Short answer: a TTS reader turns written content into spoken audio. Aurader adds a reading view, synchronized highlighting, voice controls and optional ambience so you can move between looking and listening without losing your place.
What Aurader can read aloud
Aurader has two main places for content. The Bookshelf is designed for books and files such as EPUB, PDF and TXT. The Articles area is designed for shorter or frequently updated material. You can paste text, save a web page, scan printed text, or import TXT, DOC and DOCX files into an article.
The best input depends on the source. EPUB usually preserves chapters and reflowable text. A text-based PDF can work well when its reading order is clear. Scanned PDFs may not contain selectable text, so they can require OCR or a scan-to-article workflow before speech is possible.
How to start listening
- Add content. Import a book into the Bookshelf or create an article from text, a file, a scan or a web page.
- Open the reading view. Navigate to the page, chapter or paragraph where you want playback to begin.
- Select a voice engine. Use an Apple system voice, a supported on-device neural voice, or a cloud or custom provider.
- Press play. Aurader follows the spoken sentence and keeps playback controls within reach.
- Tune the session. Adjust speed, pitch, background audio or the sleep timer to match the material.
Which voice engine should you choose?
| Engine | Best for | Network |
|---|---|---|
| System | Broad language coverage using voices installed on the device | Usually not required after the voice is available |
| On-device neural | More natural English narration with local processing | Not required after the model is available |
| Cloud or custom | Additional providers, models and voice choices | Required, and synthesis text is sent to the provider |
Voice quality is not the only decision. Language support, privacy, latency and offline access matter too. If you travel often or handle sensitive material, start with a system or supported local engine. If you prioritize a particular voice, a cloud or custom provider may be a better fit.
Tools for longer listening
Synchronized highlighting
The current spoken sentence remains visible, which can help when you switch between listening and visual reading. It also makes it easier to check a name, formula or unfamiliar phrase without scrubbing through an audio file.
Playback and pronunciation controls
Speed and pitch controls let you slow down dense material or move more quickly through familiar text. Pronunciation settings can help with recurring names and specialist vocabulary.
Background sound and sleep timer
Optional music and ambient sound can create a steadier listening environment. A sleep timer stops playback automatically, which is useful for bedtime reading or time-boxed focus sessions.
Free tier and practical limits
Aurader is free to download. The free tier currently supports up to 10 books and 10 articles, plus up to 20 minutes of background music per day. Membership raises limits and unlocks premium features. These limits apply to the library and feature access, not to a claim that every voice or file will behave the same way.
Privacy note: local engines can keep supported speech generation on the device. Cloud and custom voices send the text needed for synthesis to the provider you select.