How to Change Voice and Language Settings in Helperbird

What are Voice and Language Settings?

Helperbird lets you customize the voice used for Text to Speech and the language used for Voice Typing. You can choose from over 60 languages and a wide range of natural-sounding voices.

These settings let you control how text sounds when read aloud, including the voice and speed. For Voice Typing, you can select which language you are speaking so Helperbird recognizes your words correctly.

Who is This For?

This feature is helpful for:

• Multilingual learners who need content read in their first language
• Students in French Immersion or ESL programs
• People who prefer a specific voice style or speed
• Anyone who finds the default voice too fast or too slow
• Educators working with diverse language groups

Changing Text to Speech Voice Settings

Step 1: Open Helperbird

Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar. It looks like a small owl and is usually in the top-right corner of your browser.

This will open the Helperbird menu.

Step 2: Open Text to Speech

Scroll down to the bottom of the Helperbird menu. You will see a section called All Features.

Click the arrow next to All Features to expand it and show all available features.

Look through the list until you see Text to Speech. Click on it to open it.

Step 3: Find the Voice Dropdown

In the Text to Speech panel, the Voice dropdown is at the top of the panel, just below the text area.

There is no separate settings screen to open. All the voice options are right there in the panel.

Step 4: Choose a Voice

Use the Voice dropdown to browse available voices. Voices are grouped into two sections:

• Standard Voices - Free voices built into your browser.
• Natural voices - Premium, natural-sounding voices. These need an internet connection and Helperbird Pro. A Pro label appears when they are locked on a free account. Availability differs by browser and platform.

Each voice is shown with a country flag and a short, easy-to-read name, so you can quickly spot the language and accent you want.

Select a voice, enter a short passage, and click Play to hear it. The same voice group previously called “Neural Voices” is now labeled Natural voices.

View full-size image (opens in a new tab)

Step 5: Adjust the Reading Speed

Look for the speed button in the player bar. It shows the current speed, such as 1x.

Click the button to cycle through the available speeds. A slower speed is helpful for learning or following along. A faster speed is good for getting through content quickly.

Your settings are saved automatically and will apply the next time you use Text to Speech.

Changing Voice Typing Language

When using Voice Typing (Speech to Text), you can change the language Helperbird listens for.

1. Open Voice Typing from the All Features section.
2. Look for the language dropdown below the text area. It will show your current language, such as "English (United States)."
3. Click the dropdown and select the language you want to speak in.
4. Click the microphone button and start speaking. Helperbird will recognize your speech in the selected language.

Supported Languages

Helperbird supports over 60 languages for Text to Speech and Voice Typing, including:

• English (US, UK, Australia, Canada, India)
• French (France, Canada)
• Spanish (Spain, Mexico, US)
• German
• Italian
• Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal)
• Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese)
• Japanese
• Korean
• Arabic
• Hindi
• Dutch
• Polish
• Russian
• Turkish
• Vietnamese
• And many more

The exact voices available depend on your browser and operating system. If you do not see a voice, check the voices available on that browser and device.

Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.