How do I do text to speech on a Mac?
Open speechma.com in any browser, paste your text into the box above and choose a voice. Enter the 5-digit code, click generate, then click download. The MP3 appears in your Downloads folder in Finder and in the Dock’s Downloads stack.
That is the whole workflow. It suits YouTubers who edit in Final Cut, teachers building Keynote lessons, podcasters assembling intros in GarageBand and small business owners making product videos in iMovie. Each conversion reads up to 2,000 characters (about two minutes of speech), and the audio is cleared for commercial use.
How to make a voiceover MP3 on a Mac
- Prepare your scriptWrite it in Pages, Notes or Google Docs. Press Command + A, then Command + C to copy.
- Paste into SpeechmaClick the text box above and press Command + V.
- Pick a voiceFilter by language and country. Preview a few and star your favorites so they are at the top next time.
- Fine-tuneLower the speed a step for tutorials. Add commas or semicolons where you want the voice to breathe.
- Generate and downloadType the 5-digit code, click generate, then download. Use “download all” to get several clips as one ZIP.
- Import into your editorDrag the MP3 from Finder into the iMovie, Final Cut or GarageBand timeline.
Speechma vs the Mac’s built-in speech
macOS can read selected text aloud through its accessibility settings. Both are useful; they do different jobs.
| macOS built-in speech | Speechma in the browser | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Read text on screen to you | Produce a downloadable voiceover file |
| Saves an MP3 easily | Not directly | Yes, one click |
| Voice range | Apple system voices you download | 1,700+ voices, 75+ languages and accents |
| Works offline | Yes | No, needs internet |
| Good for | Proofreading, listening to articles | YouTube, courses, ads, presentations, podcasts |
On recent macOS versions the built-in options are under System Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak (called Spoken Content on earlier versions).
Where do the files go, and how do I organize them?
Safari and Chrome save to the Downloads folder by default. In Finder, press Option + Command + L to jump there. If you are making a lot of clips for one project, create a project folder and move them in right away, numbered in order: 01-intro.mp3, 02-features.mp3 and so on. Editors sort them correctly and you will not mix up takes.
For step-by-step help in Apple’s video editor, see how to add a voiceover in iMovie. For narrated slides, the same MP3 works in Keynote and in PowerPoint for Mac.
In Keynote, select a slide, choose Insert, then Choose, and pick the MP3, or simply drag it from Finder onto the slide. If your MacBook syncs with iCloud Drive, files you save there also appear on your iPhone and iPad, which is handy when you edit on the go. Working on a podcast in GarageBand? Drag the file onto an empty track, then trim the start and end so the voice comes in right on the beat.
Mac tips for natural-sounding audio
- Write numbers and abbreviations the way they should be spoken: “four K” instead of “4K” if the voice stumbles.
- Generate one clip per scene so a later script change means re-making one file, not all of them.
- Use the same voice and speed for every clip in a project; write the settings in your script document.
- In GarageBand, add light compression to the voice track if it sits under music.
- For tips on pacing and phrasing, read how to make AI voiceover sound human.
Long scripts or a lot of clips?
SpeechmaPRO.com takes 10,000 characters per conversion with no captcha, no ads and dark mode. Mac developers can add voices to their own apps through the Speechma API, from $9/month.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Speechma app for Mac?
Is it free to use on a Mac?
Where are my downloaded MP3s?
Can I use the audio in iMovie or Final Cut Pro?
Can my Mac read text aloud without making a file?
Can I download several clips at once?
Make better voiceovers, faster
- New voices and features the day they launch
- Script templates and tricks that make AI voices sound human
- Creator stories, community picks and early access
