audiobook. The application supports text files or texts that you copy or add to the program. This means you can import Microsoft Word files and also HTML files. Additionally, you can create a new document and add text or directly paste it.
Customizing Voices and Audio Engines
In addition to the controls to play the text, AudioBookMaker lets you select a different voice and change characteristics such as speed, pitch, volume of the reading voice, and even the language. The application also recognizes the audio engines installed on the operating system and lists them under the available voices.
Pronunciation Dictionaries and Output Options
An interesting detail is that AudioBookMaker also supports pronunciation dictionaries that you can add to the application to customize the pronunciation of words, abbreviations, and phrases, and to substitute words. Once you have made the necessary changes, you can play the text and check how it sounds. AudioBookMaker supports the MP3 and WAV audio formats, and you can customize audio quality, file name, and other parameters in the settings window.
Exporting and Final Thoughts
As you can see, the process of this application is simple and you can adjust some text-to-speech preferences and listen to the text directly using the program or save it in MP3 or WAV format. The latter is useful for transferring the file to a mobile device, for example. It is important to note that the standard output quality is acceptable but clearly robotic. Although you can change this by installing a preferred audio engine.
Official site: AudioBookMaker
