Gone are the days when people had to worry about how their voices sounded on recordings. Thanks to major advancements in AI, it is now possible to transform your own voice or any other voice into an artificial voice. The technology is so advanced that you can basically make AI voices sound like whatever you want. And this is for more than just fun. Many different companies and groups of all kinds are using voice cloning technology these days. Voice cloning technology can be useful for many different purposes, from speeches to videos to podcasts. Indeed, it can open up an entire world for you of professional opportunities, recreation, music, and many other things. We will take a closer look at the possibilities in this article. We will also take a look at some of the best voice cloning software on the market these days. In the sections below, we will discuss the leading products out there, as well as the pros and cons of each of them. Based on your individual needs and interests, you should surely be able to choose a product that is right for you.
What is voice cloning?
Before we get into specifics, it pays to look at what exactly voice cloning is. No, it is not a bioengineering project. AI voice cloning works by creating synthetic copies of human voices. The technology analyzes recordings and breaks them down to distinguish the exact tone, volume, pitch, and whatever other elements go into making a particular voice what it is.
Does voice cloning create an exact replica of your voice?
Not exactly. As mentioned above, the technology is able to break down different elements of human voices and imitate them to a very fine degree. But it cannot fully replicate human voices exactly. That said, it would be very difficult for most people to distinguish between a voice clone and a real voice.
How can I use my cloned voice?
You can use your cloned voice for any number of purposes. In addition to professional usage, you can use it to create speeches, to have artificial dialogs for language lessons, or to create voiceovers for videos. You can even use it for the song! If you don’t like the sound of your voice when you sing, you can create a clone that will improve the quality of your singing voice. This is something many people always wish they could have done.
Can I create AI voices?
You can also create an entirely new voice, not based on any particular person but rather on characteristics that you want to have in a voice. This can be a great tool for advertising, narration, or many other purposes. All you need to do is familiarize yourself with the programming methods of your chosen software, and you’ll be able to create new voices at will.
An ever-growing library of voices!
That’s right. With this technology, you can create an entire library of voices for whatever purpose you might have. Then, you can simply pick and choose a voice for your marketing projects, sharing with friends, sing-a-longs, or whatever your purpose may be. You will literally have a world of options when it comes to voice creation.
How much time does it take to clone a voice?
One of the most important questions about voice cloning is the amount of time that it takes to produce a finished product. Because of the complexity of the task, it is a fairly time-consuming process. When you give the program a request, it has to wait in a queue with other requests for processing. You should expect to spend at least three hours before you get your finished product for quality production. There is an option of “instant” cloning, but it is a very different product.
What is the difference between instant and professional voice cloning?
As mentioned above, there is such a thing as “instant” cloning, but it can only be accomplished under very specific circumstances. Instant cloning involves the use of just one voice that will be given a replica and cannot involve any adjustments. The initial voice needs to be recorded in a quiet place without any background noise. And there is a major time limit: instant recordings generally involve one minute or less of voice recording. So, if what you are looking for is just a quick “bite” of a sound clip, you may be able to accomplish this with instant cloning. Otherwise, you will have to use professional voice recording.
What are the best AI cloning tools?
With so many products on the market, it may be hard to distinguish the best ones. We’ve compiled a list based on quality and specific AI voice cloning tools that you should be looking for.
Rask AI
Rask AI is clearly the leading product on the market. If you want high-quality, perfectly authentic-sounding productions, this is the program for you. Rask AI will give you a range of attractive features:
- A video and audio translator that will allow you to translate your voice productions into other languages. Don’t consider yourself much of a linguist? Don’t worry! Rask AI will do the work for you. You can write plays, make ads, or do whatever you want and produce it for a foreign audience.
- Transcriptions of YouTube videos. If you want to start with voice and create a transcription out of it, you can do this, too.
- A lip sync video generator. Want to create videos of yourself speaking in other languages? It’s possible with Rask AI.
- Subtitle translation. That’s right, the program will even translate subtitles for you. Pretty much any feature that you want to manipulate that has to do with language is possible with this program.
The one downside to Rask AI is that you might have difficulties integrating it with certain other programs. Before you invest in the program, check to see what other programs you want to use along with it and make sure they will be compatible.
Pricing
Rask AI has four different pricing levels, starting with “Creator” at $40 per month and going up to “Enterprise” for companies with specialized needs and with variable rates.
Play.ht
Another solid product on the market now is Play.ht. Benefits of Play.ht include:
- Play.ht is a high-quality program that is capable of cloning voices in a relatively short period of time.
