Feature Request: Native Acapela Voice Library Integration & Cross-Pipeline Voice Sharing
Associated Feedback
- Feedback Assistant Ticket: FB23666342
1. The Core Proposal
On behalf of the assistive technology and screen-reader community, I am requesting the native system-level integration of the comprehensive Acapela Voice Library into iOS and macOS. This library should be added as a native synthesizer tier alongside existing options like Eloquence.
Additionally, we request cross-pipeline voice compatibility, allowing the Siri assistant to utilize configured VoiceOver voice assets, and allowing VoiceOver to utilize Expressive Siri neural models.
2. Structural UI Layout Concept
To maintain system cleanliness while maximizing user choice, we propose grouping the Acapela catalog exactly like the current native Eloquence implementation:
- A main, expandable heading titled Acapela inside the Speech rotor settings.
- Under this heading, voices should be strictly categorized by global regional dialects (including English U.S., English UK, Australia, India, Scotland, and all other languages offered to AT vendors).
- This deployment must include all specialized character profiles (such as the Little Creature variant) and their pediatric/child voices catalog.
3. Addressing Ear Fatigue and Equity
While parametric synthesizers are excellent for high-speed text scanning, extended multi-hour document audits cause severe cognitive ear fatigue due to compressed, robotic waveforms.
Integrating the full Acapela catalog—including both 22kHz HQ (High Quality) profiles for natural reading stamina and 22kHz CO (Colibri/Compact) profiles for rapid responsiveness—allows blind and low-vision power users to pick their preferred acoustic texture. Natively licensing this library eliminates the unfair financial barrier of third-party lifetime licensing fees, creating true out-of-the-box system equity.
If you want to check out my post on expressive Siri, see below.
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