What is Azure AI Speech?
Azure AI Speech is an AI service for speech processing that converts spoken language to text and synthesizes text into natural speech. The service supports over 100 languages and enables real-time transcription, voice assistants, and accessible applications.
Core Features
- Speech-to-Text: Transcribes spoken language in real-time or as batch processing
- Text-to-Speech: Generates natural-sounding speech from text in over 140 languages
- Speech Translation: Translates spoken language in real-time to other languages
- Speaker Recognition: Identifies and verifies speakers based on their voice
- Custom Speech: Train models with domain-specific vocabulary
- Custom Neural Voice: Create unique brand voices from speech recordings
Typical Use Cases
Meeting Transcription: Companies automatically transcribe meetings making them searchable. Integration with Microsoft Teams enables live captions and post-meeting transcript editing.
Voice Assistants and IVR: Call centers use Speech-to-Text for intelligent voice menus. Customer concerns are automatically recognized and routed to the right department.
Accessibility: Apps and websites offer read-aloud functionality for visually impaired users. Text-to-Speech makes content accessible while Speech-to-Text enables voice input.
Benefits
- Natural-sounding voices through Neural Text-to-Speech
- Customizable to industry vocabulary and accents
- Container deployment possible for on-premises scenarios
- SDKs for all major programming languages and platforms
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure AI Speech: We implement transcription solutions for meetings and call centers, build voice-controlled interfaces, and integrate Speech services into accessible applications.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Which languages does Azure AI Speech support?
Speech-to-Text supports over 100 languages and dialects. Text-to-Speech offers natural voices in over 140 languages with multiple voices per language.
Can I create custom voices?
Yes, Custom Neural Voice enables training a unique voice with your own speech recordings. The voice sounds natural and can be customized to your brand.
Does Speech-to-Text work in real-time?
Yes, Real-time Transcription delivers results while speaking. Batch Transcription processes pre-recorded audio files more efficiently.
How accurate is the transcription?
Standard models achieve high accuracy. Custom Speech enables training with domain-specific vocabulary for even better results in specialized fields.
Can Azure AI Speech run on-premises?
Yes, Speech containers can be deployed on-premises or in your own cloud environment. This enables use cases with strict data residency requirements.
