How to use Text to Speech in Powtoon Studio

Text to Speech (TTS) converts written text into a realistic voice-over inside Powtoon Studio. You can choose from a wide range of languages, accents, and voice styles, then apply the generated audio directly to your Powtoon or use it to drive character lip-sync.

Plan requirement: Text to Speech requires a Corporate or Enterprise license.

Opening the Text to Speech module

There are two ways to open the Text to Speech module in Powtoon Studio.

Option 1 — via the Audio tab

Click the Audio button in the library menu on the right side of the screen.
Click Text to Speech.

Option 2 — via the upload media button

Click the Upload media button.
Click Voiceover.
Click Text to Speech.

Adding Text to Speech to the timeline

Once the Text to Speech module is open, you can type your script, choose a language and voice, preview the audio, and then apply it to your Powtoon.

Generate a voice-over

Type your script into the main text box.
Select the accent you want from the accent menu.
Select the voice actor you want to use.
Click Let's hear to preview the generated audio.

The voice-over generates automatically and begins playing when it is ready. You can adjust the text, language, or voice actor at any time. Each change requires you to generate a new voice-over before previewing again.

Apply the voice-over to your Powtoon

Rename the audio file if needed. The default name is the first few words of your script. Click the existing name and type your preferred name — for example, Intro voiceover.
Click Apply. The audio file is added to your timeline.

Using Text to Speech for lip-sync

You can use a Text to Speech voice-over to drive lip-sync on a supported character, so the character's mouth movements match the generated audio.

Select a lip-sync supported character on the stage.
Click the Voice button on the character.
Select Text to Speech from the dropdown menu.
Type your script into the main text box.
Select the accent you want.
Select the voice actor you want to use.
Click Let's hear to preview the audio.

Apply the lip-sync voice-over

Rename the audio file if needed. Click the existing name and type your preferred name — for example, Intro voiceover.
Click Apply.

Powtoon will begin syncing the voice-over with the character's lip movements. This may take a few minutes depending on the length of the audio.

Editing existing Text to Speech audio

You can edit a Text to Speech file after it has been created. Editing always produces a new copy of the file — the original is not overwritten.

Edit from the My Voiceover section

In the My Voiceover section, locate the Text to Speech audio file you want to change.
Click the three-dot menu next to the file.
Click Edit a Copy. The Text to Speech module opens with the existing text loaded.
Make your changes, then click Save. A new copy of the file is generated. The original file remains unchanged.

Edit from the timeline

Locate the voice-over on the timeline.
Click the Edit Voiceover button. The Text to Speech module opens.
Make your changes as needed.
Click Generate to apply the updated voice-over.

Note: Editing from the My Voiceover section creates a new copy and leaves the original intact. Editing from the timeline updates the voice-over in place using the Generate action.

Text to Speech languages and accents

Text to Speech supports the following languages and regional accents. Select your preferred language and accent inside the Text to Speech module before generating your voice-over.

English — United States, Australian, British, Indian, New Zealand, South African, Welsh
Spanish — United States, European, Mexico
Catalan
Chinese, Mandarin
Danish
Dutch
French — French Canadian
German — Austrian
Hindi
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese — Brazil, European
Romanian
Russian
Swedish
Welsh