- It has a good text-to-speech function. So, if you want to write out a speech for yourself and have the program produce it for you with the right kinds of intonation, tone, and emphasis, it will do a good job of this.
- It allows for a high degree of customization of files. However you want to classify and store your voice recordings, the program will allow you to make adjustments according to your own needs.
The main drawback of Play.ht is that it requires the consent of the party that you want to clone before you use another person’s voice. With all the concerns about cloning out there, AI voice cloning software creators want to be sure that recordings aren’t used for unethical purposes.
Pricing
Play.ht has four different plans available, starting with a free, limited plan that is a good option for individuals with limited needs. Higher-level subscriptions are based on the number of characters per year that you will use, although plans are based on monthly charges. The three monthly plans start at $31.25 per month for “Creator” level and go up to “Custom” for large companies with diverse needs.
Murf AI
Another leading program on the market is Murf AI. It is known for being a high-quality product that replicates voices with a fine degree of accuracy. Other advantages of Murf AI include:
- The ability to add special effects to a voice and make different kinds of alterations. You can change the speed, pitch, and other aspects of a voice.
- The ability to produce speech in different languages. If you are creating a product that you want to market globally, this can be a great way to spread your message and sound native in over 20 languages. And you can create videos using the voices in other languages.
For all its benefits, there are a few drawbacks to Murf AI. These include:
- Voice cloning only applies to English. You can create speech in other languages, but you only have a few different voices to choose from.
- The program is quite slow, particularly compared to Rask AI. If you’re looking for fast processing time, it is better to pick a different program.
Pricing
Murf AI offers a limited free plan, as well as three paid options ranging from “Creator” ($29 per month for unlimited downloads and other standard features) to “Enterprise,” which is custom software for large companies.
Voice.AI
Also making the list is Voice.AI. Voice.AI allows for voice cloning and a range of other options. Among these are the following:
- You can clone the voices of famous people. This can be a fun activity and a good way to create an unusual party trick.
- The program is very user-friendly. The steps of using it are clear, so there isn’t a steep learning curve involved.
- The program has thousands of user-generated voices that you can choose from
- It allows for easy integration with sharing platforms, so you won’t have to worry about converting file types.
The major drawback of Voice.AI is that it doesn’t allow for as much editing as Rask AI or some of the highest-ranking products. It will basically give you the result that the program comes up with itself and that is it.
Pricing
Voice.AI has a free, limited option, as well as a paid option with more voice options and features for $14.99 per month.
Descript
Also, making the list of quality programs is called Descript. With it, you’ll get the following features:
- User-friendliness. The programs have clear instructions, an easy-to-use interface, and an intuitive logic to creating files.
- A range of premade cloned voices, which include both human and non-human options. If you are in the business of making cartoons and want to create voices for your animal or robot characters, this could be a good option for you.
- The ability to “write” on AI. What this means is that you can make minor alterations to your text as you go along to adjust the final product to your specific wishes.
Descript does have some limitations with its editing and is fairly standardized in only having one version of the program. So, if you are looking for a program with options for upgrading, you might look for something else.
Pricing
Descript offers three different plans based on a per-person, per-month pricing scheme. The lowest level is “Creator,” which costs $12 per month. Options go up to “Business” at $40 per month.
Resemble.AI
Resemble.AI is a program with a lot of interesting features. These include:
- A finely-tuned AI tool that can produce difficult sounds easily
- A fast processing time for people who are in a hurry. The program can produce a clone in just over ten minutes.
- The ability to integrate different sources, including the Web and other devices.
There are a few drawbacks to this program. It is somewhat limited in the customization options that it provides. And the quality is sometimes limited depending on the type of sound that you want to produce. It would be best to look at customer reviews for exactly what you want to do before you get started.
Pricing
Resemble.AI’s pricing starts at the “Creator” level with a rate of $29 per month. There are three different options, the highest being “Growth” at $299 per month. The highest option allows for the greatest degree of customization.
Conclusion
Voice cloning software is becoming a big thing these days. There are so many options on the market that it may be hard to know which one to choose. In order to make the right decision for your personal needs, you should first educate yourself about the technology and how it works. Then you should think about what exactly you want to get out of the software. Are you using it for work? For recreation? With a group? Then, you can start looking for the right product. The level of user-friendliness that you require will depend on how comfortable you are manipulating the functions yourself. Always check out customer reviews before committing to any particular program. If you go about the process systematically, you should end up making a good choice.