iMovie Text to Speech: How to Add AI Voiceover to iMovie

Last Updated: 2025. 02. 20

So you have created a video in iMovie but it doesn't contain a voice and you’re looking for the text-to-speech feature to add voiceover to iMovie without the need for self-recording or expensive voice actors, then you've landed in the perfect spot.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the topic: Does iMovie Have Text to Speech Feature?and also provide practical solutions to address your query. If you're wondering the same thing, read on to find the answers!

Also Interested in: How to Add Natural-sounding AI Voice to Video>>

Part 1. Does iMovie Have the Text to Speech Function?

How do you add AI voiceover to iMovie?

How do you do text-to-speech in iMovie?

Most people are searching for ways to do text-to-speech in iMovie. So is there text to speech feature in iMovie? Unfortunately, iMovie does not have the built-in text-to-speech function for users to generate natural-sounding voiceover from text. Instead, it enables you to record self-narration voice to make your video more engaging or add text overlays to your videos without the text being read aloud by using title templates and captions within iMovie.

How to Do Text to Speech in iMovie

How to Do Text to Speech in iMovie

Though you cannot generate an AI voiceover in iMovie directly, you can do text-to-speech on third-party platforms, download the generated realistic AI voiceover, and then add it to your video in iMovie.

Speechify is such a paid platform that allows you to easily generate AI voices from text and download the audio file for use in iMovie. In addition to text-to-speech conversion, it offers features like customizable voice settings, word highlighting as the text is read, and the ability to import text from various sources. Here’s how to use Speechify for voice generation.

Generate AI Voice in Third-party Platform for iMovie

Generate AI Voice in Third-party Platform for iMovie

Step 1
Download Speechify to your device and copy and paste the text you want to convert into Speechify.
Step 2
Select the language and voice you want to use for the speech output.
Step 3
Customize the future speech by adjusting the speed, volume, and other parameters of the speech output to match your needs and preferences.
Step 4
Press the Play icon to listen to the generated speech and make adjustments if necessary. Once you’re satisfied, download this audio file or share it with others.

Although this workaround is effective, it is very time-consuming because you not only need to spend time familiarizing yourself with a new software but also have to switch between different platforms to achieve the effect of generating voice from text in iMovie.

Is there a better solution? In the next section, we'll introduce an iMovie alternative that allows you to generate AI voices with just one click, while retaining the familiar features you love in iMovie. Let’s take a look!

Part 2. The Best AI iMovie Alternative to Create AI Voice with Text-to-speech Feature

If you're a die-hard iMovie fan but feel disappointed by the lack of AI features, then FlexClip is your perfect choice. It lets you explore the world of AI while keeping all the features you love in iMovie. When it comes to the TTS feature, FlexClip offers up to 95% accuracy in text-to-speech conversion across 140+ languages and various accents. It also provides a range of avatars and styles (such as chat, whispering, and angry), with customizable pitch and speed to suit your specific needs.

Additionally, the powerful text input feature can be a huge benefit. Whether it’s a subtitle file, on-screen text, or any words you’ve entered, with just one click, this AI-driven tool will instantly analyze your content and transform it into realistic speech that you can edit further or download locally. Best of all, no prior video editing experience is required!

Text to Speech Converter - FlexClip

Text to Speech Converter - FlexClip

How to Use Text to Speech Feature in FlexClip

Step 1
Hit the Create it Now button below to enter FlexClip’s editor page.
Create it Now View Templates
Step 2
Depending on the text resource you entered, the workflow varies. If you’re going to upload an existing subtitle file for speech generation, move to the Subtitle panel and tap Upload Subtitle File to import the text file. A variety of subtitle formats are supported and the loaded subtitle will appear with a timestamp.
Upload and Use Subtitle File to FlexClip for Speech Generation

Upload and Use Subtitle File to FlexClip for Speech Generation

As for text requiring a copy-and-paste step, hover over the Tools panel and choose the Text to Speech option to enter the text you want to generate an AI voiceover from.

Paste Text to Generate AI Voiceover in FlexClip

Paste Text to Generate AI Voiceover in FlexClip

Step 3
Now it’s time to make settings for the future audio. For people who apply the first method(use a subtitle file to create voiceover), click the Subtitle to Speech icon at the top of your screen and you’ll be immediately navigated to the settings panel. Then try to determine the language, avatar, voice style, pitch and speed as you want.
Make Settings of the Subtitle to Speech Process

Make Settings of the Subtitle to Speech Process

If you directly use the Text to Speech function, just make settings in the displayed interface.

The Settings in the Text-to-speech Panel

The Settings in the Text-to-speech Panel

Step 4
When you’re ready, hit on the Generate Audio button to launch the text-to-speech process. Once it finishes, a new interface will pop up where you can preview the generated AI voiceover or choose download it to the local drive or tap Save to Media to unleash creativity.
Launch the Text-to-speech and Save the Generated Audio

Launch the Text-to-speech and Save the Generated Audio

Congratulations! You’ve successfully created a natural-sounding voiceover from text. But is it over? Not at all! This is just the beginning of your creative journey in FlexClip. With the AI-generated voice, you can:

  • Automatically generate burn-in subtitles for your video, with a variety of styles and animation effects to choose from, ensuring your audience can follow along even when the sound is turned off. You can also create a subtitle file in a range of formats, or use FlexClip as a subtitle format converter to quickly switch between formats with just one tap, making it easy to prepare subtitles for different platforms.
  • Auto Subtitle Generator to Extract Subtitle File or Add Burned-in Captions to Your Video

    Auto Subtitle Generator to Extract Subtitle File or Add Burned-in Captions to Your Video

  • Broaden your business reach and connect with new audiences by localizing your audio content, whether it's podcasts, radio ads, or other audio formats, into multiple languages. With FlexClip’s AI Translator, content localization has never been easier. In just a few clicks, you can have your content spoken in over 60 languages, with a wide range of accents, styles, avatars, and customization options to choose from.
  • Localize Your Audio Content with FlexClip's AI Translator

    Localize Your Audio Content with FlexClip's AI Translator

  • Struggling to find an instrumental version of your favorite song for video background music? Or is the background noise in your audio making it hard to hear your content clearly? With FlexClip’s AI audio noise reducer and AI vocal remover, you can easily clean up these issues and enhance your audio quality.
  • AI Audio Noise Reducer in FlexClip for You

    AI Audio Noise Reducer in FlexClip for You

  • Take your audio creations to the next level with FlexClip’s AI Music Generator. Whether it’s creating a song cover with your idol’s AI voice, turning your written lyrics into a melody, or transforming your existing instrumental track into a fresh style, this AI-powered music maker is sure to impress.
  • AI Music Generator in FlexClip for Endless Creativity

    AI Music Generator in FlexClip for Endless Creativity

    In addition to its powerful AI-driven audio editing tools, FlexClip offers a wide range of AI-powered image and video features that unlock endless possibilities for content creation. With its vast media library, team collaboration support, real-time cloud storage, extensive text stock, and a mix of basic and advanced editing options, your editing process will be smooth and effortless.

    Various AI-powered Features in FlexClip for You

    Part 3. FAQs

    1.How to do a voiceover in iMovie?

    It’s super easy to add a voiceover to a video in iMovie. Just import the video to iMovie, tap the Record icon to get started and tap Stop to end it. Then the recording audio clip has been added to your Timeline and tab the Done icon to save it.

    2.Is there a way to do text-to-speech in iMovie?

    Unfortunately, the answer is No. iMovie doesn’t feature a text-to-speech function at present. If you want to convert any text into human voices, turn to iMovie alternatives like FlexClip for help.

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