Discord text to speech
Use Discord's built-in /tts command, add a text-to-speech bot to a voice channel, or generate a custom AI voice and play the MP3 from a soundboard.
How to use /tts on Discord
- Enable TTS in your settings. Go to User Settings → Accessibility → Text-to-Speech and toggle it on. Choose whether to allow TTS for all messages or only when you use /tts.
- Type your message with /tts. In any text channel, type
/tts your message hereand press Enter. Everyone in the channel with TTS enabled will hear the message read aloud. - Check server permissions. Server admins can disable the Send TTS Messages permission per role and per channel. If /tts does not work, the admin has likely turned it off.
How to add a TTS bot
Native /tts uses the listener's system voice. A bot or soundboard plays one shared voice in the voice channel.
- Soundboard bot. Generate an MP3 below, then upload it to a soundboard bot such as Craig or Soundboard and play it in the voice channel.
- Custom bot. A developer can add a command like
!say Hello everyonethat calls the SpeakLucid TTS API and streams the audio into the voice channel with discord.js or discord.py. - Invite and permissions. The bot needs Connect and Speak in the voice channel. Limit how often each member can trigger speech so the channel does not fill with spam.
Preview a Discord announcement
Generate a server announcement or welcome message, then upload the MP3 to Discord or a soundboard bot.
111 / 1,000 characters
Where built-in Discord TTS falls short
Discord's /tts command reads the message with the listener's default speech engine (SAPI on Windows, VoiceOver on macOS). Voice quality depends on that device, there is one voice per platform, and server admins can turn TTS off. There is no control over speed, pitch, or accent.
Custom AI voices for Discord
A soundboard MP3 is enough for announcements, welcome messages, and event intros. For a live voice-channel bot, stream the SpeakLucid TTS API response into a Discord voice connection with discord.js or discord.py. A developer who has shipped a bot before can wire that up in about 30 minutes.
Use cases for TTS on Discord
Live streaming and content creation
Streamers use TTS to read chat messages or donation alerts aloud. Custom AI voices add personality to the stream and keep the audience entertained. Different voice presets for different alert types create a more dynamic experience.
Accessibility
Community members who have difficulty reading text can benefit from TTS in text channels. A high-quality AI voice makes this experience more pleasant than the default system voice. See our accessibility use case for more on this topic.
Server announcements
Important announcements—event times, rule changes, new features—get more attention when delivered as audio. Generate a professional voiceover and pin the audio file in your announcements channel.
Gaming and roleplay servers
NPCs, quest givers, and story narrators can all be voiced with AI. Generate character voices and play them during tabletop RPG sessions or in-game events for a more immersive experience.
Tips for using TTS effectively on Discord
- Keep messages short—long TTS messages annoy listeners and get skipped.
- Use clear punctuation so the AI voice pauses naturally between phrases.
- Set rate limits if you build a bot—prevent spam by limiting TTS requests per user.
- Choose a distinct voice for your bot so members can instantly recognize when it is speaking.
- Test audio levels in a private voice channel before going live.
Related guides and resources
TTS API documentation
Build a custom Discord bot with the SpeakLucid API.
Accessibility use case
TTS for inclusive digital experiences.
How to make an AI voiceover
End-to-end tutorial for AI voice generation.
Gaming use case
AI voices for games, NPCs, and interactive experiences.