Python Text to Speech in Macintosh

Question

Are there any libraries in Python that does or allows Text To Speech Conversion using Mac Lion's built in text to speech engine? I did google but most are windows based. I tried pyttx. I tried to run

import pyttsx
engine = pyttsx.init()
engine.say('Sally sells seashells by the seashore.')
engine.say('The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.')
engine.runAndWait()

But I get these errors

File "/Users/manabchetia/Documents/Codes/Speech.py", line 2, in <module>
    engine = pyttsx.init()
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pyttsx-1.0.egg/pyttsx/__init__.py", line 39, in init
    eng = Engine(driverName, debug)
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pyttsx-1.0.egg/pyttsx/engine.py", line 45, in __init__
    self.proxy = driver.DriverProxy(weakref.proxy(self), driverName, debug)
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pyttsx-1.0.egg/pyttsx/driver.py", line 64, in __init__
    self._module = __import__(name, globals(), locals(), [driverName])
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pyttsx-1.0.egg/pyttsx/drivers/nsss.py", line 18, in <module>
ImportError: No module named Foundation

How do I solve these errors?

Answer 1

If you are targeting Mac OS X as your platform - PyObjC and NSSpeechSynthesizer is your best bet.

Here is a quick example for you

#!/usr/bin/env python

from  AppKit import NSSpeechSynthesizer
import time
import sys


if len(sys.argv) < 2:
   text = raw_input('type text to speak> ')
else:
   text = sys.argv[1]

nssp = NSSpeechSynthesizer

ve = nssp.alloc().init()

for voice in nssp.availableVoices():
   ve.setVoice_(voice)
   print voice
   ve.startSpeakingString_(text)

   while not ve.isSpeaking():
      time.sleep(0.1)

   while ve.isSpeaking():
      time.sleep(0.1)

Please note that AppKit module is part of PyObjC bridge and should be already installed on your Mac. No need to install it if you are using OS provided python (/usr/bin/python)