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Can You Convert PDFs to Audio with AI?

by David Beníček

Wondering if you can convert PDFs to audio? You absolutely can and it’s easier than you think.

This guide will walk you through the process of converting text to speech using PDF AI tools.

Why Convert PDFs to Audio?

Reading lengthy PDFs can be time-consuming, but converting them into audio files changes the game. AI-powered tools now allow you to listen to your documents, making multitasking and learning more efficient. This is great for students wanting to "read" while commuting or researchers processing dense material quickly. With AI tools and text-to-speech platforms, you can summarize, extract, and convert PDF text into audio, all with just a few clicks.

Step 1: Summarize Your PDF with Smallpdf's AI

Here’s how to start your AI PDF to audio transformation Smallpdf’s AI PDF Summarizer:

I. Visit the AI PDF Summarizer

The AI PDF Summarizer will be your starting point.

II. Upload Your PDF:

Drag and drop your PDF or upload it directly from cloud storage platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox. Smallpdf supports text-based and image-based PDFs.

III. Summarize Your Document:

Use the AI Summarizer to condense long documents into key points. Need specific details? Use the AI PDF chat to ask questions or request summaries for specific sections.

IV. Extract Key Information:

Once your summary is ready, use the click-to-copy feature to grab the most relevant content.

Summarize Your PDF with Smallpdf's AI

Summarize Your PDF with Smallpdf's AI

This step ensures that your document is easy to process and streamlined for audio conversion.

Step 2: Convert Summarized Text to AI Audio

Now that you’ve summarized your document, it’s time to create your audio file. Here’s how to do it with a tool like ScreenApp or other text-to-speech PDF platforms:

I. Access a PDF to Audio Converter:

Visit a platform like ScreenApp.io (or your preferred text-to-speech tool) to begin the conversion process.

II. Paste the Summarized Text:

Copy the extracted text from Smallpdf and paste it into the input field of the text-to-speech tool.

III. Customize the Audio:

Many platforms offer options to adjust voice, tone, and speed. Choose a friendly, engaging voice that enhances your listening experience.

IV. Download the Audio File:

Once the conversion is done, download your audio file, and you’re all set to listen to your PDF hands-free! This process works whether you're on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device.

Why Use Smallpdf for PDF Prep?

Even though Smallpdf doesn’t directly offer text-to-speech PDF conversion, it makes your workflow so much simpler with its powerful AI tools.

Smallpdf allows you to securely process PDFs by summarizing, extracting text, and preparing information for the next step in your workflow.

Additional features at Smallpdf include:

  • Chat with PDF to interact with documents conversationally.
  • Extract PDF Pages for hard-to-edit documents. Combine these features with a text-to-speech platform, and you have everything you need to create audio files from your PDFs.

Pros of Converting PDFs to AI Audio

  • Accessibility: Listen to content while on the go—perfect for multitaskers.
  • Time Efficiency: Skip the hassle of manual reading by jumping straight to key points.
  • Customizability: Tailor the voice and playback speed to suit your preferences.
  • Versatility: Works across multiple industries and use cases, from academics to businesses.

FAQs

How can AI convert PDF content into audio format?

By using AI-powered tools like Smallpdf for summarization and importing text into text-to-speech platforms, you can create easy-to-listen audio files from PDF content.

Which tools offer PDF-to-audio functionality?

For audio conversion, tools like ScreenApp.io, NaturalReader, and other text-to-speech platforms are great options.

Are there customizable options like changing the voice or speed?

Yes, most text-to-speech platforms allow you to adjust audio features like voice tone, speed, and even accent to match your preferences.

Can PDFs with images or tables be converted to audio?

Absolutely! Smallpdf can extract text from image-heavy PDFs, while some advanced tools can narrate even the alt-text of images and descriptions of tables.

Is PDF-to-audio conversion available offline?

Some tools may offer this functionality through desktop apps, but most advanced AI-based processes work online to ensure accuracy and adaptability.

Unlock the Potential of AI PDF to Audio

Converting PDFs to audio with AI simplifies how we engage with documents, making even the longest files accessible and digestible.

Start with Smallpdf to summarize and extract content seamlessly and finish with a text-to-speech tool to bring your PDFs to life as audio files.

David Beníček – Product & Engineering Manager
David Beníček
Product & Engineering Manager @Smallpdf