Orpheus Embedded for Mac brings the Orpheus speech synthesizer to VoiceOver on Apple silicon Macs. Speech is produced locally on the Mac and spoken text is not sent over the internet.
The first Orpheus utterance after VoiceOver starts can take a few seconds while the embedded engine is prepared. The settings application does not need to remain open.
VoiceOver controls rate, pitch, volume, language, and voice. The Orpheus application adds Intonation, Head size, and Voicing. A value of 50 percent is the neutral head size. The Test section lets you audition every included voice without changing the active VoiceOver voice.
Choose an installed macOS voice to use only when Orpheus cannot produce audio. Kate is preferred on a new English installation when available. The fallback does not send text over the internet.
Orpheus checks for signed updates at the selected interval whenever its settings application is opened. Check Now performs an immediate check. Every update must match the embedded cryptographic key, SHA-256 hash, application identity, Apple Developer team, and notarization ticket.
VoiceOver can continue speaking with the loaded provider while the settings application is updated. Restart VoiceOver when convenient afterward so it loads the new provider.
Muting while Orpheus is actively producing a long utterance can be delayed until macOS delivers the cancellation request. Muting while idle is immediate.
Orpheus was developed by Dolphin Computer Access. The embedded compatibility runtime uses BoxedWine. Orpheus Embedded for Mac and its VoiceOver integration are maintained by Andre Louis.