ns-System.Speech.Synthesis.xml

<Namespace Name="System.Speech.Synthesis">
  <Docs>
    <summary>The <c>N:System.Speech.Synthesis</c> namespace contains classes for initializing and configuring a speech synthesis engine, for creating prompts, for generating speech, for responding to events, and for modifying voice characteristics.</summary>
    <remarks>
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## Remarks  
 **Initialize and Configure**  
  
 The <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> class provides access to the functionality of a speech synthesis engine that is installed on the host computer. Installed speech synthesis engines are represented by a voice, for example Microsoft Anna. A <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> instance initializes to the default voice. To configure a <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> instance to use one of the other installed voices, call the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.SelectVoice%2A> or <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.SelectVoiceByHints%2A> methods. To get information about which voices are installed, use the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.GetInstalledVoices%2A> method.  
  
 You can route the output of the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> to a stream, a file, the default audio device, or to a null device by using one of the methods in the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> class whose name begins with "`SetOutputTo`".  
  
 **Create Prompts**  
  
 Use one the methods of the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder> class whose name begins with "`Append`" to build content for prompts from text, Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML), files containing text or SSML markup, or prerecorded audio files.  
  
 See [Constructing a Complex Prompt](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/552cb356-7344-473e-b0f2-7a9983f8c1a4) in the [System Speech Programming Guide for .NET Framework 4.0](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/610116c7-3817-40ff-857b-5d41e8511043) for more information and examples.  
  
 **Generate Speech**  
  
 To generate speech from a string or from a <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.Prompt> or <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder> object, use the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.Speak%2A> or the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.SpeakAsync%2A> methods. To generate speech from SSML markup, use the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.SpeakSsml%2A> or the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.SpeakSsmlAsync%2A> methods. See [Speech Synthesis Markup Language Reference](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/0c51279e-84d2-4f73-a924-8832039abf94) for a guide to SSML markup.  
  
 You can guide the pronunciation of words by using the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder.AppendTextWithHint%2A> or <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder.AppendTextWithPronunciation%2A> methods, and by adding or removing lexicons for a <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> instance using the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.AddLexicon%2A> and <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.RemoveLexicon%2A> methods.  
  
 **Respond to Events**  
  
 The <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> class includes events that inform a speech application that the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> encountered a specific feature in a prompt, as reported by the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeakProgressEventArgs>, <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.BookmarkReachedEventArgs>, <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PhonemeReachedEventArgs>, and <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.VisemeReachedEventArgs> classes.  
  
 To get information about the beginning and end of the speaking of a prompt by the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer>, use the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeakStartedEventArgs> and <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeakCompletedEventArgs> classes.  
  
 See [Using Speech Synthesis Events](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/09bf41e6-b88c-4ff2-9287-e42bfd38d836) in the [System Speech Programming Guide for .NET Framework 4.0](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/610116c7-3817-40ff-857b-5d41e8511043) for more information and examples.  
  
 **Modify Voice Characteristics**  
  
 The <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptStyle> class and <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder.StartStyle%2A> and <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder.AppendText%2A> methods let you modify characteristics of a <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> voice using <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptStyle.Emphasis%2A>, <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptStyle.Rate%2A>, and <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptStyle.Volume%2A> parameters. To modify characteristics of a voice such as culture, age, and gender, use one of the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder.StartVoice%2A> methods of the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.PromptBuilder> class or the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer.SelectVoiceByHints%2A> methods of the <xref:System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer> class.  
  
 See [Controlling Voice Attributes](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/0fa3f10d-2696-4701-9735-68c59ffe4816) in the [System Speech Programming Guide for .NET Framework 4.0](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/610116c7-3817-40ff-857b-5d41e8511043) for more information.  
  
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</Namespace>