Show HN: Orate – On-device neural text-to-speech queue for Mac
2 hours ago
- Orate is a Mac app that reads selected text aloud using on-device text-to-speech
- Capture text from any app by selecting it and pressing L or right-clicking
- Collected items go into a listening queue with on-device rendering and natural pauses
- Playback controls include play, pause, scrub, speed adjustment, and voice changes via menu bar
- The app lives in the menu bar to avoid dock clutter and allow quick access
- Orate processes everything on-device with no account, cloud, or tracking for privacy
- Includes 14 built-in voices (American & British), an optional HD voice, and speed from 0.5x to 2x
- Offers a real queue with up next, tags, notes, and resume-where-you-left-off features
- One-time payment of $4.99 for a perpetual license with minor updates included, free 14-day trial
- Beneficial for users with dyslexia, low vision, ADHD, eye strain, or when hands-free listening is needed
- Works fully offline on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later