Standard Ebooks produces free, high-quality ebooks for readers. They meticulously format and proofread public domain texts, creating beautifully typeset, accessible editions optimized for various e-readers. Their goal is to liberate classic literature from inconsistent and often poorly formatted digital versions, offering a superior reading experience akin to well-crafted print books, while also respecting the author's original intent. They encourage community involvement through contributions like proofreading and cover art.
The blog post details how to create audiobooks from EPUB files using the Kokoro-82M text-to-speech model. The author outlines a process involving converting the EPUB to plain text, splitting it into smaller chunks suitable for the model's input limitations, generating the audio segments with Kokoro-82M, and finally concatenating them into a single audio file. The post highlights Kokoro's high-quality, natural-sounding speech and provides command-line examples for each step, making the process relatively straightforward to replicate. It also emphasizes the importance of proper text preprocessing and segmenting to achieve optimal results and avoid context loss between segments.
Commenters on Hacker News largely discuss alternative methods and tools for converting ebooks to audiobooks. Several suggest using pre-trained models available through services like Google Cloud or Amazon Polly, noting their superior quality compared to the Kokoro model mentioned in the article. Others recommend exploring open-source solutions like Coqui TTS. Some commenters also delve into the technical aspects, discussing different voice synthesis techniques and the importance of pre-processing ebook text for optimal results. A few raise concerns about the potential misuse of AI-generated audiobooks for copyright infringement or creating deepfakes. The overall sentiment leans towards acknowledging the author's ingenuity while suggesting more robust and readily available solutions for achieving higher quality audiobook generation.
Summary of Comments ( 73 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43599637
Hacker News users generally praised Standard Ebooks' mission and quality. Several commenters appreciated the attention to detail and craftsmanship applied to the ebook formatting, contrasting it favorably with the often poor quality of commercially available ebooks. Some users highlighted the value of well-formatted ebooks for visually impaired readers using screen readers. A few commenters questioned the long-term viability of relying on donations and volunteered labor, while others suggested potential business models like a Patreon or selling curated collections. The DRM-free nature of the ebooks and the project's commitment to open standards were also commended. A minor point of contention was the choice of fonts, with some expressing preferences for alternatives.
The Hacker News post titled "Standard Ebooks: liberated ebooks, carefully produced for the true book lover" generated a substantial discussion with a variety of viewpoints on the project.
Several commenters expressed strong support for Standard Ebooks and its mission. They praised the high quality of the ebook production, emphasizing the careful attention to detail and the focus on creating a pleasant reading experience. Some specifically highlighted the value of well-formatted ebooks, contrasting them with the often poorly formatted versions available elsewhere. The project's commitment to open standards and public domain works also resonated with many, who viewed it as a valuable contribution to the literary landscape. A few commenters even shared their personal experiences using and enjoying Standard Ebooks, further reinforcing the positive sentiment.
However, some commenters also expressed reservations and criticisms. One recurring theme was the limited selection of books available, given the focus on public domain works. Some users wished for a wider range of titles, including contemporary works. There were also discussions about the project's reliance on donations and the potential challenges of sustaining such a model in the long term. A few commenters questioned the practical necessity of the project, arguing that existing ebook formats and sources were sufficient. There was also a minor debate about specific formatting choices made by Standard Ebooks, highlighting the subjective nature of reading preferences.
Beyond these main points, some commenters offered suggestions for improving the project, such as expanding the catalog, implementing different features, and exploring alternative funding models. Others shared links to similar projects or resources, contributing to a broader conversation about ebook formatting and accessibility. Overall, the comments section reflected a mixture of enthusiasm, skepticism, and constructive feedback, typical of discussions on Hacker News concerning new projects and initiatives.