Herald v0.3.0 — C# Rewrite
Complete rewrite from Python to C# (.NET 8 WinForms). Now runs offline-first with local neural TTS.
What's New
- Kokoro TTS Engine (default) — Studio-quality local neural voices via KokoroSharp. 27 voices, runs completely offline. ~320MB model auto-downloads on first use.
- 3 TTS Engines — Kokoro (local neural), Edge TTS (cloud neural), SAPI (Windows built-in). Switch freely via tray menu.
- Self-contained executable — No Python or .NET runtime required. Single portable exe.
- Verbal error alerts — Errors are spoken aloud via SAPI fallback so you're never left with silence.
- 105 automated tests — Full xUnit test suite covering all TTS engines.
- Speed transparency — Kokoro speed labels show actual multiplier. Clamping warnings when exceeding engine limits.
Installation
- Download Herald-v0.3.0.zip below
- Extract anywhere
- Run Herald.exe as Administrator
- On first launch, Kokoro downloads its ONNX model (~320MB) automatically
TTS Engines
| Engine | Type | Internet | Voices | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokoro (default) | Local neural | No | 27 | Privacy, offline use, best quality at normal speed |
| Edge TTS | Cloud neural | Yes | 4 | Fast reading (up to 900 wpm) |
| SAPI | Windows built-in | No | 2 | Maximum speed (up to 1500 wpm) |
System Requirements
- Windows 10/11
- Run as Administrator (for global hotkeys)
- No internet required (Kokoro runs locally)
Notes
- Edge TTS uses Microsoft Edge neural voices for personal/educational use only
- The Python version (v0.2.1) remains available for users who prefer it
- Settings format (config/settings.json) is shared between Python and C# versions