Business

Kukarella Releases Ultimate Text to Speech Converter

Published

5 years ago

January 20, 2020

Kukarella launched an Ultimate Voice Converter that, for the first time, gives ordinary users full and easy access to voice synthesizers from Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon. The company is going to disrupt the ‘text-to-speech’ industry with its new user-centric platform.

Summary. Kukarella is a web service that converts text to speech in real-time. It gives users access to the largest online library of voices across 55 languages and accents, and to flagship technologies that previously required complex settings and programming skills.

Problem. Today, if you want to create a voiceover, you may spend hours and even days hiring actors and renting studios even when you need a voiceover just for a short phrase. It gets much more difficult when you are trying to do that in multiple languages.

If instead of hiring voiceover actors, you start looking for online solutions, you’ll soon discover that the “best” ones use clearly synthesized voices; and what they call their “most user-friendly” tools take hours to understand. Even when you deal with leaders such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, or IBM, you might find you need to subscribe to additional services, or you might have a hard time downloading the audio files.

Well, what if the whole process of creating a voiceover would only take seconds with a cost under $5 per hour of audio?

The solution. With Kukarella’s text-to-speech converter, you get easy backdoor access to all languages and all voices in the Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM libraries. This means you have easy access to 270+ realistic voices across 55+ languages and accents. (30-second promo video: https://youtu.be/InQfviAR7YU)

“While most online solutions compete with each other in promoting speech-generation technologies, Kukarella gives users easy and convenient access to the best of them,” says Nazim Ragimov, the founder of the company. “We make it so that the user can easily use the services that are currently available only to corporations. All the user has to do is to click the “convert” button.”

Immediately after the launch of the Beta version, Kukarella attracted users from various industries such as video production, gaming, education, and small businesses. The average session duration went up to four minutes, with the bounce rate down to 11%, both of which are clear indicators that Kukarella’s clients finally found what they were looking for.

“My goal with Kukarella was to make this application an easily usable text-to-speech platform for any type of user,” says Jordan Emslie, developer of the platform. “Whether you are a blogger, writer, business, or someone who wants to make memes with text to voice, we are here for you!”

You can try Kukarella for free: https://www.kukarella.com

Data and Market facts. Today, computer voices are becoming more and more realistic. Pauses, sighs, whispers, and other effects which you can add to the computer voices allow them to compete with real voiceover actors. Not surprisingly, text-to-speech industry is expected to more than triple by 2022 (from a current $4 billion to around $15 billion).

“Kukarella is not trying to replace human voice talent with artificial intelligence”, continues Nazim Ragimov, “Our goal is to help creative people, who are trying to take their voiceover process to the next level, to achieve that without breaking their bank accounts.”

Kukarella was created with support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), Innovate BC and UBCO

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

2 weeks ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.