How to enable Text-to-Speech (TTS) for Speech Services

Question

I have an active Azure Speech Services resource under the Standard (S0) tier in the East US region.

My API Key works for listing available voices (voices/list), but any Text-to-Speech (TTS) request returns a "404 Resource Not Found" error.

However, my Speech Services resource does not provide the correct TTS endpoint (tts.speech.microsoft.com).

How do I request activation of the Text-to-Speech (TTS) service for my subscription so that I can generate speech audio.

Answer 1

Hi ,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

The "404 Resource Not Found" error for Text-to-Speech (TTS) in Azure Speech Services usually happens because TTS is not enabled by default for all Speech Services resources, even under the Standard (S0) tier.

Steps to Enable TTS for Your Azure Speech Services Resource:

1. Check Region Support
   • You mentioned your resource is in East US, which supports TTS. However, Microsoft sometimes restricts TTS access in specific regions for new subscriptions.
     • You can verify supported features in your region by checking Azure Region Availability.
2. Ensure You're Using the Correct Endpoint
   • TTS requires requests to be sent to

     https://<region>.tts.speech.microsoft.com/cognitiveservices/v1

3. Ensure your request includes:

• Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key: <Your API Key>
• Content-Type: application/ssml+xml or application/json Confirm the Speech Services Pricing Tier
  • You mentioned using the Standard (S0) tier, which should support TTS.
    • Double-check in the Azure Portal:
    • Go to Azure Speech Services --> Your resource - Under Pricing Tier, confirm it's S0 (Standard).

Request Activation of TTS for Your Subscription

• Microsoft sometimes requires explicit activation for TTS due to content moderation policies.
  • To request activation, submit a support ticket:
  • Go to the Azure Support Portal.
  • Select:
    • Issue Type: Technical
    • Service: Cognitive Services --> Speech Services
      • Problem Type: Text-to-Speech
      • Summary: "Request activation of Text-to-Speech (TTS) for my Speech Services resource in East US"
      • Details: Mention that you have an active S0-tier Speech Services resource and provide your resource name, region, and subscription ID.
• Try a Different Region (As a Last Resort)
  • If your activation request is delayed, try deploying a new Speech Services resource in West US or Southeast Asia, these regions are known to have more relaxed activation policies.

After submitting the request, Microsoft typically approves TTS activation within a few hours to a couple of days.

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