MBROLA
Don’t want to install MBROLA? Drop the file here.
The first 20 minutes of any recording are transcribed free: a recording up to 20 minutes transcribes in full, a longer one is previewed, and a pack from $6 (500 minutes) transcribes the rest and opens every export, and credits never expire.
Diphone-based TTS engine — paired with eSpeak NG for more natural output.
Best for eSpeak NG users wanting more natural diphone-based voices in 35+ languages. Pricing: free (AGPL since 2018).
What it is
MBROLA is a diphone-based speech synthesizer often paired with eSpeak NG as the voice backend — eSpeak handles phonemization and MBROLA produces audio. Re-released under AGPL in 2018 after years as freeware. Consent posture: synthetic-only.
Watch out for: Voice databases vary in quality; some languages still classical-sounding.
Install / use
sudo apt install mbrolaWhat people actually do with MBROLA-style transcription
The tool is the means. These are the jobs — each one priced at published rates, each one wired up on its own page.
Features
| Speaker diarization | No |
| Word-level timestamps | No |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | 35 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
MBROLA vs Whipscribe
| Feature | MBROLA | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | free (AGPL since 2018) | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | — | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | — | Yes |
| Streaming | — | No |
| Languages | 35 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to MBROLA
Frequently asked about MBROLA
Is MBROLA free?
Yes. MBROLA is free and open source (free (AGPL since 2018)).
Does MBROLA work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
MBROLA runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
How many languages does MBROLA support?
MBROLA lists 35 languages.
Does MBROLA identify different speakers?
No. MBROLA does not label speakers; a conversation comes back as one continuous text. If you need speaker labels, that is a separate tool or a different service.
Does MBROLA give word-level timestamps?
No — MBROLA produces segment or sentence timing only, so subtitle cues can land mid-word.
Can MBROLA transcribe live audio?
No — MBROLA works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is MBROLA HIPAA compliant?
MBROLA does not claim HIPAA compliance. For PHI, run it on infrastructure you control or choose a service that will sign a BAA.
What are the limitations of MBROLA?
Voice databases vary in quality; some languages still classical-sounding.
Who is MBROLA best for?
eSpeak NG users wanting more natural diphone-based voices in 35+ languages.
Does MBROLA run offline?
MBROLA runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use MBROLA in the browser?
No — MBROLA is a Linux, macOS and Windows application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the MBROLA source code?
On GitHub at github.com/numediart/MBROLA. It is maintained by Mons University / open source.
What kind of tool is MBROLA?
In this directory MBROLA is filed under tts as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to MBROLA?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/mbrola-alternatives comparing MBROLA with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
Can I automate MBROLA-style transcription without running it myself?
Yes. If what you want is transcripts rather than the tool itself, Whipscribe does the same job as a hosted API: submit a file or URL, poll a job id, pull the result as txt, json, srt, vtt or docx. $0.012 a minute — about $0.72 an audio hour — bought as credits that never expire. The automation recipes on this site show it wired to Drive folders, Zoom recordings, S3 buckets and no-code platforms.
Whipscribe is a hosted transcription service. If you want transcripts without running infrastructure, paste a URL or drop a file in the form below — you'll have a transcript in seconds.
Transcribe your recordings
Running MBROLA yourself? Send the same file here and compare the transcript. Transcribe any language, any recording · Transcription services from $0.29 an hour · Transcribe from any meeting or recording platform · How to transcribe, step by step
Explore
All transcription tools · By language · By platform · By file format · How-to guides · Transcription services · Transcription API · Pricing
Have the recording already?
Skip the setup and send the file or the link: see MP3 to text for long recordings, transcribing a podcast episode and the SRT generator.
Comparing tools before you pay?
If you would rather pay a service than run software yourself: see how the best transcription services compare, cheap transcription services and the real cost per hour and how our transcription services work.