Overview
The Lightning TTS API converts text into natural speech via https://api.smallest.ai/waves/v1. 80+ voices across 4 languages, 44.1 kHz native sample rate, ~100ms latency, with sync, SSE, and WebSocket streaming.
Hear Lightning v3.1 (voice: magnus):
Synthesis Modes
Choose the synthesis mode that best fits your application’s needs:
Generate complete audio files with a single HTTP request. Ideal for pre-rendering content, batch processing, and applications where immediate streaming isn’t required.
Receive audio chunks as they’re generated via WebSocket. Perfect for real-time voice assistants, live narration, and low-latency conversational AI.
Available Models
Legacy High-quality multilingual TTS with 100ms TTFB. Supports 16+ languages including English, Hindi, and European languages. Includes voice cloning support.
Our most natural-sounding model with 44 kHz audio output. Ultra-low latency with expressive, human-like speech. Supports English, Hindi, Tamil, and Spanish with voice cloning.
Feature Highlights
Ultra-Low Latency
Optimized streaming pipeline delivers sub-100ms time-to-first-byte (TTFB) for real-time applications. Lightning v3.1 achieves even faster response times for conversational AI.
Voice Cloning
Create custom voice profiles by uploading audio samples. Instant voice cloning works with just a few seconds of audio, while professional voice cloning delivers studio-quality results.
16+ Languages
Comprehensive language support including English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Dutch, and Russian.
Multiple Output Formats
Choose from PCM, WAV, MP3, or μ-law encoding. Configurable sample rates from 8kHz to 44kHz to match your application’s requirements.
Speed Control
Adjust speech rate with a simple multiplier. Slow down for clarity or speed up for faster content delivery without pitch distortion.
Pronunciation Dictionaries
Define custom pronunciations for brand names, technical terms, and acronyms. Ensure consistent, accurate pronunciation across all synthesized audio.
High-Quality Audio
Lightning v3.1 produces 44 kHz audio with natural prosody and expressiveness. Perfect for audiobooks, podcasts, and premium voice experiences.
WebSocket Streaming
Persistent connections for continuous audio streaming. Ideal for voice bots and interactive applications where latency is critical.
