Lalo - EPUB to Audiobook Converter

Convert EPUB ebooks to high-quality audiobooks using Qwen3-TTS, an advanced text-to-speech model.

Features

• Multi-Language Support: Converts EPUB files in 10 languages (Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian)
• Premium Voice Selection: Choose from 9 high-quality voice profiles covering various genders, ages, and languages
• Chapter Selection: Convert specific chapters or the entire book
• Auto Language Detection: Automatically detects the language of each chapter
• Voice Control: Optional natural language instructions for voice modulation
• Multiple Export Formats: Export to WAV (lossless), MP3 (compressed), or M4B (audiobook with chapter markers)
• Chapter Markers: M4B format includes navigable chapter bookmarks

Requirements

• Hardware: NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support (required)
• Python: 3.12 or higher
• CUDA: Compatible CUDA drivers installed

Installation

1. Install ffmpeg (required for MP3 and M4B export)

Ubuntu/Debian

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

2. Install Lalo

Option A: Install from PyPI (Recommended)

pip install lalo-tts

Option B: Install from Source (Development)

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/willianpaixao/lalo.git
cd lalo

# Install in development mode
pip install -e .

3. Install FlashAttention2 (recommended for faster inference)

pip install flash-attn --no-build-isolation

Quick Start

Basic Usage

Convert an entire EPUB to audiobook with default settings:

lalo convert mybook.epub

This will:

• Auto-detect the language
• Use the default speaker (Aiden - American English male)
• Convert all chapters
• Output to <book_title>.mp3

Advanced Examples

Convert specific chapters:

lalo convert mybook.epub --chapters 1-5

Choose a different speaker:

lalo convert mybook.epub --speaker Ryan

Specify language explicitly:

lalo convert mybook.epub --language Japanese --speaker Ono_Anna

Custom output path and format:

lalo convert mybook.epub --output ~/audiobooks/mybook.wav --format wav

M4B Audiobook format with chapter markers:

lalo convert mybook.epub --format m4b --output mybook.m4b

• Creates audiobook with navigable chapter markers
• Compatible with iTunes, Apple Books, audiobook players, VLC
• Each chapter becomes a bookmark in the player
• Includes book metadata (title, author)

Add voice instructions:

lalo convert mybook.epub --speaker Aiden --instruct "Speak slowly and clearly"

Voice control with instructions:

lalo convert mybook.epub --speaker Aiden --instruct "Speak slowly and clearly"

• Control speaking style, pace, emotion, and tone
• Uses natural language instructions
• See Voice Instructions section for more examples

Streaming mode (for very long books):

lalo convert longbook.epub --streaming

• Writes chapters incrementally to disk
• Recommended for books with 50+ chapters
• Crash-resilient - completed chapters are preserved

Combine multiple options:

lalo convert mybook.epub \
  --speaker Vivian \
  --language Chinese \
  --chapters 1,3,5-10 \
  --output ~/audiobooks/mybook.mp3 \
  --format mp3

• Writes chapters incrementally to disk
• Recommended for books with 50+ chapters
• Crash-resilient - completed chapters are preserved

Combine multiple options:

lalo convert mybook.epub \
  --speaker Vivian \
  --language Chinese \
  --chapters 1,3,5-10 \
  --output ~/audiobooks/mybook.mp3 \
  --format mp3

Available Speakers

List all available speakers:

lalo speakers --list

Speaker Profiles

Tip: Use each speaker's native language for best quality, though all speakers can speak any supported language.

Supported Languages

View all supported languages:

lalo languages --list

Supported languages:

• Chinese
• English
• Japanese
• Korean
• German
• French
• Russian
• Portuguese
• Spanish
• Italian

Voice Instructions

The --instruct flag allows you to control the voice characteristics using natural language instructions. This gives you fine-grained control over how the audiobook sounds.

Basic Usage

lalo convert book.epub --speaker Aiden --instruct "Your instruction here"

Instruction Categories

1. Speaking Pace and Rhythm

Control how fast or slow the speaker reads:

# Slow and deliberate
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak slowly and clearly"

# Fast-paced narration
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak quickly with energy"

# Moderate, natural pace
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak at a comfortable, conversational pace"

# Rhythmic and measured
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak with a steady, rhythmic cadence"

2. Emotion and Tone

Add emotional qualities to the narration:

# Happy and upbeat
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak with joy and enthusiasm"

# Serious and somber
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak in a serious, contemplative tone"

# Mysterious and intriguing
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak mysteriously with a hint of suspense"

# Warm and friendly
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak warmly as if talking to a close friend"

# Dramatic and intense
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak dramatically with strong emotion"

3. Voice Characteristics

Modify vocal qualities:

# Soft and gentle
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak softly with a gentle voice"

# Clear and articulate
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak clearly with precise articulation"

# Deep and resonant
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak with a deep, resonant voice"

# Bright and energetic
lalo convert book.epub --instruct "Speak with a bright, energetic tone"

4. Genre-Specific Styles

Tailor the voice to match the book's genre:

# Fiction/Novel
lalo convert novel.epub --instruct "Narrate expressively like an audiobook narrator"

# Non-fiction/Educational
lalo convert textbook.epub --instruct "Speak clearly and professionally, like a teacher"

# Mystery/Thriller
lalo convert thriller.epub --instruct "Speak with tension and suspense"

# Children's Book
lalo convert kids-book.epub --instruct "Speak playfully and animated"

# Poetry
lalo convert poems.epub --instruct "Read poetically with feeling and rhythm"

# Technical Manual
lalo convert manual.epub --instruct "Speak neutrally and clearly without emotion"

5. Combined Instructions

Mix multiple characteristics for nuanced control:

