Wuxia Audiobooks (or "How to increase the number of potential translators)

[athlonkmf]

I've always been a fan of chinese novels, of course starting with Jin Yong's wuxia stories. I have been reading (and waiting for) translations because although I can understand spoken chinese, I can't read very well.

But due to some changes in life (new job and a longer commute) I've recently found a new way to enjoy chinese novels.

I thought I might share the method with you guys, because I'm pretty sure majority of the users here is in the same situation as I am (can understand, but can't read chinese)

If you own an Apple iDevice like an iPod or iPad, you might already know that you can select some chinese text and let your iDevice speak it out for you. It works splendidly. If you were to enable "settings->general->accessibility->speak screen" AND download the appropriate "Voices" you can actually listen to a whole textfile. (I use Hong Kong->SinJi)

Now that's neat, but cumbersome. I've still managed to "read" like 8 novels in past two months like this while commuting.

But if you have a Mac like me, then here's the true Hidden Technique:

Go to System Preferences-> Dictation & Speech. Open System Voice and select Customise. Download the voice you like with enhanced quality.

Then get the textfile (or webpage) of any novel you like. Select the text and right click on it to get the submenu. Select services->Add to itunes as spoken text. Select the correct system voice and after waiting for awhile you get something like this: 绝世武神 Peerless Martial God Preview.m4a

It's IMO the best (and probably the only) way to actually get Chinese audiobooks. It opens up a whole new world. And if you want to help translating novels, this works way better than using google translate.

[TangerineWave]

You could try this website: http://www.lrts.me/index

[darkcser]

I've finished all of DLDL by listening to it on the iPhone using the default Mandarin voice. It's surprisingly good and pleasant to hear. The default English voice however is terrible.

One annoying thing I've found though is that text to speech looses its position when you have an incoming call, and I have to search around with my first grade reading level to find where it left off. Too bad it can't highlight and scroll text as it reads along.

[athlonkmf]

Too bad it can't highlight and scroll text as it reads along.

It can. Check 'highlight text' in the speech settings. You might increase your reading level that way.

Also, I recommend to actually create audiobooks if you can. It works much better as it remembers where you're left off.

[darkcser]

It can. Check 'highlight text' in the speech settings. You might increase your reading level that way.

Also, I recommend to actually create audiobooks if you can. It works much better as it remembers where you're left off.

Thanks for the tip regarding the highlight! I'm still getting used to the iPhone.

What are you using to create audiobooks? Is it through iTunes as mentioned above or something else?

Also where are you getting the original Chinese from? I've been using baishuku but it has these sketchy pop ups.