In 2023 Apple began to allow Apps which supplied alternative text-to-speech engines. RHVoice is one of a very small number of such Apps.
Unfortunately, Apple's interface to third-partt TTS software is not fully documented, with certain connection weaknesses not fully understandable by our developers. Those weaknesses change over different Apple versions and devices. We do our best to react to those new OS relesaes. Please be patient, and read this user guide carefully.
There is also a known issue with the verbosity of keyboard input when using a voice in an unsupported language. Apple inserts full descriptions of letters when typed, and there is no way we can safely remove them.
[RHVoice on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rhvoice/id6444378148)if one of our voices is not for a language "supported" by Apple, you can help avoid problems if you add the language to your list of user interface languages. Do this from Settings > General > Language and Regtion. There is no need to make this language your first choice interface language - indeed, if it is unsupported there will be no Apple user interface in your language. But it can help VoicOver recognize the voice you install with RHVoice.
The App does not contain any voices available. You must download the voices you want to use. This is to reduce size and make updates to voices simple.
The App will first open with a list of the available languages. Select the language of interest to you.
This takes you to a list of available voices for the language.
If you want to install a voice, tap the download button and wait a few seconds.
If the voice is for a language which is not supported by Apple, you will be given a worning. Do not fear!
The "play" button next to an installed voice should use VoiceOver to speak a confirmation message using the voice. But, VoiceOver will probably not recognized and load the voice until you complete some more steps.
Go to the main, Apple Settings page to configure various settings for the language.
- Disable VoiceOver's Detect Language Feature. Apple will not switch to an RHVoice voice.
- Use the Add New Language option to find and add any unsupported language which is not already there.
- For supported languages, you should find RHVoice in the voice list for that language.
- Make sure that Languages is available on the Rotor. You will use the Rotor to set your default language.The App does not contain any voices available. You must download the voices you want to use. This is to reduce size and make updates to voices simple.
The App will first open with a list of the available languages. Select the language of interest to you.
This takes you to a list of available voices for the language.
If you want to install a voice, tap the download button and wait a few seconds.
If the voice is for a language which is not supported by Apple, you will be given a worning. Do not fear!
The "play" button next to an installed voice should use VoiceOver to speak a confirmation message using the voice. But, VoiceOver will probably not recognized and load the voice until you complete some more steps.
Open the VoiceOver utility. Get to the utility either through System Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver, or directly with VoiceOver activated using the VO key and Function F8.
Go to "Speech" and in the "Additional Voices" panel, select "add voice". If the voice was installed in the RHVoice App, you should find its language in the list, and the voice in the voice list.
Use the unbelievable five-finger keystroke command to access the voice selection on the Rotor:
SHIFT + VO + Command + Right ArrowThen up and down arrows to find the voice you want.