ElevenLabs API: A Comprehensive Guide to Voice Synthesis, Cloning, and Real-Time Conversion

Introduction

Imagine transforming any text into a captivating voice at the touch of a button. ElevenLabs is revolutionizing this experience with its state-of-the-art voice synthesis and AI-driven audio solutions, setting new standards in the AI industry. This article takes you through ElevenLabs’ remarkable features, offers a step-by-step demo on effectively using its API, and highlights various real-world applications. Let’s discover how you can fully leverage the power of ElevenLabs and elevate your audio content to new heights.

Overview

1. ElevenLabs is transforming text-to-speech technology with advanced AI voice synthesis and audio solutions, offering a step-by-step guide to using its API effectively.
2. The platform provides voice synthesis, text-to-speech, voice cloning, real-time voice conversion, and custom voice models for diverse applications.
3. Instructions for using ElevenLabs’ API include signing up, setting up your environment, and implementing basic text-to-speech and sound generation functionalities.
4. Demonstrates using ElevenLabs for speech-to-speech conversion, showcasing how to modify voices in real-time and save the processed audio.
5. Highlights real-world applications such as media production, customer service, and branding, illustrating how ElevenLabs’ technology can enhance various sectors.

What is ElevenLabs API?

The ElevenLabs API is a set of programmatic interfaces provided by ElevenLabs, enabling developers to integrate advanced voice synthesis and audio processing capabilities into their applications. Here are the key features and functionalities of the ElevenLabs API:

• Voice Synthesis
• Text-to-speech (TTS)
• Voice Cloning
• Real-Time Voice Conversion
• Custom Voice Models

The API is designed to be easily integrated with applications using RESTful web services, and it requires an API key for authentication and access.

ElevenLabs Features

Here’s the overview of the features:

1. Voice Synthesis

ElevenLabs offers state-of-the-art voice synthesis technology, enabling the creation of lifelike speech from text. The platform supports multiple languages and accents, ensuring a broad reach for global applications.

2. Text-to-speech (TTS)

The TTS feature transforms written text into natural-sounding audio. With high-quality voice outputs, it is ideal for applications in audiobooks, podcasts, and accessibility tools.

3. Voice Cloning

Voice cloning allows users to replicate a specific voice. This feature is particularly useful for media production, gaming, and personalized user experiences.

4. Real-Time Voice Conversion

This feature enables real-time conversion of one voice to another, which can be applied in live streaming, virtual assistants, and customer support solutions.

5. Custom Voice Models

ElevenLabs provides the capability to create custom voice models, tailored to specific needs. This feature is beneficial for branding, content creation, and interactive applications.

Also read: An end-to-end Guide on Converting Text to Speech and Speech to Text

Getting Started with ElevenLabs API

Step 1: Sign Up and API Access

• First, visit the ElevenLabs website and create an account. Once you’re signed in, head to the API section to retrieve your unique API key.
• After signing in, navigate to the API section to obtain your API key.

Step 2: Setup Your Environment

Make sure Python is installed on your computer. You can download and install Python from the official Python website.

Step 3: Basic Usage

Text-to-Speech

import requests

CHUNK_SIZE = 1024

url = "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/text-to-speech/EXAVITQu4vr4xnSDxMaL" 

headers = {

  "Accept": "audio/mpeg",

  "Content-Type": "application/json",

  "xi-api-key": ""

}

data = {

  "text": '''Born and raised in the charming south, 

  I can add a touch of sweet southern hospitality 

  to your audiobooks and podcasts''',

  "model_id": "eleven_monolingual_v1",

  "voice_settings": {

    "stability": 0.5,

    "similarity_boost": 0.5

  }

}

response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)

if response.status_code == 200:

    with open('output.mp3', 'wb') as f:

        for chunk in response.iter_content(chunk_size=CHUNK_SIZE):

            if chunk:

                f.write(chunk)

    print("Audio saved as output.mp3")

else:

    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

    print(response.text)

Output

You can choose to use a different voice by changing the voice_id, which should be passed in the URL; you can find the available voices here.

Sound Effects (Sound Generation) Example

import requests

url = "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/sound-generation"

payload = {

    "text": "Car Crash",

    "duration_seconds": 123,

    "prompt_influence": 123

}

headers = {  "Accept": "audio/mpeg",

  "Content-Type": "application/json",

  "xi-api-key": ""

          }

response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)

if response.status_code == 200:

    with open('output_sound.mp3', 'wb') as f:

        for chunk in response.iter_content(chunk_size=CHUNK_SIZE):

            if chunk:

                f.write(chunk)

    print("Audio saved as output_sound.mp3")

else:

    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

    print(response.text)

Output

You can replace the text in the payload to generate different sorts of sound effects using Elevenlabs API

Step 4: Advanced Features

Speech to Speech

import requests 

import json  

CHUNK_SIZE = 1024  # Size of chunks to read/write at a time

XI_API_KEY = ""  

VOICE_ID = "N2lVS1w4EtoT3dr4eOWO"  # ID of the voice model to use

AUDIO_FILE_PATH = "output.mp3"  # Path to the input audio file

OUTPUT_PATH = "output_new.mp3"  # Path to save the output audio file

# Construct the URL for the Speech-to-Speech API request

sts_url = f"https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/speech-to-speech/{VOICE_ID}/stream"

# Set up headers for the API request, including the API key for authentication

headers = {

    "Accept": "application/json",

    "xi-api-key": XI_API_KEY

}

# Set up the data payload for the API request, including model ID and voice settings

# Note: voice settings are converted to a JSON string

data = {

    "model_id": "eleven_english_sts_v2",

    "voice_settings": json.dumps({

        "stability": 0.5,

        "similarity_boost": 0.8,

        "style": 0.0,

        "use_speaker_boost": True

    })

}

# Set up the files to send with the request, including the input audio file

files = {

    "audio": open(AUDIO_FILE_PATH, "rb")

}

# Make the POST request to the STS API with headers, data, and files, enabling streaming response

response = requests.post(sts_url, headers=headers, data=data, files=files, stream=True)

# Check if the request was successful

if response.ok:

    # Open the output file in write-binary mode

    with open(OUTPUT_PATH, "wb") as f:

        # Read the response in chunks and write to the file

        for chunk in response.iter_content(chunk_size=CHUNK_SIZE):

            f.write(chunk)

    # Inform the user of success

    print("Audio stream saved successfully.")

else:

    # Print the error message if the request was not successful

    print(response.text)

Output

I took the output from text to speech model and gave it as an input for the Speech-To-Speech model, you can notice that the voice has changed in the new output audio file.

Also read: Speech to Text Conversion in Python – A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Real-World Applications of ElevenLabs

1. Media Production: ElevenLabs’ voice synthesis functionality can be utilized to create audiobooks, podcasts, and video game characters.
2. Customer Service: Real-time voice conversion and custom voice models can enhance interactive voice response (IVR) systems
3. Branding and Marketing: Brands can use custom voice models to maintain a consistent auditory identity across various media.

Conclusion

ElevenLabs offers an AI voice technology suite with various features, such as converting text to speech, cloning voices, modifying voices in real-time, and creating custom voice models. Following the instructions in this guide will help you explore and leverage ElevenLabs’ functionalities for numerous creative and practical applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mounish V

I'm a tech enthusiast, graduated from Vellore Institute of Technology. I'm working as a Data Science Trainee right now. I am very much interested in Deep Learning and Generative AI.