TTS Shortcuts: Say What You Need, Faster

When a conversation moves quickly, every second counts — especially on the phone. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, InnoCaption’s Text-to-Speech (TTS) feature bridges that gap by allowing you to type what you want to say and have a clear, natural-sounding voice speak it aloud to the person on the other end.

Now, with TTS Shortcuts, you can keep those conversations flowing with less typing and more ease.

TTS Shortcuts combines two tools, QuickSpeak and Saved Phrases, to help you respond quickly, clearly, and confidently during any call.

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Why We Built It

Every conversation moves differently, but some parts repeat themselves. You might need to ask someone to repeat what they said, let them know you’re typing, or share basic details like your name or phone number.

TTS Shortcuts was designed for exactly those moments when you already know what you want to say and don’t want to slow down to type it from scratch.

It includes two types of shortcuts that work together:

• QuickSpeak → Pre-written phrases that are spoken aloud immediately when you tap them. Ideal for short, repeatable messages such as “Please repeat that again.”
• Saved Phrases → Phrases that appear in your TTS text field to be included in a longer message or edited before being spoken. Perfect for information you often share, like your email address.
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Together, QuickSpeak and Saved Phrases help you communicate efficiently and keep conversations moving naturally.

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Everyday Uses

TTS Shortcuts can be customized for any type of call — from customer service to catching up with friends or family.

Here’s how you might use both QuickSpeak and Saved Phrases in everyday life:

Scenario 1: A customer service callYou’re calling your pharmacy to check a prescription refill.

• You start the call with a QuickSpeak phrase: “Hi, I’m using a text-to-speech assistant to communicate during this call. Thank you for your patience.”
• The pharmacist asks for your information. You use a Saved Phrase for your name and date of birth, which you’ve stored in your shortcuts to avoid retyping them each time.
• When the pharmacist speaks too quickly, you tap a QuickSpeak button to say, “Please repeat that again.”
• Before hanging up, you use another QuickSpeak phrase to say, “Thank you for your help.”
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Scenario 2: A personal call with a family member
You’re catching up with your sister after a busy week.

• You start with a QuickSpeak phrase: “Hi! It’s good to hear your voice. Give me a moment to type my reply.”
• As you chat, you use Saved Phrases you’ve set up for common responses, like “That sounds great!” or “I miss you too.”
• When she starts telling a long story and you fall a few seconds behind, you tap a QuickSpeak phrase to say, “Hold on just a moment while I catch up.”
• Before you end the call, you use one more QuickSpeak phrase to say, “Love you. Talk soon.”
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Whether it’s a quick errand, an important appointment, or a call with someone who matters to you, TTS Shortcuts helps you stay connected and fully part of the conversation without missing a beat.

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Getting Started

Getting started with TTS Shortcuts is simple. Open the InnoCaption app and navigate to Settings → Text-to-speech → Shortcuts. From there, you can create both QuickSpeak and Saved Phrases, each serving a unique purpose in helping you communicate faster and more naturally.

QuickSpeak phrases are pre-written messages that are spoken aloud the moment you tap them. You’ll see three default options already available:

• Intro: “Hi, I’m using a text-to-speech assistant to type my replies. I appreciate your patience.”
• Hold: “Please wait while I type my reply.”
• Repeat: “Please repeat that again.”
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You can edit these defaults or add your own QuickSpeak shortcuts for the phrases you use most often, such as providing your contact information, giving context about how you communicate, or asking for clarification. 

These instant responses help you keep the conversation flowing smoothly.

Saved Phrases offer more flexibility for longer or more detailed messages. You can organize them into categories such as “Appointments,” “Orders,” or “Personal.” Within each category, you can store multiple phrases that can be quickly inserted into your text box, edited, or combined into full responses during a call.

If you’d like to see detailed step-by-step instructions—including how to label, preview, and organize your phrases—visit our Help Center article on TTS Shortcuts for more guidance.

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Using Text-to-Speech During a Call

Once TTS is enabled and your shortcuts are ready, here’s how it works in real time:

1. During a call, tap the TTS field to bring up the keyboard
2. To access Shortcuts, tap the Layer icon to the left of the TTS field

From here, you can use either QuickSpeak or Saved Phrases, depending on what you need to say.

If you’re using QuickSpeak

• Tap a QuickSpeak phrase to have it spoken aloud immediately
• The other party will hear the automated voice speak what you have typed
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If you’re using Saved Phrases

• Tap a Saved phrase to add it to your text box
• If needed, make edits or add to the phrase before sending
• Tap Send
• The other party will hear the automated voice speak what you have typed
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Note: The TTS audio will not play on your end, but you’ll see a visual indicator as the text is being spoken.

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Tip: Mute Mic as Default

If you primarily use TTS and don’t need to use your own voice, you can start every call with your microphone muted. This prevents background noise so the other party only hears your TTS voice.

To enable:

1. Open the InnoCaption app
2. Tap Settings
3. Tap Text-to-speech
4. Tap Mute mic toggle ON (it will turn GREEN)
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You can still unmute anytime during a call if needed.

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Communication, Simplified

Every conversation deserves to flow naturally. TTS Shortcuts helps make that possible by letting you respond faster, stay engaged, and express yourself clearly in any situation.

Whether you’re confirming details, catching up with family, or sharing something meaningful, TTS Shortcuts keeps you connected to what matters most: the conversation itself.

Try it today. Open your InnoCaption app, enable Text-to-Speech, and set up your shortcuts for clearer, more confident communication — one tap at a time.