***

id: 3d4a77e2-2277-4165-916c-21e9db487c31
title: Azure
description: Learn how to use Azure TTS voices on the SignalWire platform.
slug: /voice/tts/azure
----------------------

Microsoft's Azure platform offers an impressive array of high-quality, multilingual voices in its Neural model.

## Voices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Voices" href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/speech-service/language-support?tabs=tts">
    Browse the complete list of Azure Neural voices in Microsoft's official documentation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Voice gallery" href="https://speech.microsoft.com/portal/voicegallery">
    Listen to audio samples and preview voices in Azure's interactive voice gallery.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Usage

Azure voice IDs conform to the following format:

```
azure.<voice>
```

Where `<voice>` is the full Azure voice code (e.g., `en-US-AvaNeural`).

**Examples:**

```
azure.en-US-AvaNeural
azure.en-GB-SoniaNeural
azure.de-DE-KatjaNeural
azure.es-ES-ElviraNeural
```

**Note:** Azure voice IDs already include language information, so no additional language parameter is needed.

## Languages

Azure Neural voices are interchangeably compatible with all supported languages.
Rather than setting language with the language `code`,
simply provide input text in the desired language.

Consult the Azure
[supported languages resource](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/speech-service/language-support?tabs=tts)
for an up-to-date list of supported languages.

## SSML support

Azure voices support [Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/speech-service/speech-synthesis-markup) for advanced control over:

* Prosody (pitch, rate, volume)
* Emphasis and breaks
* Phonetic pronunciation
* Multi-language content

Consult Azure's [SSML documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/speech-service/speech-synthesis-markup) for detailed usage instructions.

***

## Examples

Learn how to use Azure voices on the SignalWire platform.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="SWML">
    Use the
    [**`languages`**](/docs/swml/reference/ai/languages#use-voice-strings)
    SWML method to set one or more voices for an [AI agent](/docs/swml/reference/ai).

    ```yaml
    version: 1.0.0
    sections:
      main:
      - ai:
          prompt:
            text: Have an open-ended conversation about flowers.
          languages:
            - name: English
              code: en-US
              voice: azure.en-US-AvaNeural
    ```

    Alternatively, use the [**`say_voice`** parameter](/docs/swml/reference/play#variables)
    of the [**`play`**](/docs/swml/reference/play)
    SWML method to select a voice for basic TTS.

    ```yaml
    version: 1.0.0
    sections:
      main:
      - set:
          say_voice: "azure.en-US-AvaNeural"
      - play: "say:Greetings. This is the Ava voice from Microsoft Azure's Neural text-to-speech model."
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="RELAY Realtime SDK">
    ```javascript
    // This example uses the Node.js SDK for SignalWire's RELAY Realtime API.
    const playback = await call.playTTS({
        text: "Greetings. This is the Ava voice from Microsoft Azure's Neural text-to-speech model.",
        voice: "azure.en-US-AvaNeural",
    });
    await playback.ended();
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Call Flow Builder">
    Azure voices are not yet supported in Call Flow Builder.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>