# Fantasy epic
lalo convert fantasy.epub --instruct "Speak slowly and dramatically with a sense of wonder"

# Business book
lalo convert business.epub --instruct "Speak professionally and confidently at a moderate pace"

# Horror novel
lalo convert horror.epub --instruct "Speak quietly with tension, building suspense"

# Romance novel
lalo convert romance.epub --instruct "Speak warmly and emotionally with passion"

# Comedy
lalo convert comedy.epub --instruct "Speak playfully with good humor and lightness"

Tips for Effective Instructions

1. Be Specific: Detailed instructions yield better results

   • ✅ Good: "Speak slowly with clear articulation and warmth"
   • ❌ Vague: "Speak nicely"

2. Keep It Natural: Use conversational language

   • ✅ Good: "Speak as if telling a story to friends"
   • ❌ Technical: "Increase prosodic variation by 20%"

3. Match the Content: Choose instructions that fit the book

   • Textbook → Clear and professional
   • Novel → Expressive and engaging
   • Poetry → Rhythmic and emotional

4. Experiment: Try different instructions to find what works best

   • Test a single chapter first with --chapters 1
   • Compare different instruction styles

5. Language Matters: Instructions work best in the speaker's native language

   • English speaker (Aiden, Ryan) -> English instructions
   • Chinese speaker (Vivian, Serena) -> Chinese instructions may work better

Examples by Use Case

Academic Textbook

lalo convert textbook.epub \
  --speaker Aiden \
  --instruct "Speak clearly and professionally, emphasizing key concepts" \
  --format m4b

Fantasy Novel

lalo convert fantasy-novel.epub \
  --speaker Ryan \
  --instruct "Narrate dramatically with a sense of epic adventure" \
  --format m4b

Self-Help Book

lalo convert self-help.epub \
  --speaker Serena \
  --instruct "Speak warmly and encouragingly, as if coaching a friend" \
  --format mp3

Mystery Thriller

lalo convert mystery.epub \
  --speaker Uncle_Fu \
  --instruct "Speak with tension and suspense, maintaining mystery" \
  --format m4b

Children's Story

lalo convert kids-story.epub \
  --speaker Ono_Anna \
  --instruct "Speak playfully and expressively with lots of energy" \
  --format mp3

Language-Specific Instructions

You can provide instructions in the target language for better results:

# Chinese book with Chinese instructions
lalo convert chinese-book.epub \
  --speaker Vivian \
  --language Chinese \
  --instruct "用温柔的语气慢慢地说"

# Japanese book with Japanese instructions
lalo convert japanese-book.epub \
  --speaker Ono_Anna \
  --language Japanese \
  --instruct "明るく元気に話してください"

# Korean book with Korean instructions
lalo convert korean-book.epub \
  --speaker Sohee \
  --language Korean \
  --instruct "따뜻하고 감정적으로 말해주세요"

Notes

• Instructions are optional - if omitted, the speaker uses their default natural voice
• Instructions work best with the CustomVoice models (default)
• Results may vary based on the complexity of the instruction
• Some instructions may work better with certain speakers

Chapter Selection Format

The --chapters option supports flexible selection:

• all - Convert all chapters (default)
• 1,3,5 - Specific chapters
• 1-5 - Range of chapters
• 1,3-5,7-10 - Combination of specific chapters and ranges

Examples:

lalo convert book.epub --chapters 1-3          # First three chapters
lalo convert book.epub --chapters 1,5,10       # Chapters 1, 5, and 10
lalo convert book.epub --chapters 1-5,10-15    # Chapters 1-5 and 10-15

CLI Commands

lalo convert

Convert an EPUB file to audiobook.

Usage: lalo convert [OPTIONS] EPUB_FILE

Options:
  -s, --speaker TEXT        Speaker voice (default: Aiden)
  -l, --language TEXT       Language for TTS (default: Auto)
  -c, --chapters TEXT       Chapters to convert (default: all)
  -o, --output PATH         Output file path
  -f, --format [wav|mp3|m4b] Output audio format (default: mp3)
  -i, --instruct TEXT       Voice control instruction
  --streaming               Enable streaming mode (incremental saving)
  --help                    Show this message and exit

lalo speakers

Show information about available speakers.

Usage: lalo speakers [OPTIONS]

Options:
  --list  List all available speakers
  --help  Show this message and exit

lalo languages

Show information about supported languages.

Usage: lalo languages [OPTIONS]

Options:
  --list  List all supported languages
  --help  Show this message and exit

Configuration

Default settings can be customized in lalo/config.py:

• MODEL_NAME: Qwen3-TTS model to use
• DEFAULT_SPEAKER: Default speaker (Aiden)
• DEFAULT_LANGUAGE: Default language detection mode (Auto)
• DEFAULT_FORMAT: Default output format (mp3)
• MP3_BITRATE: MP3 bitrate (192k)

How It Works

1. EPUB Parsing: Extracts book metadata and chapter content while preserving structure
2. Language Detection: Auto-detects language per chapter using langdetect
3. Text Processing: Chunks long chapters into manageable segments (optimized to 2000 chars)
4. TTS Generation: Converts text to speech using Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-CustomVoice with GPU batch processing
5. Audio Export:
   • Regular mode: Concatenates all chapters in memory, then exports
   • Streaming mode: Writes each chapter to disk immediately, then combines at end

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit pull requests or open issues.