AI Voice Reader
Local text-to-speech for document proof-reading, review, and accessibility inside VS Code.
What It Does
Use your operating system's speech engine to listen back to Markdown, notes, and source files without an API key. CX AI Voice Reader splits long documents into reliable paragraph-sized playback chunks and can use any system voice you select.
Features
| Feature |
Description |
| Read Selection |
Read selected text, or the current document when nothing is selected |
| Read Document |
Narrate entire files from start to finish |
| Markdown-aware |
Strips #, **, backticks, and code fences before speaking |
| Cross-platform |
PowerShell TTS on Windows, say on macOS, espeak on Linux |
| Configurable speed |
Adjust playback rate from 0.5× to 2.0× |
| System voice picker |
Choose an installed operating system voice or return to the system default |
| Long-document playback |
Reads in manageable chunks to avoid shell argument limits |
| Right-click menus |
Right-click any editor → Read Selection, Read Document, or Stop; right-click in Explorer → Read File |
Requirements
No external tools required. Uses your operating system's built-in text-to-speech engine.
| OS |
Engine |
Status |
| Windows |
System.Speech.Synthesis via PowerShell |
Pre-installed |
| macOS |
say command |
Pre-installed |
| Linux |
espeak |
sudo apt install espeak if missing |
Commands
| Command |
Where |
Description |
Voice Reader: Read Selection |
Palette · Editor right-click (selection) |
Read selected text (or current line) |
Voice Reader: Read Entire Document |
Palette · Editor right-click |
Read the whole active file |
Voice Reader: Read File... |
Palette · Explorer right-click |
Pick any text file to read |
Voice Reader: Stop |
Palette · Editor right-click |
Stop playback immediately |
Voice Reader: Set Voice |
Palette |
Choose an available system voice |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
voiceReader.rate |
1.0 |
Speed (0.5–2.0) |
voiceReader.stripMarkdown |
true |
Remove Markdown before speaking |
voiceReader.voice |
`` |
System voice name; leave empty for the OS default |
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License
MIT
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